In the beginning, The God created the sky and the land.However, the land was unsightly and unfinished, darkness covered its depths, and God’s Breath moved over its waters.
Then The God spoke, saying:
‘Let there be light.’
So light came to be,and God saw that the light was beautiful.
Then The God brought a division between the light and the darkness.He called the light day and the darkness night.
So came the evening and the morning of the first day.
And The God spoke, saying:
‘Let there be space between all the waters and a dividing of the waters and the waters.’
And that’s what happened.For God ordered a space to divide the waters that were under the space from the waters that were over the space.God then called that space the sky, and He saw that this was beautiful.
So came the evening and the morning of the second day.
Then The God said:
‘Let the waters under the skies be brought together in one place so the land can be seen.’
And that’s what happened.God called the dry land earth and the collected waters the seas, and God saw that this was beautiful.
Then The God spoke, saying:
‘Let the land sprout with pastures of grasses that bear seeds [each] of its own kind and appearance. And let there be fruit trees that bear fruit with its seeds, [each] of its own kind.’
And that’s what happened.The ground sprouted with pastures of grasses that [each] bore seeds of its own kind and appearance, and the fruit trees bore fruit with their seeds, [each] of its own kind, upon the land. And God saw that this was beautiful.
So came the evening and the morning of the third day.
Then The God spoke, saying:
‘Let there be lights in the heavenly space to illuminate the ground to make the division between day and night, and to serve as signs for the seasons, days, and years.Let them serve as sources of light in the skies to shine upon the ground.’
And that’s what happened.God made the two huge lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light and stars to rule the night.And God assigned them space in the sky to shine upon the earth,to dominate the days and nights, and to make the divisions between light and darkness. And God saw that it was beautiful.
So came the evening and the morning of the forth day.
Then The God spoke, saying:
‘Let the waters give birth to living, slithering animals, as well as to winged creatures that will fly above the earth in the space of the skies.’
And that’s what happened.Then The God created the great sea creatures and all the living, slithering animals that live in the water, according to their types, and all the feathered flying creatures, according to their types; and God saw that it was beautiful.So God blest them, saying:
‘Reproduce and multiply in the water until you fill the seas, and let the winged creatures multiply on the earth.’
So came the evening and the morning of the fifth day.
Then The God spoke, saying:
‘Let the land give birth to living animals, each of its own kind… four-footed animals, slithering animals, and wild animals of the ground, each of its own kind.’
And that’s what happened.For thereafter, The God made the wild animals of the ground (each of its own kind), the herding animals (each of its own kind) and all the earth’s slithering animals (each of its own kind). And God saw that they were beautiful.
Then The God spoke, saying:
‘Let us make men in our image and like us, so that they will rule the creatures in the seas, the winged creatures of the skies, the herding animals of the ground, and all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground.’
So then, God created mankind (gr. anthropon). He created mankind in the image of the Gods as a male and a female.Then The God blest them, saying:
‘Reproduce and multiply… fill the earth and control it. Rule over the sea creatures, the winged creatures of the skies, all the herding animals of the ground, all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground, and the whole earth.’
Then The God said:
‘Look, I’ve given you all the seed-bearing plants upon the entire earth to plant, as well as all the seed-bearing trees to plant as your food.And [I’ve given] greenish-yellow plants as food for all the earth’s wild animals, all the winged creatures of the skies, and all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground and have the breath of life.’
And that’s what happened.
Then The God viewed everything that He had made, and {Look!} it was very beautiful.
So came the evening and the morning of the sixth day.
So the skies and the lands were complete, as was all the arranging of them.For after that, The God finished the work that He did on the 6th day. And on the seventh day, He then rested from all the works that He had done.Then God blest the seventh day and He declared it to be holy, for by then He had finished all the work that He had started to do.
This was the scroll of the origins of the skies and the lands, and of when they came to be in the day that The God spoke the sky and the land [into existence],as well as when all the greenish-yellow plants for it began on the ground and all the grasses of the fields started growing from it.
However, because Jehovah God had not yet provided rain on the earth and there were no men to cultivate it,springs poured from the ground and watered the entire surface of the land.
Then The God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life against his face, and he became a living creature.
Thereafter, God planted a Paradise east of Edem where He put the man whom he had formed.
And it was there that God caused every tree that was attractive to look at and worthy as food to spring from the ground. [He also] put the Tree of Life in the middle of the Paradise, as well as the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
There was also a river that flowed out of Edem to water the Paradise, and from there [came the] head [waters] of 4 [rivers].
The name of the [first river] is Phison. It flows around the land of Evilat, where there is gold,and the gold from that land is good. There is also red gemstone and ornamental stone there.
The name of the 2nd river is Geon. It runs around the land of Kush.
The 3rd river is the Tigris. It flows over toward the Assyrians. And the 4th river is the EuPhrates.
Then Jehovah God took the man that He had formed and put him in the Paradise of Delights so that He could cultivate it and take care of it.And Jehovah God gave these instructions to Adam:
‘You may eat from all the trees of Paradise,but you must not eat from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. For on whatever day you eat from it, your life will end and you will die.’
Then Jehovah God said:
‘It isn’t good for the man to be alone, so let’s make a helper for him.’
Well, after God had made all the wild animals of the plains and all the winged creatures of the skies from the [dirt], He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living animal was what its name became.
So Adam named all the cattle, all the winged creatures of the skies, and all the wild animals of the plains. Yet, a suitable helper that was like Adam couldn’t be found.
God then put Adam into a trance, and while he was sleeping, He took one of his ribs and filled the place where it was with flesh.Then The God built the rib that He took from Adam into a woman and brought her to Adam.And Adam said:
‘This is now bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She will be called woman, because she was taken from man.And because of this, a man will leave his father and mother and bond with his woman, and the two will become one flesh.’
[Well at the time], both of them (the man and the woman) were naked and unashamed.
Then the snake (which was the wiliest of the animals that Jehovah had made on the earth) asked the woman:
‘Why did God tell you that you shouldn’t eat from all of the trees in the Paradise?’
And the woman replied to the snake:
‘We can eat the fruit from the trees of Paradise, but God said that we shouldn’t eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of Paradise – that we shouldn’t even touch it – or we will die.’
Then the snake said to the woman:
‘You won’t stop living and die,for God knows that on whatever day you eat from it your eyes will be opened wide and you will be like the gods knowing good and evil.’
Well, the woman saw that the tree was worthy as food, it was a pleasant sight to her eyes, and it was a beautiful thing to think about. So after picking its fruit, she ate it.
Then she gave some to her man (who was with her), and they ate it [together].And thereafter, the eyes of both of them were opened wide and they realized that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made skirts to go around themselves.
But then, when they heard the voice of Jehovah God as He walked around in Paradise at dusk, Adam and his woman hid from the face of Jehovah God among the trees in the Paradise.
So Jehovah God called out to Adam, asking:
‘Where are you Adam?’
And [Adam] replied to God:
‘I heard Your voice as You were walking through the Paradise, but I was afraid because of my nakedness, so I hid myself.’
Then The God asked him:
‘If you haven’t eaten from the only tree about which I commanded you not to eat; then, who told you that you were naked?’
And Adam replied:
‘It was this woman whom You gave to me as a companion… she gave me some [fruit] from the tree, and I ate it.’
Then Jehovah God asked the woman:
‘Why did you do this?’
And the woman replied:
‘The snake deceived me, so I ate it.’
So Jehovah God said to the snake:
‘Because you did this; among all the cattle and wild animals of the earth, you [alone] are doomed to be punished. Therefore, you will now travel on your chest and belly and you will have to eat from the ground all the days of your life.
I’m also going to create hatred between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will then watch for your head and you will watch for his heel.’
And after that, He said to the woman:
‘I will now make your sorrow and moaning [much] worse; for when you give birth to children, you will do so with groaning. You will also have to submit to your man and he will dominate you.’
Then He said to Adam:
‘Because you listened to your woman’s voice and ate from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat (and from which you went ahead and ate); all the work that you will do on the ground will be cursed, and you will groan as you eat from it all the days of your life.
Briars and thistles will grow for you, and your food will be the grasses in the fields.
You will then eat your bread through the sweat on your face until you return to the ground from which you were taken… yes, you were taken from the ground and that’s where you will return!’
Well, thereafter, Adam called his woman’s name Life, because she was to be the mother of all [human] life.
Then Jehovah God made leather clothing for Adam and his woman, and He dressed them in it.
And after that, The God said:
‘Look, Adam has now become one of us in knowing good and evil!’
Therefore, to keep him from reaching out to pick and eat from the Tree of Life so as to gain age-long life,Jehovah God then put Adam outside of the Paradise of Delights, where he had to work the ground from which he was taken.
Yes, He drove Adam out and made him live next to the Paradise of Delights. Then He stationed the [heavenly] cherubs with their flaming, spinning swords to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
Well thereafter, Adam had [sexual relations] with Eue, his woman, so she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. And she said:
‘I have gained a man through God.’
Then she again gave birth to his brother, Abel.
Abel [grew up to be] a herder of sheep, while Cain worked the ground.
Then after many days, Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground as an offering to Jehovah,while Abel brought the first-born of his sheep and his belongings.
Well, God looked favorably upon Abel and his gifts,but He paid no attention to Cain and his sacrifices, which made Cain very sad, and his face [reflected] this.So Jehovah God asked Cain:
‘Why are you so sad and why is your face so long?For even if you didn’t bring righteously, you didn’t sin by sharing. Overlook this, because [Abel] will submit to you and you will [rule] over him!’
But thereafter, Cain said to his brother Abel:
‘Let’s go out into the fields.’
Then, while they were in their fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
And when Jehovah God asked Cain,
‘Where is your brother?’
he replied:
‘I don’t know… I’m not my brother’s keeper!’
Then Jehovah God asked:
‘What have you done? I hear the blood of your brother calling out to Me from the ground!Therefore, you will now be cursed by the ground, which has opened her mouth wide to [drink] the blood of your brother from your hand.
So from here on, whenever you work the ground, it will [no longer] give you its strength, and you will groan and tremble on the earth.’
Then Cain said to Jehovah God:
‘My crime is too great to be forgiven.So if you [drive me] away from Your face and the face of this land today, I will have to hide, groaning and trembling on the land… for anyone that finds me will kill me!’
And Jehovah God replied:
‘That isn’t so! For whoever kills Cain will pay 7 penalties.’
Then Jehovah God put a mark on Cain so that nobody that found him would kill him.And thereafter, Cain left the presence of God and lived in Nod, which also borders Edem.
There, Cain [had sex] with his woman and she became pregnant, giving birth to Enoch. [Then Cain] built a city, which he named after his son, Enoch.
Enoch fathered GaiDad; GaiDad fathered MalaleEl; MalaleEl fathered MethuSelah; and MethuSelah fathered Lamech.
Then Lamech took two women; the first was Ada and the second was SelLa.Ada gave birth to JoBel, who was the ancestor of those that lived in tents and herded cattle.He had a brother named JuBal, who invented the lute and the harp.
SelLa also gave birth to ThoBel, who worked iron and brass. And he had a sister named NoEma.
Then Lamech said this to his women (Ada and SelLa):
‘Listen to me, [my] women and remember; I have killed a man that wounded me… a young man that whipped me.So if the vengeance [for killing] Cain was 7 punishments; mine will be 7 times that.’
Well, Adam [again had sex with] his woman Eue and she became pregnant, giving birth to a son whom she named Seth. For she said:
‘God has [provided me with] another son to replace Abel, who was murdered by Cain.’
Then Seth had a son whom he named Enos, who hoped to call upon the Name of The God, Jehovah.
This was the scroll of the early [days] of mankind, when God fathered Adam, forming him in [His] image.He created the male and the female and He blest them. Then in the day that He created [the first man], He named him Adam (heb. HaAdama).
Adam was 230 years old when he fathered a son that was just like him and looked like him, that he named Seth.
Then after fathering Seth, Adam lived on for 700 years, as he fathered other sons and daughters.So Adam was 930 years old when he died.
Now, Seth was 205 years old when he fathered Enos.And after fathering Enos, he lived on for 707 more years, as he fathered other sons and daughters.So Seth was 912 years old when he died.
Enos was 190 years old when he fathered Kainan.Then after fathering Kainan, he lived on for another 715 years, as he fathered other sons and daughters.So Enos was 905 years old when he died.
Kainan was 170 years old when he fathered MaleLeal.Then after fathering MaleLeal, he lived on for some 740 years, as he fathered other sons and daughters.So Kainan was 910 years old when he died.
MaleLeal was 165 years old when he fathered JaRed.And after fathering JaRed, he lived on for 730 years, as he fathered other sons and daughters.So MaleLeal was 895 years old when he died.
JaRed was 162 years old when he fathered Enoch.Then after fathering Enoch, he lived on for another 800 years, as he fathered other sons and daughters.
So JaRed was 962 years old when he died.
Enoch was 165 years old when he fathered MethuSelah.And it was after he fathered MethuSelah that God found Enoch to be righteous.
So after he lived for 200 more years and after he had fathered other sons and daughters(when he was 365 years old…and because he had pleased God), God transported him and he disappeared.
Well, MethuSelah was 187 years old when he fathered Lamech.Then after fathering Lamech, he lived on for another 782 years, as he fathered other sons and daughters.
So MethuSelah was 969 years old when he died.
Lamech was 188 years old when he fathered a sonwhom he named Noah. And he said:
‘He will stop us from doing all the [bad] things that we are doing, as well as from working with our hands and from [living on] the ground that Jehovah has cursed.’
Then, after he fathered Noah, [Lamech] lived on for some 565 years, as he fathered other sons and daughters.So Lamech was 753 years old when he died.
Well, it was after Noah was 500 years old that he fathered three sons; Shem, Ham, and JaPheth.
Now, as the population of men grew on the earth and they fathered daughters,the sons of The God noticed that the daughters of men were beautiful; so, they took all whom they chose as their women.
Then Jehovah God said:
‘There’s no way that My Breath will stay with these men. They’re [just] flesh, so their [lives] will last just 120 [more] years.’
Well, there were giants on the earth back in those days; for after that, the sons of The God continued to [had sex] with the daughters of mankind and fathered [children] for themselves that became the giants and the famous men of that age.
Well, Jehovah God saw that the badness of the people on the earth was getting much worse… for the things that they conceived in their hearts every day was all twisted toward evil.
So God became disturbed (gr. enethumethe) that He had created humans on the earth… He shook His head (gr. dienoethe)and declared:
‘I will wipe the humans that I made off the face of the earth… yes, the people, the cattle, and the winged creatures of the skies, for I’m sorry that I made them.’
However, Noah found mercy in the eyes of (The God) Jehovah.
This is the account of Noah’s generation:
Noah was a righteous man… perfect [when compared to] that generation, for Noah pleased God well.Then he fathered three sons; Shem, Ham, and JaPheth.
As God saw it, the land had become unclean and the earth was filled with unrighteousness.So when Jehovah God looked at the earth, all He saw was corruption, because all flesh had become corrupt in its ways.
Then Jehovah God told Noah:
‘A season is now before me [that will lead to the end of] all mankind, because the earth is filled with their unrighteousness. Look! I’m going to lay waste to them and to the whole earth!
So [you must] make a chest of squared timbers for yourself and [divide the] chest into stalls, then cover both the inside and outside of it with tar.
‘This is how you should build the chest: [Make it] 500 feet (152m) long, 80 feet (24.4m) wide, and 50 feet (15.25m) tall.You must also make a roof that is about 1 cubit [~20in, ~50cm] thick, and put a door in the side of the chest… make a bottom floor, a 2nd floor, and a 3rd floor.
[For after it’s completed], {Look!} I’m going to bring a downpour of water upon the ground to destroy all flesh under the skies that has the breath of life… so, all that is on the ground will then come to an end.And after that, I will establish an agreement between you and Me.’
‘Therefore, [I want you to] bring all [types of] cattle, slithering creatures, and wild animals – all [types of] flesh – into the chest by pairs of males and females.
Then, bring in enough food for them and for yourselves.For they will all be eating there with you… all the winged creatures, all types of cattle, and all varieties of slithering animals that crawl on the ground (both the males and the females).
Yes, you must gather all types of food for yourselves so that you will each have something to eat.’
And thereafter, Noah did everything that Jehovah God told him to do.
Then Jehovah God said to Noah:
‘Now you and your family must enter the chest, because I have found [just] you to be righteous among this generation.Take 7 pairs (males and females) of [all the] clean cattle in with you, and take in [single] pairs (males and females) of [all the] unclean animals.
‘[Do the same with all] the winged creatures of the sky… bring in 7 pairs (males and females) of the clean ones, and [just] pairs of all the unclean winged creatures, so that their seed will remain on the earth.
For in just 7 days, I will bring rain to the ground [that will last for] 40 days and 40 nights, and I will blot every creature that I’ve made off of the face of the entire earth!’
And thereafter, Noah did everything that Jehovah God had commanded him to do.
Noah was 600 years old when the Downpour of waters started on the earth.Then Noah, his woman, his sons, and their women went into the chest with him (because of the downpour of water).
And the clean winged creatures, the unclean winged creatures, the clean cattle, the unclean cattle, and all the wild animals as well as all the things that crawled on the groundcame to Noah and entered the chest in pairs of males and females, just as God had commanded Noah.
Then after 7 days, the waters of the Downpour started falling on the earth.
It was in the 600th year of Noah’s life, on the 27th day of the 2nd month, that all the springs under the ground broke open, and the floodgates of the skies were opened.Then it rained on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights.
It started on the very day that Noah, his woman, as well as Shem, Ham, JaPheth (the sons of Noah and his woman) and their three women went into the chest with him.
Also, all the wild animals (each of its kind), all the cattle (each of its kind), all the slithering animals that move on the earth (each of its kind),and all the winged creatures (each of its kind) went inside the chest to Noah in pairs of males and females… everything that had the breath of life.
Males and females of all flesh went inside, just as God had commanded Noah; then Jehovah God closed the chest from the outside.
Thereafter, the Downpour continued on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights, and the water got so deep that it lifted the chest high above the ground.
The water dominated and totally covered the land, and the chest was carried along on top of the water.For the water dominated and covered even the tallest mountains under the whole sky…it covered the highest mountains by at least 25 feet (7.6m).
So everything that moved on the earth died… all the men, winged creatures, cattle, wild animals, and all the animals that slithered across the ground.Everything that lived on the ground and had the breath of life, died.
God blotted out all His creatures on the face of the earth… the men, the animals, the winged creatures, and the slithering animals. He blotted them all from the earth. The only ones that remained were Noah and those that were with him inside the chest.
Altogether, the water covered the land for 150 days.
But God didn’t forget Noah or any of the wild animals, cattle, winged creatures, or crawling, slithering animals that were inside the chest.
So God sent a wind to the earth that stopped the water…for the springs that were under the ground closed and the floodgates of the skies and the rain from the skies were held back.
Then the water level started to drop, flowing off the ground. And after 150 days, the water lowered, and the chest came to rest on Mount Ararat on the 27th day of the 7th month.
Well, the water levels kept dropping through the 10th month,and on the 1st day of the 10th month, they could see the mountaintops.
Then, after 40 days, Noah opened the window that he had made in the chest, and he sent out a crow, which left and didn’t return until the water had abated.
So it left and it did not return until the water had dried off the ground.
And after that, he sent out a dove to see if the earth was still flooded.But the dove couldn’t find a place to rest its feet, because the water was still covering all the ground, and it returned to the chest.
So [Noah] stuck out his hand to take [the dove], and brought it to himself inside the chest.
Well, a week later, he sent the dove out from the chest once again.And that evening, the dove returned to him with a stem and leaf from an olive tree in its beak. That’s when Noah knew [for sure] that the water had left the ground.
However, he continued to wait another week before he released the dove once more. And this time, it didn’t return at all.
So by the 601st year of Noah’s life, on the 1st day of the 1st month, the water had poured off the ground.
Then Noah opened the roof that he had made for the chest, and he could finally see that the water had drained from the ground…and by the 22nd day of the 2nd month, the ground was dry.
Then Jehovah God spoke to Noah and said:
‘Come out of the chest… you, your woman, your sons, their women that are with you,and all the wild animals that are with you.
Bring out all the flesh that is with you – the winged creatures, the cattle, and the slithering animals that move on the ground – [so that they can] reproduce and multiply on the earth.’
So Noah, his woman, his sons, and his son’s women that were with him, came out.And all the wild animals, all the cattle, all the winged creatures, and all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground (according to their kinds) came out of the chest.
Then Noah built an altar to Jehovah, and he took some of the clean animals, as well as some from among all the clean winged creatures, and offered them whole… burning them on the altar.
And as Jehovah noticed the sweet smell, He thought about it and said:
‘Never again will I curse the ground for the bad things that men do, because the imagination of men is totally bent toward doing bad things from the time they are young. Also, will I never again [destroy] all living flesh as I have just done.Then, during all the days of the earth, the seed time and harvesting, the heat and the cold, the spring and the summer, and the days and nights won’t ever be brought to an end.’
Thereafter, God blest Noah and his sons and told them:
‘Now, reproduce and multiply… fill the earth and rule over it.For all the wild animals of the earth, all the winged creatures in the skies, and everything that moves on the ground (including all the creatures in the seas) will have a dread and fear of you. So I have put you in charge over all of them.
‘Also, all the living and slithering animals can serve as meat for you… I have given them all to you as though they were green vegetation.But you must not eat their flesh with its blood of life,or I will require your blood at the hand of all those wild animals.
I will also require a man’s life at the hands of his brothers…for, whoever spills the blood of mankind will also have his blood spilled, since I made mankind in the image of God.
Now, reproduce and multiply… fill the earth and rule over it!’
Then The God spoke to Noah and his sons that were with him and said:
‘Look; I am making an agreement between you and Me, [as well as] with your seed [that will come] after youand with every living thing (the winged creatures, the [domesticated] animals, and all the wild animals of the earth)… with all that are with you and came out of the chest.
This is My promise to you and to all flesh:
I will never again send a downpour of water to kill all flesh, and never again will I send a downpour to destroy the whole earth.’
Then The God said to Noah:
‘This is the sign of the Agreement that I have established between you and Me through ages of generations, as well as with every living creature that is with you:
I have put My bow in the clouds, which will serve as the sign of the Agreement between the earth and Me,so that whenever I gather clouds over the earth, My bow will be seen in those clouds,and this will remind Me of My agreement between you and Me, and with every living creature and all flesh, that never again will I send a downpour of water that will blot out all flesh.
My bow will be there in the clouds, and when I see it, I will remember the age-long agreement between Me and the earth, as well as with every living creature among all the flesh that is on the earth.’
And God said to Noah:
‘Yes, this is the sign of the Agreement that I made with all flesh that is on the earth and Myself.’
Now, the sons of Noah that came out of the chest were [named] Shem, Ham, and JaPheth (Ham was the father of CanaAn).And it was from these three sons of Noah that all men came to be scattered over the whole earth.
Thereafter, Noah took up farming and he planted some grapes.[Then, one day], Noah was drinking some wine while he was naked in his house, and he got drunk.But then, Ham (CanaAn’s father) saw his father’s nakedness, and he went outside and told his brothers about it.
So Shem and JaPheth grabbed a robe, put it over their backs, and walked backward to cover their father’s naked body.
And because they were looking away, they didn’t see their father’s nakedness.
Well, after Noah recovered from the wine, he realized what his son had done to him.So he said:
‘The servant CanaAn is cursed, and he will be a slave to his brothers.’
Then he added:
‘May Jehovah, Shem’s God, bless him… but let CanaAn be his houseboy.
Also, may God make room for JaPheth and allow him to live in the tents of Shem… and may CanaAn then become his also.’
Well, after the Downpour, Noah lived on for another 350 years.So he lived for 950 years, and then he died.
Now, these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and JaPheth. And these are the sons that were born to them after the Downpour:
JaPheth’s sons were Gamer, Magog [the Scythians], Madoi [the Medes], Jovan, EliSa, ThoBel [of Tubal], Mosoch [possibly Moscow of Russia], and Thiras [Islands of the Aegean Sea].
Gamer’s sons were AshKenaz [Germans and Slavs], RiPhath [of Northwestern Asia Minor], and Thorgama [the Armenians].
Jovan’s sons were EliShah [of Tyre], TarShish [of Spain], Cetian [of Cypress], and Rhodes [of Rhodes]…[they settled the] islands, which lands were divided by tribe and nation among the ethnics, each according to his own language.
Ham’s sons were Kush [blacks], Mesrain [Egyptian tribes], Phud [Libyans], and CanaAn [Palestinians].
The sons of Kush were Saba [other blacks of southern Africa], Evilat, SaBatha, Rhegma, and Sabathaca [East Africans].
The sons of Rhegma were Saba [of 13 Arabian Tribes], and Dadan [part of Arabia].
Kush fathered NimRod, who became a giant on the earth.He was a gigantic hunter before Jehovah God, and that’s why people speak of NimRod as ‘the gigantic hunter before Jehovah.’
His kingdom started with Babylon and ran to Orech, Archad, and ChalanNe, which were all in the land of Shinar.
Then outside of that land, [he went to] Assyria and built Nineveh, the cities of RehobOth, Chalach,and Dase (between Nineveh, and Chalach), which is the great city.
Mesrain fathered the Lydim [Lydians], the MaphTuhim [people of Memphis, Egypt], the AnaMim [Libyans], the Lehabim [people of Lower Egypt],
the Pathrusim [people of Upper Egypt], the Casluhim [Cretans] (from whom the Philistines descended), and the GaphThoriim [also from the area of Crete].
CanaAn’s first-born son was Sidon. Then there were the Hittites,the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,the Hevites, the Arukites, the Sinites [Chinese?], the Asenites,the Aradians, the Samarians [Northern Lebanon], and the Hamathites.
But the CanaAnites were scattered,so their territory ran from Sidon to Gerar (near Gaza), to Sodom and GomorRah, to Adama, and to Seboim, as far as Dasa.
These were the descendants of Ham by tribe, country, language, and nation.
Shem, who was the elder brother of JaPheth and the ancestor of all the sons of Heber, also had children born to him.His sons were ElAm, AsSur, ArphaxAd, Lud, Aram, and Kainan.
Aram’s sons were Uz, Ul, Gater, and Mosoch.
ArphaxAd fathered [a son whom he named] Kainan, who fathered Sala, who fathered [a son whom he named] Heber.This Heber had two sons. He named the first PhalEd (Division), because the land became divided in his day, and his brother’s name was JekTan.
JekTan fathered ElModad, Saleth, SarMoth, Jarach,OdorRha, AiBel, Decla,Eval, AbiMaEl, Saba,Uphir, Evila, and Jobab. These were all the sons of JekTan.Their territory ran from MasSe all the way to Saphera, which is a mountain in the east.
These were the sons of Shem by tribe, language, country, and nation,and these were the tribes of the sons of Noah by generations and nations. From them came the people of all the islands and nations that were scattered around the earth after the Downpour.
[At the time], the whole earth shared the same lips, because they all spoke the same language.And as they migrated from the east, they found a flat area of land in Shinar, and started living there.Then one man said to his neighbor:
‘Come on, let’s make some bricks and bake them in an oven.’
So bricks became their stone and tar served as their mortar.
And they said:
‘Come on; let’s build ourselves a city with a tower that reaches into the sky. And let’s create a name for ourselves, before we end up being scattered all over the face of the earth.’
Then Jehovah came down to see this city and its tower that the sons of men had built.And Jehovah said:
‘Look; they’re all the same race and they share the same lips… and now they’ve started doing this. [Before long], they’ll be able to accomplish anything they set out to do.
Therefore, let’s go down there and change their language so that no one will be able to understand the voice of his neighbor.’
So, Jehovah scattered them from there over the entire face of the earth, and they stopped building the city and its tower.
That is why [the city] is named Confusion (Babylon), because, that’s where Jehovah confused all the languages of the earth and scattered them from there over all the face of the earth.
These are the generations of Shem:
Shem was 100 years old when he became father to ArphaxAd in the 2nd year after the Downpour.
And after Shem became father to ArphaxAd, he lived 335 more years (fathering other sons and daughters), and then he died.
ArphaxAd was 135 years old when he became father to Kainan.And after ArphaxAd became the father to Kainan, he lived 330 years more (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.
Kainan was 130 years old when he became father to Sala. And after he became father to Sala, he lived 330 years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.
Sala was 130 years old when he became father to Heber.And after he became father to Heber, he lived 330 years more (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.
Heber was 134 years old when he became father to Phaleg.And after he became father to Phaleg, he lived 270 years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.
Phaleg was 130 years old when he became father to Ragau.After he became father to Ragau, he lived 209 years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.
Ragau was 132 years old when he became father to Seruch.After he became father to Seruch, he lived 207 years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.
Seruch was 130 years old when he became father to NaHor.And after he became father to NaHor, he lived 200 years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.
NaHor was 79 years old when he became father to Terah.And after he became father to Terah, he lived 129 years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.
[After] Terah was 70 years old, he became father to Abram, NaHor, and Haran.
These are the generations of Terah:
Terah became father to Abram, NaHor, and Haran; and Haran became father to Lot.
Haran died in the presence of Terah his father in the land where he was born, the country of the Chaldeans.
Both Abram and NaHor then took women for themselves.
Abram’s woman was named Sara, and NaHor’s woman was named Malcha. She was the daughter of Haran (the father of Malcha and Jescha).
However, Sara was sterile, so she didn’t have any children.
Then Terah took his son Abram, Abram’s woman Sara (his daughter-in-law), and his grandson Lot (the son of Haran), and led them from the land of the Chaldeans toward the land of CanaAn.
However, when they got to Haran, they started living there.And thereafter, Terah continued living in the land of Haran for the next 205 years, and [that is where] he died.
Then Jehovah said to Abram:
‘Leave this land, as well as your family and your father’s home, and go to a land that I will show you,because I’m going to make a great nation of you. I will bless you, make your name famous, and you will become a blessing [to others].
I will bless those that praise you and curse those that curse you… all the tribes will be blest because of you.’
So Abram did just as Jehovah told him… and Lot went with him.
Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran,taking along his woman Sara, his nephew Lot, all the many things that they owned, and all the souls that they had accumulated in Haran, as they traveled to the land of CanaAn.
Abram traveled down through the land to a place called SheChem, where there was a tall tree. And at the time, the CanaAnites were living in the land.
Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said:
‘I will give this land to your seed.’
So Abram built an altar there to the Lord that had appeared to him.
Then he moved on from there to a mountain that was east of BethEl, and he pitched his tent near BethEl, close to the sea, east of AgGai. There he built an altar to Jehovah and started calling on the Name of the Lord.
Thereafter, Abram left that place and camped in the desert.
Well, there came a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay, because the famine had devastated the land.
And as Abram was about to enter Egypt, he said to his woman Sara:
‘You’re a beautiful woman,[and I’m afraid] that when the Egyptians see you they’ll say, [Look at] his woman, and they’ll kill me… but they will allow you to live.
So tell people that you’re my sister. That way, things will go well for me because of you, and my life will be safe because of you.’
And that’s what happened; when Abram entered Egypt and the Egyptians saw how beautiful his woman was,one of PharaOh’s princes praised her to PharaOh (likely Pepi II) and brought her into PharaOh’s [Palace].
And because of her, PharaOh treated Abram very well. So he accumulated [many] sheep, calves, burros, male and female servants, mules, and camels.
However, God cursed PharaOh and his house with some very serious and difficult problems because of Sara (Abram’s woman).
So PharaOh called Abram and asked:
‘What have you done to me? You didn’t tell me that she’s your woman.Why did you tell us that she’s your sister? Look, I’ve already taken her as mine!
Now, there’s your woman standing before you… she’s yours, so take her and leave quickly!’
Then PharaOh gave his men instructions about Abram, telling them to accompany him and his woman on their way, along with all the things that they owned.
So thereafter, Abram left Egypt and traveled into the desert along with his woman and with Lot, taking along everything that he owned(for by then, Abram had become very rich in cattle, silver, and gold).
So he returned to the place where he had come from (in the desert near BethEl, between BethEl and AgGai, where he had pitched his tent previously),and to the place where he had earlier built the altar andcalled on the Name of the Lord.
At the time, Lot (who had left [Egypt] along with Abram) had also accumulated many sheep, oxen, and tents;so the land just wasn’t large enough for both of them to live together, because of their many possessions.
And since there wasn’t enough land to share, there were problems between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle, the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle, and with the CanaAnites and Pherezites who lived in that land. So Abram said to Lot:
‘There shouldn’t be problems between you and me, or between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, because we are brothers.
Look; the whole land lies before you, so leave me and choose your own way. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; or if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.’
So Lot surveyed all the country around the JorDan and noticed that it had plenty of water (this was before God overthrew Sodom and GomorRah). It looked like the Paradise of Jehovah and like the land of Egypt up to Zogora.
So Lot chose all the country around the JorDan for himself and he traveled to the east, as the brothers parted ways.
Now, as Abram took up living in the land of CanaAn,Lot [chose] to live in a city among neighbors; so he moved to Sodom.
However, the men of Sodom were evil and they were sinning before God.
Then The God said to Abram (after Lot had separated from him):
‘Look around at this place where you’re standing… look to the north, to the south, to the east, and to the sea.I will give all this land that you see before you, to you and your seed through the ages.And I will make your seed like the dust of the ground.
Why, if anyone is able to count all the dust of the earth, he should be able to count your seed.So get up and walk across the land… across its length and its breadth. I’m giving it all to you and to your seed through the ages!’
Well after that, Abram packed up his tent and started living by the big tree [close to] MamRe in HebRon, and he built an altar there to Jehovah.
It was during the reign of AmarPhal (the king of Shinar) and AriOch (the king of ElLasar), that ChodolLogomor(the king of ElAm) and Thargal (the king of the Gentiles) went to war with BalLa (the king of Sodom), BarSa (the king of GomorRah), Sennaar (the king of Adama), SymoBor (the king of Seboim), and Balac (or Segor).
So they all agreed to meet together at the Salt Valley (which is now the Dead Sea).For they had served as vassals to ChodolLogomor for some 12 years, but in the 13th year they revolted.
So in the 14th year, ChodolLogomor and his allies attacked them, cutting the giants in AshtarOth CarNain to pieces, along with the strong nations that were their allies (the OmMeans in the city of Saue andthe ChorRheans in the mountains of SeIr) all the way to the turpentine trees of Pharan (in the desert).
And on their return, they stopped at the Well of Judgment (Cades), where they cut to pieces all the princes of Amalecites and the Amorites that were living in AsaSon/Thamar.
And then the kings of Sodom, GomorRah, Adama, Seboim, and Balac (or Segor) went out and set up battle lines against these other kings in the Salt Valley– against ChodolLogomor (king of ElAm), Thargal (king of the Gentiles), AmarPhal (king of Shinar), and AriOch (the king of ElLasar) – the 4 against 5.
Now, there were slime pits in the Salt Valley, and the kings of Sodom and GomorRah fell into them as they were fleeing (and as the rest were retreating into the mountains).
So [the invaders] took all the horses and food in Sodom and GomorRah and they left,carrying away Abram’s nephew Lot (who lived in Sodom), along with all of his possessions.
Then one of those that had been rescued went and told Abram (the Hebrew) [what had happened].
At the time, he was living by the large tree [that belonged to] MamRe. ([MamRe] was an Amorite, the brother of Eschol and AuNan (who were Abram’s allies).
And when Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he gathered 318 of his personal home-born servants, and pursued them all the way to Dan.
Then when he and his servants caught up with them that night, he attacked them and pursued them all the way to Choba, which is to the left of Damascus.
So he recovered all the horses of Sodom, his nephew Lot, and all of his possessions and women, as well as the rest of the people.
Then after [Abram] returned from the slaughter of ChodolLogomor and the kings that were with him; the king of Sodom traveled to the valley of Saby (in the plain of the king) to meet with him.
And there, MelchiZedek (the king of Salem) brought him some loaves [of bread] and some wine.
This man was also the Priest of the Most High God,and he blest Abram there, saying:
‘May Abram of the Most High God that made the heavens and the earth, be blest.And may the Most High God that delivered your enemies into your hands be praised.’
Then Abram gave him 1/10th of everything [that he had captured].
And the king of Sodom said to Abram:
‘Let me take all the men… you can keep the horses for yourself.’
But Abram said to the king of Sodom:
‘I swear by Jehovah, the Most High God who made the heavens and the earth,that I won’t take anything from you – not so much as a piece of string or a shoe lace – so you won’t be able to say, I’m the one that made Abram wealthy.
[I will take] nothing other than what the young men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men that went with me… Eschol, AuNan, and MamRe… they will each take a portion.’
Well after that, Jehovah sent word to Abram in a vision, saying:
‘Don’t be afraid, Abram; for, I am your shield and you will receive a huge reward.’
Then Abram said:
‘O Almighty Jehovah; What can You give me, since I’m about to die without a son? EliEzer of Damascus, the home-born son of my [slave girl] Masek of Damascus, is my heir.’
And Abram continued:
‘I’m so very sad, because You haven’t given me a seed, and the home-born [of my slave girl] will be my heir.’
Well, the Lord immediately replied, saying:
‘He won’t be your heir… another that comes from you will be your heir.’
Then He took him outside and said:
‘Look up into the sky and count all the stars… that is, if you can come up with an accurate count.’
And He said: ‘This is how your seed will be.’
So Abram believed The God (gr. To Theo), and his [faith] was counted to him as righteousness.
Then [God] said to him:
‘I’m the God that brought you out of the land of the Chaldeans to give you this land as an inheritance.’
And [Abram] said:
‘My Lord and Master; How can I know [for sure] that I will inherit it?’
And He replied:
‘Collect for Me a 3-year-old heifer, a 3-year-old nanny goat, a 3-year-old billy goat, a dove, and a pigeon.’
So Abram brought all three of [the animals] to Him, cut them each into halves, and set [the halves] opposite each other… but he didn’t cut the winged creatures into halves.
Well, birds then started landing on the bodies (the cut-up parts), as Abram sat there next to them.
Then, about sunset, Abram fell into a trance and {Look!} he had an ominous premonition.For Abram was told:
‘You must know this for a fact; Your seed will have to live as aliens in a foreign land where they’ll be slaves that are treated badly and humbled for 400 years.
Then I will judge the nation that they are to serve; and following that, [your seed] will return here with many possessions.However, you will go to your fathers well fed and in peace at a ripe old age.
Then the 4th generation will return here; because, even to this point, the sins of the Amorites haven’t reached their climax yet.’
Well, as the sun was setting, {look!} there was a flame that looked like a smoking furnace and like lamp fires that moved between the divided pieces [of the animals].
This was the day that Jehovah made a Sacred Agreement with Abram. He said:
‘I will give this land – from the [Nile] River of Egypt to the great EuPhrates River – to your seed,along with the Kainites, the Kenezites, the KedMoneans, the Hittites, the Pherezites, the Raphaim,the Amorites, the CanaAnites, the Hevites, the Gergesites, and the Jebusites.’
Well, Sara (Abram’s woman) hadn’t given him any children. However, she had an Egyptian handmaid whose name was Hagar.
And so, Sara said to Abram:
‘Look; Jehovah has kept me from getting pregnant; so, [sleep with] my maid that I might have my children through her.’
Well, Abram accepted this offer from Sara,so Sara (Abram’s woman) took Hagar her Egyptian handmaid (this was after Abram had lived in the land of CanaAn for 10 years) and gave her to her man Abram as his woman.
Then [Abram] went in to [bed with] Hagar, and she became pregnant.
However, after she realized that she was going to have a child, she started being disrespectful to her mistress.So Sara said to Abram:
‘I’ve really been hurt by you, for I gave you my handmaid [to sleep with], and when I saw that she was pregnant, she started treating me disrespectfully.
So may Jehovah judge between you and me!’
Then Abram told Sara:
‘Look, your handmaid is yours! Treat her any way that seems right to you!’
So Sara started treating [Hagar] badly, and she ran away.
Then a messenger from Jehovah found [Hagar] by a spring of water in the desert (the spring on the way to Sur).And Jehovah’s messenger said to her:
‘Hagar, Sara’s maid; Where are you coming from and where are you going?’
And she replied:
‘I’m running away from my mistress, Sara.’
Then Jehovah’s messenger said:
‘Return to your mistress and obey her.’
And the messenger of Jehovah told her:
‘I will make your seed grow, and they’ll become so many that they can’t be counted.’
The messenger of Jehovah then went on to say:
‘Look; You are pregnant with a child. You will give birth to a son, and you should name him IshMaEl (‘God has Noticed’), because Jehovah has noticed how you’ve been humiliated.
He will be a wild man, for his fists [will be lifted] against everyone, and everyone [will lift] their fists against him. However, he will live in the midst of all his brothers.
Then she called upon the Name of the Lord God that was speaking to her, saying:
‘You are the God that watches over me,’ and she added, ‘because I openly saw the One who appeared to me.’
[So from that point on], she called that well, ‘The Well of The One Whom I Openly Saw.’ Look; it [still can be found] between Cades and BarAd!
Well thereafter, Hagar bore a son to Abram; and Abram named the son that Hagar bore to him, IshMaEl.Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore IshMaEl.
Then, when Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him [again] and said:
‘I am your God; so, if you’ll be pleasing before Me and not do anything for which you can be blamed,I will establish a Sacred Agreement between you and Me, and I will prosper you greatly!’
Well at that, Abram fell with his face [to the ground]. Then The God spoke to him [again], saying:
‘Look; I am making My Sacred Agreement with you. Since you will become the father of many nations, your name will no longer be called Abram, but AbraHam;for I’ve made you the father of many nations.
I will make you grow tremendously, I will make nations come from you, and kings will descend from you.
‘I will also extend my Sacred Agreement between you and Me to the seed that comes from you through its generations. It is a Sacred Agreement through the ages that [I] will be your God and the God of the seed that comes from you.
Also, I will give the land where you are [now] living as an alien, to you and to your seed. This includes the entire land of CanaAn… it will become yours through the ages, and I will be their God.’
Then The God told AbraHam:
‘You must absolutely keep my Sacred Agreement… both you and your seed that descends from you through all their generations.
‘This is the Sacred Agreement between you and your seed and Me through all its generations:
All of your males must be circumcised…the foreskin of their flesh must be circumcised, for this will be the sign of the Sacred Agreement between you and Me.
All of your male children must be circumcised by you when they are 8-days old, throughout all your generations. [This includes all your] home-born servants and those who are bought with money (the sons of aliens that are not your seed).
‘Those that are born in your house and those that are bought with money must surely be circumcised. So My Sacred Agreement will be in their flesh as [a sign of the] Sacred Agreement through the ages.
As for the uncircumcised males that aren’t circumcised in the flesh of their foreskin on the 8th day; such individuals must be totally destroyed from among their families for breaking My Sacred Agreement!’
Then The God told AbraHam:
‘Your woman Sara will no longer be called Sara… SarAh will be her name.For I will bless her and give you a son from her, whom I will also bless… nations and kings of nations will come from him!’
Well with that, AbraHam fell to his face and laughed, asking in his heart:
‘Will a 100-year-old [man] father a child? And will SarAh (who is 90 years old) give birth to it?’
Then AbraHam said to God:
‘Please accept IshMaEl to [stand] before You.’
But God told AbraHam:
‘Look; Your woman SarAh will give birth to your son, and you should name him IsaAc (Laughter).
I will make my Sacred Agreement [with you] firm through him… it will be an age-long Sacred Agreement that I will be his God and [the God] of his seed that descends from him.
‘As for IshMaEl; {Look!} I have heard you and I have blest him. I will make him grow and multiply tremendously, so he will become the father of 12 nations that I will make a great people.
However, My Sacred Agreement will be established with IsaAc, whom SarAh will bear to you at this time next year.’
Then The God stopped talking to him, and He left AbraHam.
Well thereafter, AbraHam took his son IshMaEl, all of his home-born servants, all of those whom he had bought with money… all the males in AbraHam’s house, and circumcised their foreskins on that very day, just as God had told him.
AbraHam was 99 years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin,and his son IshMaEl was 13 years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
Both AbraHam and his son IshMaEl were circumcised that very day,along with all the men of his house… those that were born there and the foreigners that were bought with money.
God [next] appeared to [AbraHam] around noon, as he was sitting at the entrance to his tent by the big tree close to MamRe.For when he looked up, he saw three men standing in front of him.
And when he noticed them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them, bowing all the way to the ground.Then he said:
‘Lords; If I have indeed found favor in your sight, don’t pass your servant by.[I’ll have] water brought and [my servants] will wash your feet.
You just rest here under this tree.I will also bring some bread for you to eat, and then you can continue your journey… allow your servant to offer you some refreshment.’
And they replied:
‘You may do as you have said.’
So AbraHam ran back to SarAh (who was in the tent) and said to her:
‘Hurry… knead three scoops of fine flour and make [some bread].’
Then AbraHam ran to the pens, where he took a young calf (a nice, tender one) and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.
Next, he got some butter, some milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set it all out before them… and they ate as he stood near them under the tree.
Then the Lord asked:
‘Where is your woman SarAh?’
And [AbraHam] replied:
‘Look, she’s there in the tent!’
So the Lord said:
‘I will return this way and come to see you during this season [next year], and your woman SarAh will have a son.’
Well, SarAh overheard this as she stood behind him at the entrance of the tent.
And because AbraHam and SarAh were old, and SarAh was [well beyond the age of child bearing], she laughed inside herself, saying,
‘This hasn’t happened to me [in the past]… and now my lord is [too] old!’
And at that, the Lord asked AbraHam:
‘Why is SarAh laughing inside herself and asking,
Will I give birth? I’m already old.
Is there anything that is impossible for Jehovah?
I will return to you [next year] in this season, and SarAh will have a son!’
However, SarAh denied it, saying, ‘I didn’t laugh’ (she said this because she was afraid).
And the Lord replied:
‘Oh, but you did laugh.’
Then the men got up and headed toward Sodom and GomorRah, and AbraHam traveled along with them to assist in their journey.
So the Lord then asked:
‘Shall I hide the things that I’m about to do from my servant AbraHam?
For AbraHam will become a great and highly populated nation through whom all the nations of the earth will be blest,because I know that he will order his sons and the house that is to come from him to keep the ways of Jehovah… to be righteous and just, so that Jehovah can bring all the things to AbraHam that He has promised.’
Then the Lord told him this:
‘The cries that I’m hearing about Sodom and GomorRah keep growing, and their sins are very bad.So I’m going down to see if they are as bad as the cries that I’m hearing have said.
And if not, at least I will know [for sure].’
And at that, the men headed toward Sodom.
Meanwhile, AbraHam was still there in the Lord’s presence.
So AbraHam went up to him and asked:
‘Are you going to destroy the righteous along with the wicked, treating the righteous as though they were wicked?If there are 50 righteous [people] in the city, will you destroy them? Wouldn’t you spare the whole place if there were 50 righteous [people] there?
You would never do such a thing as to destroy the righteous along with the wicked and treat the righteous as though they were wicked… no way! Won’t you, the judge of the whole earth, do what is right?’
And the Lord said:
‘If there are 50 righteous [people] in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole city and the whole place for their sakes.’
Then AbraHam continued:
‘My Lord; Here I am speaking to you, and all I am is dirt and ashes.However, what if there weren’t 50 righteous [people] and there were only 45. Would you destroy the whole city because of the lack of 5?’
And the Lord said:
‘I won’t destroy it if I can find 45 there.’
However, [AbraHam] just kept talking to him and said:
‘What if there are only 40?Would you not destroy it for the sake of the 40?’
And he went on,
‘Lord, please don’t hold it against me if I continue to speak; but, what if there are 30?’
And the Lord replied:
‘I won’t destroy it for the sake of 30.’
So he said:
‘Since I am allowed to speak to [my] Lord; What if you can only find 20?’
And he said:
‘I won’t destroy it if I can only find 20.’
Finally, he said:
‘Lord; Would you hold it against me if I were to say just one more thing? What if you were to find just 10 [righteous people]?’
And he replied:
‘I won’t destroy it for the sake of the 10.’
Then the Lord stopped speaking to AbraHam and left, and AbraHam returned to his [tent].
Well, that evening, the two messengers [of God] finally arrived at Sodom, where they found Lot sitting by the [city] gate.
And when Lot saw them, he got up [and went] to meet them, bowing low with his face to the ground. He said:
‘Look here, my lords; come to the house of your servant and rest from your journey. [Then you can] wash your feet and get up early in the morning to continue on your way.’
However, they said:
‘No, we’ll just sleep here in the street.’
But [Lot] kept insisting, so they went with him to his house. Then he baked fermentation-free bread and made a feast for them, which they ate.
[Well, that evening], before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom gathered around the house… all of them, from the young to the old,and they shouted for Lot, saying:
‘Where are the men that came to your home this evening? Send them out to us, so we can [have sex] with them!’
Well, Lot went out on his porch, shut the door behind him,and said:
‘Absolutely not, my brothers! Don’t do this wicked thing!I have two daughters that have never [had sex] with a man. I will bring them out to you and you can do whatever you want with them.
However, don’t harm these men! It was to avoid such a thing that [I brought them] under the shelter of my roof!’
But they replied:
‘Get out of the way! You came here to live among us, and [now, do you think] have become our judge?
We’re going to do more harm to you than we’ll do to them!’
So they started pushing Lot and were ready to break down his door.
But the [messengers] reached out and grabbed Lot, dragged him back inside the house, and shut the door.
Then they struck the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both the great and the small… until they finally got tired of trying to find the door.
And the [messengers] said to Lot:
‘If you have any sons, daughters, sons in law, or any friends in the city, you must take them away from this place,because we’re going to destroy it!
A great cry has been raised against [this city] to Jehovah, and [He] has sent us to destroy it.’
So Lot went and spoke to his [future] sons-in-law that [were engaged to] his daughters, and said:
‘Get up and leave this place, because Jehovah is going to destroy the city!’
However, to his [future] sons-in-law, it seemed as though he was joking.
Then the next morning, the messengers started to hurry Lot along, saying:
‘Get up! Take your woman and your two daughters and go, so you won’t be destroyed with the sins of this city!’
However, they were unsure. So the messengers grabbed the hands of Lot, his woman, and his two daughters… and that’s how Jehovah saved them.
Then, once they were outside [of the city], the [messengers] told them:
‘Now, do whatever you must to save your own lives. You must not turn around and look back at the things that are behind you… and don’t stay anywhere in the countryside around here. Run to the mountains, so you won’t be [destroyed along] with the rest!’
But Lot said:
‘I beg you, Lord; Your servant has been shown such mercy and you have shown such righteousness in the things that you’ve done for me to save my life.However, I won’t be able to make it to the mountains, because the [destruction] will likely catch up with me and kill me.
Look, there’s a town nearby… a small one that I can escape to and be spared. Isn’t this just a small thing?
If you [allow] this, you will save my life!’
And [the messenger] told him:
‘Look; I will respect your wishes in this matter and I won’t destroy the town that you’re talking about.But hurry and get out of here, because I won’t be able to do anything until you get there.’
And from that point on, [Lot] referred to that town as Segor (small).
Well, the sun was already up by the time that Lot arrived in Segor, and that’s whenJehovah poured fire and sulfur from the sky upon Sodom and GomorRah,which destroyed those cities, all the countryside around them and everyone that lived in the cities… including even the plants that grew on the ground.
However, [Lot’s] woman had turned and looked back, and she then became an upright block of salt.
Well, that morning (as AbraHam arose early to go to the place where he had stood before the Lord);when he looked toward Sodom, GomorRah, and the surrounding countryside, he saw what looked like the flames and smoke of a furnace arising from that land!
And this is how it all happened.
However, when God destroyed all the cities around there, He remembered AbraHam and He brought Lot out of the midst of that destruction, when the Lord overthrew those cities where Lot had been living.
Well after that, Lot and his daughters left Segor and they went to live in the mountains, because he was afraid to live in Segor. So he and his daughters went and lived in a cave.
[It was there that] the eldest [daughter] said to the younger:
‘Our father is old, and no one on earth will come to us here where we’re living.So let’s get our father drunk with wine and then we will sleep with him, so we can have the seed of our father.’
Well, that night, they brought their father some wine to drink, and the eldest went in and laid down with him.
However, he wasn’t aware of when he went to sleep or when he got up.
Then the next day, the eldest said to the younger:
‘Look; I slept with our father last night. Therefore, let’s get him some wine to drink again tonight, and then you go in and sleep with him, so we can raise a seed from our father.’
Well, they got their father to drink wine again, and the younger went in and slept with her father that night… and he didn’t know when he went to sleep or when he got up.
As the result, the two daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father.Then the eldest bore a son whom she called MoAb, saying:
‘He’s of my father.’
([MoAb] is the father of the MoAbites to this day).
And the younger also bore a son whom she named AmMon, saying:
‘He’s the son of my family.’
([AmMon] is the father of the AmMonites to this day).
Well, sometime after that, AbraHam moved to the southern part of the country and took up living between Cades and Sur, staying for a while in GeraRa.And [there], AbraHam [again told the people] that his woman SarAh was his sister.
He didn’t want to say, ‘She’s my woman,’ for fear that the men of that city would kill him because of her.
So AbiMelech (the king of GeraRa) sent for SarAh and took her [to be his woman].
But God came to AbiMelech at night in a dream and told him:
‘Look; You’re all going to die because of this woman you’ve taken, since she [already has] a man!’
Well, AbiMelech hadn’t touched her [yet], so he replied:
‘Lord, would you destroy a righteous nation that has sinned in ignorance?
Didn’t he tell me, She’s my sister?
And didn’t she tell me, He’s my brother?
I’ve done this with righteous hands and with a pure heart.’
Then The God replied to him in his [dream], saying:
‘Yes, I know that you did this with a pure heart. That’s why I’ve spared you and [kept you from] sinning against Me, and that’s why I also kept you from touching her.
So return this man’s woman now, because he’s a Prophet. Then he will pray for you and you will continue to live.
However, if you don’t return her, you and all that are yours will die.’
So early the next morning, AbiMelech got up and called all his servants in; then he told them everything that was said, which frightened them.
And thereafter, AbiMelech called AbraHam in and asked:
‘What have you done to us? [What type of bad] have you seen in me that you should do such a thing? Have we sinned against you in some way so that you would draw my whole kingdom and me into such a great sin?
Why, you’ve done something to me that no one should ever do!’
And AbiMelech continued:
‘What [bad] have you seen in me that you would do such a thing?’
Then AbraHam replied:
‘[I thought] that this surely couldn’t be a place of godly people, so they will kill me for my woman.
[And in fact], she really is my sister by my father (but not by my mother), whom I took as my woman.
So when God took me from my father’s house, I told her:
I have a righteous thing that I want you to do for me: Wherever we go, tell [people] that I’m your brother.’
Then AbiMelech returned his woman SarAh, along with 1,000 silver coins, as well as sheep, cattle, and male and female servants.
And AbiMelech said to AbraHam:
‘Look, my whole land lies before you. So now, go wherever you wish.’
Then he told SarAh:
‘Look, I’ve given your brother 1,000 silver coins. These are yours as the price of your face and for all the women that are with you… but [in the future, you must] always tell the whole truth!’
So AbraHam prayed to God, and God healed AbiMelech. [He also healed AbiMelech’s] woman and his concubines, and they thereafter gave birth to children(since Jehovah had closed all the wombs in AbiMelech’s house due to AbraHam’s woman, SarAh).
Then the Lord visited SarAh and did as [He had promised] to her.She became pregnant and bore a son to AbraHam in his old age, at the exact time that the Lord had specified.And AbraHam named the son that was born to him through SarAh, IsaAc (Laughter).
Then on the 8th day, AbraHam circumcised IsaAc, just as God had instructed him.
AbraHam was 100 years old when his son IsaAc was born.And SarAh said:
‘Jehovah has created laughter for me, because everyone that hears [about this] will rejoice with me.’
Then she added:
‘Who could tell AbraHam that I’m nursing a child, because I’ve given birth in my old age?’
Thereafter, the child grew; and on the day that he was weaned, AbraHam prepared a great feast.However, SarAh noticed Hagar’s son (the one that was born to AbraHam through the Egyptian [woman]) playfully making fun of their son IsaAc.So she told AbraHam:
‘Throw this slave woman and her son out, because I won’t have the son of this slave receive an inheritance with my son IsaAc!’
Now, those words about his son were very difficult for AbraHam.But God said to AbraHam:
‘Don’t allow this thing about your son and the slave woman to become too difficult for you. Listen to whatever SarAh tells you, because IsaAc will be the one that is called your seed.However, I will make a great nation of this slave woman’s son, because he’s also your seed.’
So the next morning, AbraHam got up, gave Hagar some loaves [of bread] and a skin of water, put her son on her shoulders, and sent her away. Then she left there and wandered in the desert near the Well of the Promise.
However, [before long], the skin of water was empty. So she threw her child under a fir tree,where she left him, and then she sat some distance across from him (a bow-shot away). And she said:
‘I can’t just watch my child die.’
So she sat there across from him as her child bawled and cried.
Well, God heard the voice of the child from the place where He was, and a messenger from God called to Hagar out of the sky, and asked:
‘Why are you so concerned, Hagar? Don’t worry; for God has heard the child’s voice from where He is.So now, get up and take the child by his hand, because I’m going to make a great nation of him.’
Then The God opened her eyes and she saw a life [sustaining] well of water; so she went and filled the skin with water and gave the child a drink.
God was with that child, so he grew up living in the desert and he became an archer.And as he was living there in the desert, his mother found a woman for him in Pharan, Egypt.
Now, the time came when AbiMelech, OchoZath (his trusted friend), and Pichol (the head of his army) [came to] AbraHam and said:
‘God is with you [and has blest] everything that you do.So swear to me by God that you won’t harm me, my seed, or my name; rather, you should deal with me in the same righteous way that I’ve dealt with you in this land in which you are living.’
And AbraHam said:
‘I swear.’
Then AbraHam complained to AbiMelech about some water wells that his servants had taken from him.And AbiMelech replied:
‘I don’t know who did this thing to you, nor did you tell me about it. Today is the first time I’ve heard of this.’
And thereafter, AbraHam took some cattle and sheep and gave them to AbiMelech, and they made a treaty.Then AbraHam set aside 7 female lambs.And AbiMelech asked him:
‘Why have you set those 7 female lambs aside?’
And AbraHam replied:
‘I’m giving my 7 female lambs to you as testimony to the fact that I dug this well.’
So thereafter, he named that place, ‘The Well of the Promise,’ because that’s where they swore their oathand made their treaty. Then AbiMelech, his trusted friend OchoZath, and Pichol (the head of his army) got up and returned [home] to the land of the Philistines.
Well, after that, AbraHam planted a field near The Well of the Promise and started calling on the Name of the God of the ages, Jehovah.And he stayed there in the land of the Philistines for many days.
It was then that God put AbraHam to the test. He called to him, saying:
‘AbraHam…AbraHam!’
And [AbraHam] replied:
‘Look! It’s me!’
Then [God] said:
‘Take your beloved son (this one whom you so love, IsaAc) then go to the highlands and offer him there on one of the mountains that I’ll tell you about, as a burnt offering.’
So AbraHam got up in the morning, saddled his burro, and [prepared to] take two servants and his son IsaAc with him. Then, after splitting some wood for the offering, he got up and traveled toward the place about which God had spoken to him.
Well, it was on the 3rd day that AbraHam looked up and saw the place in the distance.Then AbraHam said to his servants:
‘Stay here with the burros; for my son and I will go over there… and after we bow low [before God], we will return to you.’
So AbraHam took the wood for the offering and laid it on his son IsaAc’s [shoulders], and the two went off together, with him carrying both the fire and the knife in his own hands.
Then IsaAc called out to his father (AbraHam) and said:
‘Father!’
And he replied:
‘What is it, son?’
And [IsaAc] continued:
‘Look! [We have the] the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the offering?’
Then AbraHam said:
‘God will provide His own sheep for the offering, son.’
So they both traveled on, and theyfinally arrived at the place that God had spoken to him about.
Then AbraHam built the altar there and laid the wood on it, and he tied his son IsaAc’s feet together and laid him on the wood on top of the altar.And as AbraHam was reaching for the knife to slaughter his son,a messenger of Jehovah called out to him from the sky, and said:
‘AbraHam… AbraHam!’
And he said:
‘Look, it’s me!’
Then [the messenger] said:
‘Don’t lay a hand on the child and don’t do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, since you haven’t spared even your loved son for My sake!’
And when AbraHam looked up, he saw {Look!} a male goat that was caught by its horns on a bush in the thicket. So AbraHam went over and grabbed the male goat; [then he] offered it as a whole burnt offering instead of his son IsaAc.
Well, AbraHam thereafter named that place, ‘The Lord Was Seen.’ [He did that] so people today would say, ‘This is the mountain where the Lord was seen.’
Then a messenger of Jehovah called AbraHam a second time from the sky, saying:
‘This is what Jehovah has said:
I have sworn [an oath] by Myself that, because you’ve done this thing (because you haven’t spared your loved son for Me);when it comes to blessings, I will bless you, and when it comes to multiplying, I will multiply your seed as the stars in the skies and as the sands on the sea shores.
Your seed will inherit the cities of their enemies,and all the nations of the earth will be blest by your seed, because you’ve listened to My voice.’
Well thereafter, AbraHam returned to his servants, and they all got up and traveled together to the Well of the Promise. Then AbraHam took up living there at the Well of the Promise.
Then later on, AbraHam received this report:
‘Look! Melcha has given birth to sons by your brother NaHor!Uz is the first-born, [then there is] Baux his brother, CamuEl (the father of the Syrians), Chazad,Azav, Phaldes, JelDaph, and BathuEl (BathuEl was RebecKa’s father).
Melcha bore these 8 sons to AbraHam’s brother NaHor.In addition, his concubine (named RheUma) also gave birth to TaBec, TaAm, Tochos, and Mocha.’
Well, SarAh lived to be 127 years old,and then [she] died in the city of ArBoc (HebRon in the land of CanaAn), which is located in a valley.
So AbraHam went to SarAh to mourn for her.And as AbraHam stood before his dead [woman], he spoke to the sons of Chet, saying:
‘I’m just a visitor and a stranger among you; but [please] allow me to buy a burying-place among [your people], so I can bury my dead away from [my place].’
And the sons of Ket replied to AbraHam, saying:
‘No Sir!Listen; You may live among us, but you’re [really] a king from God! So bury your dead in our best tombs! None of us will ever withhold our tombs to keep you from burying your dead here!’
Then AbraHam arose and bowed low before the people of the land (the sons of Ket).And AbraHam said to them:
‘If you approve of me burying my dead out of my sight; then, listen to what I have to say and [please] speak on my behalf to EphRon, the son of SaAr.
[I want] him to give me the double cave that he owns, which is located in his field. I will [be happy to] pay whatever it’s worth for a burial-place among you.’
Now, EphRon happened to be sitting there in the midst of the children of Ket, and [he] answered AbraHam (speaking where he could be heard by all the sons of Ket and by all that were entering the city) saying:
‘Pay attention to me, my lord; Here before all my countrymen [I say], Bury your dead!’
And at that, AbraHam bowed low before the people of the land,and he told EphRon (before the people of the land):
‘Since you’re on my side, listen to me; Accept the price of the field from me and I’ll bury my dead there.’
However, EphRon answered AbraHam, saying:
‘No, my lord! I’ve heard that the land [is worth] 400 silver coins, but what value is that between you and me? No, just bury your dead.’
And though AbraHam heard what EphRon had said, he still paid [him] the money, just as he had vowed before the sons of Ket – 400 silver coins that had been approved by the merchants.
So at that, the double cave that was in the field of EphRon opposite MamRe (the field, the cave that was in it, every tree in the field, and everything that was within its borders) was soldto AbraHam as his possession, there in front of the sons of Ket and all those [that were] entering the city.
There, AbraHam buried his woman SarAh inside the field’s double cave, which is opposite MamRe (HebRon in the land of CanaAn).For the field and its cave were sold to AbraHam as his burying place by the sons of Ket.
Well by then, AbraHam was very old, and Jehovah had blest AbraHam in everything.So AbraHam said to his servant (the elder of his house that was in charge of all his possessions):
‘Put your hand under my thigh,because I want you to swear by Jehovah the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you won’t take a woman for my son IsaAc from the daughters of the CanaAnites… these [people] among whom I am living.
Rather, I want you to go to my country – to the place where I was born and to my people – to find a woman for my son IsaAc.’
And his servant replied:
‘But if the woman isn’t happy and willing to return with me to this land, should I carry your son back to that land from which you came?’
And AbraHam said to him:
‘Make sure that you don’t carry my son back there.For it was Jehovah (the God of heaven and the God of earth) that took me out of my father’s house and out of the land where I was born. He spoke to me and swore to me, saying,
I will give this land to you and to your seed.
[So I know that He] will send His messenger ahead of you… and you must take a woman for my son from there.However, if the woman isn’t willing to come with you into this land, you will be free from this oath. Just don’t carry my son back there.’
At at that, the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master AbraHam and swore to him.Then the servant took 10 camels from his master’s herd and [some of] his master’s valuables, and he traveled through MesoPotamia to the city of NaHor.
It was toward evening that he [stopped and] rested his camels outside of the city, by the well where the young women went to draw water.And he [prayed]:
‘O Jehovah, the God of my master AbraHam; Bless what I’m doing today, and be merciful to my master AbraHam.{Look!} Here I am standing by the well where the daughters of those that live in this city come to draw water.And may it be that whichever virgin to whom I say,
Bring down the water jar so that I may have a drink,
and she replies,
Take a drink, and I will also [pour water] for your camels to drink until they are satisfied;
I’ll know that this is the one You’ve prepared for Your servant IsaAc, and that You’ve been merciful to my master, AbraHam.’
Well, before he was even done speaking in his mind, {Look!} RebecKa, the daughter of BathuEl (who was the son of Melcha, the woman of NaHor, AbraHam’s brother) came there carrying a water jug on her shoulders.
This virgin was very beautiful, and she was in fact a virgin… no man ever had sexual relations with her. She went down to the well, filled her water jug, and [walked back] up.
Then [AbraHam’s] servant ran to meet her, and said:
‘Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.’
And she said:
‘Have a drink, sir.’
So she quickly removed the pitcher [from her head] and allowed him to drink until he was finished.
Then she said:
‘I’ll also draw water for your camels, until they’ve all had enough to drink.’
And she quickly emptied the water jug into the trough, and then she kept running to the well to draw, until she had drawn enough water for all the camels.
Well, the man paid attention to this, but he didn’t say anything, because he wanted to know whether this was Jehovah’s blessing.
Then, after all the camels were finished drinking, he gave her [two] gold earrings (each weighing about 1/8th of an ounce), and he [put] two bracelets on her hands (they weighed about the same as 10 gold coins),and he asked her,
‘Whose daughter are you… tell me! And is there room for us to lodge with your father?’
Then she replied:
‘I’m the daughter of BathuEl, who is the son of Melcha and whose father was NaHor.’
And she added:
‘We have straw, a lot of fodder, and a place for [you to] rest.’
Well at that, the man (who was very happy) bowed low to Jehovahand said:
‘May Jehovah the God of my master AbraHam be praised, [because He] hasn’t allowed His righteousness or His truth to fail my master, since the Lord has led me right to the house of my lord’s brother!’
Then the young maiden ran and reported what he said to the household of her mother.
Now, RebecKa had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran all the way to the well to meet the man.
For when he saw the earrings and the bracelets on his sister’s hands; and when he heard what his sister RebecKa said about what the man had told her, he went to the man as he was standing by the well with his camelsand said to him:
‘Come on in, you who are blest by Jehovah! Why are you standing outside? I’ve prepared the house and I’ve also made a place for your camels!’
So the man went into the house, and [Laban] unloaded the camels, gave them straw and fodder, and he drew water to wash the feet [of AbraHam’s servant] as well as the feet of the men that were with him;then he set loaves of bread before them to eat.
However, [AbraHam’s servant] said:
‘I’m not going to eat until I’ve told you the reason why I’ve come here.’
And [Laban] said:
‘Then go ahead and speak.’
So he said:
‘I’m a servant of AbraHam;and Jehovah has greatly blest my master. He is highly respected and has been given sheep, cattle, silver, gold, male and female servants, camels, and burros.
And SarAh, my master’s woman, bore one son to my master after he had grown old, to whom he has given everything that he owns.
‘Now, my master made me swear [an oath], saying,
You must not take a woman for my son from among the daughters of the CanaAnites… these [people] among whom I am living.But you should go to the house of my father and to my tribe, and take a woman for my son from there.
‘Then I asked my master:
What if the woman is unhappy about coming along?
‘And he replied:
Jehovah God, who has found me to be acceptable in His presence, will send His messenger along with you, and your journey will be blest.
You should take a woman for my son from among my tribe and from the house of my father.Then you will be free from the curse [of your oath].
And if they won’t give her to you when you get to my tribe, you will be freed from your oath.
‘So today I came to this well, and I [prayed]:
O Jehovah, the God of my master AbraHam; If you will bless this journey that I’m now on,{Look!} I will stand by this well where the daughters of the people of this city come to draw water. And whichever young woman to whom I will say,
Give me a little water to drink out of your pitcher,
and she replies,
Take a drink, and I will also [pour water] for your camels to drink until they are satisfied;
this is the woman that Jehovah has prepared for His servant IsaAc, and that’s how I’ll know that You’ve been merciful to my master, AbraHam.
‘Well, before I had even finished speaking in my mind, RebecKa arrived with her pitcher on her shoulders. And [after] she went down to the well and drew water, I said to her,
Give me a drink.
Then she quickly took the pitcher from her head, and said,
Take a drink, and I will also give your camels [something to] drink.
So I drank, and then she watered the camels.
‘Then I asked her:
Whose daughter are you… tell me!
And she replied:
I’m the daughter of BathuEl, who is the son of Melcha and whose father was NaHor.
And that’s when I gave her the earrings and put the bracelets on her hands.
‘Well, all of this made me so happy that I bowed low and praised Jehovah, the God of my master AbraHam, who has truly blest me in such a way that I might take the daughter of my master’s own brother for his son.
Now, tell me whether you will be merciful and just with my lord, so I can know which way to turn.’
And at this, Laban and BathuEl answered, saying:
‘Since this thing has come from Jehovah, we can’t answer you in either a bad way or a good way.
Look! There is RebecKa standing before you… take her and go! Let her be the woman of your master’s son, just as Jehovah has said.’
And when AbraHam’s servant heard these words, he bowed to the ground to Jehovah.
Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry, as well as clothing, and gave it to RebecKa. He also gave gifts to her brother and to her mother.
And afterward, both he and the men who were with him ate and drank; then they went to sleep.
Well, when he got up in the morning, he said to them:
‘Now allow me to leave, so I can return to my master.’
And her brothers and mother said:
‘Let the virgin stay here with us for 10 more days, and then she can go.’
But he replied to them:
‘Don’t hold me back, because Jehovah has blest my journey. Send me away now, so I can return to my master!’
And they said:
‘Let’s call the girl and ask [what she wants to do].
So they called RebecKa and asked:
‘Will you go with this man?’
And she replied:
‘I’ll go.’
So they [agreed to] send their sister RebecKa and all her possessions along with AbraHam’s servant and his attendants.
Then they [gave] RebecKa a blessing, saying to her:
‘You are our sister; now become ten thousands of thousands, and may your seed own the cities of their enemies.’
Thereafter, RebecKa and her female attendants mounted the camels and went along with the man. And the servant, on having received RebecKa, departed.
Meanwhile, IsaAc had traveled through the desert toward the Well of the Vision, and he took up living in the southern portion of that land.
It was toward evening that IsaAc had gone out into the plains to think (because he was discouraged). And when he looked up, he saw camels coming.
It was then that RebecKa looked up and saw IsaAc. So she quickly dismounted the cameland asked the servant:
‘Who is the man that is walking across the plains to meet us?’
And the servant said:
‘This is my master.’
So she took her veil and covered herself.
Thereafter, the servant told IsaAc everything that he had done.
And IsaAc went to the house of his mother and took RebecKa, so she became his woman… and he loved her… and IsaAc was given comfort for [the death of] his mother, SarAh.
Well, after that, AbraHam took a woman again, whose name was KetTura.She bore to him ZomBran, JeZan, Madal, MidiAn, JesBoc, and SoYe.
JeZan fathered Saba and DeDan. The sons of DeDan were the AsShurites, the Latusians, and the Laomim.
The sons of MidiAn were Gephar, Aphir, Enoch, Abida, and ElDaAh. These were all the sons of KetTura.
However, AbraHam had given all of his possessions to his son IsaAc.He just gave gifts to the sons of his concubines, then he sent them away from his son IsaAc, to a country in the east.
AbraHam lived to be 175 years old.But AbraHam [eventually found himself in] failing health and he died at a ripe old age… an old man that had lived a full life; and he was [buried] with his family.
His sons, IsaAc and IshMaEl buried him in the double cave that was in the field of EphRon (the son of SaAr the Kettite), which is across from MamRe.
So AbraHam and his woman SarAh [were both buried] in that field, inside the cave that AbraHam bought from the sons of Ket.
Well, after AbraHam died, God blest his son IsaAc. And IsaAc went to live by the Well of the Vision.
These are the generations of IshMaEl, the son of AbraHam, whom Hagar (SarAh’s Egyptian handmaid) had born to AbraHam,and these are the names of IshMaEl’s sons by each of their generations:
The firstborn of IshMaEl was NabaiOth, then Kedar, NabDeEl, MasSam,MasMa, Duma, MasSe,ChodDan, ThaEman, Jetur, Naphes, and Kedma.
Those are all IshMaEl’s sons, whose names are on their tents and dwellings… 12 princes of their nations.
And this is how long IshMaEl lived: 137 years.
Thereafter, [his health started to] fail and he died and was [buried with] his family.
[IshMaEl] and all his descendants lived [in the area] from Evilat [in the northeast] to Sur [in the southwest], and from Assyria to just across from Egypt.
And these are the generations of IsaAc, the son of AbraHam:
AbraHam fathered IsaAc. And when IsaAc was 40 years old, he took RebecKa (the daughter of BathuEl, the Syrian of Syrian MesoPotamia, the sister of Laban the Syrian) as his woman.
Then IsaAc prayed to Jehovah about his woman RebecKa, because she was sterile, and Jehovah heard him; so his woman (RebecKa) got pregnant.
And [one day], the babies that were inside her jumped. And she asked:
‘Why did this happen to me?’
So she went to ask Jehovah,and He told her:
‘There are two nations in your womb, and two races will be separated from your belly. One race will become greater than the other, and the older one will serve the younger.’
Well, when it came time for her to deliver, she [found that] she indeed had twins in her womb.
The first came out red and covered with hair all over his skin; and she named him Esau.
Then his brother was born while holding onto the heel of Esau with his hand, so she named him Jacob (Snatcher of the Heel).
IsaAc was 60 years old when RebecKa bore them.
Well, after the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter that lived in the country, while Jacob was a simple man that lived in a house.
And though IsaAc loved Esau (because he enjoyed venison), RebecKa loved Jacob.
Then [one day], as Jacob was cooking up some stew, Esau came in from the plains tired and weak,he said to Jacob:
‘Let me have a taste of that red stew, because I’m weak.’
(That’s when he started to be called Edom [or Red]).
And Jacob replied to Esau:
‘Then, sell me your right [as firstborn]… right now!’
So Esau said:
‘Look, I’m about to die! What good does this right [of the firstborn] mean to me?’
And Jacob said to him:
‘Swear to me right now!’
So then he swore to him, and that’s when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob.
Thereafter, Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew, which he ate and then he drank, and he got up and left. This is how Esau [showed little regard for] his birthright.
Thereafter, a famine came upon the land that was greater than past famines that had happened in the time of AbraHam. So IsaAc went to GeraRa to see AbiMelech, the king of the Philistines.And there the Lord appeared to him and said:
‘Do not go to Egypt! Rather, live in the land that I’m going to tell you about.Stay in this land and I will be with you and bless you.
I’m going to give all of this land to you and to your seed, for now I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father AbraHam.
I will increase your seed as the stars in the skies, I will give all of this land to your seed, and all the nations of the earth will be blest by your seed,because AbraHam (your father) listened to My voice and did as I said… He obeyed My commandments, rules, and laws.’
So thereafter, IsaAc started living there in GeraRa.
Well, when the men in GeraRa asked him about RebecKa (his woman), he told them that she was his sister, because he was afraid to tell them that she was his woman, as she was very pretty and [he feared that] the men there would kill him for RebecKa.
Then, after he had lived there a long time, AbiMelech (the king of GeraRa) happened to lean over to look out his window, and he saw IsaAc playing with RebecKa, his woman.
So AbiMelech called IsaAc and asked him:
‘Is she your woman? [And if so, then] why did you say she’s your sister?’
And IsaAc replied:
‘Well, I said this so that I wouldn’t be killed for her.’
And AbiMelech said:
‘Why would you do such a thing to us?
Before long, one of my relatives would have had [sex] with your woman, and you would have brought a sin upon us in our ignorance!’
So, AbiMelech gave a command to all his people, that said:
‘Any man that touches this man or his woman will die!’
Then IsaAc planted grain in the land; and that year, the barley produced 100 times [more than what he had planted], for Jehovah was blessing him.
So he became highly regarded and very wealthy, as he continued to prosper.For he owned many sheep, cattle, and tillable lands. But as the result, the Philistines [started to] envy him,and [they] stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug back in his time, filling them in with dirt.
Then AbiMelech told IsaAc:
‘[I want you to] leave us, because you’ve become much greater than us.’
So IsaAc left there, stopping to rest in the valley of GeraRa, where [he decided to] live.
And once more, IsaAc dug the [same type of] wells that his father’s servants had dug (which the Philistines had stopped up after AbraHam’s death). And he gave them each names, using the same names as his father had used.
Then when IsaAc’s servants dug in the valley of GeraRa, they found a live well of water.However, the shepherds of GeraRa argued with IsaAc’s shepherds, claiming that the water was theirs. So they named the well Injury, because [they claimed] injury over this matter.
As the result, he left that place and dug another well. [But then the people] started claiming [that it was theirs also].
So he named it Hatred.And he left that place and dug another well, which no one else claimed to be theirs; so he named it Space, saying:
‘Jehovah has made space for us and He has prospered us in the land.’
Then he traveled to the Well of the Promise,where the Lord appeared to him that evening and said:
‘I am the God of your father AbraHam. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Because of your father AbraHam, I will bless you and your seed will increase.’
So he built an altar there, and he named it Jehovah.
Then he pitched his tent, and IsaAc’s servants dug another well there in the valley of GeraRa.
However, later, AbiMelech came to him from [the City of] GeraRa with his trusted friend OchoZath and with Phichol, the commander of his army.
And IsaAc asked them:
‘Why have you come to me here, now that you’ve shown your hatred for me and driven me away?’
And they replied:
‘We have seen that the Lord is surely with you. So we said,
Let us swear an oath between him and us.
Yes, we want to make an agreement with you,that you won’t do any wrong to us, and we won’t show any more hatred toward you. After all, isn’t it because we treated you well by sending you away peacefully that you are now being blest by Jehovah?’
So, [IsaAc] prepared a feast for them, and they all ate and drank.
And when they got up the next morning, they each swore [an oath] to their neighbors. Then IsaAc sent them away, and they left him in safety.
However, that very same day, IsaAc’s servants came and [gave him news about] the well that they were digging. They said,
‘We’ve found water!’
So he named it and the city, ‘The Oath.’ This is why that city is called ‘The Well of the Promise‘ (BeerSheba) to this day.
Then when Esau was 40 years old, he took Judith, the daughter of BeOch the Kettite, and BaseMath (the daughter of Helon the Kettite).And [these women] made life very difficult for IsaAc and RebecKa.
Well, after IsaAc grew old, his eyes became so dim that he couldn’t see. Then he called Esau, his eldest son, and said to him:
‘Son!’
And [Esau] replied:
‘Look, here I am!’
And [IsaAc] said:
‘{Look!} I’m old and I don’t know [how much longer I will live].So, go get your weapons, both your bow and your quiver, and go into the plains to get me some venison.Then prepare the meat for me just the way I like it and bring it to me, so I can eat it.
Thereafter, I will pass my blessing upon your life before I die.’
However, RebecKa overheard IsaAc speaking to his son Esau. And after Esau had gone out to the plains to get some venison for his father,RebecKa said to her younger son Jacob:
‘{Look!} I overheard your father speaking to your brother Esau. And he told himto bring him some venison and prepare the meat so he could eat it; then he would bless him in front of Jehovah, before he dies.
‘Now, listen my son and do what I tell you!
Go out to the animals and bring two young goats to me ([make sure they’re] tender and good), and I’ll prepare the meat for your father just the way he likes it.
Then you must take it to your father, so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.’
But Jacob said to his mother RebecKa:
‘My brother Esau is covered with hair, while [my body] is smooth.So if my father should [reach out] and feel me, it will look like I’m doing a bad thing to him, and that would bring a curse on me, not a blessing!’
However, his mother said to him:
‘May I receive your curses, my son. Just listen to what I’ve told you to do and bring [the young goats] to me.’
So he went out and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared the meat just the way his father liked it.
Then RebecKa took some of her eldest son Esau’s finest clothes that she had there in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob,and she also covered his arms and the bare parts of his neck with the skins of the young goats.
Thereafter, she put the meat and the bread that she had prepared into the hands of Jacob,and he brought it in to his father.
He said:
‘Father.’
And [IsaAc] replied:
‘Look, it’s me! Who are you, son?’
And Jacob said to his father:
‘It’s me, Esau your first-born! I’ve done what you told me to do; so, sit up and eat my venison… then you can pass your blessings on my life.’
But IsaAc asked his son:
‘How did you find [the meat] so quickly?’
And he replied:
‘Jehovah your God set it before me.’
Then IsaAc told Jacob:
‘Come close to me so I can feel you, [to see] whether you are truly my son Esau!’
And Jacob drew close to his father, so IsaAc could feel him, and he said:
‘Your voice is that of Jacob, but your hands are the hands of Esau.’
Therefore, he didn’t recognize him, because his hands were hairy like the hands of his brother Esau… and this is how [IsaAc] came to bless [Jacob].
Well after that, [IsaAc] again asked:
‘Are you my son Esau?’
And [Jacob] replied:
‘It’s me.’
So he said:
‘Then, bring your venison over here and I’ll eat it, son, and I will pass my blessings on to your life.’
So he brought [the food] to him and he ate it, along with some wine, which he drank.
Thereafter, IsaAc (his father) said to him:
‘Come close and kiss me, son.’
So [Jacob] went over and kissed him; and [IsaAc] then sniffed the odor of his clothes and blest him, saying:
‘{Look!} This is the odor of my son. It has the smell of a wonderful field that has been blest by Jehovah.
So may God give you the dew of the skies, the fatness of the land, and plenty of grain and wine.May the gentiles serve you, and may their princes bow low before you. May you be the lord of your brother, and may your father’s [other] sons show you respect.
May anyone that curses you be cursed, and may all that praise you be blest.’
Well, right after IsaAc had blest his son Jacob (immediately after Jacob had left the presence of IsaAc his father), his brother Esau returned from his hunt.He had also prepared some meat and brought it in to his father, and he said:
‘Get up father! Sit up and eat some of your son’s venison, so you can pass your blessings on my life.’
But his father IsaAc asked:
‘Who are you?’
And he said:
‘I’m your first-born son, Esau!’
Well, IsaAc was shocked, and asked:
‘Then, who was it that [just] got the venison and brought it to me? I ate it all before you got here, and I blest him… so he’s the one that will be blest!’
And when Esau heard what his father IsaAc said, he shouted loudly and bitterly:
‘I beg you, father; Bless me too!’
And [IsaAc] told him:
‘Your brother slyly took your blessing.’
Then [Esau] said:
‘He is well named Jacob, because {Look!} this is the second time that has he has taken what was mine. First he took my right as the firstborn, and now he has taken my blessing!’
And again, Esau asked his father:
‘Don’t you have a blessing left for me, father?’
Then IsaAc said to Esau:
‘I’ve already made him your lord and all of your brothers his servants. I have also empowered him with the wine and grain… so what more can I give you, my son?’
But Esau asked his father:
‘Don’t you have just one blessing father? I beg you father, bless me too!’
Well, this really bothered IsaAc, because Esau was shouting and crying.So (his father) IsaAc answered and said:
‘Look; Your home will be in the fatness of the ground and in the dew of the skies up above.
You will indeed live by your sword and you will serve your brother. However, the time will come when you will loosen and break his yoke from your neck.’
Well, Esau was very angry with Jacob over the blessing that his father had given to him. So Esau thought about it and then he said:
‘May the days of mourning my father come quickly, so I can kill my brother Jacob!’
Then when these words of Esau (her eldest son) were reported to RebecKa; she sent for her younger son Jacob, and said to him:
‘{Look!} Your brother Esau has threatened to kill you!
So now, listen to me, my son; Get up and quickly leave for MesoPotamia… go to my brother Laban in Haranand live with him until all of your brother’s angerand rage against you has passed and he forgets what you’ve done to him.
Then I will send for you and bring you back. For I don’t want to be saddened over [the death] of both you [and your father] on the same day.’
Then [later], RebecKa said [to IsaAc]:
‘I’m so tired of my life because of the daughters of the sons of Chet. And if Jacob were [also] to take a woman from the daughters of this land, where would I live?’
So IsaAc called for Jacob… he blest him and said to him:
‘You must not take a woman from among the daughters of the CanaAnites.Rather, get up quickly and travel to MesoPotamia, to the house of my father-in-law BathuEl, and find yourself a woman among the daughters of your mother’s brother Laban.
May my God bless you, prosper you, and make you increase; for you will indeed become a gathering of nations.May He give the blessings of my father AbraHam to you and to your seed that comes after you, so that you will inherit this land in which you are living and which God had given to AbraHam.’
So thereafter, IsaAc sent Jacob away, and he went to [stay with] Laban, the son of BathuEl the Syrian, who was the brother of RebecKa (the mother of Jacob and Esau) in MesoPotamia.
Now, Esau knew that IsaAc had blest Jacob and that after he blest him, he’d sent him away to find a woman in Syrian MesoPotamia. [And he also knew that he told Jacob] not to take a woman from the daughters of the CanaAnites…and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother by going off to Syrian MesoPotamia.For Esau recognized that his father IsaAc viewed the daughters of the CanaAnites as evil.
As the result, he went to see IshMaEl (the son of AbraHam) and he took MaEleth (IshMaEl’s daughter and NabeOth’s sister) to be another one of his wives.
Meanwhile, Jacob had left the Well of the Promise and traveled to Haran.And when he reached a certain place, he decided to sleep there, since the sun had gone down.
So he chose a stone and placed it under his head, then he went to sleep in that placeand he started to dream.
Well, {Look!} [in the dream] there was a stairway fastened to the ground that reached all the way into the heavens… and the messengers of God were ascending and descending upon it.
Then [he saw] Jehovah standing at the top of it, who said this to him:
‘I am the God of your father AbraHam and the God of IsaAc.
Don’t be afraid, for I will give the land where you’re now lying to you and to your seed.For your seed will become as many as the sands of the earth… they will spread from the sea to the north, south, and the east. And through you and your seed all the tribes of the earth will be blest.
Look; I am with you! [I will] always keep you safe no matter where you may go… and then I will return you to this land. I will never leave you until I’ve done everything that I said I will do for you.’
And when Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said:
‘Jehovah is here and I didn’t realize it.’
Well, this frightened him, and he said:
‘What a fearful place! For this is nothing other than the House of God and the Gate to Heaven!’
So after Jacob got up in the morning, he took the stone on which he had laid his head and erected it as a pillar.
Then he anointed it with oil,and he named that place, The House of God (BethEl). (Before that, the city had been called UlamLuz.)
There Jacob made a vow to Jehovah, saying:
‘If You will be with me and guard me throughout this journey, giving me enough bread to eat and clothes to wear,and then You bring me back safely to the house of my father; You will be my God.
Also, this stone that I have erected as a pillar will be a House of God to me, and I will return 1/10th of everything that You give to me.’
So thereafter, Jacob [resumed his journey] eastward toward the land of Laban… to the son of BathuEl the Syrian and the brother of RebecKa (the mother of Jacob and Esau).
{Look!} [Jacob] then spied a well in the plains where there were three flocks of sheep resting. It was a well that they used to water the flocks, and there was a large stone covering it.
For after all the flocks had gathered there, they used to roll the stone away from the mouth of the well to provide water for the [animals], then they’d push it back over the mouth of the well to cover it again.
So Jacob asked [those that were there]:
‘Brothers, where are you from?’
And they replied:
‘We’re from Haran.’
Then he asked:
‘Do you know Laban, the son of NaHor?’
And they answered:
‘We do!’
And he asked:
‘Is he doing well?’
Then they replied:
‘He is well. Look, here comes his daughter RachEl with his sheep!’
And Jacob said:
‘It’s still mid-day… it isn’t time for the flocks to be gathered yet. So, why don’t you just water the flocks, then take them back out to graze?’
But they said:
‘We can’t do that until all the shepherds arrive. They will roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and then we will all water our flocks.’
Well, while he was still speaking to them, {Look!} Laban’s daughter RachEl arrived with her father’s sheep, because she was in charge of grazing them.
And when Jacob saw RachEl (the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother) and the sheep of his mother’s brother Laban; Jacob went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered Laban’s sheep.
Thereafter, Jacob kissed RachEl and shouted loudly, as he [started to] cry…for he explained to RachEl that he was a close relative of her father, and that he was the son of RebecKa.
So she ran and told her father what he said.And when Laban heard the name of Jacob (his sister’s son), he ran to meet him… he hugged and kissed him, then he led him into his house.
Then after [Jacob] explained to Laban [all that had happened to him],Laban said to him:
‘You are my own flesh and bones!’
Well, after [Jacob] had stayed with [Laban] for a full month,Laban said to Jacob:
‘Surely you aren’t going to serve me for nothing, for you’re my brother! Tell me how I can reward you!’
Well, Laban had two daughters. The name of the eldest was called LeAh, and the younger was called RachEl.Though LeAh had weak eyes, RachEl was beautiful and had a very pretty face.
And because Jacob loved RachEl, he replied:
‘I will serve you 7 years for your younger daughter, RachEl.’
So Laban said to him:
‘It’s better for me to give her to you than to some other man. Come and live with me!’
Well, Jacob served [Laban] 7 years for RachEl, but to him it seemed like just a few days, because he loved her so much.
Then Jacob told Laban:
‘Now, give me my woman, because I’ve served my time.’
So Laban assembled all the people and prepared a wedding banquet.
Then that evening, he took his daughter LeAh and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob [had sex] with her.Laban also gave his servant ZelPha to his daughter LeAh, to be her handmaid.
Well, it was [the next] morning before [Jacob realized] that it was LeAh. So Jacob [went to] Laban and asked:
‘What have you done to me? Didn’t I serve you for RachEl? Why have you deceived me?’
And Laban answered:
‘In our country, it isn’t proper to give the younger before the eldest.Serve me for 7 [more years] and I’ll give her to you also, in return for your labor of 7 more years.’
So, that’s what Jacob did… he served for 7 [more years].
Then Laban also gave his daughter RachEl to be his woman.And Laban gave his servant BalLa to be his daughter’s handmaid.
Thereafter, [Jacob had sex with] RachEl, and he loved RachEl more than LeAh… and this is why [he had been willing] to serve him for 7 more years.
Well, when Jehovah God saw that [Jacob] wasn’t attracted to LeAh, He opened her womb, while RachEl remained barren.
So LeAh got pregnant and bore a son to Jacob, whom she named ReuBen (‘See, a Son!’). For she said:
‘Jehovah has seen my humiliation and given me a son, so that now my man will love me.’
Then she got pregnant again and bore a second son to Jacob. [This time] she said:
‘Because Jehovah has heard that I’m hated, He has also given me this one.’
So she named him SimeOn (‘He Has Heard’).
Then she got pregnant a third time and bore a son, and said:
‘Now my man will stay with me, because I’ve born three sons to him.’
So she named him Levi (‘He Is Mine’).
Thereafter, she got pregnant again and bore a [4th] son. And she said:
‘I give thanks to Jehovah once more.’
So she named him Judah (‘Praised’). And after that, she stopped having children.
Well, when RachEl realized that she wasn’t bearing children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister, and she said to Jacob:
‘Give me children… for if you don’t, I’ll die!’
This made Jacob very angry with RachEl, so he asked:
‘Am I in the position of God who has deprived you of the fruit of your womb?’
Then RachEl told Jacob:
‘Look; Here’s my handmaid BalLa. [Sleep] with her, and she will give birth [to children] on my knees… I will have children by her.’
So she gave him BalLa her handmaid to be his woman, and Jacob went in [and slept with] her.
As the result, BalLa (RachEl’s handmaid) got pregnant and bore a son to Jacob.
Then RachEl said:
‘God has given me justice and listened to my voice, for He has given me a son.’ So she named him Dan (‘Justice’).
Thereafter, BalLa (RachEl’s handmaid) got pregnant again and bore a second son to Jacob.And RachEl said:
‘God has helped me… I fought with my sister and won.’
So she named him NaphTali (‘Struggle’).
Well when LeAh saw that she was no longer bearing children, she took ZelPha her handmaid and gave her to Jacob as his woman, and he went in to [sleep with] her.
So ZelPha, LeAh’s handmaid, got pregnant and bore Jacob a son.And LeAh said:
‘[Now I’m] happy!’
So she named him Gad (‘Happiness’).
Then ZelPha, LeAh’s handmaid, got pregnant again and bore Jacob a second son.This time LeAh said:
‘I am blest, because the women will call me blest.’
So she named him Asher (‘Blessings’).
Well, when it came time to harvest the barley, ReuBen went out to the field and found some mandrake apples [growing] there, and he brought them to his mother LeAh.
Then RachEl said to her sister:
‘Give me some of your son’s mandrakes!’
And LeAh replied:
‘Isn’t it enough that you’ve taken my man… would you also take my son’s mandrakes?’
And RachEl said:
‘[I’ll] allow you to [sleep] with [Jacob] tonight for your son’s mandrakes.’
So that evening, when Jacob came in from the field, LeAh went out to meet him and said:
‘You will [sleep] with me tonight, because I’ve hired you for my son’s mandrakes.’
So he slept with her that night,and God listened to LeAh, so she got pregnant and bore a 5th son to Jacob.
And LeAh said:
‘God has rewarded me for giving my handmaid to my man.’
So she named him IshSachar (‘Reward’).
Then LeAh got pregnant again and bore a 6th son to Jacob.
And LeAh said:
‘God has given me a fine gift this time. For my man will choose me, since I’ve given him 6 sons.’
So she named him ZebuLon (‘Gift’).
And after that, she gave birth to a daughter whom she named DinAh (‘Justified’).
Then The God remembered RachEl… He heard her and opened her womb,so she got pregnant and bore Jacob a son.
And RachEl said:
‘Jehovah has removed my disgrace.’
So she named him JoSeph (‘Jehovah Will Increase’), saying:
‘May God give me another son.’
Well, after RachEl had given birth to JoSeph, Jacob said to Laban:
‘[Allow] me to leave now, so I may return to my country and my home.
Free my women and children for whom I served you, so I can go… and don’t forget all the services that I’ve provided for you.’
Then Laban replied:
‘If I’ve found favor in your eyes, it’s a good sign for me, because Jehovah has blest me by sending you here.
Now, tell me how much I owe you and I’ll pay it.’
And Jacob said:
‘You know how many ways I’ve served you and how many of your cattle I’m [responsible for]…you didn’t have many before I came here, and now there are many! So Jehovah God has blest you since I arrived.
Now, help me to establish my own house.’
Then Laban asked:
‘What should I give you?’
And Jacob replied,
‘Don’t give me anything… just do this one thing for me: I will continue to watch over your flocks and tend them,and as your sheep pass by each day, let me set aside the dark sheep and the speckled and spotted goats as my reward.
So by tomorrow, my righteousness will answer for me, because this will be my reward from you.
You can steal back any goats that aren’t spotted or speckled, or any sheep that aren’t dark.’
Well at that, Laban agreed, saying:
‘May it be as you’ve said.’
However, that same day, [Laban craftily] separated the spotted and speckled billy goats and nanny goats, and all the dark sheep from those that were white, and he gave them to his sons.
Then he sent [them away] on a 3-day journey, while Jacob was tending the animals that were left behind.
However, Jacob gathered some green rods from storax, walnut, and sycamore trees, and peeled them alternately [to create the look of] white and green stripes, which gave a [spotted] appearance to the rods.
Then he laid the rods he had peeled at the bottom of the watering troughs, so that when the cattle came to drink, they would see the rods and mate there in front of the rods.
And [that’s what happened]… the cattle did get pregnant at the rods and gave birth to [young with] speckles, streaks, and ash-colored spots.
Then Jacob separated the lambs, setting aside the speckled goats and lambs for himself away from Laban’s sheep.
Thereafter, Jacob [continued] to put the rods in the troughs before the cattle, so they would mate in front of the rods.
And when the cattle gave birth, [he would give] the unmarked ones to Laban, but he set aside the marked ones as his.And [before long], he became very rich with many cattle, oxen, male and female servants, camels, and burros.
However, Jacob happened to overhear Laban’s sons saying,
‘Jacob has taken everything that belongs to our father and all our father’s property… all of his glory!’
So Jacob realized that Laban [wasn’t happy to see him anymore].
Then the Lord said to Jacob:
‘Now, return to your family and to your father’s land, and I will be with you.’
So Jacob sent for LeAh and RachEl, [who were] out in the plains with the flocks,and he said to them:
‘I know that your father is no longer [happy to see me]. However, the God of my father is still with me.For though I’ve served your father with all my might,and he deceived me by changing what he owed me to [just] 10 lambs… God hasn’t allowed him to [wrong me].Because, if he would have said,
The speckled will be your reward;
then all the cattle would give birth to the speckled.
And if he would have said,
The white ones will be your reward;
all the cattle would have been born white.
‘Therefore, it was God that has taken all these cattle from your father and given them to me.
For during the time that the cattle were pregnant with their young, I fell asleep and {Look!} I dreamed that I saw billy goats and rams jumping on the nanny goats and sheep that were all speckled, striped, and spotted with ash-colored spots.
‘Then a messenger from God called to me in that dream, shouting,
Jacob!
And I said,
What is it?
And he said,
Look up and see the billy goats and rams jumping on the nanny goats and sheep… they are all speckled, striped, and spotted with ash-colored spots. I’ve seen all things that Laban did to you;for I’m the God that appeared to you at BethEl where you poured oil out on a pillar to Me and [where you] swore an oath to Me.
‘So now, get up and leave this land. Return to the land of your birth, and I will be with you!’
Then RachEl and LeAh asked:
‘And what about our inheritances in the house of our father?
Does he now consider us strangers?
He sold us and then he spent our money!
Therefore, all the wealth and glory that God has taken from our father also belongs to us and to our children. So you should do whatever God has told you to do!’
Well at that, Jacob got up and mounted his women and children on their camels,along with all the possessions and provisions he had obtained in MesoPotamia and all [the servants and animals] that belonged to him, so he could return to his father (IsaAc) in the land of CanaAn,as Laban was off shearing his sheep.
But then, RachEl also stole her father’s idols.
Meanwhile, Jacob didn’t let Laban the Syrian know that he was running away…he and all that were his just left, crossing the river and traveling on to Mount GileAd.
Well, it was three days later that Laban the Syrian was finally told that Jacob was gone.
So he gathered his brothers and he chased after them, catching up with them after 7 days at Mount GileAd.
However, God came to Laban the Syrian in his sleep that night and said to him:
‘Be very careful not to say anything bad about Jacob.’
So when Laban caught up with Jacob (Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain, and Laban had stationed his brothers all around the mountain),he asked Jacob:
‘What have you done… why did you run away secretly, then steal from me and use swords to take my daughters as captives?
If you had just told me first, I would have happily sent you away with singing, tambourines, and harps!
Didn’t you consider me worthy to hug my children and my daughters before you did such a foolish thing?
‘And now, though I have enough power in my hands to harm you; the God of your father spoke to me yesterday and said,
Be very careful to never say anything bad about Jacob.
So go on, because you really wanted to return to the house of your father.
‘However, why did you steal my gods?’
And Jacob replied to Laban:
‘[I left secretly] because I was afraid that you would take your daughters and all my possessions away from me!’
And he added:
‘But whoever you find that has [stolen] your gods won’t [be allowed to] live in the presence of our family.
Just look around for anything I might have that is yours and take it back!’
[Well, Laban searched], but he couldn’t find anything (Jacob didn’t realize that his woman RachEl had stolen [the idols]).Laban went in and searched LeAh’s tent, then Jacob’s tent, and then the tent of the two female servants, and he found nothing.
Lastly, he entered RachEl’s tent.However, RachEl had hidden the idols among the camel’s packs and she was sitting on them.[And when her father asked to check her camel], she told him:
‘Don’t be impudent, sir! I can’t get up and stand before you, because it isn’t my way and it isn’t customary for women!’
Well, Laban searched throughout the [camp] and he couldn’t find the idols,which made Jacob very angry; so he argued with Laban and asked him:
‘What wrong have I done to you and what is my sin that caused you to chase after meand then search all the furnishings in my [tents]?
What have you found [that ] came from your home? Lay it out here between your relatives and mine, and let them decide!
‘I’ve been with you for 20 years, and during all that time, your sheep and nanny goats didn’t fail to give birth… and I didn’t eat any of the rams from your herds.
All that I ever took was the wild animals that I didn’t bring to you.
I [even paid] for anything that was stolen during the day or night,as I was dried out with the heat of the day, [chilled] by frost in the night… and I seldom ever got much sleep!
‘During those 20 years that I stayed in your house, I served you for 14 years for your two daughters.
[Then I spent the next] 6 years among your sheep… just to have you fraudulently set my wages as 10 lambs!
So if it weren’t for the God of my father AbraHam and for the fact that [you’re] afraid of IsaAc’s [God], you would have even sent me away empty-handed!
‘Yet, it was because God saw how I was humiliated and how hard I’ve worked for you, that He [scolded you] last night!’
Then Laban replied:
‘These are my daughters and my sons… yes, the cattle are mine, and everything that you see belongs to my daughters and me!
But, what should I do to them today, or to their children?
Come on; let’s conclude a treaty between you and me that will serve as a witness between us. And though nobody else is here, {Look!} God will serve as the witness between you and me.’
So then, Jacob found a [large] stone and he erected it as a pillar.And Jacob told his family to gather some stones.
So they brought stones and made a pile; then they [shared bread] on top of the pile.
And thereafter, Laban said:
‘This [pile of stones] will serve as the witnesses between you and me today.’
So Laban called it ‘The [Stone] Pile of Testimony,’ while Jacob referred to it as ‘The Witness [Stone] Pile.'
And Laban said to Jacob:
‘Look at this pile and pillar that I’ve erected between you and me… this Witness [Stone] Pile and this [Stone] Pile of Testimony. We will call them, the [Stone] Pile Witnesses.’
And thereafter, [Laban] referred to this place as The Watchtower; for he said:
‘May God keep watch over you and me, because we are about to leave each other.But if you should humble my daughters by taking other women in addition to them, you will see that someone that is with us is watching… for God is the witness between you and me.’
Then Laban continued:
‘Look! This pile of stones and this pillar are the witnessesthat I won’t come beyond this pillar to do anything bad to you, and you won’t come [beyond this pillar] to me.May the God of AbraHam and the God of NaHor judge between us!’
Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father IsaAc,and he offered a sacrifice on the mountain. He called his family together and they ate and drank, then they all went to sleep on the mountain.
And when Laban got up in the morning, he kissed his daughters and [their] sons and blest them, and then Laban turned around and went back to his home.
Well, just as Jacob [was about to] continue on his journey, he looked up and he saw the camp of the army of God, and a messenger of God [coming to] meet him.So when Jacob saw this, he said:
‘This [place] is the campground of God!’
So he named that place MahaNahim (The Campgrounds).
Then Jacob sent messengers in front of him to his brother Esau in the land of SeIr and the country of the Edomites.He told them to say to Esau:
‘Lord, this is what your servant Jacob has said:
I have visited with Laban and stayed there until now.And [during this time], oxen, burros, sheep, and male and female servants were born to me.
Now I’ve sent [my messengers] to beg you, my lord Esau, to help your servant find favor in your eyes.’
Then when the messengers returned to Jacob, they told him:
‘We found your brother Esau, and {Look!} now he’s coming to meet you with 400 men!’
Well, Jacob was upset and terrified by this. So he divided the people that were with him, as well as the cattle, camels, and sheep, into two camps.And Jacob said:
‘If Esau comes to one camp and attacks it, the other camp will survive.’
Then Jacob [prayed]:
‘O Jehovah, the God of my father AbraHam and the God of my father IsaAc; You’re the One that told me to get up and return to the land where I was born, and that You would treat me well.
So, please remember all the justice and truth that You’ve brought about through Your servant.
‘Now, with this walking stick of mine, I have crossed the JorDan [River] divided into two camps.So, please save me from the hands of my brother – from the hands of Esau – because I’m afraid of him, since [he may] enjoy coming here to strike me down with the mothers and the children.
[Don't forget that] you said You would treat me well and make my seed as the sands of the seas… so many that they can’t be counted.’
Well, after sleeping there that night, [Jacob selected] gifts to be carried to his brother Esau.[He sent] 200 nanny goats, 20 billy goats, 200 sheep, 20 rams,30 milk camels and their foals, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 burros, and 10 colts.
He gave them to his servants and said to them:
‘Go ahead of me… and leave a space between each of the herds.’
Then he told the first group:
‘If you meet my brother Esau, and he asks,
Who sent you, where are you headed, and whose animals are [being herded] in front of you?
you should say,
[We were sent by] your servant Jacob. He is sending these as gifts to his lord Esau… {Look!} he’s [traveling] behind us.’
Then he gave the same instructions to the 2nd group and then to the 3rd… to everyone that traveled ahead of him (following the herds). He said:
‘This is what you should tell Esau when you find him…
Look! Your servant Jacob is following behind us.
For I want to impress Esau with the gifts that [are being sent] ahead of me, so I can see him face to face and hope that he will accept me.’
So the gifts were then sent out ahead of him, as he spent [part of] the night there in the camp.
But then, during the night, he got up and took his two women, the two female servants, and his 11 children, and they all crossed the Jaboch River…he led them and all his possessions through that raging river.
It was there that, while Jacob was all by himself, a man came up and wrestled with him until the next morning.
[And when the man] saw that he wasn’t going to win, he touched the upper part of Jacob’s thigh, which became numb as they wrestled.
Then [the man] told [Jacob]:
‘Let me go, because the sun is coming up!’
But [Jacob] said:
‘I’m not going to let you go until you give me a blessing!’
So [the man] asked:
‘What is your name?’
And he answered:
‘Jacob.’
And [the man] said to him:
‘Your name will no longer be Jacob. Rather, IsraEl will be your name; for you’ve grown stronger with God and mightier with men.’
Then Jacob said:
‘Tell me your name.’
And he said:
‘Why do you [have to] ask my name?’
So He blest him there,and Jacob named that place, PeniEl (Face of God); for he said:
‘I’ve now seen God face to face and survived.’
Well, the sun was up by the time he left PeniEl (the place where he had been stopped by his thigh).
And this is why, to this very day, the children of IsraEl will never eat the part of meat that is on the thigh… because, that was the place on Jacob’s thigh that [God’s messenger] had numbed.
Well, when Jacob looked up, {Look!} he saw his brother Esau coming with 400 men. So Jacob divided the children between LeAh, RachEl, and the two female servants.
Then he put the two female servants and their children out in front, followed by LeAh and her children, then RachEl, and [finally, himself] at the rear…but then Jacob stepped out ahead of them all and bowed to the ground 7 times, as he approached his brother.
Well at that, Esau ran up to meet him! He hugged him, fell around his neck and kissed him… and they both started crying.
Then when Esau noticed the women and children, he asked:
‘What are they to you?’
And Jacob replied:
‘They’re the children with which God has so mercifully blest your servant.’
Then the female servants and their children came up and bowed low,followed by LeAh and her children who also came up and bowed low.
And finally, RachEl [arrived] and bowed down next to JoSeph.
So [Esau] asked:
‘Then, what did all those groups that I met along the way have to do with you?’
And [Jacob] replied:
‘This was done so that your servant might find favor in your eyes, my lord.’
Then Esau said:
‘But I [already own] much, my brother. Keep what is yours!’
And Jacob said:
‘If I’ve found favor in your eyes, take the gifts from my hands; for, seeing your face is like seeing the face of God. If you are happy with me,take the blessings that I’ve brought to you, because God has been merciful to me, and I have everything.’
And he kept insisting, so [Esau] took them.Then he said:
‘Now, let’s head back.’
But [Jacob] said:
‘My lord; You know that the children are frail, and the flocks and herds that I’ve brought also have [many] young ones. So if I drive them hard today, these cattle will die.
Therefore, my lord; go on ahead of your servant… I’ll take it easy along the way, so [I’ll have] enough strength [to make the long journey] that’s still ahead of me, and so that the children will have enough strength.
Then I will [meet up with] my lord at SeIr.’
And Esau said:
‘Then, let me leave some of my men with you.’
And [Jacob] asked:
‘Why? It’s enough that I’ve found your favor, my lord!’
So Esau returned to SeIr that day,and Jacob returned to the tents that he had set up to live in… and he also built pens for his cattle. Then he named that place, SucCoth (The Pens).
Finally, Jacob arrived at Salem (SheChem’s city) in the land of CanaAn, after traveling all the way from MesoPotamia of Syria.
So he went to [the city gate]and bought the field where he had pitched his tent from Hamor (the father of SheChem) for 100 lambs.And there he erected an altar, where he called upon his (IsraEl’s) God.
Well, DinAh, the daughter that LeAh had born to Jacob, went to see the daughters of the local people.And SheChem, the son of Hamor the Tent Dweller (and the ruler of the land), noticed her. Then he humiliated her by taking her and [having sex] with her.
Yet, he was deeply drawn to the person of DinAh, Jacob’s daughter… he loved the girl and spoke kindly to her.
So SheChem told his father Hamor:
‘Take this girl for me to be my woman.’
Well when Jacob heard that Hamor’s son had violated his daughter DinAh, he sent for his sons that were out in the fields with his cattle.
And Jacob didn’t say a word until they all got there.
Then Hamor, SheChem’s father, went over to talk to Jacob,arriving there just as Jacob’s sons were returning from the fields.
Well when [Jacob’s sons] heard [what had happened], they were very upset.
It really hurt them, because he’d made a joke of IsraEl by [having sex] with Jacob’s daughter… it just shouldn’t have happened.
But Hamor spoke to them and said:
‘My son SheChem has decided in his heart to marry your daughter. So give her to him to be his woman…come and marry among us. Give us your daughters, and take our daughters for your sons…come live among us!
Look, there’s plenty of room for you, so live here in this land… trade [with us] and prosper here!’
Then SheChem said to [DinAh’s] father and brothers:
‘I’ll do whatever I must to find your favor, and we’ll give you whatever you ask.
Raise the bride price several times and I’ll pay whatever you say. Just give me this girl to be my woman!’
However, Jacob’s sons answered SheChem and his father Hamor cunningly, because he had violated their sister DinAh.DinAh’s brothers (SimeOn and Levi) said to them:
‘We won’t be able to give our sister to someone that isn’t circumcised, because that would dishonor us.
The only way we can do what you say and live among you, is if you will become as we are… all your males must be circumcised.
Then we will give our daughters to you and take your daughters as our women and live with you as one race.
But if you refuse to listen and won’t get circumcised, we will just take our [sister] and leave.’
Well, what they said was agreeable to Hamor and his son SheChem.
And the young man didn’t delay when it came to doing this thing, because he was really attached to Jacob’s daughter.
He was indeed the most honorable person in his father’s house.
So then, Hamor and his son SheChem walked out to the city gate and they said to the men that were there:
‘These are peaceable people, so let them live with us here in our land and trade in it.
Look! There’s a lot of land before them; so, we will take their daughters to be our women and we’ll give them our daughters.The only thing that they require to live among us as one people, is that all our males must be circumcised, just as they are circumcised.And then, won’t their cattle, their herds, and their possessions be ours?
So, let’s do what they say and then they will live among us!’
Well, everyone that was there at the city gate listened to Hamor and his son SheChem, and thereafter, the foreskins of all the males were circumcised.
But on the 3rd day, while they were all aching in pain, Jacob’s two sons (DinAh’s brothers, SimeOn and Levi) each took their swords and crept into the city, then they killed every male…they killed Hamor and his son SheChem with their swords, and then they took DinAh from SheChem’s house and left.
Thereafter, when Jacob’s [other] sons came upon those that were wounded, they ravaged the city where DinAh (their sister) had been violated…they took all the sheep, oxen, burros, and everything in the city, as well as everything that was in their fields.
Then they took all the people as captives (all their provisions and all their women) and they looted whatever was left in their city and in their homes.
Well afterward, Jacob said to SimeOn and Levi:
‘You have made me an evil and hated [person] among the people that live in this land… all the CanaAnites and the Pherezites.
And now, since there are only a few of us, they will band against me and cut me to pieces, destroying both me and my house!’
And they replied:
‘Not so! Would [you rather] have them treat our sister as a whore?’
Then The God told Jacob:
‘You must get up and go to the place [you named] BethEl, and live there. And then you must build an altar to the God that appeared to you there when you were running from your brother Esau.’
So Jacob told his family and everyone that lived with him:
‘You must get rid of any strange gods that you may have, then wash yourselves, change your clothes,and get ready, because we’re going up to BethEl, where we will build an altar to the God that listened to me, was with me, and kept me safe through my journeys and trials.’
So they gave Jacob all the strange gods that they owned and the earrings in their ears; and Jacob buried [these things] under a turpentine tree at SheChem, where they’ve remained destroyed down to this day.
Then IsraEl left SheChem, and because the cities around them had the fear of The God in them, they didn’t chase after the children of IsraEl.
Well, Jacob and all the people that were with him finally arrived at Luza in the land of CanaAn, which [he had earlier named] BethEl;for it was there that he had built an altar and called it ‘the House of God,’ since that’s the place where God appeared to him as he was running from his brother Esau.
Well thereafter, RebecKa’s nurse DeborAh died, and she was buried under an oak tree in BethEl that Jacob then named, AlLon-BaCuth (Oak Tree of Mourning).
It was at Luza that God appeared to Jacob again as he was on his way back from MesoPotamia of Syria, and that’s when God blest himand told him:
‘You will no longer be called Jacob; IsraEl will be your name.’
So that’s when [God] first referred to him as IsraEl.
Then The God said to him:
‘I am your God, so prosper and grow… nations and groups of nations will descend from you, and kings will come from your loins.I am now givinge this land that I gave to AbraHam and IsaAc to you, as well as to the seed that descends from you.’
Then The God left him there in that place where He spoke to him.And Jacob erected a [stone] pillar [to honor] the place where he had been spoken to by God, pouring a drink offering and oil upon it.
And that’s when Jacob actually named this place where God spoke to him, BethEl (House of God).
[Well, after DeborAh died], Jacob left BethEl and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Gader.
And as they were getting close to ChabRatha, on their way to EphRatha, RachEl had birth pains and then she went into hard labor.It was while she was in hard labor that the midwife told her,
‘Don’t worry, you’re going to have this son!’
Then, as she was giving up her life (she was dying), she named him BenOni (Son of My Pain). However, his father named him BenJamin (Son of My Right Hand).
So RachEl died there and was buried along the road to EphRatha (BethLehem).And Jacob erected a pillar over her tomb, [which is referred to as] The Pillar of RachEl’s Tomb to this day.
It was while IsraEl was living in this land that ReuBen went and [had sex] with BalLa, his father’s (Jacob’s) concubine. And when IsraEl heard about this, it really upset him.
Now, there were 12 sons of Jacob.The sons of LeAh were Jacob’s first-born ReuBen, then SimeOn, Levi, Judah, IshSachar, and ZebuLon.The sons of RachEl were JoSeph and BenJamin.The sons of BalLa (RachEl’s handmaid) were Dan and NaphTali.And the sons of ZelPha (LeAh’s handmaid) were Gad and Asher.
These sons were born to Jacob in MesoPotamia of Syria.
Then Jacob returned to his father IsaAc in MamRe, to a city of the plains [called] HebRon (in the land of CanaAn), where AbraHam and IsaAc had stayed.
For IsaAc had lived 180 yearsbefore he stopped breathing and died.
Then his sons Esau and Jacob buried him beside his family, after he had lived a long and full life.
And these are the generations of Esau (or Edom):
Esau took these women from the daughters of theCanaAnites: There was Ada (the daughter of AiLom the Kettite), OliBema (the daughter of Ana [who was] the son of SebeGon the Hivite),and BaseMath (the daughter of IshMaEl and the sister of NabaiOth).
Ada bore EliPhas to [Esau], BaseMath bore RaguEl,and OliBema bore JeUs, JegLom, and CoRe. These were Esau’s sons that were born to him in the land of CanaAn.
Then Esau took his women, his sons, his daughters, and everyone in his house, along with all his possessions, all his cattle… yes, everything that he had and absolutely everything that he’d acquired in the land of CanaAn, and he left the land of CanaAn [to get away from] his brother Jacob,because they had both acquired so much that they could no longer live close to each other; for the land where they were staying couldn’t hold them, since they had so much.
So Esau [went to live] at Mount SeIr (Esau is Edom).
These are the generations of Esau, the father of the Edomites, when [he lived at] Mount SeIr,and these are the names of Esau’s [grand]sons through EliPhas (Ada’s son) and RaguEl (BaseMath’s son).
The [grand]sons of Ada through EliPhas were ThaEman, Omar, Sophar, Gothom, and Kenez.Also, ThamNa (EliPhas’ concubine) bore Amalec to him.
The [grand]sons of BaseMath through RaguEl were NachOth, ZaRe, SoMe, and MoZe.
These are the sons of Esau’s woman OliBema (the daughter of Ana, who was the son of SebeGon):
She bore JeUs, JegLom, and CoRe to Esau.
These are the chiefs of EliPhas, the first-born of Esau:
Chief ThaEman, Chief Omar, Chief Sophar, Chief Kenez,Chief CoRe, Chief Gothom, and Chief Amalec. They are the chiefs of [the family of] EliPhas (the sons of Ada), in the land of Edom.
And these are the chiefs of RaguEl, the son of Esau:
Chief NachOth, Chief ZaRe, Chief SoMe, and Chief MoZe. They are the chiefs of [the family of] RaguEl (the sons of BaseMath) in the land of Edom.
And these are the chiefs of OliBema (the daughter of Ana), Esau’s woman:
Chief JeUs, Chief JegLom, and Chief CoRe.
These were the sons of Esau. They are [all] chiefs, and they are [all] the sons of Edom.
These are the sons of SeIr the ChorRhite that lived in the land:
LoTan, SoBal, SebeGon, Ana,DeSon, Asar, and Rison.
And these are the chiefs of the son of SeIr the ChorRhite, in the land of Edom:
The sons of LoTan and his sister ThamNa were ChorRhi and HaEman.The sons of SoBal were GoLam, ManaChath, GaEbel, Sophar, and Omar.
The sons of SebeGon were Aie, and Ana (this is the same Ana that found JaMin in the desert when he was tending his father SebeGon’s animals).
Ana’s children were DeSon (his son) and OliBema (his daughter).
DeSon’s sons were Amada, AsBan, IthRan, and CharRhan.Asar’s sons were BalaAm, ZuCam, and JuCam.Rison’s sons were Hos, and Aran.
These are the chiefs of the ChorRites:
Chief LoTan, Chief SoBal, Chief SebeGon, Chief Ana,Chief DeSon, Chief Asar, and Chief Rison.
They are the chiefs of the ChorRites in their own principalities in the land of Edom.
These are the kings that reigned in Edom before [the time of] the kings of IsraEl:
Balac (the son of BeOr) reigned in Edom, and his [capital] city was DenNaba.
After Balac died, Jobab (the son of ZaRa from BosorRha) reigned in his stead.
After Jobab died, Asom (from the land of the ThaEmanites) reigned in his stead.
After Asom died, Adad (the son of BarAd, who cut off MidiAn in the plain of MoAb) reigned in his stead. And his [capital] city was GetThaim.
After Adad died, SaMada of MasSecca reigned in his stead.
After SaMada died, Saul of RhoObOth by the River reigned in his stead.
After Saul died, BalLenon (the son of AchObor) reigned in his stead.
After BalLenon died, Arad (the son of BarAd) reigned in his stead. The name of his [capital] city was PhoGor, and the name of his woman was MeteBeel (the daughter of MatraIth, who was the son of MaiZoOb).
These are the names of the tribal chiefs of Esau in their areas, countries, and nations:
Chief ThamNa, Chief Gola, Chief JeTher,Chief OliBema, Chief Helas, Chief PhiNon,Chief Kenez, Chief ThaEman, Chief Mazar,Chief MagediEl, and Chief ZaphoIn.
They are the chiefs of Edom in the areas where they live and in the lands that they own.
And this is Esau, the father of [all] Edom.
However, Jacob lived in the land where his father stayed, the land of CanaAn.
And these are the generations of Jacob:
When JoSeph was 17 years old (and because he was so young), he was accompanied by his brothers (the sons of his father’s women BalLa and ZelPha) as he grazed the sheep. And [at the time], they had been speaking of their father IsraEl in an evil way because of JoSeph,since Jacob loved JoSeph more than the rest of his sons (he was the son of his old age).
And because [Jacob] had just made a multi-colored coat for him,his brothers could see that their father loved him more, so they hated him and they never spoke to him in a peaceful way.
Then JoSeph had a dream, and he told his brothers about it.
He said,
‘Listen to what I dreamed:
I saw you bundling stalks of grain in the middle of the field; and then suddenly my bundle stood straight up, and your bundles turned around and bowed low before mine.’
So his brothers asked:
‘[Does this mean] that you’re going to rule over us and you’re going to be our master?’
Well, this dream and the things he said made them hate him even more.
Then [JoSeph] had another dream, and he told his father and brothers about it, saying:
‘{Look!} I had another dream in which the sun, the moon, and 11 stars bowed low before me.’
Well, his father scolded him over this, and he asked:
‘What kind of a dream is that? Do you think that your mother, brothers, and I will come and bow to the ground before you?’
Nevertheless, although his brothers were jealous of him, his father still paid attention to the things that he was saying.
Well, one day, JoSeph’s brothers went to SheChem to graze their father’s sheep.
And IsraEl said to JoSeph:
‘Your brothers are grazing the flocks at SheChem and I want you to go to them.’
And he replied:
‘Look, here I am.’
So IsraEl said:
‘Go there to see if your brothers and the sheep are doing well, then come back and report to me.’
So he sent him from the HebRon Valley to SheChem.
Well, a man later found JoSeph wandering in the fields and asked him:
‘What are you looking for?’
And he said:
‘I’m looking for my brothers. Tell me where they are grazing [their flocks].’
And the man said:
‘They’ve left here. I heard them say, Let’s go to Dothaim.’
So JoSeph went after his brothers, and he found them in Dothaim.
However, they had spotted him in the distance before he got there, so they got together and wickedly started talking about killing him.
They were saying to each other:
‘Look, here comes the dreamer!Come on, let’s kill him and then throw his [body] into a ravine. We can say, An evil wild animal ate him… then let’s see what his dreams amount to.’
But when ReuBen heard this, he saved [JoSeph] from them by saying,
‘Let’s not kill him.’Then [he suggested]:
‘Don’t shed [his] blood; let’s throw him into one of these deep crevices in the desert… but don’t lay a hand on him.’
([ReuBen] said this so that he could save [JoSeph] from them and return him safely to his father).
Well, when JoSeph reached his brothers, they took off the multi-colored coat that he was wearing,then they threw him into a deep crevice that was empty and didn’t have any water.
And after that, they sat down to eat some bread.
Thereafter, when they looked up, they noticed {Look!} an IshMaElite caravan that was coming from GileAd (their camels were loaded down with spices, resin, and myrrh that they were carrying to Egypt).
And Judah said to his brothers:
‘What profit would it bring us if we kill our brother and just cover it up?Let’s sell him to these IshMaElites instead.
We don’t want to lay a hand on him, because he’s our brother and our own flesh.’
Well, his brothers listened to this;so, as the merchants of MidiAn were traveling by, [his brothers] pulled JoSeph out of the crevice and sold him to the IshMaElites for 20 gold coins… and [the IshMaElites] took JoSeph [with them] down to Egypt.
Then when ReuBen later returned to the crevice and saw that JoSeph wasn’t there, he started ripping his clothes.
So he went to his brothers and said:
‘The boy isn’t [there]… where do I have to go [to find him]?’
Well after that, the men killed a young goat and dipped JoSeph’s coat in its blood.Then they took JoSeph’s multi-colored coat to their father and said:
‘We found this… do you recognize it as your son’s coat or not?’
Well, he recognized it and said:
‘It is my son’s coat! An evil wild animal has surely eaten him… a wild animal has carried off JoSeph!’
Then Jacob tore his clothes and covered the lower part of his body with sackcloth; and thereafter, he spent a long time mourning over his son.Although all of his sons and daughters went there to comfort him, he didn’t want to be comforted. He said:
‘I will go to my grave mourning my son.’
And his father kept crying over him.
Well, when they got to Egypt, the MidiAnites sold JoSeph to Potiphar, PharaOh’s councilor and captain of the guard.
Then Judah left his brothers and he traveled for some distance, arriving [at the home] of an OdolLamite named Iras.
And while he was there, Judah found the daughter of a CanaAnite man named Sava. He took her [as his woman] and [slept] with her,and she got pregnant. Then she gave birth to a son whom she named Er.And after that, she got pregnant again and gave birth to a son whom she named AuNan.Then she gave birth to a [3rd] son whom she named SeLom (she was living in Chasbi when she gave birth to them).
[Well, sometime later], Judah took a woman named Tamar to be the wife of his first-born son, Er.But Er was wicked before Jehovah, so God killed him.
Then Judah told AuNan:
‘You must go and [have sex] with your brother’s woman… since you’re her brother-in-law, you must take her so [she can] raise a seed for your brother.’
However, AuNan knew that the seed wouldn’t be [counted as] his. So when he [had sex with] his brother’s woman, he spilled [his semen] on the ground, so his brother’s woman wouldn’t [get pregnant].And his doing this appeared evil to God, so He killed him also.
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar:
‘Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son SeLom grows up… for I don’t want him to die like his brothers.’
So Tamar left and went to stay in her father’s home.
Well, after several years, Judah’s woman Sava died.
So while Judah was looking for comfort, he went to see his sheep shearers at ThamNa, along with his Shepherd, Iras the OdolLamite.And when his daughter-in-law Tamar was told,
‘{Look!} Your father-in-law is going up to ThamNa to shear his sheep,’
she took off her widow’s clothes, put on a veil and made up her face, and she went to sit by the gate of [the town of] AiNan, along the road that leads to ThamNa.
She did this because [Judah’s son] SeLom had already grown up and [Judah] hadn’t given [Tamar] to be his son’s woman.
Well, when Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, because she had her face covered and he didn’t recognize her.So he stopped and said to her (not knowing that she was his daughter-in-law):
‘Let me [have sex with] you.’
And she asked:
‘What will you give to [have sex] with me?’
And he said:
‘I’ll send you a young goat from my flock.’
But she told him:
‘You must provide me some assurance that you’ll send it.’
So he asked:
‘What kind of assurance can I give you?’
And she said:
‘Give me your ring, your bracelet, and the walking stick you’re holding.’
So he gave them to her, [had sex with] her, and she got pregnant by him.Then afterward, she got up and took off her veil, put her widow’s clothes back on, and left that place.
Well later, Judah sent the young goat with his shepherd (the OdolLamite), to get back the things that he had left with the woman… but he couldn’t find her.So he asked the local men:
‘Where’s that prostitute that used to sit by the road [here at] AiNan?’
And they replied:
‘There was no prostitute here.’
So he returned to Judah and said:
‘I couldn’t find her, and the local men say there wasn’t any prostitute there.’
Then Judah told him:
‘Let her have [those things]. Although I sent the young goat, you couldn’t find her; so, let’s not leave ourselves open to ridicule.’
Well after three months, Judah was told:
‘Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the whore… and now look; she’s pregnant by her whoring!’
So Judah said:
‘Then drag her out and have her burned!’
But as they were dragging her out, she called out to her father-in-law, and said:
‘I’m pregnant by the man that owns these things… just whose ring, bracelet, and walking stick are these?’
Well, Judah recognized them [as his] and said:
‘Tamar is innocent… but not me, because I didn’t give her to my son SeLom.’
And that was the last time [Judah had sex] with her.
Then when she went into labor, it was found that she had twins in her womb.And as they were being born, one pushed his hand out. So the midwife took hold of the hand and tied some scarlet [thread around it], and said:
‘This is the firstborn.’
But then he drew his hand back and his brother came out immediately thereafter. And she asked:
‘Why have you broken the barrier between you?’
So she named him Phares (Breach).
It was then that his brother (around whose hand the scarlet thread was tied) was born. And she named him ZaRa (Scarlet).
Meanwhile, JoSeph was down in Egypt where he had been bought by an Egyptian named Potiphar (PharaOh’s advisor and captain of the guard), who had purchased him from the IshMaElites that carried him there.
But Jehovah was with JoSeph and He blest him as he was living in the house of his Egyptian master.
Even [Potiphar] recognized that Jehovah was with [JoSeph] and that He was blessing everything he did;so JoSeph was treated kindly by him, and [JoSeph did everything he could to] please his master well.
Then before long, the man put JoSeph in charge of his whole house… he was appointed to be in charge of everything that [his master] owned.
And because he had put JoSeph in charge of his house and over everything that he owned, Jehovah blest the Egyptian’s house for JoSeph’s sake. He blest everything that the man had in his house and in his fields,because he had entrusted everything he owned into JoSeph’s hands.
So the man didn’t even know what belonged to him, other than the bread that he ate.
Well, JoSeph was extremely attractive… he had an excellent body and a very handsome face.And so, after he had been [put in charge of the house], his master’s woman eyed JoSeph and said:
‘[Have sex] with me.’
However, he wouldn’t. For he told his master’s woman:
‘Look, it’s because of me that my master doesn’t even know what’s going on in his own house! He has put everything that he owns into my hands.
Nobody in this house is over me, nor has anything been withheld from me, except you… and you’re his woman! So, how could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?’
Still, she pleaded with JoSeph every day… but he wouldn’t listen to her requests to sleep with her.
Then one day, as JoSeph entered the house to do his work, he found that none of the household staff was around.That’s when she grabbed him by his clothes and said:
‘[Have sex] with me.’
But JoSeph just left his clothes there in her hands and ran from the house.
Well, when she saw that he had left his clothes in her hands and ran away,the woman called [the family in] and said:
‘You see; He has brought in a Hebrew slave to make fun of us!
Why, he came in and told me that he wanted to have sex with me, but I screamed.And when he heard me scream, he left his clothes here and ran out of the house!’
So she kept the clothes near by, and when [her husband] got back home,she said to him:
‘This Hebrew servant that you brought to us came here to make fun of me! He said to me,
I’m going to [have sex] with you.
But after he heard me scream, he left his clothes with me and ran out of the house.’
Well, when his master heard everything his woman said, he proclaimed:
‘Then he did it to me!’
And because he was so angry, his master took JoSeph and had him thrown in prison… into the place where the king’s prisoners were kept.
Nevertheless, Jehovah was with JoSeph and He was very merciful to him. So He helped him find favor in the eyes of the prison’s warden.
And therefore, the warden put JoSeph in charge of the prison along with all the prisoners that were there and everything that they did.
So the warden was unaware of what was going on there, because everything was in JoSeph’s hands. And Jehovah continued to bless all that he was doing.
It was some time after this that the king’s chief cupbearer and his chief baker had wronged their lord, the king of Egypt.
PharaOh was furious with his two eunuchs (his chief cupbearer and his chief baker),so he had them locked up in prison… in the same place where JoSeph was kept,and the prison warden left them with JoSeph, who was to guard them.
Well, after they had spent some time in the prison,they both had a dream one night. Each man had his own dream and each dream had its own interpretation.
Then the next morning when JoSeph went in to see them, they were both quite disturbed.
So he asked PharaOh’s eunuchs (who were there in the prison with him):
‘Why are you so sad today?’
And they replied:
‘We have [both] seen [visions] in our dreams, and nobody knows what they mean.’
So JoSeph said:
‘Doesn’t the interpretation of [dreams come] through God? Tell [me what you saw]!’
And the chief cupbearer told JoSeph his dream. He said:
‘In my dream [I saw] a vinethat had three stems, which budded and put out blossoms; then [it formed] clusters of grapes that ripened.
Then after that, [I found] PharaOh’s cup in my hands. So I took the grapes and squeezed them into the cup, and I gave the cup to PharaOh.’
Well at that, JoSeph said to him:
‘This is what [the dream] means: The three stems are three days.So in three days, PharaOh will remember what you did and he will give you back your position as chief cupbearer.
Therefore, you will [once again] put PharaOh’s cup in his hands, holding the same high position that you once had as his cupbearer.’
[Then he continued]:
‘Now, remember me when things are going well for you… be merciful to me and mention me to PharaOh, so that I can be released from this dungeon.
You see; I was stolen from the land of the Hebrews. And though I’ve done nothing wrong here, I was thrown into this hole.’
Well, when the chief baker saw that he’d given [the first man] the right interpretation, he said to JoSeph:
‘I also had a dream. I remember looking up, and I found three baskets of bakery goods on top of my head.
In the top basket, there were all the kinds of things that PharaOh enjoys. But birds in the sky came and ate them out of the basket that was on my head.’
Then JoSeph told him:
‘This is what it means:
The three baskets are three days.So in three days, PharaOh will cut off your head and hang you on a tree, where the birds of the sky will eat your flesh.’
Well, three days later, it was PharaOh’s birthday when he held a banquet for all his servants. It was then that he remembered the offices that the cupbearer and the baker once held among them.
So he restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and once again he put PharaOh’s cup into his hands.
However, he hanged the chief baker, just as JoSeph foretold.
But thereafter, the chief cupbearer soon forgot about JoSeph.
It was a full 2 years later that PharaOh (likely AmenemHat 1) also had a dream.
He dreamed that he was standing next to a river,then {Look!} he saw 7 fat and good-looking cows come up out of the water to feed at the river’s edge.
And after that, 7 more cows, which were skinny and ugly, came up out of the river to feed along its banks.
Then the 7 skinny, ugly cows ate the 7 fat and good-looking cows… and that’s when PharaOh woke up.
Then he had another dream.
{Look!} There were 7 large and good-looking [heads] of grain that grew on a single stalk.And {Look!} they were followed by [a stalk] with 7 thin and windblown [heads] that grew up alongside them.
Then the [stalk] with the 7 thin and windblown [heads] ate the ones with the 7 large, good-looking [heads]… and that’s when PharaOh woke up… and it was just a dream.
Well the next morning, he was deeply disturbed [by the dreams], so he sent for all the [dream] interpreters of Egypt and all the wise men.
PharaOh told them of his dreams, but no one could tell him what they meant.
And that’s when PharaOh’s chief cupbearer told him:
‘I just remembered something that I’m responsible for.
[You were once] quite angry with your servants and you had us imprisoned in the house of the captain of the guard… both the chief baker and me.Each of us had a dream in that same night (both him and me)… but we each had our own dream.
And there was a young man with us, a Hebrew servant of the captain of the guard, to whom we told [our dreams], and he interpreted [them] to us.
Well, everything that he said would happen, came true… I was restored to my office and [the baker] was hanged.’
So, PharaOh sent for JoSeph… they took him from the prison, shaved him and changed his clothes; then he went in to PharaOh.
And PharaOh said to JoSeph:
‘I had a vision that no one can interpret, and I’ve heard that you have listened to dreams and interpreted them.’
But JoSeph answered PharaOh, saying:
‘Without God, [I couldn’t] give a safe answer to PharaOh.’
Then PharaOh told JoSeph:
‘In my dream, I was standing by the bank of the river.Then out of the river came 7 fat and good-looking cows that fed along the river’s edge.And after that, {Look!} 7 more cows came up out of the river that were evil, skinny, and ugly… I’ve never seen worse in the entire land of Egypt.
Then the 7 skinny, ugly cows ate the 7 fat and good-looking cows…they swallowed them down whole; yet, I couldn’t see that they had gone into their stomachs, because they still looked as ugly as they did before.
‘And after I woke up, I went to sleep again.
Then I saw what looked like 7 large, good-looking [heads] of grain growing from a single stalk.
And [after that, I saw] 7 more [heads] that were thin and windblown, coming up next to them.
Then the 7 thin and wind-blown [heads] ate the 7 large, good-looking [heads].
Now, I told all this to the [dream] interpreters, but none of them could explain it to me.’
So JoSeph told PharaOh:
‘Both of your dreams are the same, for The God has shown PharaOh what He’s going to do.
‘The 7 good-looking cows mean 7 years, and the 7 good-looking [grain heads] mean 7 years… so PharaOh’s dreams are both the same!
Also, the 7 skinny cattle that came up after them mean 7 years, and the 7 thin and windblown [heads] mean 7 years… therefore, there will be 7 years of famine.
‘Now, what I’m telling PharaOh is that it’s God’s purpose to show you what He’s going to do.
And look! 7 years are coming when there will be a great abundance throughout the land of Egypt;but these will be followed by 7 years of famine, which will be so bad that the abundance Egypt had will be forgotten, and famine will consume the land.
Yes, the abundance in the land will be gone because of the famine that will follow, since it’s going to be an extremely bad time.
And the fact that PharaOh saw the dream twice, proves that the things I’m telling you (which will come from The God) are true; for, God will cause it to happen very soon!
‘Therefore, search for a wise and discerning man, and put him in charge over the land of Egypt.Also, PharaOh should appoint local governors over the land that must collect 1/5 of all the produce in the land of Egypt during the 7 abundant years.
They must gather all the food that will come in during the 7 good years, and have all the grain gathered into the hands of PharaOh… and you must store the food in each city.
This stored food will then [protect] the land during the 7 years of famine that are coming upon Egypt, so [the country] won’t be totally destroyed by the famine.’
Well, what [JoSeph] said appeared good to PharaOh and to all of his servants.
So [he] asked his servants:
‘Where can we find such a man as this… someone that has the Breath of God in him?’
Then PharaOh said to JoSeph:
‘Since God has shown all of these things to you; is there a man that is wiser or more discerning than you?
I’ll appoint you to be over my house, and then all of my people must do whatever you say… only I will be greater than you on the throne.’
Then PharaOh told JoSeph:
‘{Look!} Today, I’m putting you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.’
And at that, PharaOh took the ring off of his hand and put it on JoSeph’s hand, [he had him dressed in] a robe of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
Then he mounted [JoSeph] on his second-best chariot and had a herald walk in front of him to proclaim that [JoSeph] had been appointed over the whole land of Egypt.
And PharaOh said to JoSeph:
‘Although I am the PharaOh; nobody will lift his hand anywhere in the land of Egypt without [your permission].’
Thereafter, PharaOh started calling JoSeph the Savior of the Age, and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Petephre, the priest of HelioPolis (Greek for City of the Sun), to be his woman.
Well, JoSeph was 30 years old when he stood before PharaOh, the king of Egypt.
So thereafter, JoSeph left the presence of PharaOh and he traveled throughout the land of Egypt.
And after that, the land did in fact produce well during the 7 years of abundance… by the heaping handfuls.
So, during those 7 years he gathered much food, because there was such abundance in the land, and he stored it away in each of the cities.
He took the food that grew in the fields around each city and stored it in them.
So the grain that JoSeph stored away became like the sands of the seas… so much that it couldn’t be calculated.
Meanwhile, JoSeph had two sons born to him prior to the 7 years of famine, by Asenath (the daughter of Petephre, the priest of HelioPolis).And JoSeph named his firstborn ManasSeh (Forgotten), for he said:
‘God has made me forget all my hard work, and even the house of my father.’
Then he named his second son Ephraim (Double Fruitfulness); for he said:
‘God has caused me to grow in the land where I was humiliated.’
Well, the 7 years of abundance in the land of Egypt soon passed,and then the 7 years of famine began, just as JoSeph had foretold. However, though there was a famine throughout the entire earth, there was still plenty [in Egypt].
Then, when the people of Egypt finally got hungry, they called out to PharaOh for bread, and PharaOh said to [them]:
‘Go to JoSeph and do whatever he tells you to do.’
Well, before long, the famine covered the entire earth; so JoSeph opened all the granaries and sold [the stored grain] to the Egyptians.
Then all the countries roundabout started coming to Egypt to buy [food] from JoSeph, because the famine had become [so great].
Now, Jacob had noticed that they were still selling [grain] down in Egypt.
So he said to his sons:
‘Why don’t you do something?
Look; I’ve heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go there and buy us a little food, so we don’t starve to death.’
Therefore, JoSeph’s 10 brothers went down to Egypt to purchase grain.
However, JoSeph’s brother BenJamin wasn’t sent along with his brothers, ‘So he doesn’t get sick,’ Jacob said.
Of course, the sons of IsraEl [traveled along with] many others to buy [grain], because the famine had affected the entire land of CanaAn.
Well, since JoSeph was the ruler of the land, he’s the one that actually sold [the food] to all the people that were coming from these lands; so, JoSeph’s brothers came to him and had to bow with their faces to the ground before him.
But when JoSeph saw his brothers (because he recognized them), he hid himself in front of them and spoke harshly to them, asking:
‘Where are you coming from?
And they replied:
‘[We came from] the land of CanaAn to buy food.’
Well, although JoSeph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him.
Then JoSeph remembered his dreams and the things that he saw, and he said to them:
‘You are spies… you’ve come here to spy in our land!’
But they said:
‘No Sir; we’re just your servants that have come to buy food!We’re all the sons of one man and we are peace loving… your servants aren’t spies!’
And he said to them:
‘No, you’ve come to spy [in our] land!’
Then they replied:
‘Your servants were once 12 brothers from the land of CanaAn. The youngest [of us] is with our father right now… but the other one is no more.’
Then JoSeph argued:
‘It’s just as I said; you are spies!Here’s how I will prove it: By the health of PharaOh, you aren’t going to leave until your younger brother comes here.
One of you can go to get your brother, but the rest of you will stay in jail until what you’ve said can be [proven]… whether you’re telling the truth or not.
And if not, then by the health of PharaOh, you really are spies!’
So he had them all locked up in jail for three days.
Then on the 3rd day, he said:
‘Do this and you will live, because I fear the gods (gr. ton Theon):
If you really are peace loving, I’ll allow just one of your brothers to be held in jail.
So now, go and carry the grain that you bought [back to your home].Then bring your younger brother to me, and I will believe what you said.
But if you don’t, you will all die!’
And that’s what they did.
Well, each one was saying to his brother:
‘Yes, we are to blame when it comes to our brother.
We didn’t pay attention to the anguish that he was going through, and when he looked to us, we didn’t listen to him. That’s why this bad thing is happening to us!’
Then ReuBen said:
‘Didn’t I tell you not to harm the boy? But you wouldn’t listen to me! Now look… his blood is [being avenged]!’
However, they didn’t realize that JoSeph was standing right there in front of them, because an interpreter stood between them.
Well at that, JoSeph left them and started crying. Then he returned and spoke to them, and he took SimeOn and had him bound before their eyes.
And thereafter, JoSeph gave orders to fill their [sacks] with grain, and to return the money to each one’s sack before giving them permission to leave.
And that’s what happened…the grain was loaded on their burros, and then they left.
Well, when they stopped somewhere to rest, one of them opened his sack to feed the burros, and that’s when he saw his bundle of money lying in the top of his sack.
So he said to his brothers:
‘They’ve returned my money. Look, its all here in my sack!’
Well, they were all dumbfounded and sick at heart. And they asked each other:
‘What has God done to us?’
And when they got back to their father Jacob (in the land of CanaAn), they told him everything that had happened to them, saying:
‘This man that is the lord of the land spoke harshly to us and had us put in jail as spies.But we told him that we are peaceful men… we aren’t spies.
We said that we are 12 brothers, the sons of our father. One [of us] is no more, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of CanaAn.
However, this man that is the lord of the land said to us,
Here’s how I will know that you are peaceful: Leave one of your brothers here with me and take the grain you bought, then return to your familyand bring your younger brother to me so I will know that you aren’t spies, but men of peace.
Then you can have your brother back and you can trade in this land.
‘But, as we were emptying our sacks, each man found his bundle of money inside his sack.’
So they [showed] their father their bundles of money, and they were all frightened.
Then their father (Jacob) said to them:
‘Now you’ve made me very sad, for JoSeph is no more and neither is SimeOn. So are you going to take BenJamin away also?
[Why have] all these [bad] things come upon me?’
Then ReuBen said to his father:
‘You can kill my two sons if I don’t bring him back to you. Give him to me, and I’ll bring him back!’
But [Jacob] said:
‘I won’t allow my son to go with you, because his brother is already dead, and he’s the only one left.
What if something happens to him on the way? This would bring such sorrow upon me in my old age that it would lead me to my grave.’
However, the famine continued in the land.
And so, after they had finished eating the grain that they’d brought from Egypt, their father told them:
‘Go there to buy us a little food again.’
But Judah said to him:
‘That man who’s the lord of the land absolutely warned us, saying,
You may not see my face again unless you have your younger brother with you.
So if you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go and buy you food.But if you won’t send our brother with us, we won’t go.’
Then IsraEl asked:
‘Why did you do so much harm to me by telling the man that you had a brother?’
And they replied:
‘The man asked a lot of questions about our family. He asked, Is your father still alive? and, Do you have a brother? All we did was answer his questions!
How could we know that he would tell us to bring our brother?’
Then Judah said to his father IsraEl:
‘Send the boy with me and we’ll go… so we don’t all [starve] to death!
I’ll be responsible for him, and you can hold me to blame if anything happens to him.
If I don’t return him and stand him before you, I will be guilty before you through the age.
If we hadn’t been delaying, we could could have already have gone there a second time!’
And their father IsraEl said to them:
‘If that’s the case, then do this:
Take along the fruit of the land in your sacks.
Carry gifts of gum, honey, frankincense, oil of myrrh, turpentine, and walnuts to the man.
Also, carry twice as much money – in addition to the money that was put back in your sacks – just in case that was a mistake.
Then take your brother along and go down to the man.
May my God allow you to find favor in the eyes of that man, so he sends you home with your other brother and BenJamin. For I’ve been saddened, and I’m very sad now.’
So the men loaded up their gifts and took twice as much money, as well as BenJamin, and headed down to Egypt, where they soon stood before JoSeph.
Well, when JoSeph saw them and his brother BenJamin (who was born to the same mother), he told his house manager:
‘Bring the men into [my] house, then butcher some animals and prepare them, because these men are to eat bread with me at noon.’
So the man did just as JoSeph said, and he brought them into JoSeph’s house.
Well, when the men realized that they had been taken to the house of JoSeph, they said:
‘We’ve been brought here because of the money that was returned to our sacks the first time. [This is being done] so witnesses can be called and we can be charged [with a crime]… then they will confiscate our burros and take us as slaves!’
So they went up to the man that was in charge of JoSeph’s house and spoke to him out on the porch.
They said:
‘We are begging you, sir… we just came the first time to buy food.But, as we were unloading and opening our sacks, [we found] this money in each sack.
We have the full amount of money in our hands [and we wish] to return it.
We’ve also brought more money along with which to buy the food… we don’t know who put the money in our sacks!’
And [the man] replied:
‘May God be merciful with you. Don’t be afraid, for it was your God and the God of your ancestors that put the treasures in your sacks.
I have enough of your good money!’
Then he brought SimeOn out to them…along with some water to wash their feet, and some fodder for their burros.
It was then that they started preparing their gifts for JoSeph’s arrival at noon, because they heard that he was going to dine there.
So when JoSeph came home, they brought him the gifts that they had carried into the house… and afterward, they bowed with their faces to the ground.
Well, he asked them:
‘How are you? Is your father, the old man that you spoke of, well? Is he still living?’
And they replied:
‘Our father, your servant, is well. And yes, he’s still alive.’
Then JoSeph said:
‘May that man of God be blest!’
And at that, they all bowed low to show him respect.
It was then that JoSeph looked up and saw his brother BenJamin (who was born to the same mother). And he asked:
‘Is this the younger brother that you said you would bring to me?’
Then he added:
‘May God have mercy on you, my son.’
Well, JoSeph’s emotions overcame him, because he missed his brother so much, and he wanted to cry. So he walked to his inner room and cried there.
Thereafter, he washed his face and regained his composure, and came out and said:
‘Now, bring on the bread!’
So they set out bread for JoSeph, for his servants, and for the Egyptians that were eating with him, but not for [his brothers], because the Egyptians considered it dishonorable to eat bread with Hebrews.
They just sat there in front of him (in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest), as the brothers looked at each other in astonishment.
But then, JoSeph gave them their portions to eat by themselves. However, BenJamin received 5 times as much as did the rest. They also drank with him until each one was full.
Then JoSeph gave instructions to his house manager. He said:
‘Now, fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s money in the top of his sack.Also, put my silver cup in the sack that belongs to the youngest, along with the price of his grain.’
So he did exactly as JoSeph said.Then the next morning, the men and their burros were sent away.
Well, after they left the city (but before they had traveled very far), JoSeph said to his house manager:
‘Now, get up and chase after those men; and when you catch up with them, ask:
Why have you returned evil for good…why have you stolen my silver cup? Isn’t this the [cup] that our lord drinks from and the one that he uses to foretell the future?
You’ve done an evil thing!’
So when he caught up with them, he said what [JoSeph] had told him to say.And they replied:
‘Why is our lord saying such things? Your servants wouldn’t do anything like that.
If we returned the money to you that we found in our sacks all the way from the land of CanaAn, why would we steal silver or gold from the house of your lord?
May whichever of your servants that you find with the cup die, and then we will all be our lord’s slaves!’
So, [JoSeph’s house manager] told them:
‘May it be just as you’ve said. But just the one that is found with the cup will be my slave… the rest of you can go free.’
Then each man quickly took down his sack and put it on the ground, and opened their sacks,and the man began his search, starting from the eldest to the youngest… and then he found the cup in BenJamin’s sack.
Well at that, they all started ripping their clothes. So each man put his sack back on his burro, and they all returned to the city,where Judah and his brothers were taken to see JoSeph, who was [still at home].
There they fell to the ground before him,and JoSeph asked them:
‘What have you done? Didn’t you realize that a man like me can see the future?’
And Judah replied:
‘What can we say to you, our lord? What can we say that will justify us? God has uncovered the unrighteousness of your servants.
Look! We’re now our lord’s slaves… both us and the one that was found with your cup!’
But JoSeph said:
‘I wouldn’t do anything like that… just the man that was found with my cup will be my slave. [The rest of you] may return home safely to your father.’
Then Judah came up to him and said:
‘I beg you, sir; Allow your servant to say something to you, and don’t get angry, because you are next to PharaOh.
Sir; you once asked your servants whether we have a father or a brother.And we replied,
Yes Lord, we have a father that is an old man, and he has a young son of his old age. [Since this boy’s] brother is now dead, he’s the only one left that came from his mother, and his father loves him.
‘Then you said to your servants:
Bring him down here to me, and I will take care of him.
And we said to our lord,
The child can’t leave his father, because if he leaves his father, [his father] will die.
But you told your servants:
Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you won’t see my face again.
And so, when we went up to your servant our father, we told him what our lord said.Then, when our father said,
Return and buy a little food for us,
we said,
We can’t return, unless our younger brother goes with us. We can go there, but we won’t be able to see the man unless we bring our younger brother along!
And your servant (our father) said to us:
You know that my woman gave birth to two [sons] for me.Now, one [of the two] is gone from me. For you told me that wild animals ate him, and I haven’t seen him since.So if you take this one away from me also and something should happen to him along the road, the sorrow will bring me to the grave in my old age.
‘Therefore, if I should return to your servant (our father) and the boy doesn’t return with us (remember that his life depends on this [boy’s] life);well, when he sees that the boy isn’t with us, he will die. And then your servants [will be responsible for] bringing your servant (our elderly father) to his grave in his sorrow.
For when I (your servant) took the boy from his father, I said,
If I don’t return him to you and stand him before you, I will be guilty before my father through the age.
‘Now, may I stay here as your slave instead of the boy. I will work in my lord’s house; but, let the boy [return home] with his brothers.
For how could I return to my father without the boy and cause evil things to happen to him?’
However, JoSeph couldn’t restrain himself when they were all standing there with him; so he said:
‘Everyone else is dismissed.’
As the result, nobody [was there guarding] JoSeph when he told his brothers who he was…and as he spoke, he was crying.
Well, soon all the Egyptians heard about this, and it was reported to the house of PharaOh.
For JoSeph said to his brothers:
‘I’m JoSeph! Is my father still alive?’
However, his brothers couldn’t answer him, because they were in shock!
Then JoSeph told his brothers:
‘Come closer to me,’
and they all came up to him.
And he said:
‘I’m your brother JoSeph whom you sold into Egypt!But, don’t be upset and don’t feel guilty that you sold me here, because [it was] God that sent me ahead of you, so you could live.
For this [is just] the 2nd year of the famine on the earth, and there are still 5 years to come when there will be no plowing or reaping.
‘It was God that sent me ahead of you so that some of you would survive on the earth to feed the rest of your crowd.
Therefore, you didn’t send me here, God did! And now He has made me like a father to PharaOh… the master of his whole house and the ruler of the entire land of Egypt.
So hurry and return to my father, and tell him that this is what your son JoSeph has said:
God has made me the lord of the entire land of Egypt. So come here to me, and don’t delay!You will live in the land of Gesem in Arabia, where you will be closer to me… you, your sons, your grandsons, your sheep, your cattle, and everything that’s yours.
I will feed you there, because the famine is going to last for 5 more years. This way, nothing that you own will be lost… not your sons or any of your possessions!
‘Look at me and see!
And [you], my brother BenJamin; Use your eyes [and recognize] that it’s my mouth speaking to you!
So report to my father about all the glory that I have in Egypt, and about everything that you’ve seen. Then hurry and bring my father down here.’
[Well, after that], he fell on his brother BenJamin’s neck and cried, and BenJamin cried on his neck.
Then he kissed all his brothers and cried over them, and his brothers [were finally able to] speak to him.
Well, the report of this was carried back to the house of PharaOh, for he was told,
‘JoSeph’s brothers have come.’
And this made PharaOh and his household very happy.
Then PharaOh said to JoSeph:
‘Tell your brothers to [get] wagons and return to the land of CanaAnto get their father and all their possessions, and then come here to me.
I will give them all the good things of Egypt, and they will eat from the [best] of our land.
‘Now, you must give them these instructions:
Tell them to take wagons from the land of Egypt to get their women, their children, and their father, and come here.
[Tell them] not to worry about their possessions, because all the good things of Egypt will be theirs.’
So that’s what the children of IsraEl did.
JoSeph gave them wagons, just as PharaOh the king had said, and he gave them the things that they would need for their journey.
He also gave each of them two suits of clothes… but he gave BenJamin 5 suits of clothes, plus 300 gold coins.
And he sent the same gifts to his father, plus 10 burros that carried a sampling of all the good things of Egypt, along with 10 mules that carried [provisions] for their journey.
So he dismissed his brothers and they left.
But before they left, he told them:
‘Don’t go away angry.’
Then they left Egypt and returned to the land of CanaAn and to their father, Jacob.
There they reported everything to him, saying:
‘Your son JoSeph is ALIVE, and he’s now the ruler of the entire land of Egypt!’
Well, this was so amazing to Jacob that he didn’t believe them.But they told him everything that JoSeph said, no matter what it was that he said to them.
It was then that [Jacob] noticed the chariots that JoSeph had sent to pick him up, and that’s when the spirit of their father Jacob was restored.
And IsraEl said:
‘If my son JoSeph is still alive, that’s wonderful! I want to go see him before I die!’
So IsraEl left with everything that he owned. And when he got to the Well of the Promise (BeerSheba), he offered a sacrifice to the God of his father IsaAc.
Then The God spoke to IsraEl in a vision that night.
He said:
‘Jacob! Jacob!’
And (Jacob) asked:
‘What is it?’
Then [God] said to him:
‘I am the God of your ancestors.
'Don’t be afraid to go down to Egypt, because I will make a great nation of you there.
I will be going down to Egypt with you and I will be bringing you back… for it will be JoSeph that will lay his hands over your eyes.’
Well after that, Jacob left the Well of the Promise, and IsraEl’s sons carried their father, their baggage, and their women on the wagons that JoSeph had sent to them.
They also brought along the goods and things that they had obtained in the land of CanaAn, and they went to the land of Egypt (Jacob and all his descendants –his sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters)… he brought all of his seed with him down to Egypt.
These are the names of the grandsons of IsraEl that went to Egypt with their father Jacob:
The sons of Jacob’s first-born, ReuBen, wereEnoch, PhalLus, AsRon, and CharMi.
The sons of SimeOn were JemuEl, JaMin, Aod, Achin, SaAr, and Saul (the son of a CanaAnite woman).
The sons of Levi were GedSon, CaAth, and MeraRi.
The sons of Judah were Er, AuNan (who died in the land of CanaAn), SeLom, Phares, ZaRa, and Er.Phares’ sons were EsRon and JemuEl.
The sons of IshSachar were: Thola, Phua, Asum, and SamBran.
The sons of ZebuLun were Sered, AlLon, and AchoEl.
These were the sons that LeAh gave birth to (for Jacob) in MesoPotamia of Syria, and those of his daughter Dina.
Altogether, the sons and daughters numbered 33.
The sons of Gad were Saphon, Angis, SanNis, ThasoBan, Aedis, AroEdis, and AreElis.
The sons of Asher were JemNa, JesShua, JeUl, BariJa, and their sister, SarAh. BariJa’s sons were Chobor, and MelchiEl.
These were the sons that ZelPha (whom Laban had given to his daughter LeAh) gave birth to for Jacob – 16 people.
The sons of Jacob’s woman RachEl were JoSeph and BenJamin,and the sons that were born to JoSeph in the land of Egypt through Asenath (the daughter of Petephre, the priest of HelioPolis) were ManasSeh, and Ephraim.
The son that was born to ManasSeh by his Syrian concubine was MachIr. Then MachIr fathered GalaAd.
Ephraim’s sons were SutalaAm and TaAm. SutalaAm’s son was Edom.
The sons of BenJamin were Bala, Bochor, and AsBel. Bala’s sons were Gera, NoEman, Anchis, Ros, and Mamphim. Then Gera fathered Arad.
These were the sons that RachEl gave birth to for Jacob.
Altogether, there were 18 people.
The son of Dan was Hushim,and NaphTali’s sons were AsiEl, Goni, IshSaar, and SolLem.
These were the sons that BalLa (whom Laban had given to his daughter RachEl) gave birth to for Jacob.
[Altogether], there were 7 people.
Therefore, all the descendants of Jacob that came with him to Egypt (those – except his son’s women – that came from his loins) totaled 66.And the sons of JoSeph that were born in the land of Egypt totaled 9.
So all the people of the house of Jacob that were with JoSeph in Egypt totaled 75.
Now, [Jacob] had sent Judah ahead of him to JoSeph, who told him to meet them at the City of HroOn (Mit El-Harun?) in the land of RaMesse.
So JoSeph got his chariots ready and went to meet his father IsraEl at the City of HroOn. And when he got there, [JoSeph] fell on [Jacob’s] neck and cried profusely.
Then IsraEl said to JoSeph:
‘Now that I’ve seen your face I can die happy, because you’re still alive!’
And JoSeph told his brothers:
‘I will go to PharaOh and tell him that my brothers and my father’s household have arrived from the land of CanaAn.I will also tell him that you are shepherds and cattlemen, and that you’ve brought along your cattle, herds, and all of your belongings.
So if PharaOh calls for you and asks you what you do for a living,you must say,
Your servants have been shepherds since our youth… both our fathers and us.
[You must say this], so you can live in the land of Gesem (Goshen) in Arabia, because shepherds are looked down on by the Egyptians.’
So then, JoSeph went and told PharaOh that his father and brothers had arrived from the land of CanaAn with their cattle, oxen, and all their possessions, and that they would be staying in the land of Gesem.
He also took 5 of his brothers and brought them before PharaOh.
And when PharaOh asked them,
‘What is your occupation?’
they replied,
‘Your servants (we and our fathers) are shepherds.’
Then they said to PharaOh:
‘We have come to stay in [your] land. And since there are no pastures for your servant’s flocks here, and because there is a famine in the land of CanaAn; please allow us to live in the land of Gesem.’
And PharaOh told JoSeph:
‘Then, may they live in the land of Gesem. And if you know any among them that are more capable, put them in charge of my cattle also.’
So that’s how Jacob and his sons came to JoSeph in Egypt. And after PharaOh (the king of Egypt) learned about this,he told JoSeph:
‘[Now that] your father and brothers have come to you,{Look!} the whole land of Egypt is before you; so, choose the very best land as a place for your father and brothers to settle!’
Then later, JoSeph brought his father Jacob in and stood him before PharaOh, and Jacob blest PharaOh.
Then PharaOh asked Jacob:
‘How old are you?’
And Jacob replied to PharaOh:
‘The years of my life that I’ve lived are 130.
These years have been too few and too troubled, for I haven’t reached the age that my ancestors [achieved], back in the days when they lived.’
And after that, Jacob [again] blest PharaOh, and left.
So, just as PharaOh commanded, JoSeph gave his father and brothers a tract of land as their possession and settled them in the land of Egypt, on the best ground in the land of RaMesse.
And thereafter, JoSeph provided grain for his father, brothers, and his father’s entire household.
However, there was no grain [growing on] the land at the time, so the famine was terrible. For both in the land of Egypt and in the land of CanaAn, people were weak from the famine.
As the result, JoSeph collected all the money that there was in the land of Egypt and in the land of CanaAn, because the people had spent all that they had for the grain that they were buying… and he took it all to the house of PharaOh.
So before long, there was no more money left in the land of Egypt or in the land of CanaAn. And because of this, all the Egyptians came to JoSeph and said:
‘Give us bread! Do you want us to die here before you? All our money is gone!’
And JoSeph replied to them:
‘If all your money is gone, then bring me your cattle, and I’ll give you bread in exchange for them.’
So they brought their cattle to JoSeph, and he gave them bread in exchange for their horses, sheep, oxen, and burros.
And JoSeph kept the people alive with bread that year in exchange for their cattle.
But after that year had passed, they came to him the 2nd year and said:
‘Must we be consumed before you, our lord? For all our money is gone, and since we’ve brought all our possessions and our cattle to you, our lord, we don’t have anything left other than our bodies and our land.
Therefore, so that we won’t die before you, and so that our land isn’t devastated, please buy us and our land for bread, so that we and our land will become PharaOh’s servants.
Give us seeds to grow so we can live and not die, and so that our land won’t be devastated!’
As the result, JoSeph bought all the land of the Egyptians for PharaOh… they sold it all to PharaOh, because the famine was so bad.
And therefore, the entire land became PharaOh’s,and the people became his servants from one end of Egypt to the other…that is, except for the land of the priests.
JoSeph didn’t buy [their land], because PharaOh gave [grain] as gifts to the priests. So they ate what PharaOh gave them, and they didn’t have to sell their land.
Then JoSeph told all the Egyptians:
‘{Look!} Today I have purchased both you and your land for PharaOh. So now, take the seeds and plant the land.Then, when it produces, you must give 1/5 of its produce to PharaOh.
You may keep the rest for yourselves as seeds for planting and as food for you and for all that are in your homes.’
And they said:
‘You have saved us! We’ve found favor before you, our lord, and we will be PharaOh’s servants!’
As the result, JoSeph passed a law that we still have today:
A fifth part [of the produce of the land of Egypt] is to be [given to] PharaOh. The only exception is the land of the priests… that doesn’t belong to PharaOh.
Well thereafter, the IsraElites lived in the land of Gesem in Egypt and they owned an allotment [of land] there… so the [family] grew rapidly and profusely.
Jacob also lived for 17 more years there in the land of Egypt, until he was 147 years old.
Then, as the time for IsraEl to die drew near, he called his son JoSeph and said this to him:
‘If I’ve found favor before you, put your hand under my thigh and [swear] to me mercifully and truthfully that you won’t bury me in Egypt,but that I will sleep with my ancestors.
[Swear that] you will carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their tomb.’
And JoSeph said:
‘I will do as you’ve asked.’
But [Jacob] said:
‘Swear to me!’
And he swore to him.
Then IsraEl bowed low, as he leaned on his cane.
Well, sometime after that, this report came to JoSeph:
‘{Look!} Your father is ill!’
So he took his two sons, ManasSeh and Ephraim, and they went to [see] Jacob.
Then when Jacob was told that his son JoSeph had come to see him, IsraEl straightened himself and sat up on his bed.
And [he] said this to JoSeph:
‘My God appeared to me in Luza in the land of CanaAn and blest me.Then He said to me,
{Look!} I will make you grow and increase, and I will make many nations come from you. I will also give this land to you and to your seed that comes after you as an inheritance through the ages.
‘Now, your two sons (Ephraim and ManasSeh) that were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came here, are my [sons] the same as ReuBen and SimeOn are my [sons].
And any children that you have from this point on will share in the names of their brothers; so, [the lands that they will] inherit will be named after them.
‘As for me; After I left Assyrian MesoPotamia, your mother RachEl died in the land of CanaAn during the evening, near the ChabRatha racetrack while we were coming to EphRatha (or BethLehem).
So I buried her beside the road at the racetrack of BethLehem.’
Then, when IsraEl noticed JoSeph’s sons, he asked:
‘Who are they?’
And JoSeph replied to his father:
‘They’re the sons that God has given to me here.’
And Jacob said:
‘Bring them here to me, so that I can bless them.’
Now, IsraEl’s eyes were weak due to his age, so he couldn’t see. But he drew them close, and he hugged and kissed them both.
Then IsraEl said to JoSeph:
‘Look! I haven’t been deprived of seeing your face, and now {Look!} God has also shown me your seed.’
So at that, JoSeph brought them out from [between] his [father’s] knees, and they bowed to [IsraEl] with their faces to the ground.
Then JoSeph took his two sons, with Ephraim at his right hand (but on the left of IsraEl), and ManasSeh at his left hand (but on the right of IsraEl), and led them near to him again.
However, IsraEl stuck out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head (he was the younger), and he put his left hand on ManasSeh’s head, with his arms crossed.
Then he blest them, saying:
‘May the God that found my fathers AbraHam and IsaAc pleasing (the God that fed me from my youth until nowand the messenger that protects me from all that is evil) bless these boys… and may they be called by my name and by the name of my fathers, AbraHam and IsaAc.
Let them grow to be a vast number on the ground.’
Well, when JoSeph noticed that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim’s head, that seemed wrong to him. So JoSeph took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to ManasSeh’s head.
And JoSeph said:
‘Father! This is the first-born; lay your right hand on his head!’
But Jacob wouldn’t. He said:
‘I know, son, I know. [Your eldest son] will be a [tribe of] people, and he will be important. However, his younger brother will be greater, and his seed will become many nations.’
So he blest them that day. And he said [to JoSeph]:
‘In your name, IsraEl will pronounce this blessing:
May God make you like Ephraim and ManasSeh’…
and he put Ephraim before ManasSeh.
Then IsraEl said to JoSeph:
‘Look, I’m dying! But my God will be with you and He will return you to the land of your fathers.
‘I am giving you SheChem (a better portion than that of your brothers), which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.’
Then Jacob called the rest of his sons in and said to them:
‘Gather here so I can tell you what will happen to you in later years. Gather and listen to me, sons of Jacob. Listen to IsraEl… listen to your father!
‘ReuBen;
You’re my firstborn and my strength. You’re the first of my children, but you’re hard to endure, [pig headed],and you’re as unruly as water… bring an end to your violence!
For you even climbed up on your father’s bed and dirtied the couch that you climbed on.
‘SimeOn and Levi;
You are brothers that are good at the injustices that separated you.May my soul pay no attention to the things that you say, and may my feelings never have any part in your conspiracies. For you’ve killed men in anger, and in your passion you’ve cut off the feet of bulls.
May your anger be cursed, because it is willful and cruel. So I will separate you in [the land of] Jacob and scatter you in IsraEl.
‘Judah;
Your brothers have spoken well of you, so your hands will stay on the backs of your enemies, and your father’s sons will bow before you…for Judah is the cub of a lion.
‘My son: you’ve grown from the tender plant [you once were], and now you’re a young lion. So by whom can you ever be beaten?
‘There will always be a ruler from Judah,
And princes will come from his loins
Until the one we’re awaiting arrives…
The one who’s the hope of the nations.
‘[He’ll] tie his foal to a vine…
The foal of his burro to a branch,
And he’ll wash his robes in [fine] wine…
In the blood of grapes, he will wash his clothes;
His eyes will be more cheerful than wine,
And his teeth [will be] whiter than milk.
‘ZebuLun;
You will live on the coast near a shipping port that reaches to Sidon.
‘IshSachar;
You have desired the best thing… to rest among the [other] inheritances.So [when you find] a good resting place and fertile land, you will put you shoulders to work and become a farmer.
‘Dan;
You will judge your people as a single tribe in IsraEl.
Dan will be a snake on the road that blocks the path and bites at the hooves of horses to cause their riders to fall,while he awaits the salvation of Jehovah .
‘Gad;
You will be looted by plunderers… but then you will also follow and plunder them.
‘Asher;
You will have plenty of bread, and you will provide delicious things to princes.
‘NaphTali;
You are a spreading vine [that will bear] beautiful fruit.
‘JoSeph;
My son that has now grown [into a man];
My dearly-loved son that has been increased;
My younger son that has been returned;
You’re the one whom the evil have spoken against;
The one against whom they have plotted
And whom the archers [have tried to shoot down].
But their bows and arrows were quickly destroyed
By the hand of Jacob’s Almighty God,
Who then weakened the might of their arms…
You’re the one who thereafter brought strength
From the God of IsraEl, to his father.
‘My God has helped you and blest you
With the blessings that come from above.
They’re the blessings of the ground that owns all…
They’re the blessings of the breasts and the womb.
They’re the blessings of your father and mother,
Which last longer than the blessings on the mountains,
And [longer than] the hills of the ages.
‘These [blessings] will be upon JoSeph’s head,
And on the heads of the brothers
Over whom he will now take the lead.
‘BenJamin;
You're a hungry wolf that will eat all morning long and also provide food in the evening.’
All these are the 12 sons of Jacob, and that’s what their father said to them. He blest them… he blest each of them by the blessings that they would receive.
Then he said to them:
‘Now I’m going to my people; so, bury me with my ancestors in the cave that is in the field of EphRon the Kettite.
It’s the double cave across from MamRe in the land of CanaAn that AbraHam bought as a tomb from EphRon the Kettite,and it’s where they buried AbraHam and his woman SarAh, IsaAc and his women RebecKa and LeAh,in that part of the field where the caves of the sons of Ket are located.’
Then Jacob stopped giving instructions to his sons, and he lifted his feet on the bed and died… then he was buried with his people.
Well at that, JoSeph fell over his father’s face, cried over him, and kissed him.
Then JoSeph told his servants (the embalmers) to [take charge of] his father’s body, and the embalmers mummified IsraEl.
The process took 40 days, because that’s how long it took to mummify someone. And all of Egypt mourned for him during the next 70 days.
Then when the days of mourning were completed, JoSeph spoke to the PharaOh’s mighty ones and said:
‘If I’ve found favor in your eyes, talk to PharaOh for me and tell him thatmy father made me swear, saying,
I want you to bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of CanaAn.
So I wish to go there and bury my father… and then I’ll return.’
And PharaOh said to JoSeph:
‘Go up and bury your father, just as he made you swear.’
So JoSeph went up [to the land of CanaAn] to bury his father; and all of PharaOh’s servants and elders of his house, as well as all the elders of the land of Egypt traveled with himand the households of JoSeph and his brothers, as well as the household of his father and his relatives.
However, they left the sheep and oxen behind in the land of Gesem…the entourage also included many chariots and horsemen, and a large crowd of others.
Then, upon arriving at the threshing-floor of Atad (which is across the JorDan), they wailed for [Jacob] with a very deep grief, and they mourned there for [JoSeph’s) father for the next 7 days.
Well, when the people of the land of CanaAn saw the mourning at the floor of Atad, they said:
‘This is a huge mourning to the Egyptians.’
So after that, they named the place The Mourning of Egypt Beyond the JorDan.
Yes, that’s what his sons did for him.
His sons carried him up into the land of CanaAn and buried him in the double cave that AbraHam bought as his own burying place from EphRon the Kettite, which is across from MamRe.
Then JoSeph and his brothers returned to Egypt, along with all those that had come with him to bury his father.
Well, after JoSeph’s brothers saw that their father had died, they said:
‘Let’s not forget that JoSeph can decide to get even with us and pay us back for all the evil things that we did to him at any time.’
So they went to JoSeph and said:
‘Before his death, your father made us swear. He instructed usto tell JoSeph to forgive us for the bad things we’ve done and for our sins, because we’ve really done some evil things to you.
Therefore, please forgive the injustice of the servants of the God of your father.’
Well, JoSeph started to weep while they were talking to him.Then they came up to him and said:
‘We are your servants!’
And JoSeph said:
‘Don’t be afraid, for I [belong to] God.And though you once met and talked about doing evil things to me; God made what you said about me [turn out] for the good.
And that’s why things happened as they have today… so that many people might be fed.’
Then he said to them:
‘Don’t be afraid; I’ll take care of you and your families.’
And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Well, JoSeph continued to live in Egypt along with his brothers and his father’s family for 110 years.
JoSeph [lived to] see Ephraim’s children through the 3rd generation, and the sons of MachIr (ManasSeh’s son) were born at his side.
Then JoSeph told his [family]:
‘I’m dying. But, God will surely come to you and take you from this land into the land that God swore to give to our ancestors, AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.
Then JoSeph made the Sons of IsraEl swear, saying:
‘When God comes for you, you must carry my bones back with you.’
So JoSeph died at the age of 110 (c. 1879 BCE), and they prepared his body, then they placed it in a [tomb] in Egypt.
These are the names of the Sons of IsraEl that came to Egypt with their father Jacob and their families:
ReuBen, SimeOn, Levi, Judah,IshSachar, ZebuLun, BenJamin,Dan, NaphTali, Gad, and Asher.
Then [there was] JoSeph [who lived] in Egypt; so altogether, there were 75 of these people that [descended] from Jacob.
[In time], JoSeph, his brothers, and that entire generation died.But the children of IsraEl grew and multiplied into a large and strong [nation], and the land helped them to grow.
Then a new king became the ruler over Egypt that didn’t know JoSeph (possibly SobeKemsaf I).And he said to his nation:
‘{Look!} The children of IsraEl have [grown tremendously] and they’re now more powerful than we are.
So, let’s be smooth in the ways that we deal with them, because if they continue to grow and then we find ourselves at war, they could side with our enemies.
And after they beat us in war, they will leave our land!’
So he appointed [governors] over them, whose [job] was to make them do hard labor; and they built fortified cities for PharaOh, including Pithom, RaMesse, and On (the City of the Sun).
But the more they held [the IsraElites] down, the faster they grew.
Well, they multiplied so much and grew so strong that the Egyptians hated the children of IsraEl.
So the Egyptians became tyrants over IsraEland made their lives unbearable by forcing them to work hard by making bricks from clay and working in the fields… whatever needed to be done.
And they were also dealt with violently.
Then the king of Egypt told the midwives that [served] the Hebrews (one was SepPhora and the other was Poua):
‘When you serve as midwives to the Hebrew women and they’re about to give birth, kill [the baby] if it’s a boy, but leave it alone if it’s a girl.’
However, the midwives feared God and wouldn’t do what the king of Egypt told them… they allowed the male [babies] to live.
So, the king of Egypt called for the midwives and asked them:
‘Why haven’t you [killed] the male [babies]?’
And the midwives answered PharaOh, saying:
‘Hebrew women aren’t like the women of Egypt, because they give birth before the midwives arrive, so they [already] have their children!’
As the result, God dealt kindly with the midwives, while the [IsraElites] continued to multiply and grow very strong.
Also, these midwives that feared God were able to start families.
Then PharaOh told all his people:
‘Whenever a male is born to the Hebrews, you must throw it into the river… but let the females live.’
Now, there was a certain man of the tribe of Levi that married one of the daughters of [his tribe].Then she got pregnant and gave birth to a male child. And after she saw how beautiful the child was, they hid him for three months.
But when they could no longer hide him, his mother got a box for him and coated it with tar, put the child inside, then she set it in the mud by the river,and she had his sister keep watch in the distance to see what would happen to him.
Well, PharaOh’s daughter thereafter came down to the river to bathe. And as her handmaids were walking along by the river, they saw the box lying in the mud, so she sent a handmaid out to pick it up.
And when she opened it, she found the baby inside the box, crying.
Well, PharaOh’s daughter felt sorry for it and said:
‘This is a Hebrew child.’
Then [the baby’s] sister went up and asked PharaOh’s daughter:
‘Would you like me to call a Hebrew [woman] to nurse the child for you?’
And PharaOh’s daughter replied:
‘Go!’
So the young woman went and called [her] mother.
Then PharaOh’s daughter said to [the mother]:
‘Take care of this child and nurse it for me, and I’ll pay you.’
So the woman took the child and nursed it.And after the boy had grown, she brought him to PharaOh’s daughter and he became her son. [PharaOh’s daughter] named him Moses (Egyptian: Mo-sheh, or, to draw), because she said:
‘I drew him from the water.’
In time, after Moses had grown, he went to see his brothers, the sons of IsraEl.
And as he was observing how bad things were, he noticed an Egyptian beating one of his Hebrew brothers of the children of IsraEl.
Then he looked around and he didn’t see anyone, so he bludgeoned the Egyptian and buried [his body] in the sand.
Well, on the next day, he noticed two Hebrew men fighting, and he asked the bully:
‘Why are you beating your neighbor?’
And he replied:
‘Who appointed you to be our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me like you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’
This stunned Moses, and he thought:
‘If [he knows], then others will know.’
And when PharaOh found out about it, he tried to have Moses put to death.
So Moses withdrew from the face of PharaOh and went to live in the land of MidiAn.
Then, upon arriving in the land of MidiAn, he sat down next to a well.And nearby, the 7 daughters of the Priest of MidiAn happened to be grazing their father’s sheep.
Then, when they came [to the well] to fill their buckets to water the flock,some shepherds arrived and [tried to] chase them away.
However, Moses stood up and protected them. And thereafter, he drew water for them and watered their sheep.
Well, after they returned to their home, their father (RagouEl) asked them:
‘Why have you returned so quickly today?’
And they replied:
‘An Egyptian protected us from the shepherds; and then he drew water for us and watered our sheep.’
So [RaguEl] asked his daughters:
‘Where is he… why did you leave the man? Invite him over [for a meal].’
Well [after that], Moses developed a good relationship with the man, and [RaguEl] gave his daughter SepPhoran to be Moses’ woman.
Then she got pregnant and gave birth to a son, whom Moses named GerSam (Visitor); for he said,
‘I’m a visitor in a strange land.’
After a while, the king of Egypt died. But the children of IsraEl kept groaning and crying because of their hard work. And the cries over their labor ascended to God.
[He] heard their groaning and God remembered the Sacred Agreement He had made with AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.
So He [started paying attention] to the children of IsraEl, and He made Himself known to them.
It was while Moses was out tending the flock of his father-in-law (His Excellence, the Priest of MidiAn) that he’d led the sheep into the desert to the dry mountain.
And there, Jehovah’s messenger appeared to him in a flame that was burning in a bush. He saw the flames in the bush, but [the bush] wasn’t really burning.
And Moses said:
‘I’ll get closer, so I can see this great sight… to find out why the bush isn’t being burned!’
And when [God] saw him drawing closer to look, the Lord called to him from the bush. He said:
‘Moses! Moses!’
And [Moses] asked:
‘What is it?’
And He said:
‘Don’t come any closer. Take your sandals off, because you’re standing on holy ground.’
Then He said:
‘I am the God of your ancestors… the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob.’
Well at that, Moses turned his face away, because he was afraid to look at God.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘I’ve seen the hardships that My people are enduring in Egypt, and I’ve heard their cries about their task-masters, so I know what they’re going through.
Now, I’ve come down here to free them from the Egyptians and to take them away from that land, to a land that is good and has plenty of room… a land that is flowing with milk and honey. It’s the place where the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Pherezites, Gergeshites, Evites, and Jebusites [live].
For ,{Look!} the shouting of the children of IsraEl has now reached to Me, and I’ve seen the suffering that the Egyptians are bringing upon them.
So now, come; because, I’m going to send you to PharaOh, the king of Egypt, and you’re going to bring My people (the children of IsraEl) out of the land of Egypt.’
But Moses asked God:
‘Just who am I that I should go to PharaOh the king of Egypt and bring the children of IsraEl out that land?’
And God replied:
‘I will be with you! This [place] will serve as the sign that I am sending you.
Then when you bring My people out of Egypt, you must serve God on this mountain.’
But Moses said to God:
‘Look, I’ll go to the children of IsraEl and tell them,
The God of our ancestors has sent me to you.
But they’re going to ask,
What is His Name?
So, what should I tell them?’
And God told Moses:
‘I am The Being! Just tell the children of IsraEl that The Being has sent you.’
Then God said to Moses:
‘Tell the Sons of IsraEl that Jehovah the God of your ancestors – the God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob – has sent you to them.
That has been My Name through the ages, and it’s how I shall be remembered from generation to generation.
‘So, go and gather the elders of the children of IsraEl, then tell them that Jehovah, the God of your ancestors, has appeared to you. He’s the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob.
[And tell them that] He said:
I have looked [down] and [seen] all the bad things that are happening to you in Egypt.
And tell them that I will take them away from their oppression in Egypt into the land of the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Pherezites, Gergeshites, Evites, and Jebusites… a land that is flowing with milk and honey.
And then they will listen to what you have to say.
‘After that, you and the elders of IsraEl must go to PharaOh the king of Egypt and tell him this:
The God of the Hebrews has called us, so we’re going on a 3-day journey into the desert to offer a sacrifice to our God.
However, I know that PharaOh (the king of Egypt) won’t let you go [unless he sees] a mighty hand [of power].So I will raise My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I [wish to show] to them… and then he will allow you to leave.
‘I will also make [My] people look good in the eyes of the Egyptians, so that when you escape, you won’t leave empty handed.
Women will ask their neighbors and landlords for clothing, and for gold and silver [jewelry], which you will then put on your sons and your daughters… so you will plunder the Egyptians.’
Then Moses asked:
‘But, what if they don’t listen to me and do what I tell them to do? Or, what if they say,
God hasn’t appeared to you…
what should I tell them then?’
So the Lord asked him:
‘What do you have in your hand?’
And he replied:
‘My walking stick.’
Then [the Lord] said:
‘Throw it on the ground.’
Well, when he threw it on the ground it became a snake, and Moses ran from it.
And after that, the Lord told Moses:
‘Now, reach out and grab it by the tail.’
So [Moses] reached out and grabbed it by the tail,and it became a walking stick in his hand once again. [And God continued]:
‘That’s why they will believe you when you say that the God of your ancestors has appeared to you… the God of AbraHam, and of IsaAc, and of Jacob.’
Then the Lord told him:
‘Now, put your hand inside [your robe and touch] your chest.’
So, he reached inside and touched his chest; and when he brought his hand out, it was [as white] as snow.Then [the Lord] said:
‘Now, put your hand back in and touch your chest once more.’
So, he reached in and touched his chest, and when he brought it out, its color had returned to the regular shade of his flesh.
[Then the Lord said]:
‘So, if the first sign doesn’t make them listen to you and believe, the second sign will.But if they still won’t listen to you or believe after these two signs, then draw some water from the river and pour it out on the dry ground… and the river water will turn into blood.’
Then Moses said to the Lord:
‘I beg you Lord; I’ve not been good at this in the past, and I’ve not become any better at it since You’ve started talking to your servant… I’m a poor speaker and I talk slowly!’
And the Lord asked Moses:
‘Who gave man his mouth? Who made both those that can hear and the deaf, as well as those that can see and the blind? Wasn’t it Me… God?
Now, go on, and I will open your mouth and tell you what to say!’
But Moses continued:
‘I beg you Lord, send someone that is more capable!’
Well, this made the Lord very angry with Moses, so He said:
‘Look; isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he’ll speak for you… look, he’s coming to meet you, and when he sees you, he’ll be jumping for joy.
Then you must talk to him and put My words into his mouth, and I’ll open both of your mouths and tell you what to say.
Let him speak to the people for you… he’ll serve as your mouth and you will be the things of God to him.
So now, take this walking stick that turned into a snake in your hands and work miracles with it!’
Well thereafter, Moses returned to His Excellence (his father-in-law), and said:
‘I’m going to visit my brother in Egypt to see if he’s still living.’
And His Excellence said to Moses:
‘Go in health.’
Well, after some time, the king of Egypt (possibly Kamose) died.And the Lord said to Moses (while he was still in MidiAn):
‘Now go… leave for Egypt, because those that wanted to kill you are dead.’
So Moses took his wife and children, mounted them on his animals, and returned to Egypt.
Moses also carried along the walking stick [through which he had received power] from God.
And the Lord said to Moses:
‘When you return to Egypt, consider all the miracles that I’ve given to you, then you must perform these things before PharaOh.
However, I will make him hard-hearted and he will still refuse to send the people away.So you must tell PharaOh,
This is what Jehovah has said:
IsraEl is My firstborn,and I’ve told you to send My people away so they can serve Me; however, if you won’t send them away, {Look!} I will destroy all your firstborn!’
Well, [during their journey], a messenger of Jehovah met them along the way at an inn, and he wanted to kill [Moses’ son].But SepPhoran grabbed a [sharp] stone and cut off her son’s foreskin.
Then she fell at his feet and said:
‘See… the blood of my son’s circumcision is flowing!’
So because she said, ‘The blood of my son’s circumcision is flowing,’ he left.
Then the Lord told Aaron:
‘Now, go into the desert to meet Moses.’
So, he went and met him at the Mountain of God, and they kissed each other.And thereafter, Moses told Aaron everything that the Lord had said, why he was being sent, and of all the things that he’d been instructed to do.
So Moses and Aaron went and gathered the elders of the children of IsraEl,and Aaron told them everything that God had said to Moses; then he performed the miracles before the people…and the people believed and were happy, because God was visiting the children of IsraEl and He had seen how they were being oppressed.
So, the people all bowed to their faces before him.
Well after that, Moses and Aaron went to PharaOh and said to him:
‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl, said:
Send My people away, so they can hold a feast to Me in the desert.’
And PharaOh asked:
‘Just who is this Jehovah, that I must pay attention to anything He has to say and send the children of IsraEl away? I don’t know Jehovah, and I’m not letting IsraEl go!’
So [Moses and Aaron] said:
‘The God of the Hebrews has called us to Him, and we’re going on a 3-day journey into the desert to [offer] sacrifices to our God Jehovah; otherwise, we’re afraid that He might strike us and we’ll die!’
But the king of Egypt replied:
‘Why are you, Moses and Aaron, trying to keep people from doing their work? Now, go back and just do your jobs!’
Then PharaOh said [to his people]:
‘{Look!} There are huge numbers of them and we can’t allow them to slack off from doing their work!’
And as the result, PharaOh gave orders to those that were in charge to tell their supervisorsnot to give the people any straw for brick-making as they did the day before and three days before that.
He said:
‘Let them gather and carry the straw for themselves!However, they must maintain the quota for the daily brick making… don’t let up on them, because they’re lazy!
Why, they came here demanding that we must allow them to [go out and] offer a sacrifice to their God.Therefore, make the men’s work much harder, so they’ll pay attention to that instead of to idle chatter!’
Well, the taskmasters and the supervisors acted quickly, and they told the people:
‘This is what PharaOh says:
I’m not going to give you straw anymore.Go get it yourselves! Take it from wherever you can find it… but you must still make the same number of [bricks]!’
So the people were scattered all over the land of Egypt as they gathered stubble for straw.And the taskmasters kept pushing them, saying:
‘You aren’t meeting the quotas you had when [we were providing] the straw.’
But then the supervisors that were assigned over the children of IsraEl by PharaOh’s governors were whipped… and they were asked:
‘Why aren’t you meeting your brick-making quotas as you did yesterday and three days ago?’
Well as the result, the children of IsraEl’s supervisors went to see PharaOh, and asked him:
‘Why are you treating your servants this way?You don’t give us any straw, but you tell us to make bricks anyhow.
And now {Look!} your servants have been whipped! Are you going to allow your people to be injured?’
And he said to them:
‘You’re lazy and you’re slackers! For you said,
Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.
Now, go to work instead, because you won’t be given any straw… but you must meet the same quota of bricks.’
Well, the children of IsraEl’s supervisors realized that they were in a tight situation, since they’d been told that they still had to deliver the same daily quota of bricks.
So when they saw Moses and Aaron coming to meet them (just after they’d left PharaOh),they said:
‘May God look down on you and judge you, because you’ve made us so hated by PharaOh and his servants that you’ve put the sword into their hands to kill us!’
Then Moses turned to Jehovah, and said:
‘I beg You, O Lord; Why have You caused trouble for these people, and why did You send me?
For from the time that I went to PharaOh to speak in Your Name, he’s made things harder for these people… and You still haven’t taken Your people away.’
And Jehovah replied to Moses:
‘Now you’re going to see what I will do to PharaOh; for he will indeed send them away… with a strong hand and a hard pitch he’ll THROW them out of his land!’
And God said to Moses:
‘I am Jehovah.I’m the One that appeared to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, and I was their God.
However, I didn’t show them My Name Jehovahwhen I established My sacred agreement with them [and promised] to give them the land of the CanaAnites… the land where they were visitors and living as strangers.
‘Now, I’ve heard the groaning of the children of IsraEl over the oppressive ways that the Egyptians are keeping them in slavery, and I’ve remembered the sacred agreement [that I made] with them.
So, go and tell the children of IsraEl that I am Jehovah and that I will lead them out of the tyranny of the Egyptians and free them from slavery.
I will pay their ransom with a hard pitch and a great judgment,then I’ll take them to be My people and I’ll be their God… and they’ll know that I am Jehovah their God who freed them from the tyranny of the Egyptians.
Then I’ll bring them into the land that I reached out to give to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob… I’ll give it to them as their inheritance, for I am Jehovah!’
So, that’s what Moses then went and told the Sons of IsraEl.
However, they wouldn’t listen to Moses, because of their fear and their hard work.So the Lord told Moses:
‘Go and tell PharaOh the king of Egypt to send the children of IsraEl out of his land!’
And Moses replied to the Lord, saying:
‘Look, the children of IsraEl didn’t listen to me, so how will I get PharaOh to listen to me? Besides, I’m not a good speaker.’
So the Lord spoke to [both] Moses and Aaron and told them to order PharaOh (the king of Egypt) to send the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt.
Now, these were the family heads of each of the houses of [IsraEl at the time]:
The sons of ReuBen (IsraEl’s firstborn) were Enoch, PhalLus, AsRon, and Charmi. They were ReuBen’s children.
The sons of SimeOn were:
JemuEl, JaMin, Aod, JaChin, SaAr, and Saul (the son of a Phoenician woman). These were SimeOn’s children.
The sons of Levi (and the family heads) were:
GedSon, CaAth, and MeraRi. And Levi lived to be 137 years old.
The sons of GedSon (and the family heads) were:
LoBeni and Semei.
CaAth’s sons were:
AmBram, IshSaAr, ChebRon, and Ozie. And CaAth lived to be 133 years old.
The sons of MeraRi (and the family heads) were:
MoOli, and Omusi.
Now, AmBram married his cousin JochaBed (the daughter of his father’s brother), and she gave birth to Aaron, Moses, and MiriAm (their sister).
AmBram [died] when he was 132 years old.
The sons of IshSaAr were:
KorAh, Naphec, and ZechRi.And the sons of OziEl were MisaEl, EliShaphan, and Segri.
Then Aaron married EliShaBeth, the daughter of AminAdab and the sister of NaAsson, and she gave birth to NaDab, AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar.
KorAh’s sons were:
Asir, ElKana, and AbiAsar. These were KorAh’s children.
Aaron’s son EliEzer married one of the daughters of PhutiEl, and she gave birth to PhineAs.
These are the heads of the family of the Levites, by their generations.
And this is Aaron and Moses, who were told by God to use His power to bring the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt.
So, this is what they went and said to PharaOh the king of Egypt (before Aaron and Moses brought the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt)on the very day that the Lord spoke to Moses.
For the Lord told Moses:
‘I am Jehovah! So, speak to PharaOh the king of Egypt and tell him whatever I say to you.’
But Moses replied to the Lord:
‘Look, I’m not a good speaker; so how will I get PharaOh to listen to me?’
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Look! I’ve made you a god to PharaOh, and your brother Aaron is your Prophet.
So, tell PharaOh everything that I’ve told you to say through your brother Aaron… tell him that he must send the children of IsraEl out of his land!
However, I will make PharaOh hardhearted, then I will bring many signs and wonders to the land of Egypt;but, PharaOh will still refuse to listen to you.
Then I will lay My hand upon Egypt and bring My people the children of IsraEl out of their land by My power and with a great vengeance.
And all the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah, and that I stretched out My hand toward Egypt and brought the children of IsraEl out of their midst.’
So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them.
Now, Moses was 80 years old, and his brother Aaron was 83 years old when they spoke to PharaOh.
Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
‘If PharaOh says that you must give him a sign or perform a miracle; tell your brother Aaron to throw his walking stick on the ground in front of PharaOh and his servants, and it will become a snake.’
So when Moses and Aaron went in [and stood] before PharaOh and his servants, they did just as the Lord had instructed them. Aaron threw his walking stick before PharaOh and his servants, and it became a snake.
However, PharaOh brought in all the Egyptian wise men, warlocks, and soothsayers, and they used their magic to do the same thing…they each threw down their walking sticks and they became snakes.
But then, Aaron’s walking stick swallowed down their walking sticks.
Nevertheless, PharaOh’s heart became hard and he refused to listen to what Jehovah had instructed them to say.
So, the Lord told Moses:
‘Now, PharaOh’s heart has become hard and he won’t let the people go.So, approach PharaOh when he goes down to the river tomorrow morning and meet with him there on its bank.
Then take [Aaron’s] walking stick that turned into a snake,and tell [PharaOh] that Jehovah the God of the Hebrews has sent you to him, and that He says,
Send My people away so they can serve Me in the desert! Look, you haven’t listened to Me so far,but this is how I’m going to let you know that I am the Lord!’
‘[Then tell him]:
Look; I’m going to slap the water with this walking stick in my hand, and the river water will change into blood.And at that, all the fish in the river will die and it will stink, so the Egyptians won’t be able to drink water from the river.’
And the Lord continued:
‘Then tell your brother Aaron to take his walking stick and hold his arms out over all the water in Egypt (over its rivers, canals, ponds, and any standing water) and they will turn into blood.
This blood will be throughout the entire land of Egypt… even in their pottery and wooden jars!’
So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them.
[Aaron] held out the walking stick and slapped the river right there in front of PharaOh and his servants, and all the river water changed into blood.
Then all the fish in the river died and the river had a foul odor, so the Egyptians couldn’t drink water from it.
And there was blood throughout the entire land of Egypt.
However, the Egyptian soothsayers used their magic to do the same thing.
So the heart of PharaOh became hard and he wouldn’t listen to them… which is just what the Lord said [would happen].
Then PharaOh turned around and went back into his palace without looking at anything.
Well, the Egyptians had to dig [wells] around the river to find drinking water, because they couldn’t drink the water from the river.
And Jehovah’s conquest of the river lasted for 7 days.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Now go to PharaOh [again] and tell him that this is what Jehovah has said:
Send My people away, so they can serve Me.And if you don’t send them away, {Look!} I will fill your land with frogs…the river will teem with frogs, and they’ll get into your houses, into your bedrooms, and onto your beds.
[They will be] in the homes of your citizens, in the homes of your servants, on your dough, and on your ovens.They will also climb on you, your servants, and your people.’
And the Lord said to Moses:
‘Then, tell your brother Aaron to raise his arms with his walking stick in his hand over the rivers, canals, and pools, to bring up the frogs.’
So when Aaron held his arms out over the waters of Egypt, it did bring up the frogs; and the frogs that he brought up covered the whole land of Egypt.
Well, the Egyptian soothsayers used their magic and they too brought frogs upon the land of Egypt.
But then PharaOh called for Moses and Aaron, and said:
‘Pray to Jehovah for me and ask Him to take the frogs away from my people and from me.
Then I will send [the children of IsraEl] away to offer their sacrifices to Jehovah.’
And Moses said to PharaOh:
‘Tell me exactly when I should pray for the frogs to disappear from you, your servants, and your people, [for that’s when they will leave] you, your people, and your houses.
However, they will remain in the river.’
And [PharaOh] replied:
‘Tomorrow morning.’
Then [Moses] said:
‘It will be just as you’ve said… and then you will know that there is no [God] other than Jehovah.For the frogs will be removed from you, your houses, your villages, your servants, and your people. However, they will remain in the river.’
And at that, Moses and Aaron left PharaOh.
Then Moses called to Jehovah and asked Him to remove the frogs, as PharaOh had requested.And Jehovah did just as Moses had asked… the frogs died in the houses, villages, and fields.
Then they gathered them in piles, which caused the whole land to stink.
Well, when PharaOh saw that there was some relief, his heart became hard again, and he didn’t listen to the things that they told him that Jehovah had said.
So the Lord told Moses:
‘Now, tell Aaron to take his walking stick in his hand and to hit the dirt on the ground; then fleas will cover the men and animals throughout the entire land of Egypt.’
So Aaron stuck out his walking stick and hit the dirt on the ground, and fleas covered the men and the animals… there were fleas on the ground everywhere!
Well, the soothsayers tried to use their magic to do the same thing and bring out the fleas, but they were unable to do so. However, the fleas covered both the men and the animals.
So the soothsayers said to PharaOh:
‘This is the finger of God!’
But PharaOh’s heart was again hardened and he wouldn’t listen to them and do as Jehovah had said.So the Lord said to Moses:
‘Get up early in the morning and stand before PharaOh as he’s going down to the water. Then you must tell him that this is what Jehovah has said:
Send My people away so they can serve Me in the desert.For if you won’t let My people go, {Look!} I’m going to send stable flies to you, your servants, your citizens, and into your homes. The houses of the Egyptians will be filled with stable flies wherever they live in the land.
[But this time], I will create a marvelous difference in the land of Gesem, where My people are living… there’ll be no stable flies there. Then you will know that I am Jehovah, the God of the whole earth,when I create a difference between My people and yours!
This is going to happen in your land tomorrow!’
Well, the stable flies came in huge numbers and they got into the houses of PharaOh, his servants, and everyone in the land of Egypt… the land was virtually destroyed by stable flies!
So PharaOh called Moses and Aaron [again] and said:
‘Now, go and offer a sacrifice to Jehovah your God… [but do it] here in this land.’
However, Moses said:
‘We can’t do that, because the things we will sacrifice to Jehovah our God are considered disgusting by the Egyptians. So if we sacrifice such things in front of the Egyptians, they will stone us.
Rather, let us travel three days into the desert, and we will offer our sacrifices to Jehovah our God there, just as our Lord told us.’
Then PharaOh said:
‘Well, you can go and sacrifice to your God in the desert; but, don’t go too far… and pray to Jehovah for me!’
And Moses said:
‘Now I will leave you and pray to God, so that the stable flies will leave your servants and your citizens tomorrow.
But PharaOh… don’t deceive me again and then refuse to send the people away to sacrifice to Jehovah.’
So Moses left PharaOh and he prayed to God;and Jehovah did just as Moses said… He removed all the stable flies from PharaOh, his servants, and his citizens.
However, PharaOh’s heart became hard once again and he wouldn’t send the people away.
So the Lord told Moses:
‘Go to PharaOh and tell him that this is what Jehovah the God of the Hebrews has said:
Send My people away so they can serve Me!If you don’t send My people away and if you prevent them from going,{Look!} the Lord will touch the cattle in your fields – the horses, burros, camels, bulls, and sheep – and many will die!
I will also show a marvelous difference between [the way I will treat] the cattle of the Egyptians and the cattle of the children of IsraEl. None of those that belong to the children of IsraEl will die.’
Then God told him when this would happen. He said:
‘I will bring it on the land tomorrow.’
And the next day, cattle that belonged to all the Egyptians died, but none of the children of IsraEl’s cattle died.
And when PharaOh saw that none of the cattle that belonged to the children of IsraEl died (not one), his heart became even harder; so he refused to let the people go.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
‘Moses should take handfuls of furnace ashes and throw them into the sky before PharaOh and his servants,so it can blow like dust over the entire land of Egypt.
Then the men and animals throughout all of Egypt will break out with blisters.’
So Moses carried furnace ashes before PharaOh and threw them into the sky… and they caused blisters to break out on both the men and their animals.
Well, the soothsayers were no longer able to stand before Moses, because they were also covered with blisters like everyone else in the land of Egypt.
But Jehovah made PharaOh’s heart even harder, so he wouldn’t listen to them and do what the Lord told him to do.
And the Lord said to Moses:
‘Get up early in the morning and stand before PharaOh, then tell him that this is what Jehovah the God of the Hebrews has said:
Send My people away so they can serve Me.For I’ve been sending all My plagues into your heart and into the hearts of your servants and your people, so you will know that there isn’t anyone else like Me in the entire earth.
And now I’m going to raise My hand to strike you and kill your people, wiping them off of the earth.For, the very reason that you’ve been allowed to live is so that I might display My strength through you, and so that My Name might be advertised throughout the whole world!
‘You’ve taken great pains to keep My people and to not let them go… haven’t you?So look! At this same time tomorrow I will bring a hailstorm that will be the worst that Egypt has seen since the time it was founded.
Hurry and gather your cattle, as well as everything else that you have in the fields… all the men and cattle that you can find in the fields.
For if they don’t go inside a building, the hail will hit them and kill them!’
So, those servants of PharaOh that were afraid of what the Lord said brought their cattle into their homes.And those that didn’t pay any attention to what the Lord said left their cattle in the fields.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Raise your hands to the sky, and there will be a hailstorm throughout the entire land of Egypt… on the men, the cattle, and all the plants that are growing on the ground.’
So Moses raised his hands to the sky, and Jehovah sent hail, thunder, and lightning that rolled around on the ground. And this hail from Jehovah rained throughout the entire land of Egypt.
There was hail and there was lightning mixed with hail… it was the greatest hailstorm to hit Egypt in the [history of] that nation!
The hail landed all over the land of Egypt – on the men, the animals, and the grass in the fields – and it broke all the trees in the fields.
But in the land of Gesem where the children of IsraEl were, there was no hail.
So PharaOh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said:
‘I’ve sinned this time. Jehovah is righteous, and my people and I are wicked.
Pray to Jehovah for me and have Him stop the thunder, lightning, and the hail; then, I will send you away and you won’t have to [live here] anymore.’
And Moses said to him:
‘After I leave the city, I will raise my hands to Jehovah, and the thunder, lightning, hail, and rain will stop… then you will know that the earth belongs to Jehovah.
However, I know that you and your servants still don’t fear Jehovah.’
Well, [Egypt’s] flax and barley was all destroyed, because the barley was fully-grown and the flax had seeds.However, the wheat and rye hadn’t been damaged, because they came up later.
Then Moses left PharaOh and [walked] out of the city. And when he raised his hands to Jehovah, the thundering ended, and the rain and hail stopped falling.
But when PharaOh saw that the rain, hail, and thundering had stopped, he continued to sin. He hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants.
And it was because of this hardened heart that PharaOh refused to send the children of IsraEl away, as Jehovah had instructed him through Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Go to PharaOh [again], because I’ve hardened the hearts of him and his servants so I could bring these signs upon them.
[I did this] so you could tell your children and your children’s children of the many ways that I’ve mocked the Egyptians through the wonders I’ve brought upon them, and so that they will know that I am the Lord.’
Then Moses and Aaron went before PharaOh and said to him:
‘This is what Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, says:
How much longer will you refuse to respect Me? Send My people away, so they can serve Me!
But if you won’t send My people away; {Look!} at this same time tomorrow, I will bring huge amounts of locusts to all your borders.They will cover the entire land, so that you won’t be able to see the ground. They will eat everything that the hail has left for you, and chew up every tree that you still have growing in the land.
Your houses, the houses of your servants, and all the houses throughout the land of Egypt will be filled with them. It will be something that neither your fathers nor their ancestors have seen from their time until this day.’
Then Moses turned and left PharaOh.And PharaOh’s servants said to him:
‘How much longer are you going to allow them to be a snare to us?
Send those people away so they can serve their God!
Don’t you realize that Egypt is [being] destroyed?’
So they went and brought Moses and Aaron back to PharaOh, and he said to them:
‘You may go and serve Jehovah your God… but, who will be going with you?’
And Moses replied:
‘We will be taking the young and the old, along with our sons, daughters, sheep, and bulls, because this is a feast of Jehovah.’
Then [PharaOh] said to them:
‘May Jehovah be with you. But if I send you away, must I also [send away] all that you own?
You have an evil [plan],so [I’m] not going to [allow that]! I’ll just allow the men to go and serve your God, because that’s all you really wanted.
Now, throw them out from before the presence of PharaOh!’
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Raise your hands over the land of Egypt and let the locusts come to the land. They will eat every plant on the ground and all the fruit that wasn’t damaged by the hail on the trees!’
So Moses raised his walking stick to the sky, and Jehovah sent a south wind [that blew] all day and all night long.
Then the next morning, the south wind brought the locusts,sending them throughout the land of Egypt. And there they sat in huge numbers throughout all the borders of Egypt.
Never had such locusts been seen before or since!They covered the entire ground and they devastated the land.
They ate all the plants off the ground and any fruit in the trees that hadn’t been damaged by the hail… nothing green was left on the trees or in the fields anywhere in the land of Egypt.
Then PharaOh hastily called Moses and Aaron, and said:
‘I have sinned before Jehovah your God and against you.
[Please] pardon my sin one more time and pray to Jehovah your God… ask Him to take away this death!’
So Moses left PharaOh and prayed to God;then Jehovah sent a strong wind from the sea that blew in the opposite direction, picking up the locusts and throwing them into the Red Sea… and there wasn’t a single locust left anywhere in the land of Egypt.
But Jehovah continued to harden PharaOh’s heart, so he didn’t send the children of IsraEl away.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Now lift your hands toward the sky and bring darkness to the land of Egypt… a darkness that can be felt.’
So Moses raised his hands to the sky, and it stormed throughout the land of Egypt for three days… and the sky became totally black.
Well, for the next three days, nobody could see anyone else, so no one even got out of bed. However, all the children of IsraEl had light where they were.
Then PharaOh called Moses and Aaron, and said:
‘Now, go and serve your God Jehovah… but you must leave your sheep, your cattle, and your belongings here!’
However, Moses said:
‘No! You must allow us the burnt offerings and sacrifices that we’re going to offer to our God Jehovah…our cattle will be going with us!
We won’t leave a hoof behind, because we’re going to take them to serve Jehovah our God, and we won’t know how we’re supposed to serve Him until we get there.’
But Jehovah kept hardening PharaOh’s heart and he wouldn’t let them go.
So PharaOh said:
‘Get away from me, and be careful not to see my face again, because the next time you appear before me, you’re going to die!’
And Moses replied:
‘That’s what you’ve said, so I won’t appear in your presence again!’
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘I’m going to bring one more plague upon PharaOh and Egypt… and he will send you away with everything. In fact, he’ll drive you out!
Now, go to the people secretly and tell them to ask their neighbors for clothing, silver, and gold jewelry.’
Well, Jehovah caused his people to be looked upon favorably by the Egyptians and they were willing to lend things to them, because the Egyptians considered Moses a great man… even greater than PharaOh and his servants.
Then Moses told [the children of IsraEl]:
‘This is what the Lord said:
About midnight I will be going throughout Egypt,and all the firstborn in the land will die, from the firstborn of PharaOh that sits on the throne, to the firstborn of the female slave that sits by the mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle.
Then a cry will [be heard] throughout the land of Egypt such as has never been heard before and will never be heard again.
However, among the children of IsraEl, not even a dog will snarl at a man or an animal. That’s when you’ll see the great difference that Jehovah will make between the Egyptians and IsraEl.
For they will then be your servants… they’ll come to [you] and bow, saying,
Leave, both you and all the people that you’re in charge of.
And that’s when [you will] leave.’
Meanwhile, Moses had left PharaOh [feeling very] angry. And the Lord told Moses:
‘PharaOh isn’t going to listen to you anymore, so now I’m going to bring great signs and wonders to the land of Egypt.’
Yes, though Moses and Aaron had been bringing all these signs and wonders to the land of Egypt and to PharaOh; Jehovah kept hardening PharaOh’s heart, so he wouldn’t listen and send the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron there in the land of Egypt, and said:
‘This will be your 1st month. It is to be the first one [in your] year.
So, tell the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl that on the 10th day of this month, each man should select a lamb for his household (depending on the size of his family).And if there are just a few in his house (too few [to eat a whole] lamb), they may go to [the home of] a nearby neighbor.
They are to figure out how many people there will be, and then calculate how much lamb they will eat.
‘So, choose a perfect male yearling lamb from [your herd] of lambs and kids,and keep it nearby until the 14th day of this month.
Then the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl must slaughter [their lambs] toward the evening,and they must gather the blood and splash it on the top and both sides of the doorframes of the houses where they will be eating [the lamb].
Then that night, they must roast the flesh over a fire and eat it with fermentation-free bread and bitter herbs.
‘Now, you must not eat it raw or boiled in water, just roasted over a fire with the head, feet, and extremities.
Nothing should be left over until morning, and you shouldn’t break any of its bones.
Then, any leftovers must be burned in the fire.
‘And this is how you must eat it:
With your thighs covered for work, your sandals on your feet, and your walking sticks in your hands.
You must eat it quickly, because it will be Jehovah’s Passover.For I will go throughout the land of Egypt that night and strike all the firstborn in that land (both the men and their animals), and I will bring My vengeance upon all the gods of Egypt… I am Jehovah!
‘Now, this blood will be the sign that you are inside of each house; for when I see the blood, I will protect you, and you won’t be a part of the plague of destruction when I strike the land of Egypt.
‘You must always remember this day and keep it as a feast to Jehovah through all your generations… [observance of] this feast will be the law through the ages.
‘You must eat fermentation-free bread for 7 days.
And starting on the 1st day, you must remove all the fermentation from your homes. For if anyone eats fermentation between the 1st and 7th days, that person must be destroyed in IsraEl.
‘The 1st day will be called holy, and the 7th day will be your holy day when you aren’t to do any hired work.
The only work that you may do will be for the things that you require.
‘You must observe this commandment, because this is the day that I will use My great power to bring you out of the land of Egypt… you must make this day a law through the ages for every generation!
You must eat fermentation-free bread from the evening of the 14th day of the 1st month until the evening of the 21st day.
Fermentation must not be found in your homes during those 7 days, and whoever eats anything with fermentation must have his life cut off from the gathering of IsraEl and he will be self-condemned in the land.
This applies to the native residents of your land and your neighbors (converts).
Nobody should eat anything that has fermentation… only fermentation-free bread may be eaten in any of your homes.’
Then Moses called all the elders of the children of IsraEl and told them:
‘Go find yourselves a lamb (according to your family needs) and slaughter the Passover.
Then [cut] bunches of hyssop branches and dip them into some of the blood next to the door, and touch it to the upper part and both sides of the door frame… with this blood that is by the door.
Thereafter, no one should go outside the door of his house until morning,for the Lord will pass over you [as He] strikes the Egyptians… He will see the blood on the doorframes and the Lord will pass over that door, then He won’t allow the destroyer to enter your homes to strike you.
‘Now, keep this as a Law for yourselves and for your descendants through the ages.
And when you enter the land that Jehovah has promised to give you, you must keep on doing this.
Then if your sons should ever ask,
Why are we doing this?
You should tell them:
The Passover is a sacrifice to Jehovah for when He protected the homes of the children of IsraEl in Egypt and He struck the Egyptians, but [passed over] our homes.’
Well thereafter, the people bowed to their faces, then the children of IsraEl went and did exactly as Jehovah had instructed Moses and Aaron.
It was midnight when Jehovah struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt… from the firstborn of PharaOh that was sitting on the throne, to the firstborn of the female slave that was sitting in a dungeon, and to the firstborn of all the cattle.
So, PharaOh woke up that night (as did his servants and all the Egyptians) and there was a lot of screaming throughout the entire land of Egypt; for someone had died in every home.
As the result, PharaOh called Moses and Aaron that night and told them this:
‘Get up and leave us, both you and the children of IsraEl! Go and serve your God Jehovah as you’ve asked,and take your sheep and bulls with you.
But please bless me… I beg you!’
All the Egyptian people also urged them to leave their land quickly, because they were saying:
‘We’re all going to die!’
So the children of IsraEl took all their bread dough that hadn’t fermented yet and wrapped it in cloths, and carried it on their shoulders.
Then, following Moses’ instructions, they asked the Egyptians for clothing, as well as for items of silver and gold.
And because Jehovah had caused the Egyptians to view them favorably, they [gave them these things]… so they plundered the Egyptians.
Then the children of IsraEl got up and left RaMesse, traveling toward to SocChoth (some 600,000 men on foot) with everything they owned,along with a huge number of others that left with them, as well as with their sheep, bulls, and many cattle.
[And when they got there], they baked the dough that they had brought from Egypt into fermentation-free loaves (there was still no fermentation in the dough), because the Egyptians hadn’t allowed them to stay any longer.
For, since they had been literally thrown out, they hadn’t been allowed enough time to properly prepare for their journey.
Now, though it had been 430 years that the children of IsraEl lived in the land of CanaAn and in the land of Egypt;the whole army of Jehovah left the land of Egypt that night.
And since this was [the night] that they kept watching for Jehovah to bring them out of the land of Egypt; all the children of IsraEl were to observe it as a night of watch to Jehovah throughout all their generations.
Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron:
‘This is the Law regarding the Passover:
No stranger may eat it,and any slave or servant that you buy must be circumcised before he can eat it.
However, visitors and people you hire can’t eat it.It must be eaten in one house, because you can’t carry the flesh outside of the house… and no bones should be broken.
The entire gathering of the children of IsraEl must continue to do this.
‘And if any converts come and want to observe the Passover to Jehovah, you must circumcise all their males before they can [partake of] the sacrifice; for thereafter, they will be treated as residents in the land.
However, no one that is uncircumcised may eat it.
So, there will be just one Law, and it will apply to both the native residents and to those that come to be converts among you.’
Then the children of IsraEl did exactly as Jehovah had instructed Moses and Aaron.
And that was the day Jehovah brought the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt with all their armies.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘All the first-fathered and firstborn that open any womb among the children of IsraEl, whether of men or animals, are to be set aside as holy to Me, for they are now Mine!’
And Moses said to the people:
‘Remember this day! [It’s the one] when you were brought out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery; for, Jehovah brought you out of there with His strong hand.
So, fermentation must not be eatenon this day of new grain that you left.And when Jehovah your God brings you into the land of the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Evites, Jebusites, Gergeshites, and Pherezites, which He swore to your ancestors that He would give you (a land that is flowing with milk and honey), you must perform the same service during this month.
You will all eat fermentation-free bread for 6 days, and the 7th day will be a feast day to Jehovah… so, you will eat fermentation-free bread for 7 days.
Nothing with fermentation may be seen among you, nor may you have fermentation inside all of your borders.
And you must say to your sons on this day:
This is how Jehovah dealt with me as I was leaving Egypt.
‘Let this always serve as a sign on your hand and as something in front of your eyes to remember, so that Jehovah’s Law will always stay on your [lips]! Because, Jehovah God brought you out of Egypt with His mighty hand.
Therefore, each year at this same time and season, you must observe this Law.
‘And when Jehovah your God brings you into the land of the CanaAnites, which He swore to your ancestors that he would give to you;you must set aside every male that opens a womb to Jehovah.
This includes those among your flocks and herds of cattle… as many as you have. [All the] males must be [set aside as] holy to Jehovah!
However, when it comes to your burros; you must offer a sheep instead… you can’t exchange it, you must buy it back [from Jehovah], and you must buy back every firstborn son.
‘And if your son should ever ask you,
Why are we doing this?
You must tell him:
Jehovah brought us out of Egypt and out of the house of slavery with His mighty hand.And when PharaOh’s heart became hard and [he refused] to send us away, [God] slaughtered all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the men and the animals.
So that’s why we offer every male that opens a womb to Jehovah, and that’s why we buy back all of our firstborn sons.
‘Therefore, may this be a sign on your hand and something that is always fixed in front of your eyes… because, Jehovah brought you out of Egypt with His mighty hand.’
Well, after PharaOh had sent the people away, God didn’t lead them toward the land of the Philistines (though it wasn’t far away), because God said:
‘[I’m doing this is to keep] the people from having a change of heart when they see war, and from thereafter returning to Egypt.’
So God led them around the desert toward the Red Sea.
It was the 5th generation of the children of IsraEl that left the land of Egypt.And Moses took JoSeph’s bones along, because [JoSeph] had made the children of IsraEl swear, saying:
‘God will surely visit you, so you must carry my bones back with you.’
Thereafter, the children of IsraEl left SucCoth and went to camp at Othom, which is near the desert.
God led them there using a tall column of clouds during the day (to show them the way) and a tall column of fire during the night.
The column of clouds was there all day long, every day, and the column of fire was always there in front of the people all night long.
Then the Lord said to Moses:
‘Tell the children of IsraEl to turn around and set up camp in front of the village of the MagDol (the Watchtower)… between it and the sea, across from BeEl-SepPhon. Camp there in front of them, next to the sea.For PharaOh will say to his people,
The children of IsraEl are just wandering around in the land, and now they’re boxed in!
Then I will harden PharaOh’s heart, and he will chase after you. So, PharaOh and his whole army will bring glory to Me, and all the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah.’
And that’s exactly what happened.
Well, a report was carried to the king of the Egyptians that the people had run away. And this changed the hearts of PharaOh and his servants against the [children of IsraEl], and they started asking:
‘What have we done by allowing the children of IsraEl to go, rather than having them [stay here and] serve us?’
So PharaOh prepared his chariots and took his [whole army] with him…600 of their best chariots, the entire Egyptian cavalry, and all his generals.
And it was because Jehovah had hardened the hearts of PharaOh (the king of Egypt) and his servants that he chased after the children of IsraEl. For the children of IsraEl allowed them the upper hand,and when the Egyptians caught up with them, they found them camped next to the sea.
Well, there was all of PharaOh’s cavalry, chariots, horsemen, and entire army at a village near BeEl-SepPhon.
And as PharaOh approached, the children of IsraEl could see the Egyptians coming up behind them, which terrified them, so they started calling out to Jehovah.
And at that, they asked Moses:
‘Aren’t there enough graves in the land of Egypt so that you had to bring us out here to be killed in the desert?
What have you done to us by taking us out of Egypt?
Wasn’t it enough that we told you back in Egypt to leave us alone so that we could keep on serving the Egyptians?
For, it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to have us die here in this desert!’
But Moses said to the people:
‘Don’t be afraid; Stand here and watch the salvation that comes from Jehovah through the things that He will do for us on this day.
Do you see all those Egyptians today? You won’t see them again in this age,because Jehovah is going to fight for you and bring peace to you!’
Then the Lord asked Moses:
‘Why are they shouting to Me?
Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them to continue on!
Just lift your walking stick and raise your hands over the sea, and it will split open… then you can [lead] the children of IsraEl across on dry land through the midst of the sea!
‘And after that, {Look!} I will harden the hearts of PharaOh and all the Egyptians, and they will chase after you… for, that’s when PharaOh, his army, his chariots, and all his horses will glorify Me.
Yes, everyone in Egypt will know that I am Jehovah when I’m glorified by PharaOh, his chariots, and his horses.’
So immediately thereafter, the messenger of God who had been traveling in front of the camp of the children of IsraEl went around to its rear… for the column of clouds moved to the rear and stayed behind them,between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of IsraEl.
And as it was standing there between them, it started to get dark… in fact, the night became so black that the [Egyptian army] couldn’t come any closer all-night long.
Then when Moses lifted his arms over the sea, the Lord pushed the water back with a strong south wind [that blew] all night long. This dried the seabed and it kept the water divided.
So the children of IsraEl walked down through the midst of the sea on dry land, as the walls of water stood to their right and to their left.
But then the Egyptians went in and chased after them… all of PharaOh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen also went [down into] the midst of the sea.
Well, it was during the morning watch that Jehovah looked at the Egyptians through the columns of fire and clouds, and [He created] trouble in their camp,for the wheels on their chariots sank to their axels, making them very hard to pull.
And the Egyptians started saying:
‘Let’s run from the face of IsraEl, because Jehovah is fighting for them and against the Egyptians!’
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Now, stretch your arms out over the sea and let the water fall back into its place… let it cover the Egyptian chariots and their riders.’
So Moses stretched his arms out over the sea, and the water returned to its place around daybreak.
The Egyptians tried to run from the water, but Jehovah just kept shaking them back into the midst of the sea.
It returned and covered the chariots and their riders, along with the whole army of PharaOh that followed them into the sea, leaving no survivors.
Yet, the children of IsraEl had been able to cross through the midst of the sea on dry land with the water standing like walls on their right and on their left.
So Jehovah saved IsraEl from the hands of the Egyptians that day, and IsraEl could see the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.
And after IsraEl had witnessed Jehovah’s mighty hand in the things that He did to the Egyptians, they started fearing Jehovah… trusting in God and in His servant Moses.
Thereafter, Moses and the children of IsraEl sang this song to God:
‘Let us sing to Jehovah;
For He has been glorified.
‘The horses and riders He’s tossed in the sea…
He’s been our protector and helper,
And He has brought us salvation.
‘This is my God and I’ll praise Him…
He’s the God of my fathers and I’ll hold Him high.
He’s the Lord that crushes with war;
Jehovah is His [Great] Name.
‘Into the sea, He has thrown
The army and chariots of PharaOh.
It swallowed his best mounted generals,
And He covered them up with the water,
Where they sank to the bottom like stones.
‘The strength of Your right hand, O God,
Has now proven its glory.
For, with Your right hand, O God,
You have shattered all of Your enemies.
‘In Your glory, You’ve smashed those that hate us,
As You sent them Your rage,
Which has now consumed them like stubble.
‘By the spirit of Your rage, the waters had split…
The waters stood firm, like a wall…
You banked the waves in the midst of the sea.
‘But our enemies said,
We will chase them down,
Then divide their things and bring ourselves joy.
We will destroy with our swords…
With our mighty hands, we will beat them.
‘But then, [Jehovah] sent out His wind,
And the sea covered them over…
They sank in the waters like lead.
‘So, who among gods is like You, O Lord…
To whom can You be compared?
For Your holy ways bring glory to You,
And we marvel at all of Your glories.
‘You raised Your right hand with wonders,
For the earth has swallowed them down.
But You righteously guided those whom You bought
(Those whom You called by Your might)
To the Holy Place of Your rest.
‘But, when the nations heard about this,
They all became quite enraged…
Birth pangs fell on the Philistines,
And the princes of Edom and MoAb;
Then, all their chiefs ran away.
They each started to tremble,
And all in CanaAn just melted away.
‘May they shake in fear of the strength of Your arm,
And may they become like the stones, O Lord,
Until all Your people have passed them by…
Until those You’ve purchased have passed them.
‘Now, take us and plant us in the mountains we’ll inherit,
And in the homes You’re preparing, O Lord…
In the place of safety, prepared by Your hands.
For, Jehovah reigns through the ages,
And through the ages of ages.
‘PharaOh’s horses sank into the sea,
Along with his chariots and horsemen.
Then, they were covered with water,
Where the children of IsraEl had walked on dry land
Through the midst of the sea.’
Then the Prophetess MiriAm (Aaron’s sister) picked up her tambourine, and all the other women went to get their tambourines, and they started dancing.
MiriAm led them, singing:
Let us sing to Jehovah;
For, He has been glorified.
The horses and riders He’s tossed in the sea…’
Well thereafter, Moses led the children of IsraEl away from the Red Sea and into the desert of Sur. But after [traveling] through the desert for three days, they hadn’t found any water to drink.
And when they got to MerRha (Bitterness), they couldn’t drink the water there, because it was bitter. (That’s why [Moses] named that place Bitterness).
Then the people started complaining about Moses, asking:
‘What are we going to drink?’
So Moses called to Jehovah, and the Lord showed him a tree, which [Moses] threw into the water… and the water became sweet.
This is also the place where [God] gave him His Laws and decisions, and where He showed His approval.
For [the Lord] said:
‘If you will listen to the voice of Jehovah your God… if you’ll do the things that please Him, obey His Commandments, and keep all His Laws; I won’t bring any of the [plagues] upon you that I brought upon the Egyptians.
For I am Jehovah, the God that provides you with healing.’
Then, when they arrived at AiLim, they found 12 springs of water and 70 branching palm trees, so they camped there by the water.
Thereafter, they left AiLim, and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl traveled into the Sin Desert, which is between AiLim and SinAi.
And on the 15th day of the 2nd month from their leaving the land of Egypt,the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl [once again] started complaining to Moses and Aaron.
They told them:
‘We would rather have died [with those that were] struck by Jehovah in the land of Egypt, back when we could sit by the stew pots and eat all the bread we wanted! But now you’ve brought us out into this desert just to starve us all to death!’
And the Lord said to Moses:
‘Look! I will rain bread upon you from the skies.
Then the people will go out and gather their allotment for each day, so I can test them to see whether they will follow My Law.
For on the 6th day they must gather all that they can, and it will be double that which they could gather on the previous days.’
So Moses and Aaron spoke to the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl, saying:
‘This evening you will realize that it was Jehovah that brought you out of the land of Egypt;and tomorrow morning you will see the glory of the Lord, since He has heard you complaining against Him… and what are we, that you should keep complaining about us?’
Then Moses continued, saying:
‘This evening, Jehovah will give you meat to eat; and in the morning, He will provide enough bread to satisfy you.
For Jehovah has heard all the complaints that you have made against us… yet, what are we? You aren’t complaining against us, but against God!’
And Moses said to Aaron:
‘Now, tell the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl that they must go over and approach God, since He has heard all their complaining!’
So, after Aaron said this to them, they all turned and faced the desert… and the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud!
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘I’ve heard all the children of IsraEl’s complaining, so tell them:
This evening you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have enough bread to satisfy you… and then you will know that I am Jehovah your God.’
Well that evening, a [huge flock] of quail flew in and covered the camp.
And the next morning, after the dew around about the camp had dried; {Look!} on the surface of the desert (lying there like frost) was small things that looked like white coriander seeds.
And when the children of IsraEl saw them, they asked each other:
‘What is this (heb. man-nah)?’ Because, they didn’t know what it was.
And Moses told them:
‘This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat… it’s what Jehovah has approved.
So, every man should gather 1/3 of a bushel for each person in his family.
You and those that are living with you should go out and gather it.’
And that’s what the children of IsraEl did.
Though some gathered more and others gathered less,the ones that gathered the full 1/3 of a bushel didn’t have any leftovers, and those that gathered less never went hungry.
So, they all gathered just what their households required.
Then Moses told them:
‘Now, none of you may save any of this for the next morning.’
However, many of them wouldn’t listen to Moses, and they tried to keep it until the following morning… but by then it had worms and it smelled… and all of this irritated Moses.
So each morning, everyone would collect all that they needed, and everything melted after the sun went down.
Then on the 6th day, they gathered twice as much as they needed… 2/3 of a bushel per person.
Well, all the chiefs of their gathering thereafter came and reported what was happening to Moses.And Moses asked:
‘Didn’t the Lord tell us that tomorrow is the Sabbath… a holy [day of] rest to Jehovah?
Therefore, bake all that you can bake and boil all that you can boil, so that the leftovers can be stored for tomorrow!’
[So on the 6th day], they stored the leftovers until the next morning, just as Moses told them, and it didn’t stink and there weren’t any worms in it.
[And then the next day], Moses said:
‘This is what you must eat today; for since this day is a Sabbath to Jehovah, you won’t find any of it out in the fields.
You must collect it for 6 days, but because the 7th day is a Sabbath, there won’t be any then.’
However, on the 7th day some of the people still went out to collect it, but they couldn’t find any.
So the Lord said to Moses:
‘How long are they going to fail to listen to My commands and [obey] My laws?
Look; I’ve given them this day as the Sabbath, and I gave them enough bread to last for two days on the 6th day.
So from now on, they must all just sit there in their homes… don’t allow anyone to leave his place on the 7th day!’
Well thereafter, the people started keeping the Sabbath on the 7th day.
The children of IsraEl called this [food], manna.
It looked like white coriander seeds and tasted like crackers and honey.
Then Moses said:
‘This is what Jehovah has commanded:
We are to collect 1/3 of a bushel of manna and set it aside so that future generations can see the bread that you ate in the desert after Jehovah led you out of the land of Egypt.’
And he told Aaron:
‘Take a gold pot and fill it with a full 1/3-of-a-bushel of manna, then store it away for God and keep it for future generations.’
So, just as the Lord told Moses, Aaron stored it away as a testimony.
As the result, the children of IsraEl ate manna for 40 years.
They ate manna until they got to the land of Phoenicia.
Now, a homer (1/3 of a bushel) was 1/10th of an ephah (3 bath measures).
Thereafter, the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl left the Sin Desert, following the order of their camps, and the Lord told them to camp in RaphiDin.
However, there was no water for the people to drink in this place,so they started shouting at Moses and saying:
‘Give us water to drink!’
And Moses asked them:
‘Why are you shouting at me, and why are you asking Jehovah to prove Himself?
Well, the people were very thirsty, and they complained again to Moses, saying:
‘What’s the point? Did you bring us up out of Egypt to kill us along with our children and cattle with thirst?’
Then Moses called to Jehovah, and said:
‘What should I do with these people… before long they will stone me!’
And Jehovah replied to Moses:
‘Go before the people and bring along some of their elders. Then take the walking stick with which you slapped the [Nile] River, into your handsand go to the rock in the dry place (Horeb) where {Look!} I’ll be standing before you;
[Then you must] strike the rock and water will pour out of it, so the people will [have something to] drink.’
Well thereafter, Moses did this in front of the sons of IsraEl.And then he named that place, ‘Proof and Shouting,’ because of all the shouting of the children of IsraEl, [as they demanded that] Jehovah prove Himself.
For they had asked:
‘Is Jehovah among us or not?’
Then the Amalekites came to fight against IsraEl in RaphiDin.And Moses said to JoShua:
‘Choose your best men and form battle lines against the Amalekites tomorrow.
{Look!} I will be standing on top of the hill with the walking stick of God in my hands.’
So JoShua did just as Moses told him. He went out and formed his army into battle lines against the Amalekites; then Moses, Aaron, and Or went up to the top of the hill.
Well, whenever Moses raised his arms, IsraEl would be superior; but when he let them down, the Amalekites were more successful.
But soon Moses’ arms got tired, so they found a rock and had him sit on top of it; then Aaron and Or supported his arms on either side, holding them there until the sun set.
So, JoShua was able to drive the Amalekites and all their people away by slaughtering them with swords.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Write this in a scroll, so it will be remembered.
Tell JoShua that I’m going to totally blot out all memory of the Amalekites from under the skies!’
Well after that, Moses built an altar to Jehovah there, and he named it ‘Jehovah is My Refuge,’because Jehovah was secretly waging war against all generations of the Amalekites.
Meanwhile, His Excellence (the priest of MidiAn, Moses’ father-in-law) heard of all that Jehovah had done for his people IsraEl by bringing them out of Egypt.
So His Excellence [went to see Moses], bringing along Moses’ woman SepPhora (since [Moses] had sent herand her two sons away).
[One of his sons] was named GerSam (Visitor), because, as [Moses] said:
‘I was a visitor in a strange land,’
and [the other was named] EliEzer (My God is my Helper), because as [Moses] said:
‘The God of my fathers is my helper and He rescued me from the hands of PharaOh.’
His Excellence then took [Moses’ family] to him in the desert… to his camp on the Mountain of God.
And when Moses was told,
‘Look! His Excellence (your father-in-law) is coming and he’s bringing your wife and two sons with him,’
Moses went out to meet them.
Then [Moses] bowed low before his father-in-law and kissed him, then they hugged each other, and he led them into his tent,where Moses told his father-in-law about everything that Jehovah had done to PharaOh and to the Egyptians for IsraEl’s sake, as well as about all the things that had happened to them along the way, and of the way Jehovah had rescued them from the hands of PharaOh and the Egyptians.
Well, His Excellence was amazed by all the good things that Jehovah had done for them by rescuing them,and he said:
‘Praise Jehovah, because He rescued them from the hands of PharaOh and the Egyptians!
Now I know that Jehovah is higher than all [other] gods; for He did this to those that were treating [the children of IsraEl so poorly].’
Then His Excellence presented whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of IsraEl came to eat bread before God, along with Moses’ father-in-law.
Well, the next morning, Moses sat down to [serve as] judge for the people, and they [kept coming to] him all day long.
Then when His Excellence noticed all that [Moses was doing], he asked:
‘Why are you sitting there all by yourself as the people come to you from morning until night?’
And Moses replied:
‘The people are coming to me to receive God’s decisions.So whenever they have any disagreement, they come to me and I judge each [case].
I teach them the Laws of God and [I judge by] His Laws.’
However, Moses’ father-in-law told him:
‘You aren’t handling this thing right,for this will just wear you down… and your people will get tired of it too. You won’t be able to keep on doing this all by yourself.
So, listen to me; I’m going to tell you what to do, and God will be with you.
‘You can be [the one] that [leads] the people in matters that pertain to God, and you can take their problems before God.You should also [teach] them God’s [ways] and His Laws, and show them how to act and the things that they should be doing.
But, keep an eye out among the people for capable, righteous men that fear God… righteous men who hate pride. Then appoint them as chiefs over thousands, chiefs over hundreds, chiefs over fifties, and chiefs over tens…let them spend all their time judging.
And whenever a problem is too great, then they should bring it to you. Let them help you to free up your [time] by judging the smaller cases.
And if you do that, God will strengthen you, you will [have time to take care of more important matters], and these people will [return to their tents] more peacefully.’
Well, Moses paid attention to his father-in-law’s suggestion and did everything that he said.He chose capable men throughout all of IsraEl and made them chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens.
Then they judged the people, and whenever a matter was too weighty, they brought it to Moses, while they judged the lighter matters.
Then after that, Moses [said goodbye] to his father-in-law, and [His Excellence] returned to his own land.
Well, it was on that same day (in the 3rd month after the children of IsraEl had fled the land of Egypt) that they arrived in the SinAi desert.
They left RaphiDin and traveled through the desert to SinAi, and IsraEl set up camp there in front of the mountain.
Then Moses climbed the Mountain of God, and God called to him on the mountain, saying:
‘You must say this to the house of Jacob and report [My words] to the children of IsraEl:
You have seen all that I’ve done to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you as on the wings of eagles and drawn you close to Me.
Now, if you will listen to what I say and keep My Sacred Agreement, you will be a special people to Me that will be higher than all other nations.
And because the whole earth is Mine,you will become My holy nation and a Kingdom of Priests.
‘Now, [go] and tell this to the children of IsraEl!’
So Moses went back and called the people’s elders, then he laid out what God had said exactly as He said it.
And all the people replied unanimously, saying:
‘We will listen to and obey everything that God has said!’
And Moses reported their words back to God.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘{Look!} I’m going to come to you in a column of clouds so the people can hear Me speaking to you. And after that, through the age, they will believe you.’
And so, Moses reported back to the people about what the Lord had said.
Thereafter, the Lord said this to Moses:
‘Go down and give these solemn instructions to the people:
They must cleanse themselves both today and tomorrow, and they must wash their clothes.
Make sure they are ready by the 3rd day, because on the 3rd day, the Lord will descend upon Mount SinAi before all the people.
‘Also, be sure that they keep themselves some distance from the mountain. Tell them:
Be careful not to step on any part of the mountain or to touch any part of it. For anyone who touches the mountain will surely die.
No hand should touch it, and anyone that does so must be pelted with rocks or shot through with arrows… whether it’s a man or an animal, [he or she] must not be allowed to live!
People may only climb the mountain after the voices, trumpeting, and clouds are gone.’
So Moses went down the mountain to the people. He then cleansed them and [had them] wash their clothes.
He told them:
‘Get ready… and for the next three days, no [man] should even get close to a woman!’
Then, as the morning of the 3rd day dawned, there were voices, there was lightning, there was a dark cloud on SinAi, and they heard a trumpeting sound that was so loud that the people in the camp were trembling.
And that’s when Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God.
Well, they were all standing there, close to the camp,and then the whole mountain started to smoke, because The God had descended upon it in fire… and the smoke kept rising as though it [was coming from] a furnace, which left the people in awe.
Then the trumpeting got even louder as Moses spoke, and God started answering him with a voice…yes, the Lord descended to the top of Mount SinAi and called to Moses, [telling him to come to Him] on top of the mountain!
So Moses went up,and God then said this to Moses:
‘Go down and warn the people [again] not to approach to see God, for this will cause many of them to [die].
And make sure that any Priests that come close to Jehovah God have cleansed themselves, so He doesn’t [have to] destroy some of them!’
Then Moses said to God:
‘The people won’t be able to approach Mount SinAi, because You warned us, saying,
Set boundaries around the mountain and make it holy.’
And at that, the Lord told him:
‘Now, go down [the mountain] and bring Aaron back up here with you.
But don’t allow the Priests or the people to force their way up to God, for fear that Jehovah will destroy them.’
So Moses went [back] down to the people and reminded them [once again].
Then the Lord said all of this:
‘I am Jehovah… I’m your God that brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery.
So, you must have no gods other than Me.
‘You must not make images for yourselves of anything in the skies above, on the earth below, or of things that live in the water or under the ground.
You must not bow before them or serve them; for I, Jehovah your God, am a zealous God, and I bring the sins of the ancestors upon the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of those that hate Me.
Yet, I am merciful to the thousands that love Me and keep My Commandments.
‘You must not misuse the Name of your God Jehovah; for Jehovah your God will not forgive those that misuse His Name.
‘Keep the Sabbath day and make it holy.
You may work and get everything done in 6 days.However, the 7th day is the Sabbath of your God Jehovah, and you must do no work… not you, your sons, your daughters, your male servants, your female servants, your oxen, your burros, any of your cattle, or any strangers that are visiting among you.
For after Jehovah made the skies, the lands, the seas, and everything in them, He rested on the 7th day. Then Jehovah blest the 7th day and made it holy.
‘Honor your father and mother, as Jehovah your God commanded you, so that things may go well for you and that you may live a long time in the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you.
‘You must not commit murder.
‘You must not commit adultery.
‘You must not steal.
‘You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
‘You must not desire your neighbor’s woman, his house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his burro, any other animal, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.’
Well, all the while, the people were being distracted by all the thunder and lightning, the sounds of the trumpets, and the smoke on the mountain; and everyone was afraid and backing far away.
So they told Moses:
‘You talk to us… don’t let God talk to us, because we’re afraid that we might die!’
And Moses said to them:
‘Be courageous! For The God came here to test you and to put the fear of Him into you, so you won’t sin.’
However, the people just kept backing away.
Then Moses went into the darkness where God was.
And Jehovah said to Moses:
‘This is what you must say to the house of Jacob and what you must report to the children of IsraEl:
Now you have seen Me speaking to you from the sky;so, don’t make gods of silver or gold for yourselves.
You may make an Altar to Me from the dirt in whichever place that I record My name, and that’s where you must sacrifice your whole burnt offerings, as well as the peace offerings of your sheep and calves, and that’s where I will come to you and bless you.
‘However, if you should choose to build a stone Altar to Me, don’t use cut stones; because, if you use tools on them, they will become unclean.
And don’t build any steps up to My Altar, so that the naked [parts of your bodies] can be seen from [below].’
‘Now, these are the Laws that you are to show to them:
‘If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may only serve you for 6 years; for in the 7th year, he must be set free without cost.
If he comes alone, he must leave alone; but if his woman comes with him, his woman must also leave with him.
However, if his master gives him a woman and she gives birth to sons or daughters; she and her children belong to the master, so [the slave] will leave alone.
But if the slave should say,
I love my master, my woman, and my children, so I don’t want to leave free;
his master should bring him to the judgment-seat of God and take him up to the door, where he will use an awl to punch [a hole through] his ear against the doorframe, [to signify] that he will serve [his master] through the age.
‘And if anyone sells his daughter as a house slave; she may not be sent away as other female slaves are released.
For if she has been involved with him and if she thereafter hasn’t been found pleasing by him, he may only set her free… he may not sell her to some foreigner after that.
‘And if he has obtained the woman for his son, he must treat her as his own daughter.
But if he has taken her for himself, he must never deprive her of her clothing, her needs, or her companionship with him.
If he refuses to do any of these three things for her, she must be set free at no cost.
‘If any man strikes another man and kills him, he must absolutely be put to death.
But if such a thing should happen by accident, or if God [allows the situation that causes the death]; I will provide a place to which the killer can run.
However, if someone that lies in wait and plans to murder his neighbor runs to that refuge, you must take him [far] from My Altar and put him to death.
‘Whoever beats his father or mother must be put to death,and whoever curses his father or mother must die.
‘If someone overpowers and kidnaps one of the children of IsraEl and sells him, or if he’s caught with him; [the kidnapper] must die.
‘If two men are shouting at each other and one hits the other with a rock or with his fist, and he doesn’t die but is laid up in bed;the man that hit him will be cleared if the other person can get up and walk (even with the aid of a cane), as long as he pays for the lost time and the cost of his healing.
‘If a man hits his male or female slave with a cane and the person dies as the result, he must be punished.
However, if the slave continues to live a few days after that, the master shouldn’t be punished, because it is his own loss.
‘If two men are fighting and [one] hits a pregnant woman and her child is born deformed as the result; he must be forced to pay whatever amount her man demands of him.
But if the child is born perfectly formed [though injured], he must pay life for life,eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,burning for burning, wound for wound, whipping for whipping.
‘If anyone should hit their male or female slave in the eye and put it out, that slave should be set free because of the eye injury.
And if he [breaks or knocks out] a male or female slave’s tooth, that slave must be set free because of the tooth.
‘If a bull gores a man or a woman and he or she dies, the bull must be stoned to death and its flesh may not be eaten… however, the bull’s owner will be [free of guilt].
But if the bull has been known to gore before and the owner was told and hasn’t done anything about it, and then it kills a man or woman; the bull must be stoned and its owner must also die.
However, if a ransom is demanded instead, he must pay whatever is asked for his life.
‘If a bull gores someone’s son or daughter; it must be handled according to the law that was given.
But if the bull gores a male or female slave; their master must be paid 30 double-silver coins, and the bull must be stoned.
‘If anyone digs an open pit or a hole in rock and fails to cover it, and an ox or a burro falls into it;the owner of the pit must pay a compensation to [the animal’s] owner, but the dead [animal] will thereafter be his.
‘And if a man’s bull should gore his neighbor’s bull and kill it; they must sell the living bull and divide the money, then divide up the dead bull.
However, if the bull has been known to gore in the past and his owner knew about this and failed to do anything about it; he must pay for the bull, and the dead one won’t be his.’
‘If someone should steal an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it; he must pay back 5 calves for a calf, and 4 sheep for a sheep.
And if a thief should be caught inside a fence and is beaten and dies as the result; no one will be found guilty [of killing him].
However, if someone [kills a thief] the next day, he is guilty and should be [put to death].
‘If a thief has nothing left [of what he stole]; he can be sold [as a slave] to repay what he has stolen.
But if the thing he stole is still around and can be found alive in his possession (as with an ox or a sheep); he must pay back twice as much.
‘And if anyone [has allowed his cattle] to strip his own field or vineyard, and then he sends his animals to graze in someone else’s field; he must [pay his neighbor back] out of the produce from his own field.
But if the animals strip [his neighbor’s] entire field; he must pay with the best of his field and the best of his vineyard.
‘Now, if [someone sets a] fire (even if he thinks it has gone out) and it burns a threshing floor or a field of grain; the one that sets the fire must pay a compensation.
‘If anyone gives his neighbor money or other [valuables] to keep and they are stolen from the man’s house; the thief must repay double if he’s caught.
But if the thief isn’t caught, the owner of the house must stand before God and swear that he hasn’t done anything wrong to whatever his neighbor left with him.
Then every accusation, whether it involves a calf, a burro, a sheep, some clothing (or whatever)… every claim of loss must be taken before God.
And anyone that is found guilty by God must repay his neighbor with twice as much.
‘And if anyone leaves a calf, a sheep, or any other animal with his neighbor and it is wounded or it dies – and no one knows for sure how it happened –each must swear an oath to God that he isn’t guilty in any way.
Then his master should find him innocent and he won’t have to pay a compensation.
However, if it was stolen from him; he must repay the owner.
And if someone stole any other type of animal; [he must] return the animal to its owner, and he won’t have to pay a compensation.
‘If anyone borrows [an animal] from his neighbor and it is wounded, or dies, or is stolen while its owner is away; he must be compensated for it.
But if the owner is there; he doesn’t have to pay compensation.
And if it is something that he rented; [the owner] must be paid back in lieu of his rent.
‘If anyone deceives a virgin to whom he isn’t engaged, and [has sex] with her; he must take her as his woman.
But if her father refuses and won’t consent to giving her to be his woman; he must pay her father the amount of dowry that is required for a virgin.
‘You must not [seek the aid of] sorcerers.
‘Anyone that [has sex] with an animal must be put to death.
‘Anyone that offers sacrifices to a god other than Jehovah must be put to death.
‘You must not harm strangers or oppress them, because you were once strangers in the land of Egypt.
‘You must not do anything to harm widows or orphans.For if you treat them badly, they should call out to Me and I will hear them…and that will make Me very angry.
Then you will be killed with a sword, so that your woman will become a widow and your children will become orphans.
If you lend money to one of your poor brothers that lives nearby; you shouldn’t be hard on him and you shouldn’t charge him interest.
And if you take your neighbor’s robe as security, you must make sure that he gets it back before sunset.Since it is all that covers his nakedness, how could he then go to bed?
And if he then should call out to Me, I will listen, because I am merciful.
‘You should never speak badly of your mighty ones (gr. Theous – gods plural) or say bad things about the rulers of your people.
‘You must never hold back the first fruitage of your threshing floor [or of your olive or wine] press.
‘You must give your first-born sons to Me,as well as those of your calves, sheep, and burros.
They may stay under their mothers for 7 days, but on the 8th day, you must offer them to Me.
‘You must be a holy [people] to Me;
Therefore, you may not eat the flesh of wild animals… you should throw it to the dogs.’
‘You should not accept false testimony, nor should you allow anyone that is crooked to provide false testimony.
‘You must not join a mob to do bad things, nor should you go along with with the majority when they are wrong.
‘If a man is found guilty, you must not [free him from his responsibilities] just because he’s poor,nor should you [find any man guilty] because he’s poor.
‘If you find your enemy’s ox or burro wandering loose, you must catch it and return it to him.
And if you see your enemy’s burro collapsed under its load, you shouldn’t just pass it by. You must help him to get it back on its feet.
‘Never do anything that’s unfair.
You shouldn’t kill the innocent along with the guilty, or accept a bribe to find a guilty person innocent.
Nor should you accept gifts [when judging], because gifts blind the eyes of those that can see and twist the words of justice.
‘You should never mistreat a stranger, because you know how they feel, since you were once strangers in the land of Egypt.
‘You can plant your field and harvest it for 6 years.
However, every 7 years you must leave it alone and allow it to rest, so the poor of your nation can [find] food there, and the wild animals can eat whatever is left.
That’s also what you must do to your vineyards and your olive groves.
‘You should work for 6 days, but the 7th day is a day of rest, so that your burro, your ox, the sons of your female slaves, and strangers may be refreshed.
‘Guard all the things that I have commanded you, and don’t mention the names of other gods or speak of them in any way.
‘You must hold a feast to Me three times each year.
Be sure to observe the Feast of Fermentation-Free Bread. You must eat fermentation-free bread for 7 days (as I told you before) during the time of the month of new grain, because that’s when you came out of Egypt… and don’t approach Me empty-handed!
‘You must observe a feast when you harvest the first-fruits of your work, no matter what you have planted in your field.
And [you must observe] a feast at the end of the year when you harvest the crops in your field.
So, all your males must appear before Jehovah your God three times each year.
‘And when I drive the other nations out of your midst and widen your borders, you must never offer fermented bread along with the blood sacrifices, nor should the fat of My feast be allowed to stay [on the altar] until the next morning.
‘You must bring all the first fruitage of your fields to the House of your God, Jehovah.
‘You must never boil a lamb in its mother’s milk.
‘{Look!} I’m going to send My messenger to you in order to keep you headed in the right direction; for he will lead you into the land that I have prepared for you.
Be sure to listen to him… obey him! He won’t give in to you, because he carries My Name.
‘Tell the children of IsraEl that if they will listen to what I say and do everything that I tell them, I will be an enemy to their enemies, and I will oppose anyone that is against them.
Then I will send My messenger to serve as their leader, and [he will] bring them to [the land of] the Amorites, Chettites, Pherezites, CanaAnites, Gergeshites, Evites, and Jebusites, whom I will destroy.
However, [IsraEl] must not worship or serve the gods [of those people], nor should they do any of the things that they are doing. Rather, [those people] must all be destroyed and their [sacred] columns must be pulled down.
‘If you serve Jehovah your God, I will bless your bread, your wine, and your water, and I will keep you from getting sick.
There won’t be anyone in your land that is impotent or infertile, and you will live full lives.
I will send terror ahead of you, all the nations in the land you’re entering will be amazed by you, and I will make all your enemies run from you.
I will send hornets ahead of you to drive the Amorites, Evites, CanaAnites, and the Chettites away from you.
I won’t throw them out in the 1st year, so the fields don’t grow wild and allow wild animals to multiply there.But before long, I will start throwing them out ahead of you, until you grow and inherit the land.
Then I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the [MediTerranean], and from the desert to the great EuPhrates River.
‘Since I will be handing over those that are living in the land and driving them away from you,you must make no treaties with them or with their gods.For they won’t be allowed to live in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me.
Because, if you serve their gods, that will lead to your downfall.’
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘I want you, Aaron, NaDab, AbiUd, and 70 of IsraEl’s elders to come to Me and bow before [Me] from a distance.
And thereafter, I want you to come close to Me by yourself… none of the others should come any closer!’
So Moses went and told the people about everything God had said and about His Laws.
And the people unanimously answered all together:
‘We will do and obey everything that Jehovah has said!’
Then Moses wrote down everything that the Lord said.
And early the next morning, he built an Altar at the base of the mountain using 12 stones [to represent] the 12 tribes of IsraEl.
Thereafter, he sent young men from the children of IsraEl to offer up whole burnt offerings and to sacrifice young calves as peace offerings to God.
Then Moses took half of the blood and poured it into bowls, and he poured the other half on the Altar.
Next, [Moses] took the scroll of the Sacred Agreement [that he wrote] and read it to the people.
And they [again] said:
‘We will do and pay attention to everything that Jehovah has said.’
Then Moses took the blood [from the bowls] and sprinkled it on the people, and he said:
‘{Look!} This is the blood of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah has made with you over the things to which you have agreed.’
And thereafter, Moses, Aaron, NaDab, AbiUd, and 70 of the elders of IsraEl went up [the mountain],where they saw the place that the God of IsraEl was standing; and under His feet [they saw] what looked like slabs of cut sapphires that were as pure as the skies.
So, all the chosen ones of IsraEl stood there in the presence of God – none were missing (not one) – and they ate and drank.
Then Jehovah told Moses:
‘[I want you to] come [back] up the mountain to Me and stay here; for I will now give you the tablets of stone containing the Laws and Commandments that I have written.’
So [the next day], Moses got up and took his assistant JoShua to climb the mountain of God along with him.
And they told the elders:
‘Rest here until we return. Look! Aaron and Or will be here with you; so if there are any [cases] that have to be tried, let them handle it.’
Then Moses and JoShua climbed the mountain, which was shrouded in a cloud.And the glory of The God came down on Mount SinAi, and the cloud covered it for 6 days.
Then Jehovah called to Moses from the midst of the cloud on the 7th day.
Well, to the Children of IsraEl, the glory of Jehovah looked like a fire that was burning on top of the mountain.
Then Moses entered the cloud and climbed the mountain, where he stayed for 40 days and 40 nights.
It was there that the Lord told Moses:
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and [ask for] the first fruits of everything that their hearts are willing to give… then you must [collect] it [and set it aside].
These are the offerings that you are to ask for: gold, silver, bronze,blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], fine-spun linen, goats’ hair,ram’s skins that are dyed red and blue, and durable wood.
[You should also ask for] lamp oil, fragrances for anointing oil, ingredients for incense,and for rubies and other [precious] stones that will fit into a breastplate, as well as a full-length robe.
‘You must now make a Sacred Place for Me, where I can appear among you.
Everything you make for Me must follow the patterns that I will show you on the Mountain.
There will be a pattern for the Sacred Place and patterns for all of its furnishings. And that’s how you are to make them.
‘You must also build a Chest for the Proofs.
[Build it] from durable wood.
It must be 50 inches (130cm) wide, 30 inches (75cm) deep, and 30 inches (7cm) tall.
Cover it with pure gold both inside and out, and put spun gold wreaths around it.
You must create 4 gold rings for it, and mount 2 rings on each side.
Then make [two] staves of durable wood, cover them with gold,and put the staves into the rings on the sides of the Chest, to carry it.These staves should always be left in the rings on the Chest.
Then you must put the Proofs that I will give to you inside of the Chest.
‘You must also make the Propitiatory.
It is to be a lid of pure gold, 50 inches (125cm) long and 30 inches (75cm) wide.And you will carve two cherubs from gold and mount them on the Propitiatory.
A cherub will be mounted on this side of the Propitiatory, and a cherub will be mounted on its other side, so there will be a cherub on each side.
The cherubs will face each other with their heads bowed toward the Propitiatory. And they must have wings that are outstretched over them that [extend forward] over the Propitiatory.
Then the Propitiatory must be put on top of the Chest, which will contain the Proofs that I will give to you.
‘This is where I will make My presence known to you. I will speak to you from above the Propitiatory, between the two cherubs on the Chest of Proofs.
It is there that I will talk to you and instruct you concerning everything that has to do with the children of IsraEl.
‘You are also to make a table of pure gold that is 40 inches (100cm) long, 20 inches (50cm) wide, and 30 inches (75cm) tall.It must have gold wreaths going around it and a 6-inch (15cm) rimthat has a spun wreath circling it.
You must also make 4 gold rings and fasten them to the 4 feet (1.2m) under the rim.These rings will be supports for the staves that will be used to carry the table.
The staves should be made of durable wood and covered with pure gold, for carrying the table.
‘You should also make dishes, incense burners, bowls, and cups (for drink offerings) out of pure gold.
These must always be set before Me on the table of Show Bread.
‘You must also shape a lampstand from pure gold.
The whole thing – it’s stem, branches, sockets, knobs, and lilies – must be a single piece.
It is to have 6 branches that come from its sides… three branches for lamps on one side and three branches for lamps on the other side.
[Each branch] that comes from the lampstand should be topped with an almond-shaped socket [to hold the lamps], which is to be mounted above a knob and a lily.
Each will have 4 sockets that are shaped like almonds, and the knobs and flowers on each branch should be the same.
There will be a knob under two branches and a knob under 4 branches that come from it, so that 6 branches come from the lampstand, and each will have 4 bowls shaped like almonds.
The knobs and the branches must be a single piece that is carved from a block of pure gold.
So, there must be 7 lamps that all shine from the same side.
‘You must also make funnels and serving plates of pure gold.
They should each be made with a measurement of pure gold,using the pattern that I will show you on the mountain.’
‘Then you must make the Tent with 10 curtains of fine-spun linen, blue [thread], purple [yarn], and scarlet [cloth], with a pattern of cherubs woven into them.
The curtains must be 47 feet (14.3m) long and 6-3/4 feet (2m) tall. All the curtains must be the same size.
5 of the curtains will be joined to each other, and the other 5 will be closely connected to each other.
‘You must put blue loops on one side of each curtain and [loops] on the other side to [join them].
There should be 50 loops [on one side] and 50 loops at the same locations on the other side to connect them.
Then you must make 50 gold rings that will hold the curtains together so as to make it a single Tent.
‘You must make a roof for the Tent using 11 sections of [goat hair cloth].
Each section should be 50 feet (15m) long, 6-3/4 feet (2m) wide, and all 11 should be the same size.
Then connect [the cloths in strips of] fives, and attach the 6th [cloth] and fold it over the front of the Tent.
Thereafter, make 50 loops on the side of the [cloth] and 50 loops on the edge of the 2nd one, where they will be joined.
And make 50 bronze rings and use them to connect the loops, then tie the [cloths] together to form a single piece.
‘Next, connect the [11th cloth] to the roof of the Tent at its centerfold, and allow half of it to hang down.
Also, any extra [cloth] should hang over the sides of the Tent…20 inches (50cm) of [cloth] should hang over each side of the Tent to cover it.
Then make another covering from ram’s skins that have been dyed red and blue, and put it over the [Tent] roof.
‘You must also make tent posts from durable wood.
Each post should be 7-3/4 feet (2.3m) long and 2-1/2 feet (75cm) thick.
All the posts should have two joints for connections.
You should make 20 posts for the north side,and 40 silver sockets should be made to connect them, with a [base] socket for each of the posts.
Then make 20 posts for the south side of the Tent,and 40 silver sockets to connect each end of the posts.
And for the side of the Tent that faces west,you must make 6 posts plus 2 corner posts for its backside.
They must all be the same and join at the same spots on each end, so that all the corners are equal.
There are 8 posts, which need 16 silver sockets, one for each end of each post.
‘And you must make rafters of durable wood.
Make 5 for the posts on one side of the Tent,5 for the posts on the other side of the Tent, 5 for the posts in the rear, and one for the side of the Tent that faces the sea.
This center rafter should run between the posts lengthwise from end to end.
The posts should be covered with gold and fitted with gold rings to hold the rafters, and all the rafters must be covered with gold.
Then you must assemble the Tent according to the pattern that I will show you on the mountain.
‘Thereafter, you must make a veil of spun blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen that will have cherubs woven into it.
You must mount it on 4 posts of durable wood that are overlaid with gold and with gold covering each of their caps, as well as silver sockets for the base of each one.
Then mount the veil on the posts and carry it inside to serve as a veil for the Chest of Proofs. This veil will form the separation between the Holy Place and the Holiest of Holies.
Use the veil as a screen for the Chest of Proofs in the Holiest of Holies.
‘Next, put a table outside of the veiled area, on the north side of the Tent, and put the lampstand opposite the table on the south side of the Tent.
‘Then make a veil as a door for the Tent out of blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and embroidered fine-spun linen.
You must make 5 posts for the veil that are capped at the top and covered with gold, and bronze sockets for the base of each one.
‘Then you must make an Altar of durable wood that will be square, 8-1/4 feet (2.5m) long, 8-1/4 feet (2.5m) wide, and 5 feet (1.5m) high.
You must also create horns for each of the 4 corners. They will be made of a single piece and overlaid with bronze.
You must make a rim for the Altar and a covering, plus cups, meat hooks, a fire pan and all its utensils, from bronze.
You must also make a bronze meshed grating with 4 bronze rings, one for each of its 4 sides.
Mount the rings under the grating and center it in the middle of the Altar.
‘You must also make Altar staves from durable wood that are to be overlaid with bronze.Then put the staves into the rings on each side of the Altar, to carry it.
[The Altar] will be hollow and made from wood in a way that will be shown [to you] on the mountain.
‘You must also make a courtyard for the Tent. On the south side, its curtains should be made of fine-spun linen and they will run 167 feet (50m) long.
They will require 20 posts and 20 bronze sockets, as well as silver rings and clasps.
The curtains on the north side will also run 167 feet (50m) long, with 20 posts, 20 bronze sockets, as well as the rings and the clasps for the posts. However, their sockets must be overlaid with silver.
The curtains on the west side of the [courtyard] must run 84 feet (25.6m) with 10 posts and 10 sockets.And along the width of the [courtyard], on the south side, there should also be curtains that run 84 feet (25.6m) long, with 10 posts and 10 sockets.
‘There must be a 25 foot [awning] on one side of the [courtyard entrance], which is to be [supported by] 3 posts and 3 sockets.
And on the other side, there must be an [awning] that runs 25 feet (7.6m), with 3 posts and 3 sockets.
‘The courtyard entrance must be a 33-foot-high veil of blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun embroidered linen. It should have 4 posts and 4 sockets.
All the courtyard posts are to be overlaid with silver, with silver caps and bronze sockets.
‘So the length of the courtyard will be 163 feet (49.7m), its width should be 82 feet (25m), and its height must be 8 feet (2.4m)… all of fine spun linen mounted on sockets of bronze.
And all the furnishings, instruments, and pins for the courtyard are [to be made of] bronze.
‘Now, give instructions to the children of IsraEl and have them bring you pure, refined olive oil that has been beaten for burning in a lamp, so the lamps can be kept burning continuallyinside the Tent of Proofs, but outside of the veil that hides the Chest of the Sacred Agreement.
Aaron and his sons must keep them burning all night long before Jehovah.
This is the rule that must be followed through all generations of the children of IsraEl.’
‘Now, I want you to choose your brother Aaron and his sons NaDab, AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar, who are all children of IsraEl, to be My servants.
You must make holy clothing for your brother Aaron, to honor and glorify [him].
So, talk to all the wise and understanding [people] that I have filled with the spirit of wisdom and comprehension, and have them make holy clothing for Aaron to wear in the Holy Place, where he will serve as a Priest to Me.
These are the clothes that they must make:
· A breastplate
· A shoulder piece
· A full-length robe
· A fringed tunic
· A turban
· A sash.
These are to be holy garments for Aaron and his sons to serve Me as Priests.
‘They must take gold and fine-spun linen with blue [thread], purple [yarn], and scarlet [cloth],and embroider them [to serve as] the shoulder pieces.
Both shoulder pieces must be joined together and fastened on each side.
They should be woven as a single piece of pure gold with blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.
‘Then you must take two large emeralds and engrave the names of IsraEl’s sons on them,with 6 names on the first stone and the other 6 names on the 2nd stone, in the order of their births.
It must be done artistically by a stone engraver in raised letters like a seal, for each of the names of the children of IsraEl.
Then mount these stones on each of the shoulder pieces. They are to be memorial stones of the children of IsraEl.
Therefore, Aaron will wear the names of the children of IsraEl before Jehovah on his shoulders, in memory of them.
‘Then you must make [two] small rings of pure gold,and two fringes mixed with flowers and wreaths of pure gold.
Mount the wreathed fringes on the small rings and fasten them to the front of the shoulder pieces.
‘Then you must make The Word of Judgment.
It is to be embroidered; and to keep the theme of the rest of the sacred clothing, you should make it of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.
Make it square, 9 inches (23cm) long and 9 inches (23cm) wide, and doubled.
Then, 4 columns of stones should be woven into it.
The 1st column will have a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald.
The 2nd column will have a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper.
The 3rd column will have a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst.
And the 4th column will have a peridot, a beryl, and an onyx.
All of these should be mounted in gold settings with gold clasps.
Make sure they’re assembled in that order.
Then each stone must be engraved like a seal with the name of [one of] the 12 children of IsraEl in his order.
‘The Word of Judgment must also have woven fringed chains of pure gold.
Make two gold rings for it and place them on either side of the Word.And along the border, connect the chains to the rings on each side of the Word.
Then on each side of the two borders, you must place the wreaths. Place them on the sides of the shoulder piece, opposite each other and toward the front.
Thereafter, make two more gold rings and place them on the tips of the Word on the back side and within the shoulder pieces.
Also, make two more gold rings, place them on the shoulder pieces on their bottom edges toward the front, to serve as couplings above the woven portions of the shoulder pieces.
Then secure the Word by its gold rings that are sewed to the blue work, to the gold rings on the shoulder pieces, so that it is held tightly to the woven work on the shoulder pieces above it.
‘Thereafter, Aaron must wear the names of the sons of IsraEl on the Word of Judgment whenever he enters the Holy Place, as a reminder before God.
And you must place the Revelation and the Truth over The Word of Judgment, which Aaron will wear into the Holy Place whenever he goes before Jehovah.
So, Aaron will always bear the judgments of the sons of IsraEl on his chest whenever he goes before Jehovah.
And you are also to make an undergarment [for him] that is entirely blue and reaches to his feet.
The middle portion is to be a woven work that is coupled to the rest so it can’t be torn;then along the bottom hem, there are to be blossoming pomegranates all around that are woven from blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, surrounded by pomegranates and bells of gold in between.
And between the gold pomegranates, there are to be bells and a flowered work along the hem.[These bells] will ring whenever Aaron enters and leaves to officiate before Jehovah, so he doesn’t die.
‘You must also make a plate of pure gold, into which you must carve the impression, Holy to Jehovah.
It is to be fastened to the front of the turban with blue yarnand worn upon Aaron’s forehead, so he can lift away the sins of the holy things that the sons of IsraEl offer as holy gifts.
It must always be there on Aaron’s head whenever he accepts their gifts.
‘The fringes on the undergarments must be made of linen, and you must make a turban of fine linen, as well as a sash of embroidered work.
You must put them upon your brother Aaron and his sons, then anoint them and empower their hands.
Purify them, so that they can officiate as Priests before Me.
‘You must also make linen pants for them (to cover the indecency of their flesh) that run from their loins to their thighs.
Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Proofs and whenever they serve at the Altar of the Holy Place, so they don’t bring sin upon themselves and die.
This is the rule for him and his seed through the ages.’
‘These are the things that you must do to them to make [Aaron and his sons] holy, so they can serve Me as Priests:
Take one young calf from the herd and two perfect rams.Then make some fermentation-free bread with the finest wheat flour that has been kneaded with oil, and some fermentation-free round cakes with oil poured over them.
Thereafter, put them into a basket to be offered along with the young calf and the two rams.
‘Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and wash them with water.
And after that, get the [sacred] garments and dress your brother Aaron with the full-length robe, the chest covering, and the Word (of Judgment), and tie the Word to the chest covering.
Then put the turban on his head and mount the plate of Holiness on the turban,and take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it over his head.
Then bring his sons in and dress them…wrap them with sashes and put on their turbans to create a Priesthood for Me through the ages.
‘After that, you must empower Aaron and his sons.
Bring the calf to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the calf’s head before Jehovah.
Then you must slaughter the calf before Jehovah there at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.Take the calf’s blood and wipe it on the horns of the Altar with your finger, and pour the rest of the blood out at the base of the Altar.
Then take all its belly fat, its liver and kidneys, along with any fat that’s on them, and [burn] them on the Altar.
However, the calf’s flesh, skin, and manure must be burned outside of the camp as an [offering] for sins.
‘Next, take one of the rams, and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands on its head,and slaughter it. Collect the blood and pour it on and around the Altar,then cut the ram into several pieces and wash the insides and the feet with water, and set the pieces and the head aside.
Then you must put the whole ram on the Altar as a burnt offering and a sweet-smelling delight to Jehovah. It will be like incense to Jehovah.
‘Then take the 2nd ram, and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands on its head;you must slaughter it and collect the blood, and touch a little of the blood to the tip of Aaron’s right ear, to the thumb of his right hand, and to the big toe of his right foot.
[Then touch some of it to] the tips of his sons’ right ears, the thumbs of their right hands, and the big toes of their right feet.
Thereafter, take some of the blood from the Altar and [mix it with] anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and on his clothes, as well as on his sons and on his sons’ clothes. This will purify him and his clothing, and his sons and their clothing.
Then pour the rest of the blood out around the Altar.
‘After that, [set aside] all of the ram’s fat, including the belly fat, the liver and kidneys and any fat on them, and the right shoulder, to complete [the ceremony].
And take one of the round cakes [that have been covered] with oil and one loaf from the basket of fermentation-free bread, and set them before Jehovah.Then give the rest to Aaron and his sons. But the [loaf and the round cake] must be offered separately to Jehovah.
Take them from the hands of the Priests and put them on the Altar, then burn them as offerings of sweet-smelling delights to Jehovah.
‘Then you must remove the ram’s breast at the end of the ceremony for Aaron. It is to be offered before Jehovah… and [the rest] must be shared with you.
You must cut up the breast and the shoulder that was removed from the last lamb and give it to Aaron and his sons.
This will be a requirement for the children of IsraEl and for Aaron and his sons through the ages.
This is to be a separate and special offering to Jehovah from the children of IsraEl, as one of their peace offerings.
‘The clothing that Aaron wears inside the Holy Place must thereafter be passed on to his [future generations, after he dies], so his [descendants] can be anointed in them and empowered when they wear them.
The Priests among his descendants that succeed him and that enter the Tent of Proofs to serve in the Most Holy, must wear them for 7 days.
‘You must then boil the flesh of the last lamb in the Holy Place,and Aaron and his sons will eat the ram’s flesh with the loaves [of bread] in the basket, next to the Tent of Proofs.
They must eat the offerings that were used to make them holy and to empower them. They can’t be eaten by anyone else, because these things are holy.
And if the sacrificed flesh of the final sacrificial lamb and the bread should be left until the next morning, it must all be burned, not eaten, because it is something that is holy.
‘You must always do this for Aaron and his sons, just as I’ve told you.
The empowerment will take 7 days.You must sacrifice the calf for the sin offering on the cleaning day, and then you will clean the Altar where you will sacrifice the last lamb, and anoint it to make it holy.
The Altar must be cleaned and made holy for each of the 7 days, because the Altar is very holy, and anyone that touches it must also be holy.
‘These are the sacrifices that you must offer on the Altar:
Two perfect yearling lambs must be offered each day,one in the morning and the other in the evening.And each lamb should be offered along with 3 quarts (2.8l) of fine flour that has been mixed with a quart of [olive] oil and with a quart of wine as a drink offering.
You must offer the same things with the 2nd lamb [that is sacrificed] in the evening (which includes the drink offering) as a sweet-smelling delight to Jehovah.
This sacrifice is to be offered before Jehovah by all your generations through the ages at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. For that’s where I will be made known to you and where I will speak to you from now on.
This is where I will instruct the children of IsraEl, and where I will be treated as holy in My glory.
‘I will make the Tent of Proofs and its Altar holy, and I will make Aaron and his sons holy, so they can serve Me as Priests.
Here the children of IsraEl will call to Me, and I will be their God.
Then they will know that I am Jehovah, the God that brought them out of the land of Egypt, so they can call on Me and I can be their God.’
‘You must also make an incense Altar from durable wood.
It should be 20 inches (50cm) long, 20 inches (50cm) wide, and 40 inches (100cm) tall; and it should have horns that are made from a single piece [of wood].
Its grating, all its sides, and its horns must be covered with pure gold. It should have wreathed edges of gold all around,and under the wreathes you must put 2 rings of pure gold on each side, to serve as supports for the staves that you will use to carry it.
The staves must be made from durable wood and covered with gold.
‘Then place [the incense Altar] in front of the veil that [hides] the Chest of Proofs where I will make My presence known to you.
Aaron must burn a fine compound of incense on [this Altar] each morning, after he snuffs the lamps.
And when Aaron lights the lamps in the evening, he must burn incense on it again. So, incense will be offered continuously before Jehovah throughout your generations.
You must not offer a different type of incense on it, set any fires on it, offer any sacrifices on it, or pour drink offerings on it.
And at the same time each year, Aaron must offer the reconciliation for their generations on its horns with the blood of purification, because it is very holy to Jehovah.’
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘I want you to take a census of the children of IsraEl, and each [person] must pay Jehovah a ransom for his life, so no one will be destroyed when they are visited.
This is what everyone that is surveyed must give: half a double-silver coin (or 20 copper coins), which is to be used for the Holy Place as an offering to Jehovah.
Everyone from 20 years old and up that answers to the census must pay this offering to Jehovah.The rich won’t pay any more, and the poor won’t pay any less than the half double-silver coin that they must offer to reconcile their lives with Jehovah.
Then you must take the money that the children of IsraEl pay and use it for the services at the Tent of Proofs.
The children of IsraEl must always remember to do this, so as to reconcile their lives [with Jehovah].’
And the Lord spoke to Moses, and said:
‘You must make a bronze bowl with a bronze base for washing.
It must be put between the Tent of Proofs and the Altar, and you must fill it with water.Then Aaron and his sons must use the water to wash their hands and feet.
For whenever they enter the Tent of Proofs, they must wash themselves with the water, so they won’t die.
And they must do [the same] whenever they go to the Altar for services or to burn sacrifices to Jehovah.
In addition, they must wash their hands and feet in the water whenever they enter the Tent of Proofs, so they don’t die.
This is the rule for him and his descendants through the ages.’
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘You must also gather these sweet-smelling items for the Holy Place:
16 pounds (7.25kg) of choice myrrh flowers, 8 pounds (3.6kg) of sweet-smelling cinnamon, 8 pounds (3.6kg) of sweet-smelling calamus,16 pounds (7.25kg) of cassia, and 1 gallon (3.8l) of olive oil.
This must then be professionally formulated to make a perfumed holy anointing oil that is to be used for sacred purposes.
Then you must use it to anoint the Tent of Proofs, the Chest inside the Tent of Proofsand all of its furnishings, as well as the lampstand and its furnishings, the incense Altar,the Altar of whole burnt-offerings and all its furnishings, the table and all its furnishings, and the wash basin.
You must cleanse them and make them extremely holy… and then everyone who touches them will become holy.
Thereafter, you must anoint Aaron and his sons and cleanse them, so they can serve Me as Priests.
‘Then say to the children of IsraEl:
This will be your holy anointing oil throughout all your generations.It should never be poured on a man’s skin, and no one should make any of this for himself using the same formula, because it is holy, and it should be [treated as] holy by you.
So if anyone makes anything like it and gives it to a stranger, he must be destroyed from among his people.
‘Also, gather these sweet-smelling substances: sweet myrrh oil, snail shells, sweet galbanum, and transparent frankincense.
They are to be combined in equal measuresin a professional way, to make perfumed incense that will be pure and holy.
It must all be beaten into a fine powder and put in front of the Proofs inside the Tent of Proofs, where I will make My presence known to you.
It must be treated as a most-holy incense by you,so you shouldn’t make any for yourselves by this formula, because it is something holy to Jehovah.
Whoever makes anything like it so they can smell it must be destroyed from among his people.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘{Look!} I have called on BeSeleEl (the son of Urias and the grandson of Or of the tribe of Judah)and I have filled him with the Breath of God and with the wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to be creative in all fields.
[He understands] carpentry and how to work with gold, silver, and bronze; [how to work with] blue thread, purple yarn and spun scarlet material, as well ashow to do stone working and wood crafting… how to do everything!
So, I have chosen him, as well as EliAb (the son of AchiSamach of the tribe of Dan) and anyone else into whose heart I have put talent, to make everything that I’ve talked to you about.
[This includes] the Tent of Proofs, the Chest of the Sacred Agreement and the Propitiatory that sits on top of it, all the furnishings of the Tent,the Altars, the table and its furnishings,the pure lampstand and its furnishings, the wash bowl and its base,Aaron’s official garments and the garments for his sons to serve Me as Priests,the anointing oil, and the incense for the Holy Place.
They will make these things just the way I’ve told you.’
And the Lord said to Moses:
‘Also, tell the children of IsraEl that they must pay attention and keep My Sabbaths, because these are the sign between us through the generations that they know that I am the Lord that makes them holy.
They must guard the Sabbaths as something that is holy to them. So, anyone who dishonors them must be put to death, and anyone that works on [those days] must have their lives destroyed from the midst of their people.
They may work for 6 days, but the 7th day is the Sabbath… a holy [day of] rest to Jehovah, and anyone that works on the 7th day must be put to death.
The children of IsraEl must keep the Sabbaths and obey them throughout their generations,for this is to be an Agreement through the ages between the children of IsraEl and Me.
It is their sign to Me through the ages, because Jehovah made the skies and the lands in 6 days, and He stopped and rested on the 7th day.’
Well at that, He finished speaking to Moses on Mount SinAi and He gave Moses the two Tablets of Proofs that were made of stone and had been inscribed by the finger of God.
[Well, after considerable time had passed] and the people saw that Moses hadn’t returned from the Mountain, they went to Aaron and said:
‘[We want you to] make gods for us to lead us, because we don’t know what has become of this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt.’
So Aaron told them:
‘I want you to take all the gold earrings that your wives and daughters wear in their ears, and bring them to me.’
Then everyone took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron,and he took them from their hands, [had] them melted, and then the gold was carved into [the shape of] a calf.
And he said:
‘O IsraEl; this is your God who carried you out of the land of Egypt.’
And after he saw it, Aaron had an altar built next to it.
Then Aaron proclaimed:
‘Tomorrow [we will hold] a feast to the Lord.’
So he got up early the next morning and he offered whole burnt sacrifices and a peace offering [upon the altar].
Then the people sat down to eat and drink, and thereafter they got up to play.
Well at that, the Lord told Moses:
‘Hurry and go down [the mountain], because the people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt are acting lawlessly!
Notice how quickly they have left the ways that you’ve shown them… for now they’ve made themselves a calf to worship, and they’ve even offered sacrifices to it, saying,
O IsraEl, this is your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
So, leave Me now, for I’m so angry with them that I will reject them and make a great nation of you!’
But Moses started begging the Lord. He said:
‘O Jehovah; why are you so angry with the people that You brought out of the land of Egypt with Your mighty arm and with so much power?
Don’t allow the Egyptians to say,
He wickedly took them away to kill them in the Mountains and to wipe them off of the land.
Hold back Your rage and show mercy on the sins of Your people.
Remember Your servants AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, and the [oath] that You made to them when You swore by Your Name, saying,
I will cause your seed to increase so much that [they will become] like the stars in the skies.
And [remember the promise that You made] to give them all of this land as theirs through the ages.’
Well, that’s how Jehovah was moved to [keep them] as His people.
Then Moses turned and went down the Mountain carrying the two Tablets of Proofs in his hands.
They were tablets of stone that were inscribed on both sides,and they were the works and writings of God.
Well, when JoShua heard the voices of people shouting, he said to Moses:
‘That’s the sound of a war in the camp!’
But [Moses] replied:
‘It isn’t the sound of people going to battle or the sound of defeat.
What I hear is the sound of a lot of [partying].’
And when he got close to the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing, and Moses became so angry that he threw the two tablets from his hands and broke them to pieces at the base of the Mountain.
Then he took the calf that they’d made and had it melted and ground into dust, and he put it into some water and made the children of IsraEl drink it.
And after that, Moses asked Aaron:
‘What have these people done to you?
Why have you made them [guilty of] such a great sin?’
And Aaron replied:
‘Don’t be angry, lord; for you know how troublesome these people are.They told me,
[We want you to] make gods for us to lead us, because we don’t know what has become of this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt.
So I said,
If anyone has gold ornaments, take them off.
Then they gave them to me and I threw them into the fire, and out came this calf!’
Well, Moses realized that the people were divided, and Aaron was responsible… which was something that would make their enemies very happy.
So Moses went to the entrance of the camp and shouted:
‘Who is on Jehovah’s side? [May those that are], come here to me!’
Well, all the sons of Levi came to him,and he told them:
‘This is what Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, has declared:
Everyone must [tie on] his sword and go through the camp from gate to gate, and each of you must kill [your rebellious] brothers and neighbors, starting with those that are the nearest to you!’
So the sons of Levi did just as Moses had told them, and 3,000 people fell that day.
Then Moses said:
‘You are to be praised, because you’ve all raised your hands before Jehovah [and struck down] your own sons and your own brothers!’
Then the next morning, Moses spoke to the people and said:
‘You have committed a great sin! So, now I must go up to God and pay for your sins!’
Therefore, Moses returned to Jehovah and said:
‘I’ve [come to] beg You, O Lord; because these people are guilty of a great sin by making a god of gold.
So now, [please] forgive their sins. But if You choose not to; then, also erase my name from the scroll that You’ve written.’
But the Lord told Moses:
‘I’m going to erase [the names] from My scroll of all those that have sinned against Me!
‘Now, go and lead these people to the place that I told you about when I said,
{Look!} My messenger will travel before you.
However, I’m also going to visit them and [punish] them for their sins.’
So thereafter, Jehovah struck the people for having Aaron make the calf.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Go on! You and the people that you brought out of the land of Egypt must leave now and go to the land that I promised to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, when I said,
I will give this [land] to your seed.For I will send My messenger ahead of you, and he will throw out the Amorites, Chettites, Pherezites, Gergeshites, Evites, Jebusites, and CanaAnites,then I will bring you into a land that flows with milk and honey.
However, I won’t be going with you, for fear that I will destroy you along the way, because you’re such a stubborn people!’
Well, when the people heard this bad news, they went into mourning and dressed themselves in mourning clothes.
But the Lord told the children of IsraEl:
‘You are a stubborn people!
Now, pay attention, so I don’t send another plague to destroy you.
Take off your [mourning] clothes and their trappings, and let Me show you what I will do for you.’
So the Sons of IsraEl took off all their [mourning] gear there at the dry mountain (Horeb).
Then Moses carried the [materials for] the Tent (which they called the Tent of Proofs) outside of the camp and [had it] assembled some distance away, so that everyone that [wanted an answer from Jehovah] would have to go outside the camp to the Tent.
Then, whenever Moses would enter or leave the Tent, everyone would stand and watch at its entrance, to see what would happen.For when Moses entered the Tent, a column of clouds descended and stayed at the Tent’s entrance while [God] was speaking to Moses.
And as they all watched the column of clouds at the entrance to the Tent, everyone stood there and prayedas Jehovah spoke to Moses face to face as though they were two friends.
Then after that, [Moses] would return to the camp, but his servant JoShua (the son of NaWeh), who was a young man, didn’t leave the Tent.
Thereafter, Moses said to Jehovah:
‘{Look!} You told me to lead these people on, but You haven’t shown me where You want me to go yet.
‘You’ve also told me that You know me better than all the rest, and that You care for me.
So now, if I’ve found favor in Your eyes, show Yourself to me so I can see You. Then I will know that I’ve found favor in Your eyes, and I can be sure that this great nation is truly Your people.’
And [God] replied:
‘I will pass before you, to satisfy you.’
Then [Moses] said:
‘But if You aren’t going to [travel] with us, don’t make me go either!
For, how would anyone know for sure that these people and I have found favor with You, unless You go with us? [And if You should choose to go], both Your people and I will be glorified above all the nations of the earth.’
Well at this, the Lord told Moses:
‘I will do this thing that you’ve asked, because you’ve found My favor and I’ve put you above all the rest.’
Then [Moses] said:
‘Then, show Yourself to me!’
And [God] said:
‘I will pass before you with My glory, and I will call out My Name (Jehovah) in front of you as I say,
I will be merciful to those for whom I feel mercy, and I will have pity on those for whom I feel pity.’
Then [God] told [Moses]:
‘You won’t be able to see My face, because no man can see My face and live.’
And the Lord said:
‘{Look!} Stand by Me on that rock [over there];and as My glory is passing by, I will put you into a hole in that rock and cover you with My hand as I pass.Then I will remove My hand, so you can see My backside… but you won’t be able to see My face.’
And the Lord said to Moses:
‘Now, you must cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and climb the mountain to Me; then I will write the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.
So, be ready to climb Mount SinAi in the morning, and then stand there [and wait] for Me at the top of the Mountain.
Don’t allow anyone to go up with you or to even be seen on the Mountain. And don’t allow any sheep or bulls to graze near the Mountain.’
So [Moses] cut two stone tablets just like the first, and he got up early and climbed Mount SinAi, just as the Lord had told him, carrying the two stone tablets.
Then the Lord descended in a cloud and stood close to him, as He called out the Name, Jehovah.And the Lord passed before his face while He was saying:
‘Jehovah, the God of mercy, pity, patience, concern, and truth,who brings justice and mercy to thousands, and removes wrong-doing, unrighteousness, and sins, but who won’t acquit the guilty.
He’s the One that [punishes] the sins of ancestors on their children and on their children’s children to the 3rd and 4th generations.’
Then Moses quickly bowed to the earth and prayed:
‘If You care for me; may my Lord go with us, because these people are stubborn. Then You will remove our sins and our failings, and we will be Your people.’
And thereafter, the Lord said to Moses:
‘{Look!} I am establishing a Sacred Agreement with you in the presence of all your people.
I will do wonderful things that have never been done before anywhere on the earth or in any nation.
Everyone among you will see the deeds that I will do for you… for they are wonderful.
However, make sure that you do everything that I’ve told you to do.
Then {Look!} I will throw the Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Chettites, Evites, Gergeshites, and Jebusites out from before you.
‘Be careful not to make any agreements with the people that live in the land that you are entering, for fear that they will become stones to stumble you.
You must destroy their altars and smash their [sacred] columns, cut off their water, and burn the images of their gods.
You must not worship other gods, because Jehovah, which is a zealous Name, is a zealous God.
‘Never make pacts with people that live in this land and then commit adultery with their gods, or sacrifice to their gods, or have them call you to eat at their feasts.
You shouldn’t take their daughters as women for your sons, nor should you give your daughters to their sons, so your sons and daughters don’t become adulterers with their gods.
‘You aren’t to mold [any images of] gods for yourselves.
‘You must keep the Feast of Fermentation-Free Bread and eat fermentation-free bread for 7 days, just as I’ve told you, in the month and season of new grain… because, that’s when you came out of Egypt.
‘All the first-born males are Mine… yes, everything that opens the womb first, including all your first-born oxen and sheep.
But when it comes to the first-born of burros; you must pay a ransom for them using a sheep or with money.
You must also pay a ransom for your first-born sons… don’t come to Me empty-handed!
‘You can work for 6 days, but you must rest on the 7th day, whether it’s during the seed-time or the harvest.
‘You must also observe the Feast of Weeks for Me at the beginning of the wheat harvest and at the harvest in the middle of the year.
So, every male must appear before Jehovah the God of IsraEl three times each year.
For after I’ve driven the nations away from before you and enlarged your borders, no one will really desire your land… that is, as long as you go up to appear before Jehovah your God three times each year.
‘You must not offer the blood of My sacrifices with any fermentation, nor should the Passover sacrifices remain until the next morning.
‘The first fruits of your land must be taken to the House of your God Jehovah.
‘You must not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.’
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Write all of these words down, because they are the words of My Sacred Agreement with you and with IsraEl.’
Well, Moses was there [on the mountain] with Jehovah for 40 days and 40 nights; and during that entire time, he didn’t eat any bread or drink any water.
Then He wrote the words of the Sacred Agreement (the Ten Commandments) on the tablets.
So when Moses came down the Mountain, he had the two tablets in his hands.
But, as he was coming down, he didn’t realize that his face was glowing because of his conversation with God.And when Aaron and all the elders of IsraEl saw Moses’ face radiating, they were afraid to come any closer.
However, when Moses called to them, Aaron and all the heads of the gathering turned toward him, as he started speaking to them.
And after that, all the children of IsraEl also came to him, and he told them all the Commandments that Jehovah had given to him on Mount SinAi (Horeb).
Then, after he had finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.
Yet, whenever Moses went in to speak to Jehovah, he would remove the veil until he [came back outside] to tell the children of IsraEl what the Lord had said to him.
[Of course], it was because the children of IsraEl could see Moses’ face radiating that he wore the veil over it after going in to speak to the Lord.
After that, Moses assembled the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl and said:
‘These are the commandments that Jehovah has told you to obey:
You can work for 6 days, but the 7th day is for resting. It is a holy Sabbath and a rest for Jehovah. So, anyone that does work on [that day] must die.
You may not so much as light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day; for I am Jehovah.’
Then Moses told the gathering of the children of IsraEl:
‘This is what Jehovah has instructed you to do:
Take up [a collection] as an offering to Jehovah, and everyone whose heart moves him to do so must bring these as first-fruits to Jehovah:
gold, silver, bronze,blue [thread], purple [yarn], double-spun scarlet [cloth], fine-spun linen, goats’ hair,ram’s skins that have been dyed red or blue, durable wood,rubies and gemstones that can be engraved for the [Priest’s] shoulder-piece, and full-length robes.
‘Then, any man among you that is wise at heart may come and create the things that Jehovah has commanded, such asthe Tent, the cords, the coverings, the rings, the rafters, the posts,the Chest of Proofs and its staves, the Propitiatory, the veil,the curtains for the courtyard and their posts,the [engraved gemstones],the incense, the anointing oil,the table and all its furnishings,the lampstand (for lighting) and all of its furnishings,the Altar and all of its furnishings,and the holy garments for the Priesthood of Aaron (the clothing that he must use in his services),as well as the Priestly garments for Aaron’s sons.’
And after the gathering of the children of IsraEl [had finished listening to] Moses, all that felt moved to do so brought whatever they thought would be appropriate as offerings.
So, they donated (as offerings to Jehovah) everything that was needed for the Tent of Proofs and all of its services, as well as all the clothing for the Holy Place.
Then, any man that felt moved to do so brought items from their wives, such as [gold] clasps, earrings, finger rings, necklaces, bracelets, and all sorts of gold items…yes, many of them brought their gold jewelry to Jehovah, as well as their fine linen and ram’s skins that were dyed blue or red.
All those that brought offerings also brought items of silver and bronze to Jehovah, and everyone that had durable wood or the tools to work it, brought these things too.
Then the women that were skilled at spinning brought blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine linen.
And thereafter, all the women that were moved to do so and were wise, spun the goats’ hair.
In addition, the [tribal] rulers brought emeralds and gemstones for the settings in the shoulder pieces and the Words [of Judgment].
They also brought the materials for the anointing oil and the things that would be used to make the incense.
So, every man and woman that was moved to do so came to do all the work that Jehovah had assigned to them through Moses [using the things that] the children of IsraEl had donated as offerings to the Lord.
And Moses told them:
‘{Look!} God has specifically called BeSeleEl (of Urias and Or) from the tribe of Judah,and filled him with a godly spirit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, in order to be creative in all fields of expertise.
For he is skilled in all sorts of crafts, such as working gold, silver, and bronze,in setting gemstones, and in doing woodcarving… he does everything [well].
Both he and EliAb (of AchiSamach of the tribe of Dan) have been granted such understanding.
They have been filled with wisdom, understanding, and the know-how to do all the work that must be done for the Tent, as well as how to weave and embroider using scarlet [cloth] and fine linen, and how to fashion all the unique embroidered items.’
So BeSeleEl, EliAb, and all those that were wise and knowledgeable, were given the wisdom, knowledge, and necessary [skills] to do everything that had to be done for the holy offices in the way that Jehovah had instructed.
Then Moses called BeSeleEl, EliAb, and all the wise men that had received the needed skills from God, as well as everyone that was willing to come and donate their work, to get the job done.
Moses gave them everything that the children of IsraEl had brought to build the Holy Place. In fact, they continued to receive the gifts each morning,and wise people with many different skills kept showing up to work at the Holy Place.
Then one of them said to Moses:
‘The people are bringing in too many of the things that Jehovah told them to bring!’
So Moses sent a proclamation throughout the camp, saying:
‘No men or women should come to work or bring any more offerings to the Holy.’
So they actually had to stop the people from bringing things,since they had enough material to make all the furnishings, with a lot left over.
The wise and thoughtful among those that were working on the Tent also produced 10 tent curtains from blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, with cherubs carefully woven into them.
Each curtain was 42 feet (12.8m) wide and 6 feet (1.8m) tall… and all the curtains were the same.
Then, two groups of 5 curtains each were connected end-to-end.
They also made blue loops along the edges of each curtain to join them to each other. And they made 50 [loops] along the outer edges of the following curtains to connect them all together…they put 50 loops on the first curtain and 50 corresponding loops on the next, so [the curtains] could be joined together at the loops.
Then [BeSeleEl] made 50 gold hooks to join each of the curtains to each other, in order to assemble the Sacred Tent.
Thereafter, he also put together 11 goat-hair coverings to serve as a roof for the Sacred Tent.Each of these was 45 feet (13.7m) long and 6 feet (1.5m) wide.
He joined 5 of the goat-hair coverings to make one portion, and 6 to make the other.
He also made 50 loops along the edge of the 1st group of goat-hair cloths and 50 loops along the edge of the 2nd group (in the middle),then he formed 50 bronze hooks and joined both sections with the hooks, making it a single sheet.
He also made a top covering for the Sacred Tent out of ram’s skins, some of which were dyed red, and some of which were dyed blue.
Then he made posts for the Sacred Tent out of durable wood.
The first post was 15 feet (4.5m) tall, and 1-3/4 feet (53cm) wide.It had two joints that butted against each other… and that’s how he made all the posts for the Sacred Tent.
There were 20 posts on the side facing the south,along with 40 silver sockets to connect them (2 sockets per post), and 2 sockets for each of the posts that followed.
There were also 20 posts along the north side [of the Tent],and 40 silver sockets for them, 2 sockets per post.
And for the rear of the Sacred Tent (the west side), he made 6 posts,plus two posts for the rear corners.Their sections were of equal lengths, both the tops and the bottoms, for the corner posts.
So altogether, there were 8 posts and 16 silver sockets, 2 per post.
He also made cross bars out of durable wood.
Five [were set] between the posts along one side of the Sacred Tent, 5 were set between the posts to the other side of the Sacred Tent,5 were set between the posts at the rear of the Sacred Tent (toward the west),and there was a single bar through the middle, which ran right through the posts from one side to the other.
He then covered the posts in gold and added gold rings to hold the poles; and he gilded the cross bars with gold.
He also made a veil from blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, with cherubs carefully woven into them,and placed it over 4 posts of durable wood that were covered in gold.
The tips of the poles were covered in gold, but their 4 bases were made of silver.
Then he made a draw curtain for the entrance to the Tent from blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen that was embroidered,along with its 5 posts, the tips of which he gilded with gold, and he cast 5 bronze bases for them.
Then BeSeleEl made the Chest from durable wood.
It was 3-3/4 feet (114cm) long, 27 inches (70cm) wide, and 27 inches (70cm) tall.He gilded it with pure gold both inside and out, and he made a waved border of spun gold all around it.Then he cast 4 gold rings for its 4 sides, 2 rings on one side and 2 rings on the other.
And he made bearing poles of durable wood, covering them with gold.Then he inserted the bearing poles into the rings on the sides of the Chest, to carry it.
Thereafter, he made the Propitiatory lid of pure gold. It was 3-3/4 (114cm) feet long, and 27 inches (70cm) wide.
Then he made two cherubs of beaten gold, and put them on each side of the Propitiatory(one on the right and the other on the left), so there was a cherub on either side.
Both of the cherubs had out-stretched wings that overshadowed the Propitiatory as they faced each other, for both cherubs faced [inward].
Next he made the table from durable wood.
It was 3 feet (91cm) wide, 1-1/2 feet (45cm) deep, and 2-1/4 feet (68cm) tall.He covered it all in pure gold,and he made a spun, waved border of gold all around it.
Then he made a rim for it that was 9 inches (23cm) around, and he put a spun, waved border around the rim.
He also cast 4 gold rings for it, and he placed the 4 rings on each of its feet.
Then, next to the waved border rim, he placed rings to hold the bearing poles that were used to carry the table.
The bearing poles were also made from durable wood, which he then covered with gold.
He also made the utensils for the table – its saucers, incense pans, cups, and the bowls in which the Priest would offer the drink offerings – of pure gold.
After that, he made the lampstand of pure gold.
Its stems, branches, basins, knobs, and lilies were all formed on a lathe.It had 6 branches in a row, three on the right and three on the left.
Each of the oil basins were almond shaped, with a knob and lily on the 6 branches that were on either side of the one in the center of the lampstand.[This center] part had 4 almond-shaped basins on its single branch, along with knobs and lilies.
There was a knob under each pair of [the lamp’s] 6 branches that extended outward from the lampstand.
These branches and their knobs were all turned from single pieces of pure gold.
Then he made its 7 lamps, its snuffers, and their oil funnels of pure gold,which weighed some 60 pounds (27.2kg).
Next he made an Incense Altar out of durable wood.
It was 1-1/2 feet (45cm) long, 1-1/2 feet (45cm) wide, and 3 feet (91cm) high; and on each of its 4 corners there were horns.He covered it with pure gold (its grate, its sides, and its horns), and he made a spun rim of gold all around it.
He also made rings of pure gold that he placed under its rim of spun gold for each of its 4 corners, to serve as holders for the bearing poles that they would use to carry [this Altar].
He made the poles out of durable wood, and he covered them with gold.
Following that, he prepared the holy anointing oil and he mixed the incense in the pure ways of a perfumer.
Then he made an Altar for the whole burnt offerings out of durable wood.
It was 7-1/2 feet (2.3m) long and 7-1/2 feet (2.3m) wide. It had 4 corners, and it stood 4-1/2 feet (1.2m) tall.
He made horns for each of the 4 corners, which he then covered in bronze.
He also made a rim for the Altar, a lid for it, bowls for it, meat hooks for it, and a fire pit… he made everything out of bronze.
Then he made a grate of latticed bronze,and he made 4 rings to support the grate at each of its 4 sides out of bronze, which he placed under the grate.
[The grate] was about half [the size of] the Altar.
He also made the bearing poles for the Altar out of durable wood, plating them with bronze.
Then he inserted the bearing poles through the sides of the Altar, to carry it (it was hollow and made of boards).
He also made the bathing tub out of bronze.
The bronze for its base came from the bronze mirrors of the women that had been fasting at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
Next, he made curtains for the courtyard.
The curtain toward the south was made of fine spun linen, 150 feet (45.7m) long.It had 20 posts and 20 bronze bases, and its hooks and their clips were made of silver.
The side toward the north was also 150 feet (45.7m) long, with 20 posts and 20 bronze bases; and their hooks and clips were of silver.
The curtains toward the west side were 75 feet (22.8m) long, with 10 posts and 10 bronze bases; and their hooks and clips were of silver.And the curtains toward the east were 75 feet (22.8m) long.
[The entrance to the courtyard] ran 22-1/2 feet (6.8m) toward the rear, with three posts and three bases.Then there was a 2nd section leading to the entrance of the courtyard, with curtains that were 22-1/2 feet (6.8m) long, having three posts and three bases.
All the curtains for the Tent were made out of fine-spun linen,their bases were made of bronze, their hooks and clips were of silver, and all the posts in the courtyard were silver plated.
The veils for the entrance to the courtyard were embroidered of blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.
They were each 30 feet (9.1m) long and 7-1/2 feet (2.3m) high, and they were connected to the courtyard curtains.They had 4 posts and 4 bronze bases.
Their hooks were of silver, and their tips were silver plated,and all the courtyard tent pegs were made of bronze.
This was how things were arranged at the Tent of Proofs, just as the orders were given to Moses.
IthaMar (the son of Aaron the High Priest) was in charge of everything,and BeSeleEl, the son of Uri of the tribe of Judah was in charge of making all the things (just as the Lord had instructed Moses).
Also, EliAb (the son of AhiSamach of the tribe of Dan) supervised the weaving, stitching, and embroidering with the blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.
1,790 pounds (810kg) of gold was used in the Holy Places (which all came in as part of the first-fruit offerings), plus 730 holy gold coins.
All the silver that came from the census of those chosen from among the gathering amounted to 60,000 pounds (27,200kg), plus 1,775 shekels (a silver bar per head, which is half of a holy shekel)that was paid for each of the males in the census that were more than 20 years old among the 63,550.
60,000 pounds (27,200kg) of silver was cast for the tips of the Sacred Tent and for the tips of the veil.
There were 100 tips weighing 60 pounds (27.2kg) each.Also, 1,775 shekels were used to make the hooks for the posts, the tips of which were gilded and engraved.
4,200 pounds (1,900kg) of bronze was used for sacred purposes, plus 2,400 shekels.
From it they made the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, the bronze Altar and its grate, all the utensils for the Altar,the bases all around the courtyard, the bases for the entrance to the courtyard, the pegs for the Tent, and the pegs for the courtyard around it.
And from what was left over of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made into garments for the services of Aaron, so that he could officiate in them in the Holy Place, as the Lord had instructed Moses.
They made the shoulder pieces out of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.
They cut up two sheets of hammered gold to create the gold threads and wove them into the blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen,[which they attached on either side of the sacred vest].
The vest was also made of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, as the Lord had instructed Moses.
Then they attached the two emerald stones with clasps.
They were carved and engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of IsraEl, and then inlaid with goldand placed on the tops of each of the shoulder pieces, in memory of the sons of IsraEl, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
Next, they made the Word [of Judgment].
It was woven and embroidered (the same as the shoulder pieces) of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen.It was 4-cornered, 9 inches (23cm) long, 9 inches (23cm) wide, and folded.
And into it they wove and inlaid precious stones that were arranged in 4 rows.
The first row had a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald.
The 2nd row had a red garnet, a sapphire, and a jasper.
The 3rd row had an amber, an agate, and an amethyst.
The 4th row had a chrysolite, a beryl, and an onyx.
The stones were all set in gold and connected by gold.
They were engraved like seals with one of the names of the 12 sons of IsraEl on each, representing the 12 tribes.
The Word [of Judgment] had a border with a tightly-joined wreath of pure gold.
Then they made two gold rings and two gold clasps.
They placed the two gold rings on each of the corners of the Word [of Judgment], and they put wreaths of gold with fasteners over the 2 rings (on each side of the Word [of Judgment]),which connected to the sides of shoulder pieces, across from each other, in the front.
They connected the Word [of Judgment] to the back, inside of the shoulder piece.For they made two gold rings and placed them along the tips of the shoulder pieces, on the bottom sides and in the front, below the connector that was over the woven parts of the shoulder pieces.
The Word [of Judgment] was then fastened by its rings to the rings on the shoulder pieces. They were sewed in using blue thread, and they were closely joined into the woven work of the shoulder pieces, so the Word [of Judgment] would not come loose from the shoulder pieces, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
Then they made the robe that went under the shoulder piece, which was woven entirely of blue thread.
It had an opening in the middle with a closely-woven, reinforced edge around the collar.
Then along the bottom hem of the robe, there were woven blossoming pomegranates of blue thread, purple yarn, scarlet cloth, and fine-spun linen.
They also made gold bells and placed them around the bottom hem of the robe, between the figures of pomegranates.So there were gold bells and the figures of pomegranates all around the official robe, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
They made all the garments for Aaron and his sons of fine woven linen.
The turbans were of linen,the outer robes were of linen, the pants were made from spun linen,and the sashes were made of linen that was embroidered with blue thread, purple yarn, and scarlet cloth, exactly as the Lord had instructed Moses.
They also made a curtain of pure gold to [hide] the Most Holy Place, upon which they wrote words in raised letters,
‘Holy to Jehovah.’
It had a blue upper hem that connected it to the upper [cross bar], just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
So, all the work on the Tent of Proofs was finally completed by the sons of IsraEl, just as the Lord had given the instructions to Moses.
The blue [thread], the purple [yarn], and the scarlet [material] that was left over, was used to make [more] garments for Aaron to wear in his services at the Holy Place.
They also brought garments to Moses for use in the Tent, as well as [things] for its furnishings, bases, rafters, and postsfor the Chest of the Sacred Agreement and its carriers, and for the Altar and its furnishings.
They made the anointing oil, the incense, the holy lampstandand its lamps (that held oil for the light),the showbread table and all its furnishings,Aaron’s garments for use in the Holy Place, the garments for his sons in their Priestly duties,the curtains for the courtyard, all the posts, the veils for the entrance to the Tent and the courtyard,all the furnishings and tools for the Tent, the ram skins that were dyed red and blue, coverings for other things, the pins, and everything that was needed for work in the Tent of Proofs.
Whatever the Lord told Moses, the children of IsraEl made to complete the furnishings.
And when Moses looked at all the work and saw that they had done everything and made everything the way that Jehovah had told him to do, he praised them.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘On the 1st day of the 1st month (the New Moon), you must assemble the Tent of Proofsand put the Chest of Proofs inside it, behind the veil.
Then carry in the table and lay [the bread] upon it.
Also, bring in the lampstand and mount the lamps on it.
Then carry in the gold incense Altar and burn incense in front of the Chest, and hang the veil in the entryway to the Tent of Proofs.
Then put the Altar of burnt offerings next to the entry to the Tent of Proofs, and set up the rest of the Tent. Make everything in and around it, holy,------then take the anointing oil and anoint the Tent and everything in it, to cleanse it, so that it and all its furnishings will be holy.
Also, anoint the Altar of burnt offerings and all of its furnishings. Make it clean, so that the Altar will be most holy.---
‘Thereafter, bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and wash them with water.
Then dress Aaron in the holy garments and anoint him, to make him holy, so he can serve as a Priest to Me.
And after that, bring in his sons, dress them in their garbs,and anoint them as you did their father, so they can serve Me as Priests.
This anointing of the Priesthood [must be continued] through the ages.’
And Moses did everything that the Lord told him.
So it was that the Tent was erected during the 1st month (a year after they had left Egypt… during the New Moon).
Moses set up the Tent, put on the caps, and set the rafters and posts in their places.Then he stretched the curtains over the Tent and installed the veil from the top of the Tent, as Jehovah had commanded.
He also took the Proofs and placed them inside the Chest; then he mounted the Chest on the stavesand carried it into the Tent.
And thereafter, he installed the veil to conceal the Chest of Proofs, just as the Lord had commanded.
After that, he carried the table into the Tent of Proofs and placed it on the north side, just outside the veil.And he brought in the showbread [and set it] before Jehovah, just as the Lord had instructed him.
Next, he brought the lampstand into the Tent of Proofs and placed it on the south side of the Tent,and he mounted its lamps in front of Jehovah, just as the Lord had commanded.
Then he brought the gold incense Altar into the Tent of Proofs and put it in front of the veil,and he lit the [sacred] incense upon it, just as the Lord had commanded.
---He also put the Altar for the burnt offerings next to the Tent entrance,---------and he set up the courtyard all around the Tent and the Altar. Yes, Moses did all these things.
Thereafter, a cloud covered the Tent of Proofs and it was filled with the glory of Jehovah.
So then, even Moses wasn’t able to enter the Tent of Proofs because of the cloud that covered it and the glory of Jehovah that was inside of the Tent.
And after that, whenever the cloud would rise above the Tent, the children of IsraEl packed their bags and [got ready to leave].
But if the cloud stayed in place, they didn’t get ready to leave until the day that the cloud arose again.
For the cloud covered the Tent during the day, and fire covered it during the night; and all IsraEl could [see this] as they traveled.
Then the Lord called Moses again and spoke to him in the Tent of Proofs.
He said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that anyone who brings an ox as a gift to Jehovah must bring one that the Lord will find acceptable.
He must put his hands on the head of the offering [to show that] it’s something he wishes to do so as to be forgiven by [God],and they must slaughter the calf before Jehovah.
Then Aaron’s sons (the Priests) must collect its blood and pour it around the Altar at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
‘The meat of the offering should thereafter be butchered and divided into quarters.
Then the sons of Aaron (the Priests) must light a fire on the Altar and pile wood on the fire,and the Priests must put the head and the fat over the fire in the Altar,then wash the [animal’s] entrails and feet in water, and then put the rest of it on the Altar as a burnt-offering sacrifice and as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
‘However, if [the person] is offering a sheep as a gift to Jehovah (or a lamb, or a kid goat) as a whole-burnt offering, it must be a perfect male.
He must put his hand on its head and they must slaughter it next to the Altar toward the north, before Jehovah. Then the sons of Aaron (the Priests) must pour its blood on and around the Altar.
They must quarter it and put its head and its fat over the burning wood on the Altar.Then they must wash its entrails and feet with water, and the Priest must put the rest on the Altar as a burnt-offering sacrifice and a sweet odor to Jehovah.
‘But if [the person] is offering a bird as a gift to Jehovah, it must be a dove or a pigeon.
The Priest must bring it to the Altar, wring off its head and sprinkle its blood at the base of the Altar.And before placing it on the Altar, he must remove the crop and the feathers, and throw them by the ashes, to the east of the Altar.
He should then break off its wings, but not cut it up, and put the burnt-offering sacrifice on the Altar over the burning wood as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.
‘If a person brings fine flour as a gift to sacrifice to Jehovah, he must pour oil over it and put frankincense on it, before offering it as a sacrifice.
He must carry it to the Priests (the sons of Aaron) and take a handful of the fine flour with the oil and the frankincense, and then a Priest must put it on the Altar as a sacrifice and as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
The rest of the sacrifice must then be [given to] Aaron and his sons as their holy portion from the sacrifices to Jehovah.
‘And if he brings [bread] that has been baked in an oven as a gift sacrifice to Jehovah, it must be fermentation free and kneaded with oil into fermentation-free cakes.
But if the gift of fermentation-free fine flour is brought in a pan,it must be broken into pieces and then oil must be poured over it as a sacrifice to Jehovah.
‘However, if the gift of fine flour with oil that is to be offered as a sacrifice to Jehovah [consists of whole loaves] that were baked in an oven,they must be brought to the Priest,and the Priest must take it to the Altar and offer a portion of it as a burnt offering and as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
The rest of the sacrifice must then be [given to] Aaron and his sons as their holy portion from the burnt offerings of Jehovah.
‘You must not have fermentation in any of the sacrifices that are brought to Jehovah, and no honey will be brought as a gift to Jehovah.
Such things may be brought to Jehovah as though they were fruit, but they must not be offered on the Altar as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.
‘All gifts of sacrifices must be seasoned with salt.
Don’t leave the salt of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement out of your sacrifices! No matter what type of gift it is, it must be offered to Jehovah your God with salt.
‘And when you offer the first fruits of your new grain as a sacrifice to Jehovah, it should be ground and roasted before bringing it as a sacrifice.
You must also pour oil and frankincense over it, because it is a sacrifice.
Then the Priest must offer a portion of the grain with all the oil and frankincense as a burnt offering to Jehovah.
‘If the gift to Jehovah is to be a peace offering and it is selected from among your cattle, it can be a male or a female, but it must be perfect to bring it before Him.
The [person] must put his hands on the head of the gift and they must slaughter it before Jehovah next to the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
Then the Priests (the sons of Aaron) must pour the blood on and around the Altar of burnt offerings.
For peace offerings; [these portions] should be offered as burnt-sacrifices to Jehovah:
The belly and all the fat in and around it,the kidneys and the fat on them, as well as [the fat] on the thighs and the membrane around the liver and kidneys.
The Priests (the sons of Aaron) must offer them on the Altar of burnt offerings over the burning wood on the Altar as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.
‘And if the peace-offering gift to Jehovah is a sheep, it may be either a male or a female, but it must be perfect.
If the gift is a lamb; he must bring it before Jehovah,put his hands on the head of his offering, and they must slaughter it by the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. Then the Priests (the sons of Aaron) must pour its blood on and around the Altar.
The peace offering is thereafter to be burned to Jehovah.
Though the person may keep the healthy, fat hind parts and loins, all the fat that is in and around the belly,as well as the kidneys and the fat around them, the fat around the thighs, and the membrane around the liver and kidneysmust be offered on the Altar by the Priest as a sweet-smelling odor and burnt offering to Jehovah.
‘And if he is offering a goat, he must bring it before Jehovah,put his hands on its head, and they must slaughter it before Jehovah next to the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
Then the Priests (the sons of Aaron) must pour the blood on and around the Altar.
The parts of the burnt offering [that will be offered] to Jehovah must be the fat in and around the belly,both kidneys and all the fat on them, [the fat] on the thighs, and the membrane around the liver and kidneys.
Then the Priest must offer it on the Altar as a burnt offering and as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
‘All of the fat is Jehovah’s!
And this is the rule through the ages of your generations wherever you may live:
You must not eat the fat or the blood!’
Then the Lord said to Moses,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this:
If a person sins against Jehovah in a way that He says you must not do in any of the Commandments, but he does it unintentionally,or if the Anointed Priest sins and that causes the people to sin; the person must bring [an offering] for his sin… [he must bring] a perfect calf from his herd to Jehovah, [to cover] his sin.
He must bring the calf before Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, put his hand on its head, and they must slaughter it in Jehovah’s presence.
‘And when the Anointed Priest who has been made perfect receives the calf’s blood, he must carry it into the Tent of Proofs.
The Priest must then dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it at the base of the Holy Veil before Jehovah, 7 times.
And he must put some of the calf’s blood on the horns of the incense Altar that is before Jehovah (inside the Tent of Proofs) and pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar, by the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
‘[Thereafter, he must take] all the fat from the calf of the sin offering – the inner fat, the outer fat,the kidneys and the fat on them, [the fat on] the thighs, and the membrane around the liver and kidneys – and remove it.
Then the Priest must offer it on the Altar of burnt offerings.
As for the calf’s skin, flesh, head, extremities, belly, and dung;
It must all be carried outside the camp into the clean place where they pour the ashes, and it must be totally burned among the wood ashes that will be poured out there.
‘Also, if the whole gathering of IsraEl should unknowingly commit a sin and it goes unnoticed by them (if they should do something that is forbidden, shouldn’t be done, and is a sin against any of the Commandments of Jehovah),but they later realize what they have done; the gathering should bring a perfect calf from the herd as a sin offering to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs.
Then [all] the elders of the gathering must lay their hands on the calf’s head and slaughter it before Jehovah.
Thereafter, the Anointed Priest must bring the calf’s blood into the Tent of Proofs,then dip his finger in some of the blood and sprinkle it 7 times before the veil of the Most Holy, there before Jehovah.
‘The Priest must also put some of the blood on the horns of the incense Altar that stands before Jehovah inside the Tent of Proofs.
Then he must pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar of whole-burnt offerings, which is by the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
He must cut off all its fat and offer it on the Altar,dealing with it in the same way as he does with the calf of the sin offering.
That’s how the Priests must pay for their sins, and then their mistakes will be forgiven.
After that, they must take the rest of the calf outside of the camp and burn it in the same way as the other calf.
This is the sin offering for the [entire] gathering.
‘And if one of the leaders should unknowingly break one of the Commandments of his God Jehovah (something he shouldn’t have done in sin and error),and then he realizes that he has sinned;
The gift he must offer is a perfect male kid goat.He must put his hand on the head of the kid and slaughter it where they slaughter the whole-burnt offerings before Jehovah, as a sin offering.
Then the Priest must put some of the blood of the sin offering on the horns of the Altar of whole-burnt offerings with his finger, and pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar.
Thereafter, he must offer all of its fat on the Altar as the sacrifice of the peace offering.
[This is how] the Priest must pay for [the leader’s] sin, so that it may be forgiven.
‘And if a person among the people of the land should sin unknowingly against any of the Commandments of Jehovah by doing something that shouldn’t be done,and then he realizes that he has sinned; he must bring a perfect female kid goat for the sin that he has committed.
He must put his hand on the head of his sin offering and slaughter the kid of the sin offering where they slaughter the whole-burnt offerings.And the Priest must then take some of its blood on his finger and wipe it on the horns of the Altar of whole-burnt offerings.
After that, he must pour the rest of the blood out at the base of the Altar.Then he must remove all the fat and offer it as a sacrifice of a peace offering.
The Priest must offer it on the Altar as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
[This is how] the Priest must pay for [the person’s] sin, so that it may be forgiven.
‘But if he offers a lamb for his sin offering, it should be a perfect female.
He must put his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it where they kill the whole-burnt offerings.Then the Priest must take some of the blood of the sin offering on his finger and wipe it on the horns of the Altar of whole-burnt offerings, and he must pour the rest of the blood around the base of the Altar.
He must also cut off all its fat, the same as he would for the lamb of the peace-offering sacrifice, and the Priest must put it on the Altar as a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah.
[This is how] the Priest must atone for the person’s sin, so that it can be forgiven.
‘And if a person sins by witnessing, seeing, or knowing of someone that has sworn an oath [of vengeance] against another and fails to report it, he is guilty of a sin.
And whoever touches anything that is dirty, such as the filth of animals, or dead things [such as] a dead unclean animal or [the rotting] body of cattle,or whoever touches any kind of filth from a man that would make him unclean – even if he doesn’t realize it, but comes to know about it later – he has sinned.
Or if some unrighteous person has decided to use his lips to swear an oath to do evil or good – even if a person doesn’t realize it, but comes to know of it [later] – he has sinned by doing this.
He must admit that he has sinnedand [pay for] his sin against [Jehovah by bringing] a female lamb from his flock or a goat kid as a sin offering, which the Priest must [offer] in payment for his sin.
Then he will be forgiven.
‘And if he can’t afford a sheep; he must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to Jehovah. One [must serve] as a sin offering, and the other as a burnt offering.
He must carry them to the Priest, and the Priest must [sacrifice] the sin offering first. He must pinch off the head at the neck, but not cut up the body.
Then he must sprinkle the blood of the sin offering on the side of the Altar, and pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar… because this is a sin offering.
Then the 2nd [bird] must serve as a whole burnt offering for the Priest, to atone for the sins that the person has committed.
‘And if he can’t afford a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons; the gift that he should bring for his sin offering must be a quart of fine flour.
He shouldn’t put frankincense or oil on it, because it is a sin offering.
He must carry it to the Priest, who must take a handful of it and lay a portion of it on the Altar as a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah and as a sin offering.
So the Priest must offer payment for the way that the person has sinned in these matters, and [the person] will be forgiven.
Then, whatever remains of the flour offering will belong to the Priest.’
And the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘The person that is truly unaware and unknowingly sins against any of the holy things of Jehovah must carry something to Jehovah for his error.
[It must be] a perfect ram from his flock (or its value in the type of silver coins that are accepted in the Holy Place) [to pay] for his mistake.
He must pay for his sin against any of the holy things, and add 1/5th more to it.
He must give it to the Priest, and the Priest must cover his sin with the ram of his error, and then [the person] will be forgiven.
‘And if any person sins and does something that isn’t right and is against any of Jehovah’s Commandments – even if he doesn’t realize it – he is guilty of a sin.
So, he must bring a perfect ram from his flock (or its value in silver) to the Priest for his mistake, and the Priest will [use it] to pay for the sin that he committed in ignorance; then he will be forgiven.
However, he has truly been found guilty of sinning before Jehovah.’
And the Lord told Moses:‘Whoever sins by ignoring the commandments of Jehovah, and lies about something entrusted to them by a neighbor, or something shared, or stolen, or in any way wrongs his neighbor...
or finds something lost but lies about it, or lies about any sins like these...then when he sins by making such errors, he should return whatever he wrongly acquired by theft, misplaced trust, chance, or lying. Then he must repay the total sum, plus 1/5th. Yes, when he’s disciplined, he’ll pay back whatever he owes.And for his sin offering to the Lord, he will bring a perfect ram from the flocks, of [the same] value of his error. Then, before Jehovah, the priest will see that his sin is paid for; and he’ll be forgiven for whatever sin he committed.’And the Lord told Moses:‘Give Aaron and his sons these instructions… this is the law concerning whole-burnt offerings:
Because whole-burnt offerings are to be left burning on the Altar all night long, the fire on the Altar must be kept burning and not be put out.
Then the Priest must put on the linen tunic and the linen underwear, and carry everything that has been thoroughly burned and consumed by the fire (the whole-burnt offerings) from the Altar and throw [the ashes] nearby.
And after that, he must take off that robe, put on another robe, and carry the burned [ashes] to a clean place outside of the camp.
‘The fire on the Altar must be kept burning all the time and never be allowed to go out.
The Priests must stoke it with wood each morning, so whole-burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings can be piled on it.
The fire must always be kept burning on the Altar and it must never be extinguished.
‘This is the law concerning the sacrifices that the sons of Aaron must bring to the Altar before Jehovah:
[The Priest] must scoop a handful of the fine flour of the sacrifice that was offered along with its oil and all the frankincense, and put it on the Altar as a burnt offering and a sweet-smelling odor for Jehovah to remember.
Then Aaron and his sons may eat all that is left. However, it must be eaten without fermentation inside the courtyard of the Tent of Proofs…and it must not be baked with any fermentation.
I am giving a portion of Jehovah’s burnt offering to them, for it is very holy, as are the offerings for sin and the offerings for errors.
All the male Priests must eat it. This is to be the rule for burnt offerings to Jehovah throughout your generations and through the ages.
for whoever touches them will be made holy.’
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
‘This is the gift that Aaron and his sons must offer to Jehovah on the day that you anoint him:
A quart of fine flour must be sacrificed, half of it in the morning and the other half in the evening.It must be kneaded with oil into rolls [and cooked] in a pan, then offered [on the Altar] in pieces, as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
The Anointed Priest (one of [Aaron’s] sons that is serving in his place) will offer it, and it must all be burned.
This is to be a rule through the ages:
All the sacrifices for the Priests must be totally burned and never be eaten.’
Then the Lord told Moses,
‘Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them that this is the law of the sin offerings:
The sin offerings must be slaughtered before Jehovah in the same place as the whole burnt offerings, for they are very holy.
The Priest that offers it must also eat it in a holy place in the courtyard of the Tent of Proofs.
Anyone that touches its flesh must be holy, and all those whose clothes have been sprinkled with its blood must be washed in the Holy Place.
Thereafter, the clay pots that held [the sacrifice] must be broken.
However, if it was put in a brass pot, [the pot] must be scoured and washed in water.
Then all the male Priests must eat it as something that is very holy to Jehovah.
But, none of the blood of the sin offering that is carried into the Tent of Proofs to pay for sins in the Holy Place may be eaten. It must be burned with fire.
‘This is the law of the Ram Offering for Errors, because it is the most sacred of the offerings:
They must butcher the Ram-Offering for Errors before Jehovah in the same place that they butcher the whole-burnt offerings, and the blood must then be poured around the base of the Altar.
Thereafter, they must remove all of the fat that is on the loins and around the entrails,as well as on the two kidneys and the fat on them that is close to the thighs and on the lobe of the liver, which should be removed along with the kidneys.
Then the Priest must offer them on the Altar as an offering of submission to Jehovah, because this is an offering for errors.
This [sacrifice] should thereafter be eaten by all of the males among the Priests in the Holy Place, because this is the holiest of the holies.
The offering for errors is performed just like the offering for sins, since these are considered to be the same thing. And [the sacrifice] will thereafter belong to whichever Priest does the offering.
Also, the hide of any animal that is brought as a whole-burnt-offering will belong to the Priest.
‘In addition; any sacrifice that is baked, or grilled, or fried will belong to the Priest that offers it.
And every sacrifice that is prepared with or without olive oil will be divided among the sons of Aaron equally.
‘This is the Law of the Sacrifice of Salvation that they must bring before Jehovah:
If it is to be an offering of praise, he must bring a sacrifice of unfermented bread made of fine flour mixed with olive oil and pan-fried flat bead that is made of fine flour mixed with olive oil and smeared with olive oil.
Then along with the unfermented bread, he must offer a gift as part of the sacrifice of praise for his salvation.
And along with his gift offerings, he must bring a portion that is to be set aside for Jehovah, which will then belong to the Priest that pours out the blood of the offering.
Also, the meats of the Sacrifice of Praise for Salvation will belong to the Priest. This must be eaten on the day it is presented, and none may be left over until the next morning.
‘If an offering is being made voluntarily as part of a vow, the person should bring his gift offering on whichever day he has chosen for his sacrifice, and it can be eaten on the following morning.
But any meats that are brought must be incinerated on the 3rd day.
And if he eats any of the meat on the 3rd day, the sacrifices will have been rejected and are no longer accepted on his behalf, because they are viewed as defiled.
So, the person that eats it will continue to bear his sins.
‘Also, all meats that have touched anything unclean may not be eaten. Rather, they must be incinerated in a fire, since all that are clean must eat meat that is clean.
And no person may eat any of the meat of the Sacrifice for Salvation that has been offered to Jehovah, for this will make him unclean and he must be destroyed from among his people.
In addition, any person that touches something unclean, such as the uncleanness of a person, or of a four-footed animal, or something disgusting from anything that is unclean, and then the person eats some of the meats of the Peace Offering that is presented to Jehovah;
That person must be destroyed from among his people.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Speak to the sons of IsraEl and tell them that they must not eat the fat of sheep, oxen, or goats.
And while the fat of decaying flesh or of that which has been killed by wild animals may be used for work, it may not be eaten.
Also, anyone that eats the fat of cattle that he has brought to Jehovah as an offering of submission must be destroyed from among his people.Nor may you eat the blood of any cattle or birds in your home.
for any person that eats blood must be destroyed from among his people.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Speak to the sons of IsraEl and tell them that anyone that brings a Peace Offering to Jehovah must also bring the gift of a Salvation Offering.
In his own hands, he must carry these offerings to Jehovah:
The fat on the breast and on the lobe of the liver… he must bring this and place it as a gift before Jehovah.
Then the Priest will offer it on the Altar, and the breast will be given to Aaron and to his sons.
‘You must also cut off the right shoulder of the Salvation Offering and give it to the Priest.
The right shoulder of the Salvation Offering belongs to the one from among the sons of Aaron who offers up the blood and the fat.
So, I have taken the breast of the Offering of the Blessings and the cut-off portion of the right shoulder from the sacrifices of the sons of IsraEl and given it all to Aaron the Priest and to his sons.
This is to be a law through the ages for IsraEl,since this is [part of] the anointing of Aaron and his sons… it is their portion of the Offering of the Blessings that Jehovah gave to them on the day that He appointed them to officiate as Priests to Him,and when He appointed them and anointed them from among the sons of IsraEl as an age-long law through the generations.’
These are the laws of the whole burnt offerings, of the sacrifices for sins and for errors, of the consecration, and of the sacrifices of the Salvation Offerings,in the way that the Lord gave these instructions to Moses on Mount SinAi on the day that He ordered the sons of IsraEl to bring their gift offerings before Jehovah, there in the SinAi Desert.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Go get Aaron and his sons, along with their robes, the anointing oil, a calf for a sin offering, two rams, and a basket of fermentation-free bread;then assemble the whole gathering at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
So Moses did just as the Lord told him. He assembled the gathering at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs,and Moses told them:
‘This is what Jehovah has commanded us to do.’
So, he brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water.Then he wrapped him in the robe, tied on the sash, and he put the tunic and the Word of Judgment on him.
He wrapped [the tunic] so the Word of Judgment would fit, and clasped it tightly before putting on the Word of Judgment, and he laid the Revelation and the Truth on top of that.
Next, he put the turban on [Aaron’s] head and mounted the gold plate (this most holy thing) on the front of the turban, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Then Moses took the anointing oiland sprinkled it on the Altar 7 times to anoint the Altar and make it holy (along with everything on it, including its base and the basin).
He made them holy, and he anointed the Tent and all its furniture, making them holy.
Then Moses poured anointing oil on Aaron’s head to anoint him and make him holy.
And Moses brought up Aaron’s sons, put on their robes and wrapped on their sashes; then he put on their turbans, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Next, Moses brought over the calf for the sin offering.
So, Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the sin-offering calf,and Moses slaughtered it. Then he took some of the blood and rubbed it on the horns of the Altar with his finger, to purify it; and he poured the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar, to make it holy, so that it could be used to pay for sins.
Thereafter, Moses took all the inner fat plus the liver and kidneys and the fat around them, and he offered it on the Altar.
Then he burned the rest of the calf (its skin, flesh, and dung) in a fire outside of the camp, just as The Lord had commanded Moses.
Moses then brought over the ram for the whole-burnt offering.
Aaron and his sons also laid their hands on its head and Moses slaughtered the ram, pouring the blood around the Altar.Then he divided the ram by each of its limbs, and Moses offered up the head, the limbs, and the fat, after washing the feet and belly with water.
So Moses offered the whole ram on the Altar as a burnt offering, and it was burned as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
After that, Moses brought over the 2nd ram (the last ram), and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head, and he slaughtered it.
So Moses took its blood and put some on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
Then Moses brought in Aaron’s sons and put the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet; and Moses poured the rest of the blood around the Altar.
Then he took the fat, the rump, the belly fat, the liver and kidneys and the fat that’s on them, as well as its right shoulder.
And from the basket of consecration that was before Jehovah, he took one fermentation-free loaf, one loaf made with oil, and one cake (along with the fat and the right shoulder),and put them all in the hands of Aaron and his sons, who waved them before Jehovah.
Then Moses took it from their hands and put it all on the Altar as the whole-burnt offering of the last lamb; and it was burned as an offering to Jehovah, providing a sweet-smelling odor to Him.
Finally, Moses took the last lamb’s breast and set it aside before Jehovah, and this was given to Moses as his portion, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Thereafter, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the Altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments.
[By doing this], he made Aaron and his garments, as well as his sons and their garments, holy.
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons:
‘Now, boil the flesh in the Holy Place inside the Tent of Proofs, and eat it there along with the loaves in the last basket, just as the Lord told me when He said,
Aaron and his sons must eat this.
After that, you must burn whatever is left of the flesh and loaves in a fire.And then you must stay inside the entrance to the Tent of Proofs until the end of 7 days. For in 7 days, He will make you perfectin the same way as He did on the day that the Lord commanded me to do this to pay for your sins.
You must remain inside the entrance to the Tent of Proofs for 7 days and nights… you must obey this rule of Jehovah so that you won’t die, for that is what Jehovah God has commanded.’
Well, Aaron and his sons then followed the instructions that the Lord gave as commandments to Moses.
It was on the 8th day that Moses called Aaron and his sons out before IsraEl’s elders.
And Moses said to Aaron:
‘Now, select a perfect young calf from the herd as a sin offering and a ram as a whole-burnt offering, then offer them before Jehovah.And tell the elders of IsraEl:
Take one goat kid to be a sin offering, and take a young calf and a perfect yearling lamb as whole-burnt offerings,as well as a calf and a ram as peace offerings to Jehovah, along with fine flour that is mixed with oil, because the Lord is going to appear among you today!’
So, just as Moses commanded, they brought [the animals] to the Tent of Proofs, and the entire gathering came and stood before Jehovah.
Then Moses said:
‘This is what Jehovah told us to do… for after that, the glory of the Lord will appear among you.’
And Moses told Aaron:
‘Now, approach the Altar and offer your sin offering and your whole-burnt offering so as to pay for the sins of you and your family… and then you must offer gifts for the people to pay for their sins, just as the Lord commanded.’
So Aaron went to the Altar and slaughtered the calf as his sin offering.
Then Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in it and put some on the horns of the Altar; and thereafter, he poured the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar.
Next, he offered the fat, the kidneys, and the liver on the Altar as a sin offering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Then the flesh and hide were burned in a fire outside of the camp.
After that, he slaughtered the whole-burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him, which he poured all around the Altar.
Then they brought the whole-burnt offering (which they had cut in pieces), and he laid the head on the Altar.
Then he washed the belly and feet with water, and put them on the Altar.
Thereafter, he brought up the gifts for the people. He took the goat, which was the people’s sin offering, and slaughtered it and washed it, as before.
Next, he brought the whole-burnt offering, and he offered it in the proper way,carrying the sacrifice in his hands and laying it on the Altar beside the whole-burnt offering that had been offered up in the morning.
Then he slaughtered the calf and the ram as peace-offering sacrifices for the people.
So, Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him, which he poured all around the Altar,and he put the calf’s fat, as well as the hindquarters of the ram, the fat on its belly, its kidneys and the fat on them, the membrane around the liver,as well as the fat on the breasts, and offered it on the Altar.
Then Aaron set aside the breast and right shoulder as a choicest offering before Jehovah, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Then, after he had offered up the sin offering, the whole-burnt offerings, and the peace offerings, Aaron raised his arms over the people and blest them before coming back down,and both Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Proofs.
Then when they came out, they blest all the people, and at that, the Lord’s glory appeared to all the people.
Also, fire came from Jehovah that consumed the offerings on the Altar (both the whole-burnt offerings and their fat); and when all the people saw this, they were stunned and fell to their faces.
Then two of Aaron’s sons (NaDab and AbiUd) took their censers, put incense and fire in them, and offered it before Jehovah in a way that is quite different from what they had been commanded.
And after they did that, fire came from the Lord and consumed them, causing them to die there before Jehovah.
So Moses said to Aaron:
‘Jehovah told us that He must be treated as holy by those who approach Him, and He must be glorified before the whole congregation!’
Well, Aaron was devastated by this.
Then Moses called MisaDae and EliShaphan ([two of] the sons of Aaron’s uncle OziEl) and said to them:
‘Come here and remove your brothers from in front of the Holy Place, then [carry their bodies] outside of the camp!’
So they came and took them (while they were still wearing their [Priestly] outfits) outside of the camp, just as Moses had said.
Then Moses said to Aaron, EliEzer, IthaMar, and his remaining sons:
‘Now, don’t uncover your heads or tear your clothes, unless you also want to die and bring [God’s] rage down upon the entire congregation, for then your brothers and the entire house of IsraEl would start mourning this burning that came from Jehovah!
And don’t leave the entrance to the Tent of Proofs or you will die, because Jehovah’s anointing oil is upon you!’
Well, they did just as Moses told them.
Then the Lord spoke to Aaron and said:
‘Hereafter, you and your sons must not drink any wine or liquor before you enter the Tent of Proofs or before you approach the Altar, lest you should die!
This is [to be] a law through the ages [for all your] generations!
For [you must be able to] recognize the difference between what is sacred and what is profane, and between what is clean and what is unclean!
And [you must] teach the children of IsraEl all the laws that [Jehovah gave] them through Moses.’
Then Moses told Aaron, EliEzer, IthaMar, and Aaron’s surviving sons:
‘Now, take the remaining sacrifices among the burnt offerings for Jehovah and eat [them with] fermentation-free bread close to the Altar; because, that is a very holy [place].
Eating the burnt offerings to Jehovah in the Holy Place will be the law for you and your sons; for He has commandedthat you, your sons, and your families must eat the breast that has been set aside [for you], as well as the choicest shoulder, in the Holy Place.
This is the rule for you and your sons concerning the peace-offering sacrifices [that are brought by] the children of IsraEl.
They must bring the choicest shoulder and [they must] separate the breast from the burnt offerings of fat as a separate division before Jehovah.
This is to be the rule for you, as well as for your sons and daughters through the ages, just as the Lord commanded Moses.’
Well, when Moses started looking for the goat of the sin offering, [he found that] it had already been burned in the fire.
So Moses became very angry with EliEzer, IthaMar, and Aaron’s remaining sons, and he said:
‘Why didn’t you eat the sin offering here in the Holy Place? It is a very holy [thing that Jehovah] has given you to eat before Him, so you can remove and pay for the sins of the entire gathering.
Not even its blood was brought into the Holy Place… and Jehovah commanded you to eat [the sacrifice] here before Him!’
So Aaron asked Moses:
‘Well, if they bring their sin offerings and whole-burnt offerings to Jehovah today, and we eat the sin offerings that are brought today (despite what we have done), would that be pleasing to the Lord?’
And when Moses heard this, he was pleased.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and told them,
‘Speak to the sons of IsraEl and tell them that these are the animals that you may eat among all the animals on the ground:
You may eat any animal with a split hoof or that has a split between its two claws and chews the cud.However, you may not eat those that just chew the cud or those that just have split hoofs or a split between the claws, [such as] the camel, because it chews the cud, but it doesn’t have a split hoof; so, this is something that’s unclean to you.
[This includes] the rabbit, because it chews the cud but it doesn’t have a split foot; so, it is unclean to you.
This [is also true] of the hare, because it doesn’t chew the cud and it doesn’t have a split foot; so, it is unclean to you,as are pigs, because they have split hoofs and claws on each hoof, but they don’t chew the cud; so, they are also unclean to you.
You must not eat their flesh or touch their dead bodies, because they are unclean to you.
‘These are the things that you may eat, [which live] in the water:
You may eat anything that has fins and scales [that lives in] the water, whether in the seas or in the rivers.
However, anything that lives in the water but doesn’t have fins or scales (whether in the seas or in the rivers)… all else that lives in the water or comes out of the water is disgusting, and you are to consider it disgusting.
You must not eat their flesh and you must dislike their dead bodies.
You must view anything that lives in the water and doesn’t have fins or scales as disgusting!
‘These are the things that you must dislike among the flying creatures… things that must not be eaten but are to be considered disgusting:
Eagles, ospreys, sea eagles,vultures, kites, and the like;ostriches, owls, seagulls, and the like;ravens and the like; hawks and the like;night ravens, cormorants, storks,ibis, pelicans, swans,herons, sandpipers, and the like, as well as hoopoes and bats.
‘Also, all winged creatures that crawl on all fours are [to be considered] disgusting by you.
You can eat crawling winged creatures that move on all fours but have legs above their feet and jump around on the ground.
These include migratory locusts and the like, tree locusts and the like, crickets and the like, and grasshoppers and the like.
But, any [other thing] that crawls and flies is to be considered disgusting by you;and if you touch their dead bodies you will be unclean and will remain unclean until the evening.
All that touch their dead bodies must wash their clothes and then be [considered] unclean until the evening.
‘Any dead bodies of animals that have split hooves and claws but don’t chew the cud will be unclean to you, and everyone that touches them will be unclean until the evening.
Also, any wild animals that walk on four paws are unclean to you, and anyone that touches their dead bodies will be unclean until the evening.
If you touch their dead bodies, you must wash your clothes and be [considered] unclean until the evening. For all of such things are unclean to you.
‘These crawling [animals are also] unclean for you among the slithering creatures:
weasels, mice, crocodiles,ferrets, chameleons, geckos, newts, and sand lizards.
Among all the crawling animals on the earth, these are unclean for you, and anyone that touches their dead bodies will be unclean until the evening.
‘And if one of the dead bodies of these unclean [things] should fall on a wooden container, or on clothing, or on leather, or on a sack, or on anything that is used for work; [the item] should be washed in water and be unclean until the evening… then it will be clean.
Also, if one of these [animals] should fall into a clay pot or bowl; whatever is inside it will be unclean and it must be broken.
Any edible food that the water was poured on, or any beverage that was in such a vessel, will be unclean.
Everything that their dead bodies fall on will be unclean. Ovens and tables must be broken down, because they are unclean, and they are unclean for you.
Springs, pools, and moving water will be clean, but anyone that touches dead bodies will be unclean.
‘If one of these dead bodies should fall on seeds that have been planted, the [seeds] are clean.
However, if water has been poured on the seeds and then one of their dead bodies fall on it, it is unclean to you.
‘If one of the cattle that the Law allows you to eat should die [naturally]; whoever touches the body will be unclean until the evening.
Whoever eats such a body must wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. And anyone that carries their bodies must wash their clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.
‘All slithering animals that crawl on the ground must be [considered] disgusting by you and never be eaten.And any slithering creatures that crawl along the ground on their bellies must not be eaten… you should consider them disgusting.
You shouldn’t dirty your lives with any slithering creatures that crawl on the ground. If you don’t allow them to pollute you, they won’t make you unclean.
for I am Jehovah your God who makes you holy, and you must remain holy, since I (Jehovah your God) am holy.
Therefore, you must not dirty your lives with any of the slithering things that crawl on the ground.
For I am Jehovah who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. So, you must be holy, because I (Jehovah) am holy.’
These are the laws concerning [four-footed] animals, flying creatures, everything that lives and moves in the water, and all creatures that crawl on the ground,[so that you might understand] the difference between what is clean and unclean, and between those that give birth alive that can be eaten, and those that shouldn’t be eaten.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘You must speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this:
Whenever a woman gets pregnant and gives birth to a male child, she must be [considered] unclean for 7 days, just as she is [considered] unclean during her monthly [menstrual] periods.
Then on the 8th day, she must circumcise [her son’s] foreskin flesh.
And for [the next] 33 days, she must continue as in [a state] of an unclean blood [flow]; so, she should not touch anything holy and [she] must not enter the Holy Place until the full period of her purification is fulfilled.
But if she gives birth to a female child, she must be considered unclean for 14 days, and for the next 66 days she will remain [as in a state] of an unclean blood flow.
‘When her period of purification for [giving birth to] a son or daughter is completed, she must bring a perfect yearling lamb to the Priest at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs as a whole-burnt offering, and bring a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering.
Then [the Priest] must present it before Jehovah and offer it to pay for her sins and her flow of blood.
This law applies to her, whether she gives birth to a male or a female.
However, if she can’t afford a lamb, she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons… one [to be sacrificed] as a whole-burnt offering, and the other as a sin offering.
The Priest will use these to pay for her sins and to purify her.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and said:
‘If anyone should [develop] a bright clear spot on his skin that looks like the plague of leprosy, he must be brought to Aaron (the Priest) or to one of his sons (the Priests),and the Priest should examine the spot.
If the hair in the spot has turned white and the spot is under the skin, it is leprosy; so, the Priest that looked at it must pronounce him unclean.
But if the spot on the skin is clear and white and doesn’t appear to be deep under the skin and the hair hasn’t turned white (but is dark), the Priest must quarantine him for 7 days.
Then on the 7th day, the Priest must look to see if the spot is still there. [If it is] and if the spot hasn’t spread; the Priest should quarantine him for 7 more days.
Then on the 7th day, the Priest should examine him a second time to see if the spot has started to darken. If it hasn’t, and if it isn’t spreading in his skin, the Priest will pronounce him clean, for it is just a scar.
Then the person must wash his clothes and [he will] be [considered] clean.
‘However, if the bright spot changes and spreads in the skin after the Priest has looked at him and called him clean; he must return to the Priest again,and the Priest must reexamine him.
Then if he finds that the mark has spread inside the skin, the Priest must pronounce him unclean… for it is leprosy.
‘If a man [thinks he] has the plague of leprosy, he must go to the Priestand the Priest should examine him.
Then if [he finds] a white spot under the skin where all the hair has turned white and there are signs of good flesh in the sore;this is leprosy that has matured in the skin. So the Priest must pronounce him unclean and quarantine him, because he is unclean.
‘But if the leprosy becomes very visible and it covers all the person’s skin wherever the Priest looks, from his head to his feet,and this is what the Priest finds; {Look!} the Priest must pronounce him clean of the plague, because once everything has turned white, he is clean.
But if new flesh starts to appear again, he must be pronounced unclean.
For if the Priest finds sound flesh; this sound flesh proves that he is unclean and that he has [active] leprosy.
Then if the sound flesh changes back to white once again, he must return to the Priest,and the Priest must examine him.
If he then sees that the plague has all turned white, the Priest must pronounce him clean, for he is clean.
‘And if [anyone] should develop a sore in his skin that heals,then it turns white, or lighter, or very red; it should be examined by the Priest.
And if, when the Priest looks at it, he finds that it is growing under the skin and that the hair has turned white; the Priest must pronounce him unclean, because leprosy has broken out in the sore.
But if the Priest finds that there is no white hair and that it isn’t growing under the skin, but that it has a dark color; then the Priest must quarantine him for 7 days.
And if he finds that it is spreading over the skin, the Priest must pronounce him unclean; for a plague of leprosy has broken out in the sore.
However, if the bright spot stays the same and doesn’t spread, it is just a scar, and the Priest must pronounce him clean.
‘But if the skin becomes inflamed and bright red, then appears to heal, but develops splotches that are bright, clear, and white, mixed with red or very white;the Priest should examine him.
If he finds the hair turning white and that the bright color is under the skin, leprosy has broken out.But if he sees that there isn’t any white hair in the inflammation and it isn’t growing under the skin, but is dark; the Priest must quarantine him for 7 days.
Then on the 7th day, the Priest should examine him to see if the spot has spread in the skin. [If it has], the Priest will pronounce him unclean, because of the plague of leprosy that has broken out in the sore.
But if the bright spot doesn’t move and doesn’t spread in the skin, but gets darker; it’s [just] the inflammation of a scar and the Priest will pronounce him clean.
‘And if a man or woman [thinks that they have] developed the plague of leprosy on the head or in the beard,the Priest must examine it.
And if he finds that it is growing under the skin and that the hair has turned thin and yellow, then the Priest will pronounce the person unclean; for the skin is dead and it is leprosy of the head or of the beard.
However, if the Priest finds dead skin, but he sees nothing growing under the skin and there is no yellowish hair; the Priest must quarantine the person for 7 days.
Then on the 7th day, the Priest must examine the person again. And if the dead skin hasn’t spread and there is no yellowish hair on it, and there doesn’t appear to be a hollow spot under the skin,the skin must be shaved everywhere except where the dead skin is, and the person should be quarantined a second time… for 7 more days.
Then on the 7th day, the Priest must look to see if the dead skin has spread to the area that was shaved.
[If it hasn’t], and if there doesn’t appear to be a hollow spot under the skin, the Priest will pronounce him clean, and he must wash his clothes and be clean.
‘However, if the dead skin does spread after he has been purified;the Priest must examine it and affirm that the dead skin has spread… and even if he finds no yellow hair, the person is unclean.
But if the dead skin doesn’t spread and dark hair grows from it, the dead skin has healed and he is clean; so, the Priest must pronounce him clean.
‘Now, if a man or woman develops bright white spots on his or her skin,the Priest must look at it.
And if he just finds bright white spots on the skin, it is psoriasis and he or she is clean.
[The same is true] when someone starts losing his hair; he is just balding and he is clean.
If he loses his hair in the front, he has forehead baldness and is clean.But if white or red blotches should develop in the baldness on [the top of] his head or on his forehead, it is leprosy.
The Priest must examine him, and if he finds white spots or an inflammation in the bald places on top or in the front that look like leprosy,he is [to be considered] a leper.
The Priest must absolutely pronounce him unclean because of the plague on his head.
‘Those that are lepers must wear unbelted clothing and they must cover their heads and their mouths, and they are to call out, Unclean!
They are always to be unclean as long as they have the plague on them.
They are to separate themselves and travel outside of the camp.
‘And if leprosy is found in any wool or linen clothing,or in anything that has been woven with wool or linen thread, or in any leather or things that have been made with skin;or if you find a greenish or reddish coloring in the skin or in the clothing, or in the weaving, or in anything made of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and you must show it to the Priest.
Then the Priest must examine it and quarantine it for 7 days.
‘Then on the 7th day, the Priest must examine it again; and if he finds that the plague has spread in the clothing, weaving, leather, or in whatever may be made from skin, it is confirmed as leprosy and it is unclean.
Then the clothing, or the wool or linen weaving, or the thing made of skin in which there is the confirmed plague of leprosy, must be burned in a fire.
‘However, if the Priest sees that the plague hasn’t spread in the clothing, weaving, or things made of skin;he must instruct someone to wash the thing that held the plague, and the Priest will quarantine it a second time for 7 days.
Then if the Priest sees that the plague hasn’t changed its appearance in the clothing or woven things after it has been washed (even if it hasn’t spread), it is unclean and it must be burned in a fire.
But if the Priest sees that the spot has turned dark after it was washed, he must cut it out of the clothing, weaving, or skin.
However, if it still looks the same in the clothing, weaving, or skin; it is an active plague of leprosy and it must be burned in a fire.
But if the clothing, weaving, or thing made from skin washes clean, the plague has been removed. It must then be rewashed and be clean.’
These are the laws concerning the plague of leprosy on wool or linen clothing, weaving, and leather goods, to [show whether to] pronounce them as clean or unclean.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘This is the law about lepers:
On the day that [a leper] has been cured, a Priest must be brought to himoutside of the camp to look and see if the plague of leprosy has been removed.
Then the Priest must tell the cleansed person to obtain two live, clean birds, some cedar wood, some spun scarlet and some hyssop;and following the Priest’s directions, he must slaughter one of the birds in a clay pot over some running water.
Then [the Priest] must take the living bird, the cedar wood, the spun scarlet and the hyssop, and he must dip them and the living bird into the blood of the bird that was killed, under the running water,and he must [use them to] sprinkle [some of the blood on] the person that was cured of leprosy, 7 times… then he will be clean.
And thereafter, he must set the living bird [free] to fly into the fields.
‘After that, the person that was cured must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water; and then he will be clean and he can return to the camp… but he can’t enter his house for 7 days.
‘On the 7th day, he must shave all the hair off his head, beard, eyebrows, and everything else, then wash his clothes and his body in water, in order to be clean.
‘Then on the 8th day, he must take two perfect yearling lambs and one perfect yearling ewe, plus a quart of fine flour that has been kneaded with oil as a sacrifice, and one small cup of oil.
And the Priest that did the cleansing must present the man that is being purified, along with these [offerings], before Jehovah, at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
Then the Priest must take the lamb and present it as a compensation offering, along with the cup of oil, and set them aside as special offerings before Jehovah.
Thereafter, they must slaughter the lamb at the Holy Place where they slaughter the whole-burnt offerings and sin offerings, because a compensation offering (like a sin offering) is very holy, and it belongs to the Priest.
‘Then the Priest must take the blood of the compensation offering and put some of it on the tip of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe on the right foot of the person being cleansed.
‘After that, the Priest must take the cup of oil and pour it over his own left hand,then dip the finger of his right hand in some of the oil in his left hand, and sprinkle it before Jehovah with his finger, 7 times.
And the Priest must put the remaining oil (which is on his hand) on the tip of the right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot of the person that is being cleansed, where the [blood of the] compensation offering [was put].
Any oil that is left over on the hand of the Priest should then be put on the head of the cleansed person, and the Priest must [use it to] pay for his sins before Jehovah.
‘Following that, the Priest must sacrifice the sin offering as a payment to Jehovah for the sins of the person that is being purified, and then the Priest must slaughter the whole-burnt offering.
The Priest must offer the whole-burnt offering sacrifice on the Altar before Jehovah to pay for [the person’s] sins, so he can be cleansed.
‘However, if [the person] is poor and can’t afford much, he must bring a lamb as a separate offering to pay for his sins and to soothe his [relationship with God], plus a quart of fine flour mixed with oil for a sacrifice, a cup of oil,and two turtledoves or two young pigeons (whichever he can afford).
One will serve as the sin offering and the other as the whole-burnt offering.
These must be brought to the Priest (before Jehovah) at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs on the 8th day, so he can be purified.
Then the Priest must take the lamb of the compensation offering and the cup of oil, and set them before Jehovah.
After that, he must slaughter the lamb, and the Priest must take its blood and put some of it on the tip of the right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot of the person that is being purified.
‘Following that, the Priest must pour the oil over his own left hand,and sprinkle some of the oil that is on his left hand with the finger of his right hand (before Jehovah), 7 times.
Then the Priest must put some of the oil that is on his hand on the tip of the right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot of the person that is being cleansed, and over the blood of the compensation offering.
Any oil that is left on the hand of the Priest must then be put on the head of the one that is being purified, and the Priest must pay for his sins before Jehovah.
‘Thereafter, he must offer the turtledoves or young pigeons (whichever the person can afford);one for a sin offering, and the other for a whole-burnt offering.
The Priest must use these to soothe the relationship of the person being purified with Jehovah.’
This is the law for the person that has the plague of leprosy and that can’t afford the offerings for his purification.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and said:
‘When you enter the land of the CanaAnites, which I am giving you to own, I will [allow] the plague of leprosy to [exist] in the houses of the land that you will own.
[So when it is found], the owner of the house must report it to the Priest and say,
I have seen what looks like a plague in [my] house.
Then the Priest must have the furniture removed from the house before he enters it to look at [what is described as] the plague, so none of the furniture in the house will become unclean.
Thereafter, the Priest can go in and examine the house.
‘When he looks at [what is called] the plague on the walls of the house, and if he sees green or red pits that run beneath the surface of the walls;the Priest must walk outside of the house, [close] its door, and quarantine it for 7 days.
And if the Priest returns to look at the house on the 7th day and finds that the plague has spread in its walls;then the Priest must order the [infected] stones to be removed and thrown into an unclean place.
Thereafter, the entire house must be scraped down and the dust must be poured into an unclean place outside of the city,and scraped stones must be used [to replace the removed] stones.
Then the [whole house] must be re-plastered.
‘However, if the plague returns and breaks out in the house after they have taken away the stones and scraped and re-plastered the walls;the Priest must go in and see if the plague has [truly re-grown] in the house.
[If so], it is a confirmed leprosy in the house, [and the house] is unclean.
So, they must tear down the house – all its timbers and all its stones – and carry everything outside of the city to an unclean place.And anyone that enters that house at any time during its demolition must be [considered] unclean until the evening.
Also, anyone that sleeps in the house or eats there must wash his clothes and be [considered] unclean until the evening.
‘But if the Priest goes in and sees that the plague hasn’t spread in the house at all after it has been re-plastered; the Priest must declare the house clean, because the plague has been cured.
Then to purify the house, he must take two clean, living birds, some cedar wood, some spun scarlet and some hyssop,and he must slaughter one of the birds in a clay pot over running water.
Then he must take the cedar wood, the spun scarlet, the hyssop, and the living bird, and dip them into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered under running water, and use them to sprinkle the house [with the blood] 7 times.
The house will then be purified with the blood of the bird, the running water, the living bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the spun scarlet.
And after that, he must let the living bird go to leave the city for the fields in order to create a good relationship with [God] for the house, and to make it clean.’
This is the law about all plagues of leprosy and dead skin,as well as about the leprosy of clothing, houses,sores, clear spots, and shiny ones,to show what is unclean and what to do when it is cured. This is the law on leprosy.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this:
Whenever a man has gonorrhea in the male [member] of his body, his discharge is unclean.
This is the law concerning the uncleanness caused by gonorrhea in a body, and it describes the uncleanness that is caused by the discharge that is affecting his body for as long as it keeps coming from his body, and of how his body is unclean due to the discharge.
‘Any bed or seat that the person (with the discharge) sits on, is unclean.So, anyone that touches the bed must wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.
Also, anyone that sits on the seat where the person with the discharge sat, must wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.
‘Anyone that touches the skin of the man with the discharge must wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.
And if the man that has the discharge should spit on someone that is clean; [the clean person] must wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.
‘Any saddle that the man with the discharge has mounted must be unclean until the evening,and anyone that touches things that have been under him will be unclean until the evening.
Also, anyone that picks him up with his hands must wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.
In addition; anyone whom the man with the discharge touches (if he hasn’t washed his hands in water) must wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.
‘Any clay pot that the person with the discharge happens to touch must be broken; but, any wooden bowl can be washed in water, and it will be clean.
‘However, if [the man] should be cured of the discharge; he must wait for 7 days before he can be called clean.
Then he must wash his clothes, take a bath, and he will be clean.
And on the 8th day, he must obtain two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them before Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, and give them to the Priest.
Then the Priest must offer one as a sin offering and the other as a whole-burnt offering.
Thereby, the Priest will pay for [the man’s] sins before Jehovah, for the discharge.
‘Any man that ejaculates semen must wash his whole body and be unclean until the evening.
And every piece of clothing, or any skin on which there is semen, must be washed with water and be unclean until the evening.
Also, when any woman goes to bed with a man and receives his semen, they must both bathe in water and be unclean until the evening.
‘And during the week that a woman is experiencing menstruation; she must separate herself, and anyone that touches her will be unclean until the evening.
Also, everything that she lies on or sits on during [her period of] separation will be unclean.And whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and he will be unclean until the evening.
Also, anyone that touches any pot that she sits on, must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.
And when someone touches her while she’s lying in bed or sitting on a chair; he will be unclean until the evening.
But if anyone lies with her and gets her uncleanness on him; he will be unclean for 7 days, and any bed that he lies on will be unclean.
‘And if a woman has a blood flow for a long time (not just during her period of separation, but if her blood continues to flow after that); as long as it continues the unclean flow, she must separate herself and be unclean.
Then, any bed that she lies on during the outpour must be treated like the bed of her separation, and any chair that she sits on will be unclean, the same as it is during her period of separation.
Anyone that touches it will be unclean, and he must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.
‘However, after the [unusual] blood flow stops, she must wait 7 days; and thereafter, she will be considered clean.
Then on the 8th day, she must take two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the Priest at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs,and the Priest must offer one as a sin offering and the other as a whole-burnt offering.
This is how the Priest must pay for her sins before Jehovah for her unclean flow.
‘You must make the children of IsraEl aware of what makes them unclean, so they don’t die for polluting My Tent while they are unclean.
These are the laws concerning men that have gonorrhea, concerning their ejaculation (so, no one is polluted by it),for women to be separated during their menstruation, how males and females are to deal with ejaculated sperm, and what to do with a man that lies with a woman during [her period of] separation.’
It was after Aaron’s two sons had died for bringing unauthorized fire before Jehovah that the Lord spoke to Mosesand said:
‘Tell your brother Aaron not to come before the Propitiatory that lies upon the Chest of Proofs behind the veil in the Holy Place at just any time, so he doesn’t die! For I will appear in a mist over the Propitiatory.
‘This is how Aaron may enter the Holy Place:
[He must do so] with a calf of the herd as a sin offering, and with a ram as a whole-burnt offering.He must wear the perfect linen tunic and the linen underwear to cover his flesh… he must wrap himself with the linen sash, put on the linen turban (for these are holy garments), and he must wash his entire body in water before he puts them on.
‘Then he must take two kids goats for a sin offering and one lamb for a whole-burnt offering on behalf of the gathering of the children of IsraEl.
Aaron must also bring a calf as a sin offering to cover his own sins and of those of his house.
Then he must take the two goats and stand them before Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs,and Aaron must cast lots over the two goats… one [will be] for Jehovah, and the other [will be] the scapegoat.
‘Then Aaron must bring up the goat that the lot [showed was Jehovah’s], and sacrifice it as a sin offering.
And the goat that was chosen by lot as the scapegoat must be presented alive before Jehovah as a cleansing for [the people], then it must be sent away as the scapegoat and released into the desert.
‘Thereafter, Aaron must bring a calf to cover his own sins and slaughter it as a sin offering, to cleanse himself and his house.
‘Then he must take his censer and fill it with coals from the fire on the Altar before Jehovah and fill his hands with fine mixed incense, then bring it inside the veiland put the incense on the [coals] there before Jehovah.
This incense smoke must cover the Propitiatory (under which the tablets that are inside the [Chest of] Proofs have been put), so he doesn’t die.
And after that, he must take the calf’s blood and sprinkle it eastward toward the Propitiatory with his finger… he must sprinkle the blood toward the Propitiatory with his finger, 7 times.
‘Then he must slaughter the goat before Jehovah as the people’s sin offering, and he must bring its blood inside the veil and do the same thing that he did with the blood of the calf… sprinkle its blood on and in front of the Propitiatory.
[By doing this], he will [cleanse] the Holy Place on behalf of the uncleanness of the children of IsraEl… for their errors and all their sins.
He must do these things in the Tent of Proofs that was established there among them amidst all their uncleanness.
‘No one else may be inside the Tent of Proofs when he enters the Holy Place to cover sins – from the time that he enters until the time he leaves – as he pays for his own sins, for those of his house, and for those of the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl.
‘Afterward, he must go outside to the Altar that is before Jehovah and put the blood of the calf and the goat all around the horns of the Altar, to pay for these sins.
Then he must sprinkle some of the blood on the Altar with his finger 7 times, to cleanse it and to make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of IsraEl.
‘After Aaron finishes cleansing the Holy Place, the Tent of Proofs, and the Altar, he must hold a cleansing for the Priests.
He must bring up the living goat,lay his hands on its head, and he must speak of all the errors of the children of IsraEl, all of their unrighteousness, and all of their sins.
He must lay them on the head of the living goat, and then a man must lead it away into the desert.
[By doing this], Aaron will be sending all of their unrighteousness away into the desert on the head of that goat.
‘Thereafter, Aaron must go back inside the Tent of Proofs and remove the linen garments that he put on as he entered the Most Holy, and he must leave them there.
Then he must wash with water inside the Holy Place, put on his [regular] clothes, then go outside and offer one whole-burnt offering for himself and one for the people.
By doing this, he will pay for his own sins as well as for those of his house, those of the Priests, and those of the people.
Then he must offer the fat on the Altar as a sin offering.
‘Also, after the goat is led out of the camp and released [into the desert], the person [that leads it out] must wash his clothes and bathe in water before he reenters the camp.
‘As for the calf and goat for the sin offering whose blood was carried in to pay for sins in the Holy Place; they must be carried outside of the camp and burned in a fire… everything must be burned, including their skin, flesh, and dung.
Then the person that burns them must wash his clothes and bathe in water… and thereafter, he may return to the camp.
‘This is a rule for you through the ages:
On the 10th day of the 7th month, you must humble yourselves; and you, as well as the aliens and strangers that live among you must not do any work.For on that day, [the High Priest] must [offer the sacrifices to] pay for your sins and to cleanse you from all your errors before Jehovah… and this will purge them from you.
This must be a most holy Sabbath for you – a time of rest – and you must humble yourselves… this is to be a rule through the ages.
‘Whichever Priest that they [choose to] anoint must [offer the sacrifices] to pay for the sins.
And whomever they choose to make perfect so as to serve in the Priestly office after his father, must put on the linen robe and the holy garments.
He’s the [only] one that may [enter] the Most Holy inside the Tent of Proofs to pay for sins.
He must then cleanse the Altar and the Priests, and pay for the sins of the entire gathering.
This must be your rule through the ages… that [he must offer sacrifices] for the children of IsraEl to pay for all their sins. And it must be done once each year, just as Jehovah commanded Moses.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to Aaron, his sons, and to all the children of IsraEl, and tell them that this is the command of Jehovahto all of the children of IsraEl, including the aliens that live among you:
If you slaughter a calf, sheep, or goat [as a sacrifice] – whether inside or outside of the camp –[you must] bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs as a sweet smelling whole-burnt offering or as a peace-offering sacrifice to Jehovah for it to be accepted [by Him].
If you slaughter it outside and don’t bring it to the entrance at the front of the Tent of Proofs as a gift to Jehovah, you will be held guilty of shedding the blood, and you must be cut off from your people.
‘Any [clean animals] that the children of IsraEl might carry in from fields as an offering to Jehovah must be brought to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and to the Priest, who must then sacrifice it as a peace offering to Jehovah.
Then the Priest must pour its blood on and around the Altar before Jehovah and offer the fat as a sweet-smelling odor to Him.
‘Do not waste [your time] by offering sacrifices in [spiritual] adultery.
This is the rule for you through the ages and for all your generations.
‘And you must tell them:
Should any man of the children of IsraEl or of the sons of the converts that are living among you offer a whole-burnt offering as a sacrificeand fail to bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and offer it there to Jehovah… he must be destroyed from among his people.
‘Also, if any man of the children of IsraEl or any alien that is living among you eats any blood; I will set My face against that person that eats the blood and make him an enemy among his people.
For [the animal’s] blood is the life of its flesh, and I have given it to you [for use] on the Altar to pay for your sins… its blood will pay for the sins in your lives!
That is why I’ve told the children of IsraEl that none of you should eat blood, nor should any aliens that live among you eat blood.
‘And if any man of the children of IsraEl or any alien that is living among you should catch an edible animal while hunting (whether a wild animal or a bird), you must pour out its blood and cover it with dirt;because, the blood of all flesh is its life.
Therefore, I have told the children of IsraEl not to eat the blood of any flesh, because the blood is the life of all flesh, and any person that eats it must be destroyed.
Also, anyone who eats anything that has died on its own or has been [killed] by animals – whether [that person] is a native or an alien – must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening… then he will be clean.
But if he doesn’t wash his clothes or bathe his body in water, he will continue to carry his sin.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them [this]:
I am Jehovah your God!So, you must not do the things that were done in Egypt where you [used to] live, or follow the ways of the [people in] the land of CanaAn where I am taking you… don’t do these [things] and don’t follow their rules!
You must obey and follow My decisions and keep My rules… for I am Jehovah your God!
You must follow all of My rules and all of My decisions… yes, follow them in such a way [that you learn to] live by them; for I am Jehovah your God!
‘No man may approach a close relative and uncover his/her nakedness; for, I am Jehovah.
Don’t uncover your father’s naked [body], or your mother’s naked [body]… she’s your mother, so don’t [undress] her!
Nor should you uncover the naked [body] of your stepmother, because [that is the same as uncovering] your father’s naked [body].
‘You must not uncover the naked [body] of your sister, whether by your father or by your mother, or whether she’s born at home or somewhere else.
Nor should you uncover the naked [body] of your grandchildren, because that is your own nakedness.
You must not uncover the naked [body] of the daughter of your father’s woman, for she’s your stepsister by your father. So, don’t uncover her nakedness.
‘You must not uncover the naked body of your father’s sister, because she’s your father’s closest relative.
Nor may you uncover the naked [body] of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s closest relative.
You must not uncover the naked [body] of your father’s brother, nor may you [have sex] with his woman, because she’s also related to you.
‘You must not uncover the naked [body] of your daughter-in-law, because she’s your son’s woman… so, don’t undress her!
Nor should you uncover the naked [body] of your brother’s woman, because that is also your brother’s nakedness.
‘You must not [uncover] the naked body of a woman and her daughter, and you may not uncover the naked [bodies] of [the woman’s] grandchildren… for that would be disrespectful, since they are also related to you.
Nor should you take your woman’s sister while [your woman is] still alive, because uncovering her sister’s nakedness would be offensive to her.
‘You must not [have sex] with a woman and uncover her naked body while she’s [sleeping apart] during her [menstrual period].
And you must not [have sex] with your neighbor’s woman and dirty yourself with her.
‘You must not give your sperm in service to a ruler, and you must not profane My Holy Name… for I am Jehovah.
‘You must not go to bed with a male as [you would] with a female, because that is disgusting.
Nor may you lie down and have sex with any animal, for that would pollute you.
And it is disgusting for any woman to offer herself before any animal to have sex with it.
‘Don’t dirty yourselves with any of these things, because these are the things that have dirtied the nations that I’m driving out from before you…they’re the things that are polluting their land, and they’re the reasons why I’m paying them back for their sins!
For even the land is being offended by the people that live there!
‘You must keep all My Laws and all My rules.
And the native peoples and the aliens that come to live among you may not do any of these disgusting things.Because, these are the disgusting things that the people who lived in the land before you did… and it polluted the land!
So, don’t offend the land by polluting it, as did the people that I am driving away.
Any person that does any of these disgusting things must be destroyed from among your people.
‘So, you must keep My rules!
You may not do any of the disgusting things that have been done [in the land] before you get there, and you must not pollute yourselves… for I am Jehovah your God!’
And the Lord spoke to Moses, and said,
‘Speak to the gathering of the children of IsraEl and tell them this:
You must be holy… for I, Jehovah your God, am holy!
‘Everyone must fear his father and his mother, and you must keep My Sabbaths… for I am Jehovah your God!
‘You must not bow before idols, nor may you mold [statues] as gods for yourselves… for I am Jehovah your God!
‘If you bring a peace-offering sacrifice to Jehovah, it must be offered willingly.
It may be eaten on the day after you sacrifice it; but if any of it should be left over until the 3rd day, it must be totally burned in a fire.For if any of it is eaten on the 3rd day, the entire sacrifice will be considered unfit and it will not be accepted.
Also, the person that eats it will be [guilty] of sin, because he has misused the holy things of Jehovah; so he must be destroyed from among his people.
‘When you harvest your land, you must not completely harvest everything, nor may you pick up anything that falls on [the ground].
And when you pick the grapes in your vineyard, you must not gather them all… you must leave some for the poor and for strangers… for I am Jehovah your God!
‘You must not steal, you must not lie, and you must not provide false testimony as a witness against your neighbor.
‘You must not swear false oaths in My Name, nor may you misuse the Holy Name of your God… for I am Jehovah your God!
‘You must not do anything to harm your neighbor… you must not rob him, nor may the wages of a hired hand be withheld until the [next] morning.
‘You must not make fun of the deaf, nor set traps for the blind; for you must fear Jehovah your God… I am Jehovah your God!
‘You must never judge unrighteously.
You must not mistreat poor people, nor may you show more respect to those that are powerful… you must be just when you judge your neighbors!
‘You must not march in treachery against your nation, and you must not spill the blood of your neighbors… for I am Jehovah your God!
‘You must not dislike your brothers in your hearts, and you must correct your neighbors [whenever they are wrong], so you aren’t found guilty of sin because of something that they are doing.
You must not raise your hands in vengeance or be angry with the sons of your people… you must love your neighbors as you [love] yourselves… for I am Jehovah,and you must obey My Laws!
‘You must not allow your cattle to breed with other types [of cattle]; you must not plant a vineyard with different types of seeds; and you must not wear woven pieces of clothing that are made from different [materials].
‘If anyone goes to bed and has sex with a woman that is the household servant of another man, and she hasn’t been sold or set free by the man’s overseer; they must [both] be punished, but not killed… because, she wasn’t free.
Then for his sin, he must bring a ram as an offering for his error to Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
There, the Priest must use the ram that is being offered to pay Jehovah for the sin that he committed, and then his sin will be forgiven.
‘And when you enter the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you and plant any fruit trees; you must first purge away the filth [of the land. So, its fruit must be unclean to you, and it may not be eaten for three years.
But in the 4th year, all the fruit will be holy and worthy of praise to Jehovah.
And in the 5th year, you must eat the fruit… for that’s when it will produce a great abundance… I am Jehovah your God!
‘Don’t hold feasts in the mountains, and you must not allow anyone to search for omens in the flights of birds.
‘You must not shave the hair on your head cut short, nor may you shave your beards.
And you must not make cuts on your bodies over [the death of a loved one], nor may you tattoo your bodies… for I am Jehovah your God!
‘You must not allow your daughters to become dirty by making them whores, so the land doesn’t become filled with prostitution and sin.
‘You must keep My Sabbaths and fear My Holy Place… for I am Jehovah!
‘You must not associate with or pollute yourselves with those that speak to [the demons], nor may you have anything to do with witches… for I am Jehovah your God!
‘You must rise before a grey-headed person… [you must] value the faces of elderly men, and you must fear your God… for I am Jehovah your God!
‘And if a stranger should come to [live among] you in your land, you must not make his life difficult.
You must treat strangers as natives, and you must love them as yourselves; for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God!
‘You must not be unrighteous in your judgments, in your measurements, or in your weights and scales.
You must all have honest weights, scales, and liquid measures… for I am Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt!
You must obey and follow all My Laws and rules… for I am Jehovah your God!’
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
‘You must also tell the children of IsraEl this:
If any of the children of IsraEl or any of IsraEl’s converts offer their [children] to Moloch, they must be put to death… the [people] in the land must stone him with rocks.
I will set My face against that man and cut him off from his people, because he has given his [child] to Moloch and defiled My Holy Place, dirtying the name of My holy people.
‘And if anyone in the land should in any way choose to overlook what that person did by giving his [child] to Moloch, and fail to put him to death;
I will turn My face against that man and his family, and destroy him and everyone that agrees with him, so he doesn’t go to the rulers and lead the people into [spiritual] adultery.
‘I will also turn My face against any person that commits [spiritual] adultery by becoming a follower of someone that predicts the future by means of [demons] or through witchcraft…
I will destroy [such a person] from among his people.
for you must be holy as I Jehovah your God am holy.
You must obey My rules and follow them; for I am Jehovah who makes you holy.
‘Any person that is found guilty of saying bad things about his father or mother must absolutely be put to death for the bad things that he says about them.
‘When any man commits adultery with another man’s woman, or when anyone commits adultery with his neighbor’s woman; both the adulterer and the adulteress must absolutely be put to death!
‘And if anyone is found guilty of lying down with his father’s woman; he has uncovered his father’s nakedness, so both must absolutely die!
‘And if anyone is found guilty of lying down with his daughter-in-law; both must absolutely be put to death for their lack of respect.
‘And when anyone is found guilty of lying with a male as though he were a female; they have both done something disgusting, so they must absolutely die.
‘It is also a sin when someone takes both a woman and her mother.
They must all be burned in a fire for their badness, so there won’t be any sins among you.
‘Any male that [has sex with] an animal must absolutely be put to death along with the animal.
And if any woman is found guilty of [having sex with] an animal; you must absolutely kill both the woman and the animal.
‘If anyone undresses his sister (by his father or his mother) so they can look at each other’s nakedness; it is disgusting.
They must both be destroyed in front of the other children in their family; for they have sinned by [looking at] each other’s naked bodies.
‘And whenever a man lies down with a woman that is sleeping apart during [her menstrual period] and uncovers her naked body;
He is uncovering the source of her blood flow and seen her blood, so they must both be destroyed from among their generation.
‘You must not undress your father’s sister or your mother’s sister and look at the naked body of the close relative; for both will be guilty of sin.
Whoever [has sex] with a close relative has also uncovered the naked body of his [other] close relative, and they must [both] die childless.
And whoever [has sex] with his brother’s woman has done something that is unclean; for he has uncovered his brother’s naked body, so they must [both] die childless.
‘If you obey and follow all My rules and decisions, you won’t offend the land where I am taking you to live.
You must not [adopt] the customs of the nations that I am driving out before you, because I have disliked them for the things that they are doing.
I have told you that you will inherit their land, and I am giving you this land that flows with milk and honey as your own.
For I am Jehovah your God who is setting you apart from all those nations.
‘You must pay attention to the differences between the clean and unclean cattle, and the clean and unclean birds.
You must not dirty yourselves with [unclean] cattle or birds, or with any of the things that slither on the ground… for I have separated you from such uncleanness.
You must be holy to Me, because I (Jehovah, your God) am holy, and I have set you apart from all other nations as Mine.
‘And if a man or woman is found guilty of telling the future by means of a [demon], or is a witch; he or she must absolutely be put to death.
You must stone the person with rocks.’
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
‘Speak to the Priests among the sons of Aaron and tell them that they must not [show themselves to be mourning] the dead in front of the nation.
They may [mourn] for a close relative such as a father, mother, son, daughter, brother,or for a loved virgin sister that isn’t married… they may [show that they mourn] these.
However, they may not show their mourning in front of the people by appearing unclean.
They must not shave their heads bald on top, nor may they shave their beards or cut gashes in their flesh over the dead.
They must be holy to their God, and they may not profane the Name of their God.
They must [remain] holy, because they offer the sacrifices to Jehovah as gifts to their God.
‘They must not take a woman that is a whore, one that has been violated, or one that has been divorced, because these [men] are holy to their God Jehovah.
They must remain holy, because they offer the gifts to their God Jehovah. They must be holy… for I Jehovah (who makes them holy) am holy.
‘Also, if the daughter of a man that is a Priest dirties herself by having immoral sex, she is dirtying the name of her father, and she must be burned in a fire.
‘The Priest that is the chief one among his brothers – the one that has been anointed by having oil poured over his head and who has been made perfect to wear the [Priestly] garments – must not remove the turban from his head, or tear his clothes,or even get close to a dead body… no, he may not profane himself even for his own father or mother.
He may not leave the Holy Place and he must not make the Holy Place of his God unclean, because he wears God’s holy anointing oil… I am Jehovah.
‘[A Priest] may only take a woman that is a virgin and from his own tribe…not a widow, a divorcee, someone that has been violated, or a whore.
He may only take a virgin from his own people as his woman.
He must not profane his seed among his people… for I am Jehovah who makes him holy.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Tell Aaron this:
Through the generations, no man of your tribe that is physically imperfect may be used to offer the gifts to his God.
No one may be used that is blind, lame, has a disfigured nose, deformed ears,a crippled hand or foot,is a hunchback, has cataracts, has lost his eyelashes, has open sores, has a birthmark, or has lost a testicle.
‘None of Aaron the Priest’s seed that is physically imperfect may be used to offer sacrifices to your God because of an imperfection.
Such ones must not go in to offer the gifts to God,for these gifts are very holy.
He may eat the holy things,but he must not approach the veil or get close to the Altar because of his handicap.
He must not dishonor the Holy Place of his God… for I am Jehovah who makes him holy.’
This is what Moses told Aaron, his sons, and all the children of IsraEl.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, and warn them to be careful with the holy things of the children of IsraEl, so they don’t profane My Holy Name in anything that they offer to Me in a holy way… for I am Jehovah!
Tell them that throughout their generations, any of their seed that comes before Me to offer the holy things (whatever the children of IsraEl may bring to Jehovah) and do so while they are unclean must be cut off from Me… for I am Jehovah your God!
‘And if any man that is the seed of Aaron the Priest should have leprosy or a running sexual discharge, he may not eat the holy things until he becomes clean.
So, any of them that touch something unclean from a dead body, or that have ejaculated sperm,or that have touched an unclean slithering thing that has defiled him, or that touches an unclean person…that soul will be unclean until the evening.
So, he must not eat any of the holy things until he bathes his body in waterafter sundown… then he will be clean and he can eat all the holy things; for they are his as food.
‘He must not eat anything that dies on its own or has been killed by wild animals, so he isn’t polluted by them… for I am Jehovah!
He must keep My rules so he doesn’t fall into sin over these matters and die because of making himself dirty… for I am Jehovah their God who makes them holy.
‘And no stranger may eat the holy things, including those that travel with the Priests or those that are hired by them.
But if a Priest purchases a [slave] with money, or if [such a one] is born in his house, he or she may eat the [holy] bread.
But if the daughter of a Priest should marry a stranger, she may not eat the offerings from the Holy Place.
However, if the Priest’s daughter is widowed or divorced and has no children, and she returns to her father’s house as when she was young; she may eat her father’s bread… but no stranger may do so.
‘If a man [that isn’t worthy] should eat holy things in ignorance, he must return as much with 1/5th more added, and give the holy things to the Priest.
‘They must not profane the holy things of the children of IsraEl that are offered to Jehovahand thereby bring the sin of error upon themselves when they eat their holy things… for I am Jehovah who makes them holy.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to Aaron, his sons, and to the entire gathering of IsraEl, and tell them this:
Any man among the children of IsraEl or any alien that lives among them in IsraEl that wishes to offer a gift as a confession (as they may choose) – whatever they may bring to Jehovah as a whole-burnt offering –must offer it willingly, and it must be a perfect male from his herd, or of his sheep or goats.
They must not bring anything to Jehovah that isn’t perfect, for I won’t accept it.
‘And whenever a man brings something to Jehovah from his herd or his sheep as a peace offering, or to fulfill a promise, or as a free-will offering; it must be perfect to be accepted… it shouldn’t have any flaws.
They may not offer anything to Jehovah that is blind, lame, has its tongue cut out, has warts, a running sore, or a scar… they must not offer any of these as burnt offerings on the Altar.
‘If a calf or a sheep is missing an ear or has lost its tail, you can slaughter it for yourself; but it is unacceptable [as an offering] for your vows.
This is [also true] of one that has been castrated or has had its testicles crushed… you must not offer it to Jehovah as a sacrifice in your land.
‘And you may not offer any of these gifts to your God at the hand of a stranger, because that would corrupt [the gift] and make it imperfect.
So, [such practices] are unacceptable for you.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Calves, sheep, and goats must suckle their mothers for 7 days from the time they are born; and only after the 8th day may they be accepted as burnt-offering sacrifices to Jehovah…and you must not sacrifice a cow or an ewe and its young on the same day.
‘If you vow to offer a sacrifice to Jehovah out of sheer joy, you must offer it willingly!
It must then be eaten on that same day and not left over until the next morning… for I am Jehovah!
‘You must keep My Commandments and obey them,and you must not profane the Name of your Holy One, for I must be made holy in the midst of the children of IsraEl.
I am Jehovah who makes you holy andwho brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God… I am Jehovah!’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that the feasts of Jehovah that you’re going to call Holy Assemblies, are My feasts.
Therefore, you may work for 6 days, but the 7th day is the Sabbath, a [day of] rest and a Holy Assembly to Jehovah.
You must not work on that day, for it is a Sabbath to [Jehovah… and this covers] everything that you may do!
‘Here are the feasts to Jehovah… the Holy Assemblies that you are to [observe] in each of their seasons:
The 14th day of the 1st month, from evening to evening, is Jehovah’s Passover.
Then the 15th day of that month is the Feast of Fermentation-free bread, so you must eat fermentation-free bread for 7 days.
The 1st [of these] days must be a Holy Assembly for you, and you must not work for anyone on that day.
Then you must offer whole-burnt offerings to [Jehovah during those] 7 days.
And the 7th day will be [another] Holy Assembly for you, [during which] you must not work for anyone.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them:
When you enter the land that I will give to you and you start reaping its harvests, you must bring a bundle of [cut stalks] from the first fruitage of your harvest to the Priest,and he must hold them up and wave the bundle before [Jehovah, in order for Him to] accept it from you.
This must be done on the morning of the 1st day.
‘And on that same day, you must offer a perfect yearling lamb as a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah.
Then, along with this offering of meat, you [must offer] 2 quarts (1.9l) of fine flour mixed with oil as a sweet-smelling sacrifice and a quart of wine as a drink offering to Jehovah.
You may not eat any new bread or roasted grain until this day that you offer the sacrifices to your God.
This is a Law through the ages and throughout your generations for as long as you live.
‘Thereafter, you must count the days, starting from the day after the Sabbath when you offered the bundle of grain that was waved before Jehovah; and after 7 full weeks,on the morning following the last week (or after 50 days), you must bring a food offering to Jehovah.
You must also bring two loaves [of bread] from your homes that are made from 2 quarts (1.9l) of fine flour baked with fermentation as an offering of your first fruitage to Jehovah.
‘And with the bread, you must bring 7 healthy yearling lambs, a calf from your herd, and two perfect male kid goats as whole-burnt offerings to Jehovah.
These food and drink offerings are to be sacrificed as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.
One of the kid goats must be sacrificed as a sin offering, and the 2 yearling lambs are to be offered with the first-fruit bread as a peace offering.
The Priest must set them aside with the first-fruitage loaves as an offering before Jehovah. They will be holy to Jehovah, and they will belong to the Priest that [offers] them.
‘You must designate this as an Assembly Day, and it must be holy to you; so, you may not work for anyone on that day.
This is a rule throughout all your generations, wherever you may live.
‘And when you harvest your land, you must not reap everything in your field, nor may you gather anything that falls during the harvest. You must leave it for the poor and for strangers… for I am Jehovah your God!’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Also, the 10th day of the 7th month is to be the Day of Atonement [when you must pay for your sins]. It [is also] to be a [day of] Holy Assembly for you. You must be very humble [on that day] and present a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah.
You must not do any work on that day, for it is a day when you must pay for your sins before Jehovah, your God.
---------Any person that doesn’t show humility on that day must be cut off from among his people.And any person that works on that day should have his life destroyed from among his people.
Also, you must not do any sort of work!
This is a law through the ages and throughout all your generations, wherever you may live.
‘the 9th day of that month, from evening to evening, is [also] to be a holy Sabbath for you, and you must humble yourselves and keep your Sabbaths.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this:
The 15th day of the 7th month and the next 7 days are to be the Feast of Temporary Dwellings to Jehovah.
The 1st day must be a Holy Assembly [during which] you may not work for anyone.
You must offer whole-burnt offerings to Jehovah for the next 7 days, and then the 8th day will be a Holy Assembly to you [during which] you must offer whole-burnt offerings to Jehovah.
This is [to be] a free day, so you must not work for anyone.
‘These are the feasts to Jehovah that you are to call Holy Assemblies, [and during which] you are to offer burnt offerings to Jehovah… whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings, each on its day.
This is in addition to the Sabbaths to Jehovah, to your gifts, to all your vows, and to all the free-will offerings that you will bring to Jehovah.
‘On the 15th day of the 7th month, after you have completely harvested all the fruitage of the ground, you must hold a feast to Jehovah for 7 days… and both the 1st and 8th days will be for resting.
On the 1st day, you must bring a large amount of fruit from your trees, some palm-tree branches, some thick tree branches, willow branches, and branches from water willows, as a rejoicing to Jehovah your God… [do this] for 7 days each year.
‘This is to be the law through the ages for all your generations… you must observe this in the 7th month.
You must live in temporary structures for 7 days… yes, all the native people of IsraEl must live in temporary structures,so your descendants can see that I made the children of IsraEl live in such structures when I brought them out of the land of Egypt… for I am Jehovah your God!’
So, this is how Moses explained Jehovah’s feast days to the children of IsraEl.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Talk to the children of IsraEl and tell them to bring pure, beaten olive oil [for use in] the lamp so that it may always be kept burningoutside the veil of the Tent of Proofs.
Aaron and his sons must keep it burning before Jehovah continuously from evening until morning.
This is a law through the ages for all your generations.
The lamps on the pure lampstand must be kept burning before Jehovah until morning.
‘Then you must take fine flour and make 12 loaves [of bread] from it.
Each loaf should be made from 2 quarts (1.9l) [of flour].
Place them in two rows, 6 loaves per row, on the pure table before Jehovah,then pour frankincense and salt over each row.
Remember to set these things and the loaves before Jehovah on each Sabbath.
They must continue to be set before Jehovah by the children of IsraEl as a sacred agreement through the ages.
These will all be put there for Aaron and his sons, who must eat it inside the Holy Place… for this is their own very holy portion of the offerings that are made to Jehovah, as [part of] the Law of the ages.’
Well, it so happened that there was this son of an IsraElite woman (whose father was an Egyptian) [that lived] among the children of IsraEl, and he got into a fight in the camp [with a man] whose mother and father were both IsraElites.
Then, [during the fight], the son of the IsraElite woman used God’s Name while cursing… so, they brought him to Moses (his mother’s name was ShalomIth, and she was the daughter of DaBri of the tribe of Dan),and they tied him up and held him for judgment by Jehovah.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Take the man that did the cursing outside the camp, and then everyone who heard [him cursing] must lay their hands on his head, as the whole gathering stones him to death.
Thereafter, speak to the sons of IsraEl and tell them that whoever curses God is sinning,and whoever [curses] using the Name of the Lord must absolutely be put to death, whether he is a native or an alien.
The entire gathering of IsraEl must stone him with rocks and he must die for [swearing vengeance in] Jehovah’s Name.
‘Also, whenever a man strikes another man and kills him, he must absolutely be put to death.
And whenever a man strikes [someone’s] animal and it dies; he must give a life for the life.
And whoever harms his neighbor must have the same thing done to him…bruise for bruise, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever damage he does to a man must be done to him.
And if a man strikes a man and kills him, he must be put to death.
This one judgment must be the same for both the natives and the aliens… for I am Jehovah your God!’
Well, after Moses said all these things to the children of IsraEl, they took the man that had done the cursing outside the camp and stoned him with rocks… the children of IsraEl did just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses [while he was] on Mount SinAi and told him,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this:
When you enter the land that I am giving to you, the ground must [be allowed] to rest during its Sabbaths to Jehovah.
You may plant your fields, prune your vines, and gather their fruitage for 6 years.However, the 7th year will be a Sabbath, during which the land must rest.
During this Sabbath to Jehovah, you may not plant your fields, prune your vines,or gather anything that starts to grow of its own in your fields, nor may you completely gather all the sacred grapes; for that is to be a year of rest for the ground.
However, during the Sabbaths on the land, [there will be enough] food for you and for your male and female servants, those that work for you, as well as for any aliens that live among you.
But, as for your cattle and the wild animals that live on your land; they may eat whatever they wish.
‘Thereafter, you must keep track and [count off] 7 Sabbaths of years (7 times 7 years) to make 7 weeks of years, or 49 years.
Then in the 7th month, on the 10th day of the month (on the Day of Atonement), you must sound a trumpet and send a proclamation throughout the entire land with trumpeting.
For, that year (the 50th year) is to be holy, and you must proclaim a release on the land and on all that live on it… it is to be a year of setting free.
It’s a Signal to you that each person may then return to his home and his family.
‘The 15th year must be a Signal of Release among you.
So, you may not plant or harvest any of the produce that grows from the ground on its own, or gather any of its sacred fruit.for it is to be the Signal of Release, and it must be holy to you, during which you must eat the [stored] crops that you have harvested from the fields.
‘In the year of the Release Signal, everyone must [be allowed] to return home.
So, if you sell [your land] to a neighbor, or if you should buy your neighbor’s [land], it must not be [held permanently].
You must count the number of years after each Release Year from the time that you purchase [land] from your neighbor, then [figure out] how many years [you may own it] and how much you will likely harvest from it…the more years, the higher the [land’s] value.
So, when there are few years, there is less value, since there will be fewer crops, and [the price] should be [set lower].
No man should oppress his neighbor, for you must fear your God Jehovah… I am Jehovah your God!
‘You must keep all My Laws and decisions and obey them. For if you follow and obey them, you will live in the land in safety,the ground will provide abundantly, you will have plenty to eat, and you will live there in security.
‘Now, if you should ask what you will eat during the 7th year if you don’t plant anything or pick your fruit;I will send My blessings in the 6th year, and the land will produce abundant crops during [the previous] three years.
Then you will start planting again in the 8th year and eat from your stored crops until the 9th year… yes, until its crop comes in, you will eat from the stored crops.
‘Therefore, no land may be sold permanently, since all the land is Mine and you are just aliens and travelers before Me.
So, any land that you [buy] must also be repurchased.
If your brother that lives near you is poor and has to sell [you] some of his land, and his relative should thereafter come to assist him; he must be allowed to buy back the land that his brother sold.
Or if he has no such relative and he starts to prosper and finds enough money to buy it back himself;he must calculate how many years the land has been sold, and pay the person to whom he sold it a fair amount… and then it should be returned.
But if he hasn’t prospered enough to buy back the property; the one that bought it will own the land through the 6th year before the year of Release… then it should be returned and its owner can go back to his land.
---------------–--
‘Also, if your brother that lives among you becomes poor and needs to [borrow some money] from you; you must help him as you would an alien or a traveler, so that your brother may continue to live among you.
You must not charge him interest or [tell him] to pay you more; for you must fear your God… I am Jehovah!
And you must [help] your brother to keep living among you.
You must not lend your money to him for interest, and you must not lend him any food and expect him to pay you back with more,for I am Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of CanaAn and to be your God.
‘And if your brother should become so bad off that he sells himself to you; he must not serve and work as your slave…you must treat him like a hired person or as a traveler, and he will only work for you until the Year of Release.
Then, during the Release, he and his children will leave as a family, and they will hurry back to their family possessions,because they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt.
So, they can’t be sold as slaves,nor may you force them into hard labor; for you must fear Jehovah your God.
‘If you wish to purchase male and female slaves; buy them from the nations that live around you.
You may also buy the sons of the travelers that live among you. You may buy them and their relatives… all that live in your land may become your possessionand may be left as an inheritance to your children after you, and be your [family] possession through the ages.
However, you must never oppress your brothers of the children of IsraEl by forcing them to do hard labor.
‘And if an alien or a traveler that lives among you should become rich, and your brother that is in need is sold to the alien or traveler that lives among you, or to an [IsraElite] convert;
After he has been sold, one of his brothers must buy him back.An uncle, a cousin, or another close relative from his tribe must be allowed to buy him… or if he gets wealthy, he may buy himself back.
‘The person that buys him must calculate how many years there were from the time that he sold himself until the Year of Release, and then pay the amount that would be paid to a hired person during that number of years.
And if anyone has [enough money] to pay [the wages] for all those years, he must pay the ransom.
If there is just a short time until the Year of Release; he will pay the ransom [for that short period].
[Also, the person that buys him] must treat him as hired help through the years… he must not be forced into hard labor!
And if he can’t pay his own fair ransom, he and his children must be set free in the Year of Release.for the children of IsraEl are My servants… they are My attendants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt.
‘You must not mold [gods] for yourselves or carve them with your hands, nor may you set up stone pillars in your land to worship… for I am Jehovah your God!
You must keep My Sabbaths and be in fear of My Holy Place… for I am Jehovah!
‘If you follow My rules and keep My Commandments and obey them,I will give you rain in its season, the ground will produce its fruitage, and the trees in your fields will bear fruit.
Then, your threshing time will run through your fruit-picking time, and your fruit-picking time will run into your [planting] time. You will eat all the bread you want and you will live on your land in safety; for there will be no wars in your land.
Yes, I will bring peace to your land, so you can go to sleep and not fear anyone! I will also destroy all the bad animals in your land,and you will chase your enemies and they will be slaughtered before you.
5 of you will chase 100, and 100 of you will chase tens of thousands. Then your enemies will be cut down before you with swords.
I will also watch over you, make you grow and multiply, and keep My Sacred Agreement with you.
Then you may eat that which is old and very old, or throw out the old to make way for the new.
‘So, I will pitch My Tent among you, and in My heart, there will be no hatred of you.
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.
I am Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt where you were slaves. I’m the One who broke the shackles of your [slavery] and paraded you away in front of [everyone]!
‘However, if you choose not to listen to Me and obey My rules…if you disobey them and your lives come to dislike My decisions… if you don’t keep all My Commandments and if you break My Sacred Agreement,these are the things that I must do to you:
‘I will bring uprisings among you and make you uncomfortable.
You will develop rashes, jaundice, fever, loss of eyesight, and your lives will be shortened.
When you plant seeds, it won’t do any good, because your enemies will eat the [crops].
For if I set My face against you, you will fall before your enemies.
Those that dislike you will chase you, and you will run even when there’s no one behind you!
‘And if you still refuse to listen to Me, I will have to discipline you 7 times as much for your sins,because I must break down your haughtiness and pride.
I will turn your sky into iron and your ground into brass,and all your hard work will be wasted; for the seeds in your ground won’t produce, and the trees in your fields won’t bear fruit.
‘And after that, if you continue to walk a crooked path and you aren’t willing to obey Me; I will bring 7 plagues upon you for your sins.
I will send wild animals into the land to eat you and kill your cattle, so you will decrease in numbers and your [land] will become empty.
‘And if that doesn’t straighten you out and you continue to walk a crooked path with Me;
My Spirit will become crooked and I will walk a crooked path among you, causing Me to strike you 7 times for your sins.
I will bring swords against you to avenge My Sacred Agreement.
Then when you run to your cities for safety, I will send death to you and you’ll be handed over to your enemies.
I will also bring a famine of bread among you; so then, it will take 10 women to bake your loaves in just one oven. And when they weigh out portions of bread for you to eat, you will still be hungry.
‘And if you still don’t obey Me but continue to walk a crooked path with Me;
I will walk among you with an angry mind, and I must discipline you 7 times as much for your sins…so you will have to eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters!
I will also wipe away your stone columns and totally destroy the wooden [images] that you’ll make with your hands, then lay your dead bodies on the remains of your idols… for My soul will dislike you.
‘I will destroy your cities, empty your holy places, and [never again] smell the odor of your sacrifices.
I will empty your land, and your enemies that live there will be amazed.
For I will scatter you among the nations… you will be attacked with swords and destroyed, and your land and your cities will be emptied!
‘Meanwhile, the ground will enjoy its Sabbaths during all the time that it’s empty…as you’re living in the land of your enemies!
Yes, that’s when the land will enjoy its Sabbaths… during all the time that it’s empty! For it will keep the Sabbaths that weren’t kept when you lived there.
‘I will put all that remain into bondage [as slaves] there in the land of your enemies, so that in your hearts, even the sounds of shaking leaves will chase you.
You will run as though you’re running from a war and fall when no one is chasing you.
Brothers won’t have any regard for their brothers, as in a war. And though no one will be chasing you, you won’t be able [to be saved from] your enemies.
You will die there among the ethnics, and the lands of your enemies will swallow you down.
Then those who are left will perish because of their sins and the sins of their fathers… they will just waste away in the lands of their enemies.
‘However, if they should then confess their sins and the sins of their fathers, and [admit] that they have sinned and neglected Me, and that they have walked a crooked path before Me,and [admit that] this is the reason why I walked among them with a crooked mind and destroyed them, [sending them off] into the lands of their enemies… yes, when their uncircumcised hearts become ashamed and they repent of their sins,I will once again remember the Sacred Agreement that I made with AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.
I will also remember their land, and that land will still be waiting for them. For by then, the land will have enjoyed her Sabbaths during the time that they were gone.
‘Yet, they must acknowledge their sins… that they neglected My decisions and they disliked My Laws in their [hearts].
But despite this, I still won’t fail to [keep an eye] on them while they are in the land of their enemies, nor will I dislike them and void the Sacred Agreement that I made with them… for I am Jehovah, their God.
‘Then I will remember the Sacred Agreement [that I made with them] when I brought them out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery before that nation, to be their God… for I am Jehovah!
‘These are My decisions, My rules, and the Law that Jehovah Himself gave to the children of IsraEl from Mount SinAi through the hand of Moses.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this:
Whenever anyone wishes to make a vow to offer the value of a life to Jehovah;the value of a male between 20 and 60 years old must be 50 double-silver coins by the standards of the Holy Place.
The value of a female must be 30 double-silver coins,and the value for a male child between 5 and 20 years old must be 20 double-silver coins, and 10 double-silver coins for a female.
‘As for a child between 1 month and 5 years old;
The value for a male must be 5 double-silver coins, and for a female, 3 double-silver coins.
And for those that are over 60, the value must be 15 double-silver coins for a male and 10 double-silver coins for a female.
But if a person is too poor to pay these values, he must go before the Priest, and the Priest will value him at whatever the man says he can afford in his vow; and this is [the price] that the Priest must set for him.
‘When cattle are offered as gifts to Jehovah by anyone, they become holy.
So, the [person] may not trade a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one.
If someone does decide to make a trade, it must be with an equal… and both animals will be holy.
‘If [someone should bring] an unclean animal (which must never be offered as a gift to Jehovah);
He must lead the animal to the Priest,and the Priest must determine whether it has any value. Then, whatever value the Priest sets is what must be paid for it.
And if he wishes to buy it back; he must pay 1/5th more than that amount.
‘If a man chooses to set aside his house as holy to Jehovah; the Priest must determine whether or not it has any value, and whatever value the Priest sets is what must be paid.
Then if he wishes to buy it back, he must pay 1/5th more for it than the valuation.
‘If a man should choose to designate a portion of a field that he owns as holy to Jehovah, it must be valued by whatever is planted there.
It will be worth 50 double-silver coins for every 250 quarts (230l) of barley…that is, that’s how much it should be valued if he should [set aside] his field as holy on the Year of Release.
But if he donates his field sometime after the Release, the Priest must figure its value to the next Year of Release and deduct the appropriate amount from the full valuation.
However, if the one that made the field holy wishes to buy it back [before the Year of Release]; he must add 1/5th more to its value and it will be his once again.
But if he doesn’t buy back the field, it may be sold to someone else… and then he can’t buy it back later.
For after the Release, the field will be holy to Jehovah and thereafter be subdivided… because the Priests will then own it.
‘And if a man should set aside a field to Jehovah that he has bought and it isn’t a family possession;
The Priest must calculate its value to the Year of Release, and that’s how much he must pay that day, as something holy to Jehovah.
Then in the Year of Release, the land must be restored to the man that sold it and [really] owns the land.
‘All the values must be determined by using the holy weights.
A double-silver coin is worth 20 copper coins.
‘All the firstborn cattle are already Jehovah’s, so no man can [set them aside] as holy… whether it’s a calf or a sheep, it belongs to Jehovah.
‘If [a man] should choose to buy back an unclean animal, he must add 1/5th more to its valuation.
But if he doesn’t buy it back, it may be sold at its stated value.
‘Anything a man has that he chooses to curse before Jehovah, whether it’s a man, an animal, or a field that he owns; it may never be sold or taken back.
Everything that is cursed for destruction becomes very holy to Jehovah.And anyone from among mankind that is cursed may never be ransomed, but must surely be put to death.
‘Anything in the land that is to be offered, whether it’s seeds or the fruit of trees, is Jehovah’s… it is holy to Jehovah.
And if any man should ever wish to buy back his offering, he must add 1/5th more to its [value], and it will be his.
‘A 1/10th of everything, including bulls, sheep, and anything else that is taxable, is also holy to Jehovah.
So, you may never exchange anything good for anything bad, or anything bad for anything good.
If you should make an exchange, it must be with an equivalent; and since it is holy, it cannot be repurchased.’
These are the commandments that the Lord gave to Moses for the sons of IsraEl on Mount SinAi.
On the 1st day of the 2nd month ([while they were still] in the desert at SinAi), 2 years after their departure from the land of Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses inside the Tent of Proofs and said,
‘Take a census of the entire gathering of IsraEl by families and lines of descent. [Record] the names of all the malesthat are 20 years old and older… all that serve as the army of IsraEl.
You and Aaron must count them and calculate their strength.
Also, the rulers of each of the tribes (the paternal heads of the families) should accompany you as you do this.
‘These are the names of the men that should help you:
From the Tribe of ReuBen; EliSur the son of SediUr.
From the [Tribe of] SymeOn; SalamiEl the son of SuriSadai.
[From the tribe] of Judah; NaAsson the son of AmiNadab.
[From the tribe] of IshSachar; NathaniEl the son of Sogar.
[From the tribe] of ZebuLon; EliAb the son of ChaElon.
[From the tribes] of JoSeph; EliSama the son of EmiUd for Ephraim, and GamaliEl the son of PhadaSur for ManasSeh.
[From the tribe] of BenJamin; AbiDan the son of GadeOni.
[From the tribe] of Dan; AchiEzer the son of AmiSadai.
[From the tribe] of Asher; PhagaiEl the son of Echran.
[From the tribe] of Gad; EliSaph the son of RaguEl.
[From the tribe] of NaphTali; AchiRe the son of AiNan.’
These were the most famous men among the gathering. They were the heads of the tribes by their families, and each one was a leader of thousands in IsraEl.
So Moses and Aaron gathered these men that had been called by name.
Then they assembled the entire gathering that day and registered the [men] by tribes and family lines, recording the names and numbers of all those that were 20 [years old] and older,as the Lord had commanded Moses there in the desert of SinAi.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of ReuBen (the first-born of IsraEl), the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 46,400.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of SymeOn, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 59,300.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Judah, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 74,600.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of IshSachar, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 54,400.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of ZebuLon, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 57,400.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of JoSeph, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 40,500 from the Tribe of Ephraim,Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of BenJamin, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 35,400.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Gad, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 45,650.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Dan, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 62,700.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Asher, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraElwas 41,500.
Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of NaphTali, the number of males 20 years old and up that were counted as the strength of IsraEl,was 53,400.
This was the census that Moses, Aaron, and the 12 rulers of IsraEl conducted… a man from each tribe.
They counted all the males 20 years old and up among the children of IsraEl that could [serve in their army],[and there was a total of] 618,550.
However, those of the Tribe of Levi weren’t counted,for the Lord had told Moses:
‘You must not gather the Tribe of Levi and count them among the children of IsraEl.Rather, put the Levites in charge of the Tent, its furnishings, and everything in it.
They must serve there and camp around the Tent.
And whenever the Tent is moved, the Levites must take it down and [be in charge of] setting it up again. Anyone else that goes near it must die.
‘The [rest of] the children of IsraEl must camp in the order and grouping of their own armies.
But the Levites must camp around and in front of the Tent of Proofs, so there may be no sins among the children of IsraEl.
For the Levites must protect the Tent of Proofs.’
And the children of IsraEl did everything that Jehovah commanded Moses and Aaron.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and said,
‘Each man of the sons of IsraEl must pitch his tent according to the signals, in his own order, and according to the house of his father, in a circle around the Tent of Proofs.
‘The first in the camp, starting on the east side, shall be the [Tribe] of Judah with their armies.
Their leader is NaShon, the son of AmmiNadab.
There are 74,600 in his army.
‘The Tribe of IshSachar, whose leader is NathanEl the son of Zuar, should camp next to them.
There are 54,400 in his army.
‘The Tribe of ZebuLon, whose leader is EliAb the son of Helon, should camp next to them.
There are 57,400 in his army.
‘Altogether, there are 186,400 under the army of Judah.
They and their armies must be the first to move.
‘This is the order for the camp of ReuBen, whose army [will camp] toward the south:
The leader of the children of ReuBen is EliZur the son of ShedeUr.
There are 46,500 in his army.
‘The Tribe of SimeOn, whose leader is ShelumiEl the son of ZuriShadDai, should camp next to them.
There are 59,300 in his army.
‘The Tribe of Gad, whose leader is EliAsaph the son of DeuEl, will camp next to them.There are 45,650 in his army.
‘Altogether, there are 151,450 under the army of ReuBen.
They and their armies will follow 2nd.
‘Then the Tent of Proofs should follow them, surrounded by the Levites who will travel between the armies.
In whatever order they camp, that’s the order that they should follow in their march, each group traveling in the order of their divisions.
‘The Tribe of Ephraim and their armies must camp on the west side.
Their leader is EliShama, the son of AmmiHud.
There are 40,500 in his army.
‘The Tribe of ManasSeh should camp next to them.
Their leader is GamaliEl the son of PedahZur.
There are 32,200 in his army.
‘The Tribe of BenJamin should camp next to them.
Their leader is AbiDan the son of Gideoni.
There are 35,400 in his army.
‘Altogether, there are 108,100 in the army of Ephraim.
They and their armies must follow 3rd.
‘The Tribe of Dan and their armies should camp on the north side.
Their leader is AhiEzer the son of AmmiShadDai.
There are 62,700 in his army.
‘The Tribe of Asher should camp next to them.
Their leader is PagiEl the son of OcRan.
There are 41,500 in his army.
‘The Tribe of NaphTali should camp next to them.
Their leader is AhiRa the son of Enan.
There are 53,400 in his army.
‘Altogether, there are 157,600 in the armies of Dan, and they must be last in the marching order.’
This is how the children of IsraEl were counted (by family lines), and there were 603,550 in their army.
However, the Levites weren’t counted among them, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
And the children of IsraEl did everything that Jehovah told Moses.
They each camped in their [specified] locations, and they marched in order by family lines.
These are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day in that the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount SinAi.
These are the names of the sons of Aaron:
NaDab was the firstborn, and then there was AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar.
They were the Anointed Priests that were made perfect for the Priesthood.
However, NaDab and AbiUd died before Jehovah when they offered [incense] to Him in an unauthorized way, while they were in the SinAi Desert.
And because they had no children, just EliEzer and IthaMar served as Priests with their father Aaron.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and told him:
‘Bring the Tribe of Levi up in front of Aaron the Priest, for they’re all going to serve himand they must follow his instructions.
You must explain this to the children of IsraEl in front of the Tent of Proofs, and show how [the Levites] will thereafter perform their duties at the Tent.
‘[The Levites] are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Proofs and they must teach the children of IsraEl about everything that has to do with the Tent.
‘You are to give the Levites to Aaron and his sons (the Priests);
For they’ve been given to Me as a gift from the children of IsraEl.
‘Appoint Aaron and his sons to be in charge of the Tent of Proofs, and they must give [the Levites] instructions about the Priesthood, everything that belongs to the Altar, and everything inside the veil…
Anyone else that touches these things must die.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the children of IsraEl [to take the place] of [the rest of] the [firstborn] males that are among the children of IsraEl.
[The Levites] are their ransom, and they are Mine.For all their firstborn have been Mine since the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.
I chose all the firstborn in IsraEl as holy to Myself – both the men and the animals – and they are Mine!
For I am Jehovah!’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the SinAi Desert and said:
‘Take a census of the sons of Levi by family lines and divisions…
Count every male from a month old and up.’
So thereafter, Moses and Aaron counted them all following Jehovah’s instructions.
The sons of Levi were GedSon, CaAth, and MeraRi.
GedSon’s sons (and family lines) were LoBeni and Semei.
CaAth’s sons (and family lines) were AmBram, IsSaAr, HebRon, and OziEl.
MeraRi’s sons (and family lines) were MoOli and Musi.
These were the families of the Levites by family lines.
GedSon’s [sons] were LoBeni and Semei,and the number of males descending from them that were a month old and older was 7,500…
The sons of GedSon were to camp behind the Tent on its west side.
The ruler of the family of GedSon was EliSaph the son of DaEl.
The instructions that were given to the sons of GedSon concerning the Tent of Proofs included taking care of the tent itself, the veil that covers the entrance to the Tent of Proofs,the curtains for the courtyard, the veil to the courtyard that was around the Tent, and such things.
The divisions that were counted [in the family line] of CaAth were those of AmBram, IsSaAr, HebRon, and OziEl,and they included 8,600 males a month old and older, who were given these instructions regarding the holy things:
The families of the sons of CaAth were to camp next to the Tent, along its south side.
The ruler of the family line and divisions of CaAth was EliShaphan the son of OziEl.
They were told that they were to be in charge of the Chest, the Table, the Sacred Lamp, the Altars, and all the furnishings in the Holy Place that were used in holy service inside the veil, and all their parts.
The head over the chiefs of the Levites was EliEzer the son of Aaron the Priest.
He was appointed to give all the instructions regarding the holy things.
The family lines of MeraRi were those of MoOli and Musi.
All the males a month old and older among his line were counted at 6,050.
The head of the family line and divisions of MeraRi was SuriEl the son of AbiChail.
They were to camp next to the Tent, along its north side.
The sons of MeraRi were told that they were to be in charge of the Tent’s caps, rafters, posts, sockets, all their fittings and pieces,the posts for the courtyard, and their bases, pins, and ropes.
Moses, Aaron, and their sons were to camp in front of the Tent of Proofs on its east side.
They were to take care of the Holy Place and give instructions about it to the children of IsraEl. Anyone else that touched it was to die.
All the Levites whom Moses and Aaron counted that were a month old and older (by family lines) following Jehovah’s instructions, were 22,000.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Now, count all the firstborn males among the children of IsraEl that are a month old and older, and record their names.
Thereafter, take the Levites for Me in place of all the firstborn of the sons of IsraEl.
Also, take all the Levites’ cattle in place of the first-born of the cattle of the children of IsraEl…
For I am Jehovah!’
So Moses counted all the firstborn of the children of IsraEl, just as the Lord had commanded him to do.
And all the male firstborn a month old and older that were counted by name were 22,273.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Now, take the Levites in place of all the first-born of the sons of IsraEl, and take the Levite’s cattle in place of their cattle, for they must be Mine… I am Jehovah!
And the ransom [that must be paid] for all the firstborn of the sons of IsraEl that exceed the number of Levites (the 273),[must be paid for] with 5 silver-coins per person.
They must be paid for using the holy double-silver coins at 20 copper coins per silver coin.
Then, give the money to Aaron and his sons as the ransom for those that exceed their number.’
So Moses took the silver as the ransom for those that exceeded the number that were bought by the Levites.
The amount of holy silver coins that he took from the firstborn of the sons of IsraEl was 1,365.
Then Moses gave the ransom for these extra ones to Aaron and his sons, according to the instructions that the Lord had given to Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and said:
‘Take a census of the children of CaAth separate from the sons of Levi, by family lines.
Count those from 25 to 50 years old that work at and serve inside the Tent of Proofs.
For, these are the very holy things that the sons of CaAth must do at the Tent of Proofs:
Whenever the camp is about to move, Aaron and his sons must enter and take down the [inner] veil, then use it to cover the Chest of Proofs.
It must be covered with a blue skin and a blue [cloth] over that, and then they must put the staves through [the rings on the Chest].
‘They must also put a purple cloth over the table that holds the showbread, along with its dishes, incense holders, cups, pitchers for drink offerings, and the loaves (which must always be left on the table).
Then they must cover it with a scarlet cloth and cover that with a blue skin, and mount [the table] on its staves.
‘They must cover the Sacred Lamp that provides the light, along with its lanterns, snuffers, funnels, and all the oil jars, with a blue cloth,and put it and all its utensils inside a blue skin bag, and mount it on its staves.
Also, the gold [incense] altar must be wrapped in blue cloth, then covered with blue skins and mounted on its staves.
‘Thereafter, they must take all the rest of the things that are used in the services at the Holy Place and put them in a blue cloth [bag], then cover them with blue skins and mount them on staves.
‘They must cover the Altar with purple cloth,along with all the utensils that are used with it (the fire pans, flesh-hooks, cups, covers, and all the utensils), wrap it all in a blue covering of skins and mount it all on the staves.
‘They must also cover the basin and its base with blue cloth, then wrap it in blue skins and mount it on staves.
‘Aaron and his sons must finish covering the holy things and all the holy utensils before the camp can move.
Thereafter, the sons of CaAth must bear all [the Tent’s] furnishings… but they must not [actually] touch the holy things, or they will die.
These [are the things] that just the sons of CaAth are to carry from the Tent of Proofs.
‘EliEzer, the son of Aaron (the Priest), is to be their overseer.
He is to give instructions concerning the oil for the lamp, the incense, the daily food offerings, and the anointing oil.
He is to be in charge of the whole Tent, everything that’s in it, and everything that’s done there.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and said:
‘You must protect the family of CaAth (this tribe among the Levites) from being destroyed,and this is what you must do for them so they can live and not die:
Whenever they approach the Holy of Holies, Aaron and his sons must take the lead.
They are the ones who must mount the [sacred items] to be carried on the staves.
That way, [the family of CaAth] won’t [be tempted to] rush in to look at the holy things and die.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Now, take a census of the children of GedSon by family lines.
Count all those between the ages of 25 and 50 years old that go in to serve and work in the Tent of Proofs,because the public service of the family of GedSon is that of serving and carrying.
They must carry and attend to the skins for the Tent, the Tent of Proofs itself, its veil, the blue covering that goes over its top, the cover for the entrance to the Tent of Proofs,all the curtains for the courtyard, the mountings, and all the other utensils of service.
The sons of GedSon must take their direction from Aaron and his sons in everything that they do in their assignments and jobs.
You must count them by names and [show them] all the things that they must carry…
This is the job of the sons of GedSon in the Tent of Proofs, and IthaMar, the son of Aaron the Priest, is to give them their instructions.
‘Also, take a census of the sons of MeraRi by family lines.
Count all those between the ages of 25 and 50 years old that enter to serve and work inside the Tent of Proofs.
These are the things you are to tell them about and what they must carry as their job at the Tent of Proofs:
They must carry the Tent’s caps, rafters, poles, and sockets, as well as the sockets and poles for the veil and the curtain at the entrance to the Tent.
They must also carry the poles for the surrounding courtyard and for the veil at the entrance to the courtyard, along with their sockets, pins, ropes, furnishings, and things for service.
‘Count them by name, and show what each man is to carry.
This is the assignment for the family of the sons of MeraRi… it is their job at the Tent of Proofs, under the direction of IthaMar, the son of Aaron the Priest.’
So Moses, Aaron, and the rulers of IsraEl took a census of the sons of CaAth by family lines,[counting] all those between the ages of 25 and 50 years old that went in to serve and work inside the Tent of Proofs.
And their numbers, by family lines, came to 2,750.
This is how many there were of the family of CaAth that served inside the Tent of Proofs, as Moses and Aaron counted them, following Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.
Then they counted the sons of GedSon by family lines that werebetween 25 and 50 years old that enter to serve at the Tent of Proofs.
And their number by family lines came to 2,630.
This is how many there were of the family of GedSon that served in the Tent of Proofs, as Moses and Aaron counted them, following Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.
Then they counted the sons of MeraRi by family lines that werebetween 25 and 50 years old that enter to serve inside the Tent of Proofs.
And their numbers by family lines came to 3,200.
This is how many there were of the family of MeraRi, as Moses and Aaron counted them, following Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.
So Moses, Aaron, and the rulers of IsraEl counted all these Levites by family linesthat were between 25 and 50 years old, and that serve, work at, and carry the things for the Tent of Proofs.
Altogether, there were 8,580 that were counted.
Then, after they were counted (following the words of Jehovah through Moses), they appointed each man to his job, reviewing his duties and discussing what each man was to carry.
Thereafter, the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Give these instructions to the children of IsraEl:
Tell them to drive everyone out of the camp that has leprosy or gonorrhea, and anyone who has made himself unclean [by touching a dead] person,whether they are males or females.
Drive them out of the camp so they don’t dirty the place where I dwell among them.’
And that’s what the children of IsraEl did;
They drove them out of the camp, just as the Lord told Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that any man or woman that has committed any of the sins that are common to mankind, or has in any way overstepped [My] Commandments and erred,must confess the sin he committed and make restitution for his sin.
He [must pay] the price to restore [everything] to whomever he has sinned against… and add 1/5th more to it.
‘Now, if a man isn’t in debt to anyone for his sins against them;
A sin-offering must still be paid to Jehovah, and he must offer a ram to the Priest as the payment for his sins.
‘When it comes to the first fruitage of all the holy things among the children of IsraEl;
Everything that they offer to Jehovah must be [given to] the Priest for himself…all the holy things that men [offer] or choose to donate must be given to the Priest, and it will be his as a gift.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them:
Whenever a wife rebels against [her husband] and tries to dominate and rule over him,and then someone goes to bed with her and has sex with her behind her husband’s back;
If she hides her filth and there is no proof of it (and [the other man] doesn’t take her),and [her husband] thereafter develops a jealous spirit and suspects that she has dirtied herself – or even if he has developed a jealous spirit when she hasn’t dirtied herself –he must bring his woman to the Priest, along with the gift of a quart of barley meal.
He must not pour any oil or frankincense on the barley meal, for it is a sacrifice of jealousy… it is a sacrifice of memory and of recalling sins to mind.
‘Then the Priest must take [the woman] to stand before Jehovah,and the Priest must pour clean running water into a clay pot, then take some of the dirt that is on the floor of the Tent of Proofs and throw it into the water.
Thereafter, the Priest must stand the woman before Jehovah, uncover her head, and place the sacrifice of memory (the sacrifice of jealousy) into her hands.
‘Next, the Priest must take the water that brings a curse into his hands,and the Priest must make the woman swear [in reply to the words],
If you aren’t guilty and no one has reclined with you, and if you haven’t sinned and dirtied yourself, and if you haven’t [been disrespectful] to your husband; [then, swear that you are innocent] before this water that brings the curse.
But if you have sinned and dirtied your marriage, and [if you have allowed] someone to lie with you other than your husband…
Then the Priest must make the woman swear [to accept] the oaths of this curse.
‘The Priest must say to her:
May Jehovah bring a curse upon you by the oath [you have sworn] in the midst of your people.
May Jehovah cause your [sexual parts] to rot away and your belly to swell.
May this water that brings the curse enter your womb and cause your belly to swell and your [sexual parts] to rot away.
‘And the woman must say,
May it be so; may it be so.
‘Thereafter, the Priest must write these curses on a scroll, then rinse them away with the water that brings the curse;
And he must make the woman drink the water that brings the curse.
‘Next, the Priest must take the sacrifice of jealousy from the woman’s hands and carry it to the Altar to present it before Jehovah.
Then the Priest must take a handful of the sacrificial [grain] and offer it on the Altar as a reminder, and he must make the woman drink the water.
For, this is what will happen:
If she has dirtied herself and her husband hasn’t been able to [prove] it; the water that brings the curse will enter her and cause her belly to swell and her [sexual parts] to rot away;
And thereafter, the woman must be cursed among her people.
But if the woman hasn’t dirtied herself and has remained chaste; she must be declared free of guilt and thereafter give birth to a [child].
‘This is the law of jealousy [that covers the cases of where] a married woman sins and dirties herself,or where a man develops a jealous spirit and becomes jealous of his woman.
He should take his woman before Jehovah, and the Priest must make her follow this law.
And whereas the man will be cleared from his sin, the woman must be responsible for hers.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that whenever a man or woman wishes to make a great vow to set him or herself aside as holy to Jehovah,he/she may not eat or drink anything made from grapes, such as wine, brandy, fresh grapes, raisins, or vinegar that is made from wine or other alcoholic productsduring the period of his/her vow.
Nor may he or she eat anything that comes from the vine, not even the seeds or skinsduring the whole period that he or she is set aside.
Nor may a razor be used to cut the person’s hair until the period of the vow to Jehovah has been completed.
Such ones must be holy and cherish the long hair of their headsfor as long as this vow to Jehovah lasts, and they must not go near any dead bodies…
Not even [the corpse] of their own father, mother, brother, or sister.
They must not dirty themselves with dead bodies, because the vow of God is on them and on their heads;
So, they must remain holy to Jehovah during the entire period of their vow.
‘And if anyone should suddenly die near this person, his or her head will immediately be considered unclean and it must be cleansed.
The person must shave his or her head on the 7th day,then bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the Priest at the entrance to the Tent of meeting on the 8th day.
The Priest must offer one as a sin offering and the other as a whole-burnt offering to pay for the sin [of being close to] a dead body.
Then the person’s head will [once again] become holy on that day,and he or she will [again] be made perfect to Jehovah during the rest of [the period of] the vow.
And thereafter, the person must bring a yearling lamb as an offering for the error;
And because the vow on his/her head was polluted, the full period of [the vow] must be [restarted].
‘It is also the law for the person that has made such a vow, that on the day the vow is completed, he or she must bring gifts to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs.
The gifts that they must bring to Jehovah include one perfect yearling male lamb as a whole-burnt offering, one perfect yearling female lamb as a sin offering, one perfect male sheep as a peace offering,a basket of fermentation-free bread made with fine flour kneaded with oil, fermentation-free cakes that have been anointed with oil, plus a food offering and a drink offering.
‘The Priest must then lead the person before Jehovah and [sacrifice] the sin offering and the whole-burnt offering.
Then he must sacrifice the male sheep as a peace offering to Jehovah, along with the basket of fermentation-free bread, followed by the food offering and the drink offering.
Then the one that made the vow must shave his/her head that was made holy, there at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, and put the hair on the fire while it is burning the peace-offering sacrifice.
‘Then after the person has shaved off his/her holy hair, the Priest must take the larger of the ram’s two shoulders, along with one fermentation-free loaf and one fermentation-free cake from the basket and lay them in the person’s hands.
The Priest must then present them as an offering before Jehovah, and this holy portion will belong to the Priest, along with the breast and the shoulder of the wave offering.
And after that, the person that made the oath must drink some wine.
‘This is the law for any person that makes a vow to Jehovah:
[He must give all] his gifts that were promised to Jehovah, along with anything else that he may be able to afford, [in addition to] the things that are [required by] the strong vow of setting himself aside as holy.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to Aaron and to his sons and tell them to bless the sons of IsraEl who bear My Name with these words:
May Jehovah bless you and watch over you.
May Jehovah’s face shine upon you, and may He have mercy on you.
May [Jehovah always keep His eyes] on you and bring you peace.’
Well, the day came when Moses had finished setting up the Tent.
Then he anointed it and made it and all its furnishings, as well as the Altar and all of its furnishings, holy…
He made them perfect by anointing them.
Then the leaders of IsraEl (the 12 heads of their family lines and the leaders of their tribes… those that took the lead in the census)brought their gifts before Jehovah.
There were 6 covered wagons pulled by 12 bulls (two per [wagon]) that were contributed by the leaders, which they brought to the Tent.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Take [these things] and use them for the services of the two cherubs that are on top of the Propitiatory that covers the Chest of Proofs, and give the [wagons] to the Levites…
[Distribute] them among the groups by their assigned jobs.’
So Moses took the wagons and bulls, and gave them to the Levites.
He gave two wagons and 4 bulls to the sons of GedSon for their jobs,and 4 wagons and 8 bulls to the sons of MeraRi for their assignments under IthaMar, the son of Aaron the Priest.
However, he didn’t give any to the sons of CaAth, because the sacred things that they had to carry were to be borne on their shoulders.
[IsraEl’s] leaders brought these things to the Altar for the dedication of the Altar on the day that it was anointed.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘One leader must also bring a gift on each day for the dedication of the Altar.’
So on the 1st day, NaAsson (the son of AmiNadab), the leader of the Tribe of Judahbrought his gift.
[It included] 1 silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of NaAsson, the son of AmiNadab.
On the 2nd day, NathaniEl (the son of Sogar), the leader of the Tribe of IshSachar broughthis gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of NathaniEl, the son of Sogar.
On the 3rd day, EliAb (the son of ChaElon), the leader of the Tribe of ZebuLon broughthis gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of EliAb, the son of ChaElon.
On the 4th day, EliSur (the son of SediUr), the leader of the Tribe of ReuBen broughthis gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of EliSur, the son of SediUr.
On the 5th day, SalamiEl (the son of SuriSadai) the leader of the Tribe of SymeOn broughthis gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of SalamiEl, the son of SuriSadai.
On the 6th day, EliSaph (the son of RaguEl), the leader of the Tribe of Gad broughthis gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of EliSaph, the son of RaguEl.
On the 7th day, EliSama (the son of EmiUd), the leader of the Tribe of Ephraimbrought his gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of EliSama, the son of EmiUd.
On the 8th day, GamaliEl (the son of PhadasShur), the leader of the Tribe of ManasSehbrought his gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of GamaliEl, the son of PhadasShur.
On the 9th day, AbiDan (the son of GadeOni), the leader of the Tribe of BenJaminbrought his gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of AbiDan, the son of GadeOni.
On the 10th day, AchiEzer (the son of AmiSadai), the leader of the Tribe of Danbrought his gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of AchiEzer, the son of AmiSadai.
On the 11th day, PhageEl (the son of Echran), the leader of the Tribe of Asherbrought his gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of PhageEl, the son of Echran.
On the 12th day, AchiRe (the son of AiNan), the leader of the Tribe of NaphTalibrought his gift.
[It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as 130 holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering.
[There was also] a gold incense holder filled with 10 silver coins worth of incense,as well as 1 calf from the herd, 1 ram, and 1 yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering),1 kid goat (for a sin offering),and 2 heifers, 5 rams, 5 billy goats, and 5 yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice.
These were the gifts of AchiRe, the son of AiNan.
These [were the gifts] that the leaders of the tribes of IsraEl brought during the time when the Altar was being anointed.
There were 12 silver platters, 12 silver bowls, and 12 gold incense holders.
Each platter weighed the same as 130 silver coins, and each bowl weighed the same as 70 holy silver coins.
So altogether, their combined weight was 2,400 holy silver coins.
The 12 gold incense holders were each filled with incense, and the gold weighed the same as 120 silver coins.
The number of cattle for the whole burnt offerings amounted to 12 calves, 12 rams, and 12 yearling male lambs, plus food offerings and drink offerings, and 12 kid goats for the sin offerings.
So, the number of cattle that were sacrificed for the peace offering included 24 heifers, 60 rams, 60 yearling billy goats, and 60 perfect yearling female lambs, which were all offered for the dedication of the Altar.
Then after that, [Moses] made [Aaron] perfect by anointing him.
And from that point on, whenever Moses went into the Tent of Proofs to speak to God, he would hear the voice of the Lord speaking to him from between the two cherubs that were above the Propitiatory, which covers the Chest of Proofs.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Speak to Aaron and tell him that when he assembles the [sacred] lamp, the 7 lanterns must be arranged to illuminate the area across from the lamp.’
And that’s what Aaron did. He [assembled and] lit the lamps to illuminate the area directly across from the lamp, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
The Sacred Lamp’s base and stem were made of solid gold, as were its lilies.
They were made following the pattern that Jehovah had shown to Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Remove the Levites from among the children of IsraEl and purify them…and this is how you should perform their purification:
Have them rinse themselves in clean water and shave all the hair from their bodies, then have them wash their clothes… make sure that they are clean!
Then they must bring 2 yearling calves from the herd along with a food offering and some fine flour mixed with oil.
And thereafter, assemble the entire gathering of the sons of IsraEl and bring the Levites up before them at the Tent of Proofs.
Stand them there in front of Jehovah, and have the sons of IsraEl lay their hands on the Levites.
‘Aaron must set the Levites aside as a gift to Jehovah from the children of IsraEl, and they must be made ready to perform Jehovah’s work.
Then have the Levites lay their hands on the heads of the calves, and you should sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah, to pay for their sins.
‘Thereafter, stand the Levites in front of Jehovah and in front of Aaron and his sons, and offer them to Jehovah as a gift…
Separate the Levites from among the sons of IsraEl as Mine!
‘Then the Levites must go to the Tent where they are to work, and you must purify them and present them there before Jehovah,for they will have been given to Me as a gift from the children of IsraEl.
I have taken them as Mine in place of all the firstborn sons of IsraEl that open a womb.
For, all the firstborn among the children of IsraEl (both the men and the animals) became Mine on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt… yes, that’s when I made them holy to Myself.
But now, I am taking the Levites instead of the first-born of the children of IsraEl,and I am presenting them as a gift to Aaron and his sons to serve the children of IsraEl at the Tent.
There they must make the payments for the sins of the children of IsraEl, so none of the sons of IsraEl will have to approach the holy things.’
Well, Moses, Aaron, and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl did everything that the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites.
The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes.
Then Aaron presented them as a gift before Jehovah, and [he sacrificed] the payments for their sins in order to purify them.
Thereafter, the Levites entered the Tent to serve before Aaron and his sons, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘This is the rule for the Levites:
Those that are 25 years old and older must enter to serve at the Tent of Proofs.But when they reach 50 years old, they may no longer serve or work there.
They may supervise their brothers that serve at the Tent of Proofs, but they may not work there anymore.
Give the Levites these instructions.’
It was in the 1st month of the 2nd year after they had left the land of Egypt that the Lord spoke to Moses there in the SinAi Desert, and He said:
‘Tell the children of IsraEl to keep the Passover at the proper time.
You must keep it and obey all the laws and instructions concerning it, starting on the evening of the 14th day of the 1st month.’
So Moses ordered the children of IsraEl to sacrifice the Passoveron the 14th day of the 1st month, there in the SinAi Desert.
And the children of IsraEl did just as the Lord told Moses.
However, there were some men that were unclean due to [touching] a dead body, and they were unable to keep the Passover on that day.
So they went before Moses and Aaronand said,
‘We are unclean, because we touched the dead body of a man.
Will we not to be allowed to offer our gifts to Jehovah at this time along with the rest of the children of IsraEl?’
Then Moses told them:
‘Stay here, and I will listen to whatever instructions Jehovah gives to me about this.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Tell the sons of IsraEl that whenever a man among you or your descendants has become unclean because of touching a dead body, or is far away on a journey, he must still keep the Passover to Jehovah…
But he must do it on the evening of the 14th day of the 2nd month.
[The Passover sacrifice] must be offered then and eaten with fermentation-free bread and bitter herbs.
They must not leave any of it over until the next day, nor may they break any of its bones.
They must offer the sacrifice just as they would on the Passover.
But if anyone is clean and is not away on a trip, he must be sure to [do this on] the Passover day.
Any person that doesn’t offer the gift to Jehovah at the proper time is guilty and must be cut off from his people!
‘And if an alien should come into your land and wish to observe the Passover to Jehovah, he must do so according to the laws and instructions concerning the Passover.
For there is just one law, and it applies to both the natives and the aliens.’
Well, from the time that the Tent was [first] assembled, a cloud covered the Tent of Proofs all day long, and what looked like fire covered the Tent from evening until morning.
And that’s how it always was… a cloud cover by day and the appearance of fire by night.
Also, whenever the cloud left the Tent, the children of IsraEl were to leave that place; and whenever the cloud just stayed there, the children of IsraEl were to remain encamped.
So, the children of IsraEl camped by the commands of Jehovah and they moved by the commands of Jehovah… as long as the cloud covered the Tent, the children of IsraEl were to camp.
And even if the cloud stayed over the Tent for a long time, the children of IsraEl were to follow God’s instructions and not move.
For whenever the cloud covered the Tent for a number of days, they were to camp, following the words of Jehovah, and they were to stay camped there by the commands of the Lord.
But whenever the cloud moved up from over the Tent, they were to move, whether it was day or night.
If the cloud covered the Tent for a full month, the children of IsraEl had to camp and were not to leave;for they were only to move by the commands of the Lord…
And this is what they did.
They followed the instructions and commands that the Lord gave them through Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Make two silver trumpets for yourselves that are to be used to call assemblies and to move the camp.
Make them of hammered [silver].There is to be one type of call to assemble the whole gathering at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs,and another type to assemble just the rulers and leaders there.
You must [also use them to] sound the alarms for the camp to move, starting with the one in the east.
Then when you sound a 2nd alarm, the camp to the south must move.
When you sound the 3rd alarm, the camp in the west must move.
When you sound the 4th alarm, the camp in the north must move…
And they must also sound alarms as they are leaving.
‘Also, blow the horns to signal assemblies… but it shouldn’t be the same signal as the alarms.
The Priests (the sons of Aaron) must blow these trumpets, and this is to be the rule for you through all your generations and through the ages.
‘And if you must go to war against your enemies that will oppose you in your land, you must also blow the trumpets as a reminder to Jehovah…
So that He will save you from your enemies.
‘In addition, you must blow the trumpets on joyful days, such as your feasts, New-Moon festivals, and when you sacrifice your whole burnt offerings and peace offerings.
This must be done as a reminder to you before your God…
For I am Jehovah your God!’
Well thereafter, the children of IsraEl packed their things in the SinAi Desert, for the cloud came to rest in the Pharan Desert.
So, following the instructions of Jehovah through Moses, the first group started their march.
The first to leave were the children of Judah with their army, headed by NaAsson, the son of AmiNadab.
They [were followed by] the sons of IshSachar under NathaniEl, the son of Sogar.
Then came the army of the Tribe of the sons of ZebuLon under EliAb, the son of ChaElon.
Thereafter, the Tent was taken down and the sons of GedSon started out, followed by the sons of MeraRi, who carried the Tent.
Then came the camp of ReuBen and their army that was led by EliSur, the son of SediUr.
They were followed by the army of the Tribe of the sons of SymeOn under SalamiEl, the son of SuriSadai.
Next came the army of the children from the Tribe of Gad under EliShaph, the son of RaguEl.
Then the sons of CaAth came forward bearing the holy things, because the Tent was to be set up before they arrived.
Next the camp of Ephraim set out with their army under EliSama, the son of SemiUd.
They were followed by the armies of the Tribe of the sons of ManasSeh under GamaliEl, the son of PhadasShur.
Then came the army of the Tribe of the children of BenJamin under AbiDan, the son of GadeOni.
Next in the order of the camp came the sons of Dan and their army under AchiEzer, the son of AmiSadai.
Then came the army of the Tribe of the sons of Asher under PhageEl, the son of Echran.
They were followed by the army of the Tribe of the sons of NaphTali under AchiRe, the son of AiNan.
These are the armies of the children of IsraEl, and it’s the way that they started their march.
Then Moses said to Jobab (the son of RaguEl the MidiAnite):
‘We are traveling to the place about which Jehovah said,
I’m going to give this to you.
So come with us and we will treat you well, because Jehovah has promised good things for IsraEl.’
But [Jobab] replied:
‘No, I won’t go. I’m going to return to my family and to my land.’
However, [Moses insisted], saying,
‘Don’t leave us, for you’ve been with us all through the desert, and you should be considered an elder among us.
If you go with us; when Jehovah does good things for us, we will do good things for you.’
Then they left the Mountain of Jehovah and traveled for three days. And the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement was carried ahead of them for all three days, as a comfort to them all.
Also, the cloud hung over them during the day, starting from when they left the camp.
And when the Chest was brought forward, Moses said,
‘Arise, O Jehovah!
Let Your enemies be scattered and may all that hate You flee in terror!’
Then when they reached its resting place, he said,
‘Turn [Your face] again, O Jehovah, to the thousands and tens of thousands in IsraEl!’
Well after that, the people started murmuring sinful things against Jehovah, and He heard them.
This made Him very angry, and Jehovah sent a fire that started to burn among them, which consumed part of the camp.
So the people called for Moses; and after he prayed to Jehovah, the fire died out.
And thereafter, they called that place ‘The Burning,’ because that was where a fire from Jehovah had burned among them.
Then the [ethnics] that were mixed among them started [complaining].
They and some of the children of IsraEl sat down and started crying and saying,
‘Who is going to give us meat to eat?
We remember all the fish that we used to eat in Egypt, as well as the cucumbers, melons, leeks, garlic, and onions.
But now our lives have become [empty], because all we can see is this manna!’
Well, the manna looked like coriander seeds and it appeared [on the ground] like frost.
The people would go out to collect it, and then they would grind it in a mill or pound it in a mortar and bake it in a pan to make loaves from it.
It tasted like sweet crackers that had been mixed with oil.
And during the night, when the dew was settling on the camp, the manna would just come down upon it.
Well, Moses heard them as they were sitting in front of their [tents] in family groups, crying.
This made Jehovah very angry, and Moses also viewed these actions as evil.
So Moses asked Jehovah:
‘Why have You done this to your servant, and why haven’t I found favor in Your eyes, so that You should lay the burden of these people upon me?
Am I the one that carried and gave birth to all these people so that You should tell me to take them into my arms as a nursing mother would take her new-born baby, then carry them into the land that You promised to give to their fathers?
Where can I find enough meat to feed all these people? For, here they are crying before me and saying,
Give us meat to eat.
I can’t carry all these people by myself… they’re just too heavy for me.
If You’re going to do this to me and if I’ve found Your favor, just kill me so I don’t have to [endure] this pain!’
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Gather 70 men from among the elders of IsraEl to Me… [make sure that] they are the elders and scribes among the people.
Then bring them to the Tent of Proofs and have them stand there with you.For I’m going to come down and speak with you there.
Then I will take [some] of [My] Breath that is on you and put it on them, so they will have to share the burden of the people with you, and you won’t have to handle it all by yourself.
‘After that, go to the people and tell them this:
‘Now, purify yourselves, because tomorrow you’re going to eat meat.
Yes, you who have bawled before Jehovah and asked,
Who will give us meat and the other things that [we used to enjoy back in Egypt]?
For Jehovah will provide meat, and then you will have to eat it!
You aren’t going to eat it for 1 day, or for 7, 10, or 20 days,you’re going to eat it for a full month… until it comes out of your noses!
You’re going to be sick of it, because you disobeyed Jehovah who is here among you.
You bawled before Him and asked,
Why did we ever leave Egypt?’
Then Moses replied:
‘There are some 600,000 of just the soldiers among us, and are You telling me to give everyone enough meat to eat for a whole month?
Must we slaughter all of our sheep and cattle to feed them all… and would even that be enough?
Or must we catch all the fish in the sea for them, and would that be enough?’
And the Lord said to Moses:
‘Isn’t the hand of Jehovah large enough?
By now you should know whether My words will come true!’
So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said.
Then he gathered 70 men from among the people’s elders and stood them around the Tent…and the Lord came down in a cloud to speak to [Moses].
Thereafter, He took some of the Breath that was in Moses and put it into the 70 elders.
And when [God’s] Breath came to rest upon them, they all started prophesying… but then they stopped.
However, two of the men were still back in the camp at the time; one was ElDad and the other was MoDad.
They were part of the group that [Moses] had chosen, but they hadn’t made it to the Tent yet.
Nevertheless, [God’s] Breath came to rest upon them also, and they started prophesying there in the camp.
So, a young man ran and told Moses… he said,
‘ElDad and MoDad are prophesying in the camp!’
Well, JoShua (the son of NaWeh) who was Moses’ assistant and chosen successor, said,
‘Lord Moses;
Make them stop!’
But Moses replied:
‘Are you jealous for me?
I wish that Jehovah would put His Breath in all of His people and make them all Prophets!’
And with that, Moses and the elders of IsraEl returned to the camp.
Then Jehovah blew His Breath, and [flocks of] quail were blown over the sea and into their camp… they covered the ground several feet deep for a day’s journey all around the camp.
So the people went out all that day, all that night, and all the next day to gather quail.
Even those that gathered the least gathered hundreds.
Then all around the camp, everyone [sat down to feast].
Well, they were still picking the meat that was stuck between their teeth when Jehovah showed them how angry He was with them, for He then struck them with a great plague.
And thereafter, that place was called The Graveyard of the Greedy, because it’s where they buried all the greedy people.
Then the people moved away from the Graveyard of the Greedy [and went to] AsherOth, where they [set up camp].
It was then that MiriAm and Aaron started condemning Moses because of the Ethiopian whom he had taken as his woman.
They asked,
‘Is Moses the only one to whom the Lord has spoken? Hasn’t He also spoken to us?’
And Jehovah heard them say this.
Now, Moses was the humblest man on the earth;so the Lord immediately spoke to Moses, Aaron, and MiriAm, and said:
‘All three of you, come to the Tent of Proofs!’
So, the three of them went to the Tent of Proofs, and the Lord descended in a column of clouds.
He stood there at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs and called Aaron and MiriAm, and they stepped forward.
Then He said to them:
‘Listen to Me; If either of you are Prophets of Jehovah, I will make things known to you in visions and speak to you as you sleep.
However, this isn’t the way [that I speak] to My servant Moses who has so faithfully [served] in My House.
I’m not hidden to him, I appear and speak to him mouth to mouth… and he has even seen the glory of Jehovah!
So, why aren’t you afraid to speak against My servant Moses?’
Well, Jehovah was very angry with them.
Then, as He left,the cloud disappeared from the Tent… and {Look!} MiriAm had leprosy that was [as white] as snow!
Well when Aaron saw that MiriAm had leprosy,he said to Moses:
‘I beg you my lord; don’t hold this sin against us, because we did this in ignorance!
Don’t allow her to be one of the [walking] dead like a miscarriage from her mother’s womb… and for half of her flesh to be eaten away.’
So Moses called to Jehovah and said:
‘Oh God, I beg You;
Please heal her!’
And the Lord replied to Moses:
‘If her father had just spit in her face, wouldn’t she have been shamed for 7 days?
Therefore, she may not enter the camp for 7 days… only then may she return.’
So MiriAm was driven away from the camp for 7 days, and the people didn’t break camp until after MiriAm had been cleansed.
Well after that, the people left AsherOth and camped in the Pharan Desert.
There the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Send some men as spies into the land of the CanaAnites that I will be giving to the sons of IsraEl.
Choose men that are leaders from each of the tribes and family lines.’
So, following Jehovah’s instructions, Moses chose leaders from among the sons of IsraEl and sent them away from the Pharan Desert.
From the Tribe of ReuBen [he sent] SamuEl, the son of ZachUr.
From the Tribe of SymeOn [he sent] Saphat, the son of Suri.
From the Tribe of Judah [he sent] Caleb, the son of JePhonNe.
From the Tribe of IshSachar [he sent] IlaAl, the son of JoSeph.
From the Tribe of Ephraim [he sent] Ause, the son of NaWeh.
From the Tribe of BenJamin [he sent] Phalti, the son of Raphu.
From the Tribe of ZebuLon [he sent] GadDiEl, the son of Sudi.
From the Tribe of JoSeph’s son ManasSeh [he sent] GadDi, the son of Susi.
From the Tribe of Dan [he sent] AmiEl, the son of Gamali.
From the Tribe of Asher [he sent] Sathur, the son of MichaEl.
From the Tribe of NaphTali [he sent] Nabi, the son of Sabi.
And from the Tribe of Gad [he sent] GaudiEl, the son of MacKi.
These are the men whom Moses sent as spies into the land. However, Moses started calling Ause (the son of NaWeh), JoShua.
As Moses sent them to spy in the land of CanaAn, he told them this:
‘Travel through this desert, then climb the mountain andpeer into the land to see what it looks like.
Watch the people that live there to [determine] whether they are strong or weak, many or few.
Then, notice whether the land that they live on is good or bad, what cities are there, and whether or not they have walls.
Also, pay attention to the ground… see whether it is rich or poor, and if there are any trees.
Then venture in and take some of the fruitage of the land.’
Well, it was springtime, and the grapes were ready to be harvested,as they went and surveyed all the land from the Sin Desert to RhoOb (on the road to AiMath).
They traveled through the desert and got as far as HebRon, where they found AchiMan, SesSi, and ThelAmi, the descendants of Enach. (HebRon had been built 7 years before Tanis in Egypt).
Well, when they got to the valley where the grapes were growing; after surveying it, they cut down a cluster of grapes and carried it on staves.
They also picked some pomegranates and figs.
Then they called that place, The Valley of the Cluster, because of the cluster of [grapes] that the children of IsraEl had cut down there.
Well after 40 days, they returned from their survey of the landand they went before Moses, Aaron, and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl ([who were] in the desert at Pharan KaDesh at the time).
Then they spoke to the whole gathering and showed them the fruit from the land,giving this report:
‘We went into the land where you sent us and found a land that is indeed flowing with milk and honey.
Here is some of the fruit from that place.
However, the nation that lives there is aggressive, and they have large, strong, walled cities.
‘We also saw the children of Enach there.
The AmaLechites live in the land toward the south, while the Hittites, Evites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country, and the CanaAnites live between the Sea and the JorDan River.’
Then Caleb stopped them from speaking before Moses, and said:
‘We must surely go there and inherit [that land], because we can conquer them!’
But [the other] men disagreed and said,
‘We must not go there!
There’s no way we can beat nations like that, for they’re much stronger than we are!’
Well, they really terrified the children of IsraEl when they said,
‘The land that we walked through and surveyed swallows up the people that live there.
And all the people that we saw there were huge!
We saw giants who [were so large] that we looked like grasshoppers in comparison!’
Well at that, the whole gathering started wailing and crying, and this went on throughout the night.
Then all the children of IsraEl started grumbling against Moses and Aaron, for they came to them and said:
‘We would rather have died in the land of Egypt than in this desert!
Why is Jehovah bringing us to this land… just to be killed in war and to have our women and children serve as their prey?
It would be better for us to return to Egypt!’
Then they started saying to each other:
‘Let’s appoint [someone else] as our ruler who will take us back to Egypt!’
So Moses and Aaron just fell to their faces before the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl.
But then, JoShua (the son of NaWeh) and Caleb (the son of JePhonNe), who were among those that had spied in the land, started ripping their clothes,and they said to the gathering of the children of IsraEl:
‘The land that we surveyed is really very good!
And if Jehovah has chosen us, won’t He take us into this land and give it to us… into this land that flows with milk and honey?
Don’t leave Jehovah, and don’t be afraid of the people in that land, because they’re just meat for us!
Since Jehovah is with us, their time has ended! So, don’t be afraid!’
But at that, all the people started throwing rocks at them.
[Then suddenly], the glory of Jehovah appeared in the cloud over the Tent of Proofs before all the children of IsraEl.
And the Lord said to Moses:
‘How much longer will these people continue to anger Me, and how much longer will they refuse to believe Me after all the signs that I’ve sent to them?
So now, I’m going to strike them and kill them all!
Yes, I’ll destroy them and then I’ll make a great nation of you and of your father’s house… one that will be much greater than this!’
However, Moses replied:
‘But then the Egyptians would hear about this!
Because You used Your power to bring these people out from among them,and the people who live in that land have heard that You are our Lord, that You are with these people, that You, O Jehovah have been seen face to face, that Your cloud rests upon them, and You lead them each day in a column of clouds and by a column of fire all night long…
If You destroy this whole nation, then all the nations that have heard of Your Name will say,
Because Jehovah couldn’t bring His people into the land that He swore to give them, He [killed] them all in the desert!
‘So, O Lord, show Your power to them instead… and may this thing that You’ve said prove to be true:
Jehovah is patient, merciful, and true. He removes mistakes, errors, and sins.
He will never acquit the guilty, but He will bring the sins of the fathers upon their children for three or four generations.
Therefore, in Your great mercy, forgive these people for their sins and show them the same favor [that You’ve shown] them [since You led them out of] Egypt!’
Then the Lord replied to Moses:
‘I will be [patient] with them as you’ve requested.
For, as I live and as My Name is living; the glory of Jehovah must fill the whole earth,since everyone has seen My glory through all the signs that I gave in Egypt and in the desert.
But, this is the 10th time that [IsraEl] has tested Me and refused to listen to My voice.
Therefore, they will not see the land that I promised to their fathers.
Rather, I will give it to their children who are with Me here… those that are inexperienced and don’t yet know good from bad.
I’m going to give the land to them… but, those that angered Me will never see it!
My servant Caleb [will see it], because he had a different spirit and he followed Me.
I will bring him into the land that he traveled through, and his seed will inherit it.But until then, the AmaLechites and CanaAnites will [continue to] live in this valley.
So tomorrow [you must] turn around and return to the desert by way of the Red Sea.’
And thereafter, the Lord spoke to both Moses and Aaron and said:
‘How much longer will this gathering remain wicked?
I’ve heard the grumbling against Me coming from the children of IsraEl as well as all their complaints about you.
So, tell them that Jehovah said this:
As I live; Whatever I’ve heard you say is exactly what I’m going to do to you.
Your bodies will fall in this desert, and all those that were reviewed and counted from 20 years old and up – all that grumbled against Me –will never enter the land that I stretched out My hand to give to you, except for Caleb (the son of JePhonNe), and JoShua (the son of NaWeh).
‘Then I will bring your little ones (whom you’ve said would serve as prey) into the land, and they will inherit that which you’ve rejected,while your bodies will fall in this desert.
So your sons must be fed in this desert for 40 years, and they must carry the weight of your infidelity, as your bodies rot in the desert.
For each day that was spent spying in that land – 40 days – you must bear your sins a day for a year – for 40 years – and you will get to know My rage.
Now, I Jehovah have spoken, and that’s what I will do to this evil gathering that has raised itself against Me… you will be totally destroyed and die here in this desert!’
Then, all the men whom Moses sent to spy in the land and who then returned and grumbled before the group and said evil things about the landwere struck with a plague from Jehovah and they all died.
So, among the men that served as spies in the land, only JoShua (the son of NaWeh) and Caleb (the son of JePhonNe) survived.
Well after that, Moses explained all these things to the children of IsraEl, and the people became very depressed.
Then early the next morning, [the people] climbed to the top of a hill and said:
‘{Look!} We have sinned!
So, those of us that are left must travel to the place where Jehovah told us to go!’
But Moses asked them:
‘Why didn’t you just obey the words of Jehovah and prosper?
However, now you can’t [enter the land], because Jehovah isn’t with you, and you will [be cut down] before your enemies.
The AmaLechites and the CanaAnites that are standing there before you will cut you down with their swords, because you disobeyed Jehovah and turned aside.
So, the Lord will not be there among you!’
Well, they went up to the top of the mountain and tried to force their way [into the land] anyhow… but the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement and Moses never left the camp.
As the result, the AmaLechites and the CanaAnites that lived on the mountain attacked them, drove them away, and destroyed them all the way to [Mount] Herman; and they [had to] run back to their camp.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this:
When you enter the land that I will give to you (this place where you will live);whenever you offer whole burnt offerings to Jehovah, or offerings to fulfill a vow, or free-will offerings, or feast sacrifices from the herd or flock as a sweet odor to Jehovah…
The person that offers the gift must also bring a food offering of a quart of flour mixed with oil,and a quart [of wine] as a drink offering with each lamb that you sacrifice as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
‘And when you offer a ram as a whole-burnt offering or sacrifice, you must also prepare a food offering of 2 quarts (1.9l) of fine flour mixed with oil,and 2 quarts (1.9l) of wine as a drink offering, as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
‘And if you offer a sacrifice from the herd as a whole-burnt offering, or a sacrifice to fulfill a vow or as a peace offering to Jehovah;
Along with the calf, you must add a food offering of 3 quarts (2.8l) of fine flour mixed with oil,and provide 3 quarts (2.8l) of wine as a drink offering, as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
You must do this for each calf, ram, lamb, sheep, or kid goat that you offer.
You must do the same thing for each one, no matter how many you may offer.
All the natives in the country must do this whenever they offer sacrifices as a sweet odor to Jehovah…whether the person is an alien in your land or someone that was born among you, they must offer [the same] sacrifices as a sweet odor to Jehovah.
Yes, everyone among the gathering must offer sacrifices to Jehovah!
There must be just one law for you and for the aliens that live among you.
It is a law through the ages and throughout your generations, that the aliens must act as you do before Jehovah.
Both you and the aliens that live among you must follow the same laws and regulations!’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to the sons of IsraEl and tell them this:
When you enter the land where I am taking youand you start eating bread from the land, you must set aside a special wave-offering to Jehovah from the first fruitage of your dough.
You must set aside and offer your bread as a wave offering in the same way that you offer grainas the first fruitage of your dough…
And you must give it to Jehovah as a wave offering throughout your generations.
‘Now, if you fail to follow all these commandments that Jehovah has been giving to Moses,and which Moses has been telling you about since the day that Jehovah selected you (and on through your generations),and if you commit an error or mistake without the knowledge of the gathering;
The whole gathering must offer a perfect calf from the herd as a whole-burnt offering and as a sweet odor to Jehovah, along with food and drink offerings (according to the rules), and one kid goat as a sin offering.
Then the Priest must make payment for the sins of the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl, and they will be forgiven, because it was a mistake…
And because they brought their gift as a burnt-offering to Jehovah for their error and involuntary sin.
If it is a mistake, everyone must be forgiven, whether they are from the children of IsraEl or from the aliens that are living among you.
‘So, whenever a person sins by mistake, he must bring a yearling nanny goat as a sin offering.
Then the Priest must [sacrifice it] to pay for the sin that was committed in error.
This same law applies to the natives of the children of IsraEl and to the aliens that are living among them…
To anyone that unwittingly commits an error .
‘And whenever any person – a native or an alien – does anything so presumptuous as to anger God, he must be cut off from among his people.
For when he disregards the Word of Jehovah and breaks His Laws, that person must be found guilty of sin and destroyed.’
Well, it was while the children of IsraEl were still in the desert that they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath.
And those that found him doing this brought him before Moses, Aaron, and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl.
Then he was placed in custody, because they didn’t know what to do with him.
But thereafter, the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘The man must absolutely be put to death by the entire gathering… stone him with rocks!’
So the entire gathering dragged him outside of the camp and stoned him with rocks, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Thereafter, the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that they must wear fringes on the bottoms of their clothing throughout all their generations.
These fringes are to be made of blue lace.
Then, whenever they look at these fringes, they must think of all the Commandments of Jehovah and remember to obey them, instead of turning back and following the immoral things of their imaginations.
They must remember to obey all My Commandments, and to be holy before Me;
For I am Jehovah, the God that brought them out of the land of Egypt to be their God…
I am Jehovah, your God!’
But then KorAh (the son of IsaAr, of CaAth, of Levi), Dathan, and AbiRam (the sons of EliAb), and Aun (the son of Phaleth of ReuBen) started speakingrebelliously against Moses, along with 250 men from the sons of IsraEl that were chiefs of the assembly, chosen advisors, and men of fame.
They went up to Moses and Aaron and said:
‘That’s enough of you!
Since the whole gathering of IsraEl is holy, and Jehovah is among them;
Why have you elevated yourselves over the gathering of Jehovah?’
Well when Moses heard this, he fell to his face.
Then he spoke to KorAh and his group and said:
‘God has visited us, and He knows who are His, who are holy, who are set aside to Him, whom He has chosen, and whom He has purchased for Himself.So, we will allow Jehovah to choose [the ones that He finds] to be holy.
KorAh and his entire group should take their incense holdersand put fire and incense in them, then go and stand before Jehovah tomorrow.
May this settle the matter for you, you sons of Levi!’
Then Moses [turned and] addressed KorAh, saying:
‘Listen to me, you son of Levi.
Is it so unimportant to you that the God of IsraEl has separated you from the rest of the gathering of IsraEl and brought you close to Him to serve His people at His Tentthat you and all your brothers (the sons of Levi) also want to become the Priests?
[Understand that] you and your group have now gathered in opposition to God!
For, who is Aaron that you should be complaining against him?’
Then later, Moses sent for Dathan and AbiRam (the sons of EliAb), and they told him that they wouldn’t be coming.
They asked,
‘Doesn’t it matter to you that after you brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, you chose to just kill us here in this desert? And now you even want to rule over us!
If you’re really our leader; why don’t you just go ahead and carry us into the land that flows with milk and honey and give us our inheritance of land and our vineyards.
For, couldn’t you just blind the eyes of the men [in that land]?
No, we aren’t coming!’
Well, this upset Moses, and he said to Jehovah:
‘Please don’t accept their sacrifices, because I haven’t taken anything that they desire from them, nor have I harmed any of them.’
Then Moses told KorAh:
‘You must be sure that your whole group is holy, and then you must get them ready to stand before Jehovah along with Aaron tomorrow.
Each man must bring his incense holder and put incense in it, then carry it up before Jehovah… all 250 of you.
And of course, you and Aaron must also bring your incense holders.’
So, each man brought his incense holder and they put fire and incense in them;
Then they stood themselves next to Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs,and KorAh and his group just stood there defiantly, as the glory of the Lord appeared before the whole gathering.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and said:
‘Move away from the whole gathering [of IsraEl], for I’m going to consume them all!’
But [Moses and Aaron] fell to their faces, and begged:
‘Oh God… the God of all that breathes and all that is flesh;
If just one man has sinned, must You bring Your rage against the whole gathering?’
And the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Then, tell the gathering that they must move away from KorAh and his group!’
So Moses got up and walked over to Dathan and AbiRam (and all the elders of IsraEl went with him).
Then he spoke to the gathering and said:
‘Now, get away from the tents of these stubborn men and don’t touch anything that belongs to them, or you’ll be consumed along with them for their sins!’
So everyone moved away from their tents, as KorAh, Dathan, and AbiRam went over and stood at the entrances to their tents, along with their women, their children, and all their belongings.
Then Moses said:
‘Now you will know that when Jehovah sent me to do these things, I wasn’t doing it on my own.
For if these men just die a natural death, and if what happens to them is the same as what happens to all men, then Jehovah hasn’t sent me.
But if the Lord brings a miracle and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them, their households, their tents, and everything that belongs to them, and they go down into their graves alive;
You must know that these men have angered Jehovah!’
And just as he finished saying those words, the ground rumbled underneath them.
Then the ground opened and swallowed them, their households, all the men that were with KorAh, and all their cattle…they and all that they had went down into their graves alive, as the ground covered them over.
So, they perished there in the midst of the gathering.
Well at that, all the IsraElites that were standing nearby fled from the noise, shouting:
‘[Run], so the earth doesn’t swallow us also!’
Then fire came from Jehovah, which consumed the 250 men that were offering the incense.
And thereafter, the Lord said to Moses:
‘Now, tell EliEzer (the son of Aaron the Priest) to pick up the bronze incense holders from where those men were burned and then melt them all down, for these things are holy,[and they must now serve as a sign against] those sinners and against their lives.
Beat [the metal] into plates to cover the Altar;
For, since these [censors] were brought before Jehovah as holy, they must be used as a sign to the children of IsraEl!’
So, EliEzer (the son of Aaron, the Priest) took the bronze incense holders that the men who were burned carried, and he had them shaped into a covering for the Altar,as a reminder to the children of IsraEl that no one other than the seed of Aaron might approach to offer the incense before Jehovah, and so that what happened to KorAh and those who conspired with him wouldn’t happen to them.
[He did just] as Jehovah told him through Moses.
But the next day, the people again started grumbling against Moses and Aaron, and they shouted:
‘You’ve killed the people of Jehovah!’
So, a mob gathered against Moses and Aaron, and they foolishly ran into the Tent of Proofs.
And at that, the cloud immediately covered it and the glory of Jehovah appeared!
Then Moses and Aaron entered through the front of the Tent of Proofs,and the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron there and said:
‘Get away from the whole gathering, because I’m going to consume them all!’
Well, [Moses and Aaron] dropped to their faces,and Moses said to Aaron:
‘Take an incense holder, put some incense into it, and light it with some of the fire from the Altar. Then, quickly carry it into the camp to atone for [the people’s] sins;
For, Jehovah’s rage has come upon us and He has already started destroying them!’
So Aaron took it (just as Moses had told him) and he ran around throughout the whole gathering, since a plague had already started among them;
And he used the incense to atone for the sins of the people.
Then he stood himself between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.
Altogether, some 14,700 died from the plague… in addition to those that died because of KorAh.
And when Aaron returned to Moses (who was at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs), the plague ended.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Tell the children of IsraEl to have their [tribe] leaders each bring a walking stick with them, one for each of the family lines – 12 walking sticks – and have them write their [own] names on their sticks.
Also write Aaron’s name on his walking stick [on behalf of the Tribe of] Levi.
Each tribe should provide these sticks for [the heads] of their family lines.
Then you must carry them all inside the Tent of Proofs and lay them before the Chest of Proofs, where I [always meet with] you.
And whoever owns the walking stick that blossoms is the man that I have chosen.
This will bring an end to all the children of IsraEl’s grumbling to Me about you.’
So Moses spoke to the children of IsraEl, and each of their leaders gave him a walking stick, one for each of the heads of their family lines – 12 walking sticks – and Aaron’s walking stick was placed among them.
Then Moses laid the walking sticks before Jehovah inside the Tent of Proofs.
Well, the next morning, when Moses and Aaron entered the Tent of Proofs, they saw that the walking stick of Aaron (from the Tribe of Levi) had blossomed, putting out buds, flowers, and almonds!
Then Moses carried all of those walking sticks that had been set in front of Jehovah out before the sons of IsraEl for them to see;
And each [of the leaders] took his own stick.
So the Lord told Moses:
‘Now, place Aaron’s walking stick among the Proofs… keep it there as a sign for these disobedient children.
And then tell them to stop grumbling to Me, so they don’t die!’
Well, that’s what Moses and Aaron did…
They did just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Then [the leaders] of the children of IsraEl spoke to Moses and asked:
‘Are we now going to be cut off, destroyed, and consumed?
Since everyone that touches the Tent of Jehovah is to die; are we now going to be totally destroyed?’
Then the Lord spoke to Aaron and told him:
‘You, your sons, and your [tribe] will be guilty of any sins against the holy things, and you and your sons [are responsible for] your Priesthood.
So now, take the rest of your brothers from the Tribe of Levi (the family line of your forefather) and accept them as yours.
Have them serve you and your sons there in front of the Tent of Proofs.
They must obey you and follow your instructions regarding everything that has to do with the Tent.
However, they must not go near the holy furnishings or the Altar, so that they – and you – don’t die!
‘They must be joined to you and follow your instructions regarding the Tent of Proofs and serve as guards in watches at the Tent… but no outsiders may even approach you.
You alone are to give instructions when it comes to the holy things and the Altar… and there must be no more anger [about this] among the children of IsraEl.
For ,I have also chosen your brothers the Levites from among the children of IsraEl as a gift to Jehovah, to officiate at the Tent of Proofs.
‘Now, you and your descendants must maintain your assigned positions as Priests, serving at the Altar and inside the veil, doing the things that are required.
You must serve in the position of your Priesthood, and any [unauthorized] person that approaches it must die!’
Then the Lord told Aaron:
‘Look, I have given you all the instructions regarding the first fruitage of everything that is to be made perfect for Me by the children of IsraEl.
This is an honor for you and for your descendants, and it is a law through the agesthat all the perfect holy things from among the burnt offerings, gifts, sacrifices, and all the error and sin offerings – whatever holy things that they bring to Me – will belong to you and to your sons.
These things must be considered holy by you, and all the males (you and your sons) must eat them inside this very holy place.
‘I am also giving all the first fruitage among the gifts – the wave-offerings of the children of IsraEl – to you and to your sons and daughters.
It is a law through the ages that all those in your homes that are clean may eat them.
All the first offerings of oil, wine, grain, and whatever else they may offer to Jehovah, is yours.
All the first fruitage of the land – whatever is offered to Jehovah – must belong to you, and everyone in your home that is clean may eat them.
‘And anything that the children of IsraEl may choose to dedicate is also yours.
Whatever they bring to Jehovah, whether a man or an animal – everything that opens a womb – is yours.
However, the first-born of men and the first-born of unclean animals must be ransomed.
The value of anything a month old and upwards is 5 silver coins (20 copper coins per holy silver coin).
They cannot buy back their first-born calves, sheep, or goats, because these things are holy.
You must pour their blood on the Altar, and offer the fat as a burnt offering and a sweet odor to Jehovah.
Then their flesh – the breast and the right shoulder of the wave-offerings – is to be yours.Also, I have given all the special offerings of holy things – whatever the children of IsraEl offer as special to Jehovah – to you and to your sons and daughters that live with you.
This is to be a rule through the ages. It is a Sacred Agreement of Salt through the ages between Me and you, and with your seed that descends from you.’
Then the Lord told Aaron:
‘You aren’t going to receive an inheritance in that land, nor may you own any part of it, for I am your portion and your inheritance in the midst of the children of IsraEl.
Look! I have also given the sons of Levi 1/10th part of everything in IsraEl as their inheritance for the services that they are to perform at the Tent of Proofs.
‘Now, the children of IsraEl must not approach the Tent of Proofs again, or they will [be found] guilty and die.
Just the Levites may work and serve at the Tent of Proofs, and they are to be responsible for any errors against it.
This is a law through the ages and throughout all your generations.
They are not to receive an inheritance among the children of IsraEl,because I have given the Levites the 1/10th part that the children of IsraEl must bring to Jehovah as theirs…
And that’s why I’m telling them that they are to receive no inheritance among the children of IsraEl.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Speak to the Levites and tell them that when they receive the 1/10th part from the children of IsraEl that I am giving to them as their inheritance, they must then set aside 1/10th of that 1/10th as a wave offering to Jehovah.
These wave offerings must be treated as their own grain offerings from the [threshing] floor and wine press.
They must set this portion aside from all tenth-part offerings to Jehovah – along with everything else that they receive from the children of IsraEl – and give My offerings to Aaron the Priest.
This includes a [1/10th part] of all the gifts that are given as offerings to Jehovah and all the first fruitage.
‘Tell them that whenever they offer the first fruitage, the Levites must think of it as the produce from their own threshing floors or wine presses.
Then, they and their families may eat it wherever they wish, because this is their reward for serving at the Tent of Proofs.
They won’t sin by doing this, as long as they [set aside] a portion of the first-fruitage [for Aaron], and as long as they don’t dirty the holy things of the children of IsraEl.
Otherwise, they must be put to death.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and said,
‘This is a commandment of the Law that Jehovah has given to you:
Speak to the sons of IsraEl and tell them to bring you a red heifer that has no blemishes or defects and which has never worn a yoke,then give her to EliEzer the Priest.
He must thereafter have them take it to a clean place outside of the camp and slaughter it there before him.
Then EliEzer must take some of its blood and sprinkle it in front of the Tent of Proofs 7 times,and they must burn it to ashes before him, making sure that its skin, flesh, blood, and dung are totally consumed.
Afterward, the Priest must take some cedar wood, some hyssop, and some scarlet-colored wool, and throw it into the [fire] that is burning the heifer.
Then the Priest must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and go into the camp. However, he must remain unclean until that evening.
Also, the person that burns [the heifer] must wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until that evening.
‘Then a clean man must gather up the heifer’s ashes and lay them aside in a clean place outside of the camp for the gathering of the children of IsraEl, so as to make a water to sprinkle for purification.
And this man that gathers up the heifer’s ashes must wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.
‘This is a law for the children of IsraEl and for the aliens that join with them through the ages:
Whoever touches a human corpse must be unclean for 7 days.
He must then be purified both on the 3rd day and on the 7th day, and he will be clean.
But if he isn’t purified on the 3rd and 7th days, he won’t be clean.
For, anyone that touches the carcass of a man that has died and doesn’t get purified will defile the Tent of Jehovah.
So, that person must be cut off from IsraEl…
If the cleansing water isn’t sprinkled on him, he will be unclean and will remain unclean!
‘This is also the law:
Whenever a man dies inside a house, anyone that enters that house and everything in that house must be unclean for 7 days.
All jars that are open and don’t have lids that are tightly sealed, must be unclean.
Also, anyone that touches a man that was murdered, or a cadaver, or a human bone, or even a tomb, must be unclean for 7 days.
‘Then they must take the burnt ashes of purification and pour them into a jar with running water to make the [water of] purification.
Thereafter, a clean man must take some hyssop and dip it into the water, and sprinkle the house, the furniture, and all the people that are there that may have touched the human bone, or the murdered man, or the cadaver, or the tomb.
The clean man must sprinkle it upon the unclean people on the 3rd and 7th days.
Then on the 7th day, he must purify himself, wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.
Any man that has become unclean and chooses not to purify himself must be cut off from among the gathering, because he has dirtied the holy things of Jehovah…
If the cleansing water hasn’t been sprinkled on him, he will remain unclean.
‘And it is the law through the ages that whoever sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and whoever even touches the water must be unclean until evening.
Also, everything that an unclean man touches must be unclean, and anyone that touches [that thing] must be unclean until the evening.’
It was during the 1st month that the people (the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl) traveled to the Sin Desert and stayed in KaDesh; and it was there that MiriAm died and was buried.
Well, there was no water in that place, so all the people came to Moses and Aaronand they started shouting at Moses, saying,
‘We would rather have died when our brothers were destroyed before Jehovah!
Why have you brought the gathering of Jehovah into this desert… to kill us along with our cattle?
Just what kind of a place is this?
You brought us out of Egypt and took us into this evil place where we can’t plant grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates…
And there’s no water for us to drink here!’
Then Moses and Aaron went to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and stood before the people, and [they both] fell to their faces.
Thereafter, the glory of Jehovah appeared to them,and [God] spoke to Moses, saying:
‘Call an assembly;
Then take your walking stick, and you and your brother Aaron must call out to the rock that stands before them, and it will give you its water!
You must bring the water out of the rock for them and give it to the gathering and to their cattle to drink.’
So Moses took his walking stick that was there before Jehovah, just as the Lord had commanded him.
Then Moses and Aaron assembled the whole gathering in front of the rock, and he said to them:
‘Listen to me, you rebels; Must we bring water for you out of this rock?’
And at that, Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with his rod, and water came gushing out of it for the gathering and their cattle to drink.
But after that, the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and said:
‘Because you didn’t put enough trust in Me to mention Me before the children of IsraEl, you won’t be allowed to lead this gathering into the land that I have given to them.
This is [to be called] The Water of Rebellion, because this is where the children of IsraEl spoke rebelliously before Jehovah, as I remained holy among them.’
Then Moses sent messengers from KaDesh to the king of Edom to tell him,
‘This is what your brother IsraEl is saying:
You know of all the hard times we’ve seen,of how our fathers went down to Egypt and of the many [years] that we spent there, and of how the Egyptians oppressed us and our fathers.
But when we called out to Jehovah, He heard our voices and sent His messenger who brought us out of Egypt.
Well, now we are in the city of KaDesh at the edge of your land,and we wish to pass through it.
We won’t walk through your fields or through your vineyards, nor will we drink water from your cisterns.
We will just travel along the King’s Highway (Via Nova Traiana), and we won’t turn to the right or left until we have past your borders.’
But the Edomites replied:
‘You may not pass through [our land]!
And if you try to do so, we will go to war against you!’
So the children of IsraEl said:
‘Then we’ll go around the mountain.
And if we and our cattle drink any of your water, we will pay you for it…
It shouldn’t bother you if we travel around the mountain.’
But [the Edomites] replied:
‘You may not pass through [our land]!’
Well thereafter, the Edomites came out to meet them with a huge, well-prepared army,and they refused to allow IsraEl to cross their borders;
So IsraEl turned and went another way…the whole gathering left KaDesh and traveled on to Mount Hor.
It was while they were at Mount Hor (on the border of the land of Edom) that the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and said:
‘Aaron is now going to be laid [to rest] with his people…
And you may not enter the land that I have given to the children of IsraEl, because you angered Me at The Water of Rebellion!
So, take Aaron and his son EliEzer up Mount Hor before the whole gathering,then remove Aaron’s [official] garments and put them on EliEzer.
And thereafter, Aaron will die and be added to [his people].’
So Moses did just as Jehovah had commanded him.
He took them up Mont Hor before the whole gathering,then he removed Aaron’s clothes and put them on his son EliEzer…
And Aaron died on top of the mountain.
Well, when Moses and EliEzer walked down the mountain,the gathering realized that Aaron had died.
Then the whole house of IsraEl wept for Aaron for 30 days.
After that, the CanaAnite king of Arad (who lived near the desert) heard that IsraEl had traveled through Atharin, so he went to war against IsraEl and carried some of [their people] off as captives.
So, IsraEl swore a vow to Jehovah, saying,
‘If You will hand them over to us, we will dedicate them and their cities to You.’
Well, Jehovah heard what [the people of] IsraEl said and He gave the CanaAnites into their hands.
They [destroyed] them and their cities, and they started calling that place the Cursed.
Thereafter, they left Mount Hor and traveled toward the Red Sea, circling the land of Edom.
But somewhere along the way, the people lost their courageand started speaking against God and Moses, saying,
‘Why have you brought us out of Egypt just to kill us here in the desert?
[We have] no bread or water, and we’ve come to hate the worthless bread.’
So, Jehovah sent poisonous snakes among them that bit [many] people, and quite a few of the children of IsraEl died.
As the result, the people went to Moses and said,
‘We have sinned, for we’ve spoken against Jehovah and against you.
Please pray to Jehovah and [ask] Him to take these snakes away from us!’
Well, Moses prayed to Jehovah for the people, and the Lord told Moses:
‘Make [the sign of] a snake and [post it high].
Then, whenever someone is bitten by a snake, they can look at [this sign] and they will live.’
So Moses made a brass snake and raised it as a sign;
And whenever a snake bit a person, he [or she] could look at the bronze snake and survive.
Thereafter, children of IsraEl left that place and started camping in ObOth.
And from ObOth, they moved to AchalGai, which is on the eastern edge of the desert across from MoAb.
From there they traveled on and camped in the Zared Valley.
Then they left [Zared] and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the desert that runs along the border of the Amorites.
The Arnon is the border between the MoAbites and the Amorites,for this is what was written about ZoOb in the book of the Wars of Jehovah:
‘The dry river beds of Arnon were set on fire,and MoAb’s [Capital] Er [was built] along the river beds at their border.’
It was there that they found a well, and Jehovah said:
‘I have given this well to Moses;
So, gather the people and I will give them water to drink.’
Then IsraEl started singing this song at the well:
‘It was there that their leaders dug it;
The kings of their nation and kingdom.
They, in their kingship, sank it in rock;
This well of ManthaNain.
‘From ManthaNain to NaAliEl,
And from NaAliEl to BamOth,
Then, on from BamOth to Janen;
And from the plains of MoAb,
And the quarry that faces the desert.’
Well after that, Moses sent ambassadors to SeOn (the king of the Amorites) with words of peace.
They [said to him]:
‘We [wish to] pass through your land.
We will just travel along the road… we won’t step into your fields or vineyards,and we won’t drink any water from your wells.
We will just travel along the King’s Highway until we pass through your borders.’
But SeOn wouldn’t allow IsraEl to cross his borders. Rather, he gathered all his people and set up battle lines against IsraEl from the desert [all the way] to JasSa.
However, IsraEl beat them and slaughtered [many of their people with] swords.
So thereafter, they owned all the land from the Arnon to the JaBoc as far as the children of AmMon (for, JaZer borders the [land of] the children of AmMon).
IsraEl also captured all of the Amorite cities in the [district of] Hesh-EbonEh, and they started living in them.
Hesh-EbonEh had been the city of SeOn the king of the Amorites, and he had previously fought against the king of MoAb and captured all the land from AroEr to the Arnon.
That’s why there was a saying among those that speak of such dark things:
‘Come to Hesh-EbonEh, in order to build,
And prepare the city for SeOn.
‘Then a fire came out of Hesh-EbonEh…
Flames from the City of SeOn.
And there they burned and consumed
To the banks of the Arnon in MoAb.
‘So, woe to you, O MoAb;
For you’ve lost, O you people of CheMosh.
Your sons that survived have now all been sold,
And your daughters are the captives of SeOn,
Who is the Amorite king.
‘From Hesh-EbonEh to DaEbon
All your seed is now gone,
And their women light the fires that are burning in MoAb.’
It was while IsraEl was living in the cities of the Amoritesthat Moses sent spies to JaZer.
Then he captured it and its [surrounding] villages, and he drove out the Amorites that lived there.
And after their return, they [marched] up the road that leads to BaShan. And BaShan’s king Og sent his army from EdraIn to meet them.
Then the Lord told Moses:
‘Don’t be afraid of him, for I’m putting him, his people, and his land into your hands.
Now, do to him as you did to SeOn the king of the Amorites that lived in Hesh-EbonEh.’
So they attacked and destroyed [Og], his sons, and all his people.
There were no survivors, and [IsraEl] inherited their land.
Thereafter, the children of IsraEl left that place and camped on the west side of MoAb, by the JorDan River near JeriCho.
And when Balak (SepPhor’s son) saw what the IsraElites had done to the Amorites,[he] and the people of MoAb became very concerned and upset, because there were so many IsraElites.
Then the MoAbites said to the elders of MidiAn:
‘This gathering is going lick up everything around us like a calf swallows down grass in a field!’
Well, Balak (the son of SepPhor) was the king of MoAb at the time.And he sent ambassadors to call BalaAm the son of BeOr, who was at Phathura (which is beside a river in the land of his people).
[And he told them] to say,
‘Look! These people that have come from Egypt are covering the entire land… and now they’re camping close to me!
So, come and curse them for me, because they are stronger than we are.
Then we’ll be able to attack them and drive them out of the land.
Because, I know that whomever you bless will be blest, and whomever you curse will be cursed.’
So the elders of MoAb and MidiAn went out carrying their charms in their hands, and they went to see BalaAm.
Then they told him everything that Balak had said,and he replied to them:
‘Spend the night here, and I’ll tell you whatever the Lord says to me.’
So the leaders of MoAb spent the night there with BalaAm.
And [during the night], God came to BalaAm and asked him:
‘Who are these men that are with you?’
And BalaAm replied,
‘Balak, the son of SepPhor and the king of MoAb sent them to Me. For he said,
Look! These people have come from Egypt… they [literally] cover the land, and now they are camping close to me.
So, come and curse them for me, then I can cut them down and drive them out of the land!’
But God told BalaAm:
‘You must not go with them, nor should you curse these people; for they are blest.’
So when BalaAm got up the next morning, he told Balak’s [ambassadors]:
‘Hurry and return to your lord, because God won’t allow me to go with you.’
As the result, the MoAbites got up and returned to Balak and told him that BalaAm had refused to come with them.
So Balak then sent some [of his] rulers that were even more respected than the first ones.
They went to BalaAm and said,
‘This is what Balak the son of SepPhor says:
I beg you; please hurry and come to me,for I will honor you with great [gifts] and do anything you ask.
Come and curse these people for me!’
However, BalaAm answered Balak’s leaders in these words:
‘If Balak were to give me his whole house filled with silver and gold, I wouldn’t be able to violate the words of the God Jehovah and do anything good or bad, for I know [that this is wrong].
However, spend [another] night here, and I will see what the Lord says.’
Then God came to BalaAm during the night and said to him:
‘When these men that came to call you [awaken], get up and go with them.
But just do the things that I tell you to do.’
Well when BalaAm arose the next morning, he saddled his burro and went with the leaders of MoAb.
But then God became very angry and sent His messenger to stop him.
So, as he was riding along on his burro (accompanied by two of his servants);
When the burro saw the messenger of God standing in her way with a sword in his hand, she turned aside and ran into a field.
Well, BalaAm started hitting the [animal] with a stick to make her [behave].
Then Jehovah’s messenger went and stood in the Avenue of Vines, which had walls on both sides.
And when the burro saw God’s messenger, she pushed up against the wall, squeezing BalaAm’s foot, and he started beating her again.
And after that, Jehovah’s messenger went ahead and stood in a narrow place where it was impossible to turn to either the right or to the left.
And when the burro saw the messenger of God, she just sat down under BalaAm.
Well, BalaAm was furious, and he again started beating the burro with his stick.
But God opened the burro’s mouth, and she asked BalaAm:
‘Just what have I done to you that you’ve started beating me a third time?’
And BalaAm told the burro:
‘You’re making a fool of me, so if I had a sword in my hand I would kill you!’
Then the burro said to BalaAm:
‘I’m the burro that you’ve ridden since you were young, and have I ever disobeyed you?’
And [BalaAm] replied,
‘No.’
Then God opened BalaAm’s eyes so he could see the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way with his sword in his hand.
So he fell down and bowed with his face to the ground.
And God’s messenger asked him:
‘Why did you beat your burro this third time?
Look; I came and stood in front of you three times, because the way that you’re heading is wrong!
And when this burro saw me, she turned away from me all three times.
For if she hadn’t turned away, I would have killed you and left her alive!’
Then BalaAm said to Jehovah’s messenger:
‘I have sinned! I didn’t realize that it was you standing in our way.
So, if it’s displeasing to you for me to go on, I’ll turn back.’
But Jehovah’s messenger told BalaAm:
‘Go on with these men.
However, make sure that whatever I say to you is what you’ll tell them!’
So, BalaAm traveled on with Balak’s governors.
Well, when Balak heard that BalaAm had arrived [in his land], he traveled to a city at the border of the Arnon (which is on the edge of MoAb) to meet him.
Then Balak asked BalaAm:
‘I sent for you, so why didn’t you come to me?
May I not be allowed to honor you?’
And BalaAm replied:
‘Look, I’m here now. But let me [warn] you;
Whatever God says to me is what I must say.’
So BalaAm traveled with Balak until they reached the City of Streets.
There, Balak offered sheep and calves [to God], then he called for BalaAm and the governors that came with him.
And since it was morning, Balak took BalaAm to the sacred column of BaAl and introduced him to some of the people there.
Then BalaAm said to Balak:
‘Build 7 altars for me here, and prepare 7 calves and 7 rams for me.’
So Balak did just as BalaAm told him… he offered up a calf and a ram on each altar.
Then he said to Balak:
‘Stand here by your sacrifices, and I will go to see if God will appear and meet with me.
Then I will tell you whatever He says.’
So, Balak stood by his sacrificeswhile BalaAm went to enquire of God… he went straight ahead, and God appeared to him.
Then BalaAm said:
‘I have prepared 7 altars, and I’ve offered a calf and a ram on each of the altars.’
And God said:
‘Return to Balak and tell him this’ …
Then He put the words into BalaAm’s mouth.
So BalaAm returned to [Balak], who was standing next to his whole-burnt offerings with all the leaders of MoAb.
Then the Breath of God came over BalaAmand he spoke this prophecy:
‘I was summoned by MoAb’s King Balak…
To MesoPotamia and the mountains in the east.
He said, Come and curse Jacob for me…
Call a curse on IsraEl for me.
‘But, how can I curse what the Lord will not curse,
Or dedicate those whom God won’t destroy?
For I see them on the tops of the Mountains…
In the hills, I see and observe them.
{‘Look!} But, these people must live all alone…
They must not be counted as one of the nations.
For, who can count Jacob’s seed…
Who can count all the families of IsraEl?
‘May my soul die among the souls of the righteous,
And may my seed become as their seed.’
Then Balak said to BalaAm:
‘What have you done to me?
I called you to curse my enemies; but look… you have greatly blessed them!’
And BalaAm replied to Balak:
‘Shouldn’t I say whatever the Lord puts into my mouth?’
And Balak said:
‘Then, come with me to another place where you won’t see these people… you’ll only see part of them.
Curse them for me there!’
So he took him to a high place in a field, to the top of some quarried blocks, where he built 7 altars and offered a calf and a ram on each of the altars.
Then BalaAm said to Balak:
‘Now, stand next to your sacrifices, while I will go [and speak to] God.’
Well, God met with BalaAm and He said:
‘Return to Balak and tell him this’ …
Then He put the words into his mouth.
So BalaAm returned to Balak, who was standing next to his whole-burnt offerings along with all the leaders of MoAb.
And Balak asked,
‘What did the Lord say?’
Then [BalaAm] spoke this prophecy:
‘Arise and listen, O Balak,
Listen to the proofs, O son of SepPhor.
‘God doesn’t waver like men,
Nor may He be threatened like their sons.
Will He talk and not make it happen;
Must He speak and not keep His Word?
‘{Look!} I’ve been instructed to bless them,
So I’ll bless and I’ll not turn back.
For, there must be no trouble in Jacob,
Nor may sorrow be seen among IsraEl.
‘For their God Jehovah is with them,
And the glory of kings is among them.
It was God that brought them from Egypt,
And like the rhinoceros is His glory.
‘There are no sooth-sayers in Jacob,
And in IsraEl, there are no enchanters.
So, Jacob and IsraEl will soon be told
All the things God will do.
‘{Look!} These people will become like the cubs of a lion,
And they will then grow into lions.
They won’t lie down ‘til they’ve eaten their prey,
And drunk the blood of those they’ve destroyed.’
Then Balak said to BalaAm:
‘If you can’t curse the people for me, don’t bless them!’
And BalaAm replied:
‘Didn’t I tell you that I must say whatever God tells me?’
And Balak said:
‘Then, come and I’ll take you to another place that is more pleasing to God, and you can curse them for me there.’
So Balak took BalaAm to the top of Mount PhoGor (the part that runs into the desert).
And BalaAm said to Balak:
‘Build 7 altars for me here, and prepare 7 calves and 7 rams for me.’
And Balak did just as BalaAm told him, offering a calf and a ram on each altar.
It was then that BalaAm finally realized that it pleased God to bless IsraEl, so he didn’t follow his usual custom of looking for omens.
Rather, he just turned his face toward the desert.
Well, as BalaAm gazed, he saw IsraEl camped by their tribes, and God’s Breath came over him,causing him to speak this prophecy:
‘BalaAm, son of BeOr;
This man that truly does see…
Who hears the prophecies of the [great] Mighty One…
Whose eyes opened and saw a vision of God…
While he slept, his eyes opened wide.
‘Good are the places where you live, O Jacob,
And [good] are your tents, O IsraEl.
Like shady groves and gardens by rivers;
Like tents pitched by God and as cedars by water.
‘For a man will come from your seed
Who will rule many nations.
His kingdom will be raised and he will grow mighty;
For, out of Egypt, God brought him.
‘The glory of the rhinoceros is his,
And he’ll consume the nations that hate him…
Yes, he will drink all their marrow,
And shoot those that hate him with arrows.
9 ‘He’ll lie down and rest like a lion,
And as a young lion, who’ll wake him?
So, those that bless him are blest,
And those that curse him are cursed.’
Well, this made Balak very angry with BalaAm, so he clapped his hands and said to him:
‘I called you to curse my enemy, but look; You’ve blessed him for the third time!
Now, hurry and go back to your home. For though I said that I would honor you, the Lord has now deprived you of your glory!’
And BalaAm replied to Balak:
‘Didn’t I tell the messengers whom you sent to Methat even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I wouldn’t oppose the Lord and do either good or bad by myself?
Rather, [I told them that] I would say whatever The God told me to say.
‘So now, {Look!} I’ll go back to my home.
But [first], come here and I’ll tell you what these people will do to your people in the last days.’
Then he spoke this prophecy:
‘BalaAm, the son of BeOr, says this…
The man that truly sees, tells you this:
I heard the prophecies of God,
Knowledge from the Most High, I have received.
‘I saw a vision from God in my sleep
And it opened my eyes.
I’ll point to him, but not now;
I’ll bless him, though he’s not nearby.
‘A star must arise out of Jacob,
And from IsraEl, a man must then spring
Who will crush the leaders of MoAb,
And all sons of Seth, he will plunder.
‘For his courage, he’ll receive Edom,
And inherit his enemy, Esau.
[This man] will come out of Jacob,
And destroy all those that run from your towns.’
Then he noticed the AmaLechites and spoke this prophecy:
‘AmaLech is the first among nations,
But their seed will [also soon] die.’
Then he noticed the Kenites, and he spoke this prophecy:>
‘Though the place where you live is very strong,
You should build your nest on a rock.
Even if BeOr shows you places to hide;
The Assyrians will take you as captives.’
Then he noticed Og, and he spoke this prophecy:
‘Oh, oh; Who will survive when God does such things?
For, ships will come from Cypriot shores
Who’ll defeat Assyria and Eber…
Together, they’ll all be destroyed.’
Then BalaAm got up and left for his [land], and Balak went back home.
Well, it was while IsraEl was camped at SatTin that [many of] the people made themselves dirty by engaging in immoral sex with the daughters of MoAb.
Then they started worshiping their idols, offering sacrifices to them and eating their sacrifices.
So IsraEl had become totally devoted to BeEl Phegor, which made Jehovah very angry with them.
And as the result, the Lord told Moses:
‘Take all their leaders, then lay them out in the sunlight before Jehovah to make examples of them, and this will turn His anger away from IsraEl!’
Then Moses told the tribes of IsraEl:
‘You must each kill any of your friends that have devoted themselves to BeEl Phegor.’
And just then, an IsraElite man came and led his brothers over to [have sex with] a MidiAnite woman… doing this right in front of Moses and the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl that had been weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs!
And when PhineAs (the son of EliEzer and grandson of Aaron the Priest) saw this, he stood up in the midst of the gathering, took a spear in his hand,and he followed the IsraElite man right into his bedroom.
There he ran the spear through the IsraElite man and through the woman’s womb.
Well at that, the plague [that had come] on the children of IsraEl stopped.
But by then, 24,000 people had died.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘PhineAs (the son of EliEzer and grandson of Aaron the Priest) has brought an end to My rage against the children of IsraEl.
And though I had become very jealous, I didn’t consume them all in My zeal.
So, tell him that I will now make a sacred agreement of peacewith him and with the seed that descends from him.
They will be Priests through the ages because of his zeal for his God, and because he paid for the sins of the children of IsraEl.’
Now, the name of the IsraElite man that was killed with the MidiAnite woman was ZamBri.
He was the son of SalMon and a leader of one of the lines of the Tribe of SymeOn.
The name of the MidiAnite woman that was killed was ChasBi.
She was the daughter of Sur, who was a leader of the nation of OmMoth and a chief among the people of MidiAn.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Tell the children of IsraElthat the MidiAnites are to be considered their enemies!
So from now on, they must be treated as a plague and destroyed!
For the treachery that they used to trap you (as in the case of PhoGor and ChasBi, who was a daughter of a leader of MidiAn and that was killed on the day of the plague) has proven that they are truly your enemies!’
Well, after the plague had ended, the Lord spoke to Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) and said:
‘Take a census of the gathering of the children of IsraEl.
Count all those that are 20 years old and upwards that serve as soldiers for IsraEl, by family lines.’
So it was there in the Plains of MoAb, near the JorDan and JeriCho, that Moses and EliEzer the Priest [took the census]and counted all [the soldiers] that were 20 years old and older, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
And these are the [family lines] of IsraEl that came out of Egypt:
ReuBen was the firstborn of IsraEl. His descendants were Enoch and his family, PhalLu and his family of PhalLuites,AsRon and his family of Asronites, and CharMi and his family.
So the [army of] the descendants of ReuBen was numbered at 43,730.
The descendants of PhalLu were EliAband his sons NamuEl, Dathan, and AbiRam.
[Dathan and AbiRam] were the famous men among the gathering that joined KorAh in opposing Moses and Aaron and in rebelling against Jehovah.
Then the ground opened its mouth and swallowed them along with KorAh, and thereafter, their followers perished when fire destroyed all 250 as a sign [from God].
However, KorAh’s sons weren’t killed.
The descendants of SymeOn were NamuEl and his family of NamuElites, JaMin and his family of JaMinites, JaChin and his family of JaChinites,ZaRa and his family of Zaraites, and Saul and his family of Saulites.
So the [army of] the descendants of SymeOn was numbered at 22,200.
The descendants of Judah were Er and AuNan (who both died in the land of CanaAn),SeLom and his family of Selomites, Phares and his family of Pharesites, and ZaRa and his family of Zaraites.
Phares’ sons were AsRon and his family of Asronites, and JaMun and his family of JaMunites.
So the [army of] the descendants of Judah was numbered at 76,500.
The descendants of IshSachar and their family lines were Thola and his family of Tholaites, Phua and his family of Phuaites,JaShub and his family of JaShubites, and AmBram and his family of AmBramites.
So the [army of] the descendants of IshSachar was numbered at 64,400.
The descendants of ZebuLon and their family lines were Sared and his family of Saredites, AlLon and his family of AlLonites, and AlLel and his family of AlLelites.
So the [army of] the descendants of ZebuLon was numbered at 60,500.
The descendants of Gad and their family lines were Saphon and his family of Saphonites, Angi and his family of Angites, Suni and his family of Sunites,Azeni and his families of Azenites and Addites,AroAdi and his family of AroAdites, and AriEl and his family of AriElites.
So the [army of] the descendants of Gad was numbered at 44,500.
The descendants of Asher and their family lines were JaMin and his family of JaMinites, JoShua and his family of JoShuites, BarJa and his family of BarJaites,Chober and his family of Choberites, and MelchiEl and his family of MelchiElites.
(Asher’s daughter’s name was Sara).
So the [army of] the descendants of Asher was numbered at 43,400.
JoSeph had two sons, ManasSeh and Ephraim, and each had his own family line.
The descendants of ManasSeh and their family lines were MachIr and his family of MachIrites.
MachIr’s son was GalaAd, and he was the father of the GalaAdites.
The descendants of GalaAd were AchiEzer and his family of AchiEzerites, Cheleg and his family of Chelegites,EsriEl and his family of EsriElites, Sychem and his family of Sychemites,SymaEr and his family of SymaErites, Opher and his family of Opherites.
Opher’s son SalpaAd had no sons, just daughters.
His daughter’s names were SalpaAd, Mala, Nua, Egla, Melcha, and Thersa.
So the [army of] the descendants of ManasSeh was numbered at 52,700.
The descendants of Ephraim were SuthaLan and his family of SuthaLanites and Tanach and his family of Tanachites.
SuthaLan was the father of Eden and his family of Edenites.
So the [army of] the descendants of Ephraim was numbered at 32,500.
These were the families of the children of JoSeph and their family lines.
The descendants of BenJamin and their family lines were Bale and his family of Balites, Asuber and his family of Asuberites, JaChiran and his family of JaChiranites,and Sophan and his family of Sophanites.
Bale’s sons were Adar and NoEman. Adar started his family of Adarites and NoEman started his family of NoEmanites.
So the [army of] the descendants of BenJamin and their family lines was numbered at 35,500.
The descendants of Dan were SaMei and his family of SaMeites.
So the [army of] the descendants of Danthrough SaMei and his family line was numbered at 64,400.
The descendants of NaphTali and their family lines were AsiEl and his family of AsiElites, GaUn and his family of GaUnites,Jeser and his family of Jeserites, and SelLem and his family of SelLemites.
So the [army of] the descendants of NaphTali was numbered at 40,300.
Altogether, there were 606,730 that were counted among [the army] of the children of IsraEl.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘This is how the land must be divided:
The inheritances should be allotted by [family] names,and the larger groups should be given larger inheritances, while the smaller groups should be given smaller inheritances.
So, use this census to divide the inheritances.
The land must be divided by these names and assigned by lottery, and each of the family lines and tribes must be given an assignment [of land].
So, subdivide [the land] into smaller and larger portions.
Now, the descendants of Levi and their family lines were, GedSon and his family of Gedsonites, CaAth and his family of CaAthites, MeraRi and his family of MeraRites,and Lobi and his families of LoBenites, Hebronites, Coreites, and Musites.
CaAth’s son was AmBram.His woman’s name was JoChabed, and she was a descendant of Levi.
She was born to Levi in Egypt, and she gave birth to these through AmBram: Aaron, Moses, and their sister MiriAm.
Aaron’s sons were NaDab, AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar,but NaDab and AbiUd died when they offered unauthorized fire to Jehovah while they were in the SinAi Desert.
There were 23,000 males among [Aaron’s family line] that were a month old and older.
However, they weren’t counted among the children of IsraEl, because they were to receive no inheritance among them.
This was the census that was conducted by Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) in the Plains of MoAb, near the JorDan River and JeriCho.
However, none among them had been counted in the [earlier] census of the children of IsraEl that was taken by Moses and Aaron in the SinAi Desert,for Jehovah told them that they were going to die in the desert.
So [the only ones left of that generation that entered the Promised Land] were Caleb (the son of JePhonNe) and JoShua (the son of NaWeh).
Well, the daughters of SalpaAd (he was the son of Opher, grandson of GalaAd, and great-grandson of MachIr of the Tribe of ManasSeh, one of the sons of JoSeph), MaAla, Nua, Egla, Melcha, and Thersa,came before Moses, EliEzer the Priest, all of the leaders and the whole gathering at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, and they said:
‘Our father died in the desert, but he wasn’t among those in the gathering who rebelled against Jehovah by joining with KorAh. Rather, he died for his own sins… and he had no sons.
[So, please] don’t allow the name of our father to be blotted out from among his people just because he had no sons.
Give us an inheritance among our father’s brothers!’
So Moses brought their case before Jehovah.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘The daughters of SalpaAd are right. You should assign them an inheritance among their father’s brothers as their father’s inheritance.
So, speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this:
If a man dies without any sons, you must give his inheritance to his daughters.
If he has no daughters, you must give his inheritance to his brother.
However, if he has no brothers, you must give his inheritance to his father’s brother.
And if his father has no brothers, you must give the inheritance to the nearest relative in his tribe.’
These were the laws concerning the inheritance of possessions among the children of IsraEl that Jehovah gave to Moses.
Then the Lord said to Moses:
‘Go to the Mountain in the country beyond the JorDan, Mount Nabau, and gaze upon the land CanaAn, which I am giving to the sons of IsraEl.
Then you will be added to your people, just as your brother Aaron was added to them on Mount Hor.
For you failed in My commandments while [you were] in the desert of Sin when the whole gathering opposed Me and refused to consider Me holy, because you failed to [speak of] Me as being holy when you brought the water out [of the rock] before them…
From the Waters of Rebellion at KaDesh in the Sin Desert.’
Then Moses said to the Lord:
‘May Jehovah, the God of all that is spirit and all that is flesh, provide a man who will watch over this gathering…
Don’t leave the gathering of Jehovah as sheep without a shepherd!
[Assign someone] to travel before them as their leader, who will lead them in and lead them back out.’
And the Lord said to Moses:
‘Choose and lay your hands upon JoShua, the son of NaWeh, for he’s a man that will have [God’s] Breath upon him.
Take him before EliEzer the Priest and give him all his instructions before the entire gathering…
Then put all of your glory upon him, so that the children of IsraEl will listen to him.
Thereafter, he must stand beside EliEzer the Priest; and whenever they come before Jehovah to ask for the judgments of the Revelation, they must do whatever [JoShua] says…
They must follow his instructions and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl must unite behind him!’
So Moses did just as Jehovah commanded him… he took JoShua and stood him before EliEzer the Priest and the entire gathering.
Then he laid his hands on him and promoted him, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them to be sure to offer their gifts and presents to Me… the burnt offerings that provide a sweet-smelling odor during My feasts.
Tell them that through the coming ages, they are to bring two perfect yearling lambs each day as whole-burnt offerings to Me.
They must offer one lamb in the morning and the second in the evening.
They must also offer 3 quarts (2.8l) of fine flour mixed with a quart of oil as a food offering.
This whole-burnt offering is to be sacrificed down through the ages as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah, just as it was offered at Mount SinAi.
[They must also bring] a drink offering – a quart for each lamb – and pour it out in the holy place as an offering to Jehovah.
‘As for the second lamb, the one that is to be [sacrificed] in the evening;
It should also be presented along with a food offering and a drink offering, as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.
‘And on each Sabbath day, they must offer 2 perfect yearling lambs with 2 quarts (1.9l) of fine flour mixed with oil as a food offering, plus a drink offering.
So, a whole-burnt offering [must be sacrificed] on each Sabbath day, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings and drink offerings.
‘And on each New Moon, they must bring these whole-burnt offering to Jehovah:
2 calves from the herd, 1 ram, and 7 perfect yearling lambs,plus 3 quarts (2.8l) of fine flour mixed with oil for each calf, 2 quarts (1.9l) of fine flour mixed with oil with each ram,and a quart of fine flour mixed with oil with each lamb, as food offerings and as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.
Their drink offerings must consist of 1/2 a gallon (1.9l) with each calf, 1/3 of a gallon (1.25l) with each ram, and a quart of wine with each lamb.
These whole-burnt offerings must be brought in on every month of the year.
Also, 1 kid goat must be brought to Jehovah as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings and drink offerings.
‘Then on the 14th day of the 1st month [they must start celebrating] the Passover to Jehovah.
And on the 15th day of the month, there is to be a feast.
So, they must eat fermentation-free bread for 7 days.
That 1st day is to be a holy day of rest during which they may not do any physical labor.
Thereafter, these whole-burnt offerings must also be sacrificed to Jehovah:
2 calves from the herd, 1 ram, and 7 yearling lambs, which must all be perfect,as well as a food offering of fine flour mixed with oil (3 quarts (2.8l) per calf, 2 quarts (1.9l) per ram,and a pint for each of the 7 lambs),plus a kid goat as a sin offering, to pay for their sins.
This is in addition to the whole-burnt offerings that must be brought each morning as a continuous whole-burnt sacrifice7 days a week as a gift and a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah, along with a drink offering.
Then the following 7th day must be a holy day of rest, during which they must do no hard labor.
‘Also, the day when the new grain is offered to Jehovah must be a holy day of rest, during which they may do no hard labor.
And these whole-burnt offerings must be brought as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah:
2 calves from the herd, 1 ram, and 7 perfect lambs,along with food offerings of fine flour mixed with oil, 3 quarts (2.8l) per calf, 2 quarts (1.9l) per ram,and a pint for each lamb (which is to be offered separately for each of the 7 lambs).
A kid goat must also be broughtas a sin offering to pay for your sins, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings andthe food offerings that you bring to Me.
They must all be perfect and each must have its own drink offering.’
‘And the 1st day of the 7th month must be a holy day of rest for you, during which you may not do any manual labor, for that’s when the trumpets are to be blown.
At that time, you must offer these whole burnt offerings as a sweet odor to Jehovah:
One calf from the herd, one ram, and 7 perfect yearling lambs.
As food offerings, you must bring fine flour mixed with oil, 3 quarts (2.8l) per calf, 2 quarts (1.9l) per ram,and a quart for each of the 7 lambs.
You must also bring a kid goat as a sin offering, to pay for your sins.
This is in addition to the whole-burnt offerings for the New Moon Festival and their food and drink offerings, and the regular whole-burnt offerings with their food and drink offerings (according to their laws), which must be offered as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.
‘And the 10th day of that month must also be a holy day of rest for you…
You may do no work, for you must then closely examine your lives!And you must bring these whole-burnt offerings as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah:
One calf from the herd, one ram, and 7 yearling lambs, each of which must be perfect.
Their food offerings must be fine flour mixed with oil, 3 quarts (2.8l) for the calf, 2 quarts (1.9l) per ram,and a quart for each of the 7 lambs.
You must also bring a kid goat as a sin offering, to pay for your sins.
All of this is in addition to the other sin offerings and the regular whole-burnt offerings, along with their food and drink offerings (according to their laws), which must be offered as a sweet odor and as a burnt sacrifice to Jehovah.
‘Then the 15th day of the 7th month must also be a holy day of rest during which you must do no hard labor;
For you are to hold a feast to Jehovah for the next 7 days.
And you must bring these whole-burnt offerings as a sacrifice and as a sweet odor to Jehovah:
On the 1st day, you must bring 13 calves from the herd, 2 rams, and 14 yearling lambs, which must all be perfect.
The food offerings must be fine flour mixed with oil, 3 quarts (2.8l) for each of the 13 calves, 2 quarts (1.9l) for each of the 2 rams,and a quart for each of the 14 lambs.
Also, one kid goat must be offered as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.
‘On the 2nd day, bring 12 calves, 2 rams, and 14 perfect yearling lambs.
The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law.
And one kid goat must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.
‘On the 3rd day, bring 11 calves, 2 rams, and 14 perfect yearling lambs.
The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law.
And one kid goat must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.
‘On the 4th day, bring 10 calves, 2 rams, and 14 perfect yearling lambs.
The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law.
And one kid goat must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.
‘On the 5th day, bring 9 calves, 2 rams, and 14 perfect yearling lambs.
The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law.
And one kid goat must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.
‘On the 6th day, bring 8 calves, 2 rams, and 14 perfect yearling lambs.
The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law.
And one kid goat must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.
‘On the 7th day, bring 7 calves, 2 rams, and 14 perfect, yearling lambs.
The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law.
And one kid goat must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.
‘the 8th day is when [IsraElite slaves] are to be set free, so no manual labor may be done then.
You must also bring 1 calf, 1 ram, and 7 perfect yearling lambs as whole-burnt-offering sacrifices to Jehovah.
The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law.
And one kid goat must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.
‘These are the things that you must offer to Jehovah during your feasts, in addition to those things that you offer in your vows as free-will offerings and as your whole burnt offerings, food offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings.’
So Moses spoke to the children of IsraEl and told them everything that Jehovah had commanded.
Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of IsraEl and said,
‘This is what Jehovah has commanded:
Whenever a man makes a vow to Jehovah, or swears an oath, or accepts a responsibility, he must not break his word…
He must do whatever he says!
And the same is true of a woman. She must do whatever she vows to Jehovah.
If she says that she will do something while she is young and still living in her father’s house, and her father hears her say it – as long as he doesn’t disagree with her making [such a vow] – all her vows must be fulfilled,and she is bound to any obligations that she has taken upon her life.
However, if her father forbids [her vow] (or any other obligation that she agrees to) on the same day that he hears it, she isn’t bound to it, and Jehovah won’t hold her accountable, because it was forbidden by her father.
‘And if she is married and speaks a vow to accept an obligation upon her life,and her husband hears it – as long as he doesn’t disagree with her making it – all her vows must be fulfilled and she is bound to any obligations that she has taken upon her life.
However, if her husband forbids [her vow] (or any other obligation that she agrees to) on the same day that he hears it, she isn’t bound to it and Jehovah won’t hold her accountable, because it was forbidden by her husband.
‘Also, whatever a widow or divorced woman vows to do with her life must be done.
And if she made the vow when she was still [living] with her man,and he heard it and didn’t object; then, all her vows must be fulfilled and she is bound to any obligations that she has taken upon her life.
However, if her man cancels [her vow] (or any other obligation that she agrees to) on the same day that he hears it, she isn’t bound to it and Jehovah won’t hold her accountable, because her man forbade it.
‘So, any vow [that a woman] makes which will affect her life must be heard by her man, and he must either agree to it or disallow it.
And if he chooses to say nothing;
Then she is bound to it, and he must agree to any obligations that she has accepted, because he didn’t disagree with it on the day that he heard it.
But if her man – for any reason – should choose to cancel a vow after that, he is guilty of a sin.’
These were the laws that Jehovah gave to Moses regarding a man and his woman, and regarding a father and his young daughter that is still living in his home.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘I want you to avenge the wrongs that the MidiAnites have committed against the children of IsraEl.
And after that, you will be added to your people.’
So Moses spoke to the people and said,
‘Arm yourselves, then stand before Jehovah in battle lines and [prepare yourselves] to bring the Lord’s vengeance upon MidiAn…
Select 1,000 from each of the tribes of the children of IsraEl to go to war.’
So they counted off the 1,000 from each Tribe of IsraEl – 12,000 men – and armed them for war.
Then Moses sent them off, along with PhineAs (the son of EliEzer the Priest and the grandson of Aaron) carrying the holy instruments and the signal trumpets,and they arranged themselves in battle lines against MidiAn, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses…
And they went and destroyed them.
Thereafter, they killed the 5 kings of MidiAn (Evi, Rocon, Sur, Ur, and Roboc)… and they even killed BalaAm (the son of BeOr) with a sword, along with all the rest.
Then ( after they had destroyed their army) they took all the women of MidiAn as captives, along with their food, cattle, and all their possessions,and they burned all their cities, villages, and homes with fire…
They plundered everything, including the people and their animals.
So they carried all the captives, spoils, and loot (planning to give them to Moses, EliEzer the Priest, and to divide them among the children of IsraEl) back to their camp in the plains of MoAb, which was near the JorDan River [across from] JeriCho.
Then Moses, EliEzer (the Priest), and all the leaders of the gathering went to their camp to meet their army.
But Moses was furious with the captains of the army (the leaders of thousands and of hundreds) that had returned from the battle,for he asked them:
‘Why have you kept these women alive?
They were the ones [who listened to] BalaAm and misled the children of IsraEl by inciting their revolt and by teaching them to despise the word of Jehovah at PhoGor…
And that’s why Jehovah sent a plague on the gathering!
‘So now, kill all the men, destroy all their food, and kill all the women whom you know aren’t virgins…
You may spare any women whom you suspect are virgins.
Then, all that have killed or touched dead bodies must stay outside of our camp for 7 days;
And thereafter, you and those whom you have captured must be purified on the 3rd day and on the 7th day.
You must also purify all your clothes, all your leather utensils, all your goatskin items, and all your wooden bowls.’
Then EliEzer (the Priest) said to the men from the army that had just returned from battle,
‘This is what the Law that Jehovah gave to Moses says:
The items of gold, silver, brass, iron, lead, and tinmust be passed through fire to be cleansed.
And whatever can’t be passed through a fire must be sprinkled with the purifying water to be made clean.
Then on the 7th day, you must be cleansed and you must wash your clothes.
Only after that, may you enter our camp.’
Well, the Lord then spoke to Moses again and said:
‘I want you and EliEzer the Priest to take an inventory of the captured people and animals;
Then you must divide them among the soldiers that went out to battle and with the rest of the gathering.
Also, as a tribute to Jehovah from the warriors that went out to battle; take 1 out of every 500 of the people, oxen, sheep, and burros,and give them to EliEzer the Priest as the first fruits of Jehovah.
Then from among those things that are given to the children of IsraEl, you should take 1 out of 50 of the people, oxen, sheep, and burros, and give them to the Levites that teach at the Tent of Jehovah.’
So Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The plunder that was given to the soldiers included 675,000 sheep,72,000 oxen,and 61,000 burros.
There were also 32,000 virgins that were given to them…half of everything was given to the soldiers that went to war.
And of the 337,500 sheep,they offered 675 sheep as a tribute to Jehovah.
Of their 36,000 oxen, they gave 72 as a tribute to Jehovah.
Of their 30,000, 500 burros, they gave 61 as a tribute to Jehovah.
And of the 16,000 people, they gave 32 of them as a tribute to Jehovah.
For Moses presented all the tributes as a wave offering to Jehovah God, [and they were given] to EliEzer the Priest (just as the Lord had commanded Moses)from the half that belonged to the children of IsraEl whom Moses had separated as soldiers.
Thereafter, 337,500 sheep were divided among the gathering as their half,plus 36,000 oxen,30,500 burros,and 16,000 people.
And from their half, Moses took a fiftieth of the people and the cattle, and gave them to the Levites that teach at the Tent of Jehovah, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Well then, all those that had been appointed as officers over the army (the captains of thousands and of hundreds) approached Moses and said,
‘Your servants have counted the men of war among us, and none have been lost.
So, those among us that found things that were made of gold, such as armlets, chains, rings, bracelets, and hair clasps have brought them as our gift to Jehovah, to pay for our sins.’
And when Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) accepted all the items of gold from them,[they found that] the gold that the captains of thousands and of hundreds offered to Jehovah was valued at 16,750 silver coins.
However, the soldiers kept the rest of the loot for themselves.
Then Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) took all the gold items that the captains of thousands and hundreds had contributed and placed it all in the Tent of Proofs to serve as a reminder to the children of IsraEl, there in front of Jehovah.
Now, the [tribes] of ReuBen and Gad both had huge herds of cattle, and when they saw that the area of JaZer and GalaAd had good grazing land,they went to Moses, EliEzer the Priest, and the leaders of the gathering, and said to them:
‘The area of AtarOth, DaEbon, JaZer, NamRa, Hesh-EbonEh, ElAle, Sebama, Nabau, and BaeAn,which Jehovah has delivered into the hands of the children of IsraEl, is pasture land, and we (your servants) have many cattle.
So, if it pleases you, may your servants be given this land as our inheritance.
Don’t make us cross the JorDan River.’
But Moses asked:
‘Then when your brothers go to war, are you just going to sit here?
Why are you twisting the minds of the children of IsraEl by encouraging them not to cross into the land that Jehovah is giving to them?
Isn’t this the same thing that your fathers did when I sent them from KaDesh Barne to spy in the land?
For, after they went into the Valley of Grape Clusters as spies, they twisted the hearts of the children of IsraEl so that they didn’t want to enter the land that Jehovah gave to them,and this made Jehovah very angry.
So He swore and said,
All these men that were 20 years old and older when they left Egypt and that knew the difference between good and evil will not see the land that I swore to give to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, because they have chosen not to follow Me.
The only exceptions are Caleb (the son of JePhonNe) and JoShua (the son of NaWeh)… they were the only ones that followed Me closely.
And because this made Jehovah so angry with IsraEl, He forced them to wander in the desert for 40 years, until the whole generation that did this evil thing before Him was gone.
‘Look! Now you’re following in the same footsteps as your fathers and you’ve allied yourselves as sinful people so as to make Jehovah even angrier with IsraEl;
For you want to turn away from Him and stay in the desert again.
By choosing to do this, you’re sinning against the whole gathering!’
But they came to him and said:
‘If we can build pens for our cattle here and have these cities as our possessions,we will arm ourselves and march ahead of the children of IsraEl to lead them into their land.
We will leave our possessions inside the walled cities (because of the people that live in this land),and we won’t return to our homes until after the children of IsraEl have each been given their own inheritance and are settled there.
Then, we won’t take any of the land on the other side of the JorDan as our inheritance, because we will have taken our full inheritance here on the east side.’
So Moses said to them:
‘If you will do everything that you’re saying… if you will arm yourselves and march in battle before Jehovah,and if you will cross the JorDan and stay there until our enemies are destroyedand our land has been totally settled before you return home, you will be free of guilt before Jehovah and this land can be yours.
But if you don’t do that, you will be sinning against Jehovah and you will see the results of your sin when bad things happen to you.
So now, go on and build the cities in which you can store your things, along with the pens for your cattle; and thereafter, you must do everything that you’ve proposed.’
And the [tribes] of ReuBen and Gad replied:
‘Your servants will do as our lord commands.
We will leave all our possessions, our women, and our cattle in the cities of GalaAd.
And after that, we will march ahead [of IsraEl] all armed and ready for battle before Jehovah, as you said.’
Then Moses gave these instructions to EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and all the heads of the families and tribes of IsraEl.
He said,
‘If the sons of ReuBen and Gad cross the JorDan armed and ready for war before Jehovah and they help to conquer the land before you, you must give them the land of GalaAd as theirs.
However, if they don’t cross [the JorDan] all armed and ready for war, you must make them bring their possessions, women, and cattle into the land of CanaAn, where they will receive their inheritance among you.’
And the sons of ReuBen and Gad answered:
‘We will do whatever Jehovah tells his servants.
We will arm ourselves and march into the land of CanaAn before Jehovah, and you must give us our inheritance on this side of the JorDan.’
So Moses gave the sons of Gad, the sons of ReuBen, and half of the Tribe of ManasSeh (one of the sons of JoSeph) the land of the Amorite king SeOn, the land of Og the king of BaShan, and all their cities and borders, as well as the cities and lands around them.
Thereafter, the sons of Gad built and fortified DaEbon, AtarOth, AroEr,Sophar, and JaZer;
And they also built and fortified NamBran and BaethAran, where they then made pens for their sheep.
The sons of ReuBen built Hesh-EbonEh, ElAle, KariathAm,and BeElMeon (which they surrounded with walls), and [the town of] Sebama.
Then they named each of the cities after themselves.
Also, the family of MachIr (of the Tribe of ManasSeh) went to GalaAd and captured it, destroying all the Amorites that lived there.
So Moses gave GalaAd to MachIr, and they started living there.
JaIr (of the Tribe of ManasSeh) also captured many villages, which he then called the Villages of JaIr.
And NabOth went and captured the villages of CaAth, which he renamed after himself (NabOth).
These are the places where the children of IsraEl and their army stayed (under the direction of Moses and Aaron) after they left the land of Egypt.
For, following the instructions of Jehovah, Moses wrote down the places where they moved and where they had stayed.
So, here are the stages of their journey:
They left RamesSe on the 15th day of the 1st month.
Then after the Passover, the children of IsraEl proudly walked away from the Egyptians,since the Egyptians were burying all the dead that Jehovah had struck down – all the firstborn in the land of Egypt – and He also brought vengeance upon their gods.
The children of IsraEl left RamesSe and camped in SocChoth;
Then they left SocChoth and camped in BuThan, near the desert.
After that, they left BuThan and camped at the mouth of the IrOth, which is across from BeEl SepPhon and opposite MagDol.
It was when they left IrOth that they crossed through the middle of the sea and into the desert.
Thereafter, they traveled through the desert for three days and camped in PicriAe.
When they left PicriAe, they went to AiLim (where there were 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees), and they camped next to the water.
When they left AiLim, they camped next to the Red Sea.
And when they left the Red Sea, they camped in the Sin Desert.
After they left the Sin Desert, they camped in RaPhaca.
And when they left RaPhaca, they camped in AiLus.
When they left AiLus, they camped in RaphiDin (where there was no water for the people to drink).
Then they left RaphiDin and camped in the SinAi Desert.
When they left the SinAi Desert, they camped at the Graveyard of the Greedy.
Then they left the Graveyard of the Greedy and camped in AsherOth;
And after AsherOth, they camped in RathAma.
When they left RathAma, they camped in RemMon Phares.
And when they left RemMon Phares, they camped in Lebona.
After leaving Lebona, they camped in ResSan.
Then they left ResSan and camped in MakelLath.
After MakelLath, they camped in Saphar.
When they left Saphar, they camped in CharaDath.
Then they left CharaDath and camped in MakelOth.
When they left MakelOth, they camped in KataAth.
Then they left KataAth and camped in TarAth.
After leaving TarAth, they camped in MathecKa.
Then they left MathecKa and camped in SelMona.
After SelMona, they camped in MasurUth.
After camping in MasurUth, they went to BanaYa.
And after leaving BanaYa, they camped at Mount GadGad.
Then after leaving Mount GadGad, they camped in EteBatha.
When they left EteBatha, they camped in Ebrona.
After Ebrona, they camped in GesiOn Gaber.
Then they left GesiOn Gaber and camped in the Sin Desert.
Then they left the Sin Desert and camped in the Pharan Desert at KaDesh.
And when they left KaDesh, they camped at Mount Hor, near the land of Edom.
It was at Mount Hor that Aaron the Priest climbed the mountain (following Jehovah’s instructions) and died on the 1st day of the 5th month, 40 years after they left the land of Egypt.
Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.
And after the CanaAnite king Arad heard that the children of IsraEl were in his land,they left Mount Hor and camped in SelMona.
Then from SelMona, they went to Phino;
And after leaving Phino, they camped in ObOth.
When they left ObOth, they camped in Gai at the border of MoAb.
Then they left Gai and camped in DaEbon Gad.
When they left DaEbon Gad, they camped in Gelmon DeblaThaim.
After leaving Gelmon DeblaThaim, they camped on the Mountains of Abarim, which border Nabau.
Then when they left the Mountains of Abarim, they camped on the west side [of the land] of MoAb by the JorDan River near JeriCho.
There they stayed camped by the JorDan (from AiSimOth to Belsa, west of MoAb).
It was there (west of MoAb by the JorDan River, close to JeriCho) that the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Now tell the children of IsraEl that they are to cross the JorDan into the land of CanaAn,where they must destroy everyone that lives in that land.
They must tear down their altars, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their [sacred] columns.
All the inhabitants of the land must be destroyed so they can live there, for I have given them this land as their inheritance.
‘The land that each tribe inherits must thereafter be divided in a lottery.
The more people there are in each tribe, the larger their inheritance must be; and the smaller the tribe, the smaller its inheritance…
The inheritances must be divided by [the sizes of] their tribes and families.
‘Now, if you don’t destroy the people that live in that land; those that are left will eventually become thorns in your eyes and darts in your sides.
They will always be your enemies in this land,and the things that I had planned to do to them, I’ll do to you.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Tell the children of IsraEl that when they enter the land of CanaAn that they are going to inherit,their southern border will run southward from the Sin Desert along the borders of Edom, then east to the [Dead] Sea.
The border will thereafter run from the south to the base of AcraBin and on to EnNac, and on southward to KaDesh Barne.
It will run to the village of Arad and on past AseMona.
From AseMona it will run to the [Nile] River, and end at the sea.
‘The western border will be the [MediTerranean] Sea.
‘They will have to measure their northern border themselves, but it will run from the [MediTerranean] Sea along the edge of the mountains.
They will have to measure from the mountains at the entrance to Emath to where they end along the border of SaraDac.
Then the border must go on to DephRona and end at ArseNain…
This is their northern border.
‘The eastern border will run from ArseNain to SepPhamar,then over to the springs east of Bela and down along the east side of the Sea [of GaliLee].
From there it will run down the JorDan River and end at the [Dead] Sea.
This will be their land and their borders.’
Then Moses gave the children of IsraEl these instructions.
He said,
‘This is the land that you’re going to inherit by lottery, as Jehovah commanded it to be given to the 9 tribes and the half Tribe of ManasSeh,because the tribes of ReuBen, Gad, and the half Tribe of ManasSeh have already received their inheritances.
The inheritance that these 2-1/2 tribes have received is on the other side of the JorDan, southeast of JeriCho.’
And the Lord told Moses,
‘These are the men that will divide the inheritances of land:
EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh),and one ruler from each of the tribes.
From the Tribe of Judah, Caleb (the son of JePhonNe).
From the Tribe of SymeOn, SalamiEl (the son of SemiUd).
From the Tribe of BenJamin, ElDad (the son of ChasLon).
From the Tribe of Dan, BacChir (the son of Egli).
From the sons of JoSeph, the leader of the Tribe of ManasSeh should be AniEl (the son of Suphi).
And from the Tribe of Ephraim, the leader must be CamuEl (the son of SabaThan).
From the Tribe of ZebuLon, EliShaphan (the son of Pharnac).
From the Tribe of IshSachar, PhaltiEl (the son of Oza).
From the tribe of Asher, AchiOr (the son of Selemi).
And from the Tribe of NaphTali, PhadaEl (the son of JamiUd).’
These were the ones that Jehovah commanded to do the distributing to the children of IsraEl within the land of CanaAn.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses by the JorDan River near JeriCho (west of MoAb) and said,
‘Now, give orders to the children of IsraEl and tell them that they must allot cities for the Levites to live in and own.
They must provide them with suburbs around their cities to live in,which have pens for their cattle and all their animals.
These suburbs that they are to give to the Levites must run out and around their city walls for 3,000 feet (914m).
So, they must measure out 3,000 feet (914m) on the east side, 3,000 feet (914m) on the south side, 3,000 feet (914m) on the west side, and 3,000 feet (914m) on the north side, and their cities must be in the center.
‘They must also give the Levites six refuge cities, which will become havens for those who kill someone [accidentally].
In addition, they must provide them 42 more cities.
So altogether, they must give the Levites 48 cities, in addition to their suburbs.
[As to the size and location] of these cities that the children of IsraEl are to give them; those that have much must give much, and those that have less may give less.
But all [the tribes] must give some of the cities that they are going to inherit to the Levites.’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that when they cross the JorDan into the land of CanaAn,they must assign refuge cities to which those that kill someone accidentally may run.
These cities must be havens of refuge from those that would avenge the blood [of the one that was killed].
And there, no killer may be executed before he stands trial in a court.
‘There must be six of these cities that you are to set aside as places of refuge;Three on the east side of the JorDan and three in the land of CanaAn.
They must serve as places of refuge for the children of IsraEl, for aliens, and for those that are just visiting in your land.
These cities must be places of refuge where anyone may run that has killed a man unintentionally.
‘However, if [a man] strikes [and kills a person] with something that is made of iron, the man must die, for he is a murderer and all murderers must be put to death.
And if he throws a rock in an attempt to kill him and the person dies, he’s a murderer and all murderers must be put to death.
And if he hits him with a wooden instrument that he’s holding in his hands and kills him, he’s a murderer and all murderers must be put to death.
Those that would avenge the blood [of the one that was killed] must execute the murderer…
When they catch him, they must kill him!
‘If someone is angry and stabs another, or throws something at him from ambush,or if he beats him in anger and the man dies;
The one that struck him must be put to death, for he is a murderer.
The blood avenger must absolutely kill the murderer when he finds him.
‘However, if someone is accidentally stabbed (where no anger is involved), or something hits him (other than from ambush),or he is accidentally hit with a rock and he dies when no enemy was looking to harm him;
Then the court must use these rules to judge between the one that did the striking and the blood avenger.
And [if he is found innocent], the gathering must save the slayer from the blood avenger and allow him to stay in the refuge city that he ran to;
And he must live there until the High Priest (the one that was anointed with the holy oil) dies.
‘But if the person that did the killing should ever leave the city that he ran to for refuge,and the blood avenger should find him outside the refuge-city limits, and the blood-avenger kills him, he has done no wrong.
For the man should have stayed in the refuge city until the High Priest died.
Only after the death of the High Priest may the slayer return to his homeland.
‘These are the rules of judgment that are to be used throughout all your generations and wherever you live.
You must execute someone as a murderer whenever there is enough evidence.
But, one piece of evidence against a person isn’t enough to have him put to death.
‘Also, you may not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who has been condemned to death… he absolutely must die.
And you may not accept a ransom to keep a man from having to stay in a refuge city and live there until the death of the High Priest.
‘So, you must not pollute the land that you live in with murder, because blood pollutes the land.
And the only way that the land may be purged of shed blood is with the blood of the one that shed it.
You must not dirty the land where you are living and where I am living among you, for I am Jehovah who dwells in the midst of the children of IsraEl.’
Then the heads of the Tribe of the sons of GalaAd (the son of MachIr and the grandson of ManasSeh of the Tribe of the sons of JoSeph) spoke before Moses, EliEzer the Priest, and the heads of the houses and families of the children of IsraEl.
They said:
‘Jehovah commanded our lord to assign the land that the children of IsraEl will inherit by lottery.
Then Jehovah told our lord to give our brother SalpaAd’s inheritance to his daughters.
But if they marry into one of the other tribes of IsraEl, their inheritance must then be taken away from them. Then, that which belongs to our fathers won’t be inherited by the tribe they marry into, and we won’t lose any part of our inheritance.
For, during [the year of] Releasing of the children of IsraEl, their inheritance would be considered as being among the tribe into which the women marry, and it would not be returned to our family’s tribe.’
So, following Jehovah’s instructions, Moses told the children of IsraEl:
‘In accordance with [the request of] the Tribe of the children of JoSeph,this is what Jehovah has said concerning the daughters of SalpaAd:
They may marry whomever they wish, but they may only marry among their father’s tribeso that the inherited [lands] of the children of IsraEl aren’t moved from one tribe to another tribe.
For the inherited lands of the children of IsraEl must remain in the same family’s tribe.
And whenever a daughter is heir to a property among the tribes of the children of IsraEl, she must marry someone in her father’s tribe so that the sons of IsraEl may each inherit property in their father’s tribe…
For, the inheritance must not be passed from one tribe to another. Rather, the children of IsraEl must each hold onto their own inheritances.’
Well thereafter, the daughters of SalpaAd did just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Thersa, Egla, Melcha, Nua, and MalaA (SalpaAd’s daughters) married their cousins,that were from the Tribe of ManasSeh (of the sons of JoSeph), and their inheritance remained part of their father’s family tribe.
These are the commandments, laws, and decisions that Jehovah gave to Moses west of MoAb, by the JorDan River, near JeriCho.
These are the things that Moses said to all the IsraElites while they were in the desert on the east side of the JorDan near the Red Sea (between Pharan-Tophol, Lobon, Aulon, and the gold works),11 day’s journey from the Dry Place (Horeb) on the road between Mount SeIr and KaDesh Barne.
It was the 1st day of the 11th month of the 14th year that Moses spoke to the children of IsraEl, and [he recounted] all the instructions that Jehovah had given to Him concerning them.
This was after he had cut down SeOn, the king of the Amorites (who lived in Hesh-EbonEh), as well as Og, the king of BaShan (who lived in AstarOth and EdraIn)in the land of MoAb.
Moses said this about [God’s] Law:
‘It was while we were in the Dry Place (Horeb) that Jehovah our God spoke to us and said,
You have stayed at this mountain long enough.Now, turn around and go!
Enter the mountains of the Amorites and of those that live next to the desert… from their mountains and valleys in the south to the coast of the land of the CanaAnites, to [the borders] of Lebanon, and on to the great EuPhrates River.
Look! God has given you all the land that is before you!
So, go there and inherit the land that I swore that I would give to your ancestors AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, and to their seed.
‘As I told you before;
I was unable to lead you all by myself,for Jehovah your God has made you grow.
Just look at how many you’ve become… like the stars in the skies in number!
For Jehovah the God of your ancestors has made you grow a thousand-times more, and He has spoken to you and blest you!
So, how could I handle all the work, burdens, and your complaints by myself?
Therefore, [I told you to] select some wise, understanding, and sensible men from your tribes whom I would appoint as your leaders.
Then you answered me and said,
What you’ve told us to do is good!
‘So, I took your wise, understanding, and sensible men and assigned them to be the rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, to serve as your officers and judges.
And at the time, I told your judges to hear the cases between your brothers and to judge honestly, whether it is [a dispute] between a man and his brother, or with him and the converts that are living among you…
And they were not to favor one over the other when it came to their judgments. Rather, they were to judge both the rich and the poor in the same way.
Nor were they to fear anyone, because the judgment is God’s.
And whenever a case was too hard for them, they were to bring it to me and I would then hear it.
‘So, just as Jehovah our God had instructed us, we left that Dry Place (Horeb) and traveled through the desert (which you saw was vast and terrible), and on through the mountains of the Amorites to KaDesh Barne.
Then, as we were approaching the mountains of the Amorites, I told you:
{Look!} Jehovah your God has given you all the land that lies before you.
So, go there and inherit it… and just as Jehovah the God of your ancestors said to you:
Don’t be afraid!
‘But then you all came to me and said,
Let’s send some men ahead of us into the land and have them bring back a report about which way we should travel and which of the cities we should enter.
‘Well, that sounded good to me, so I chose 12 men, one from each tribe.
Then they turned and ascended the mountains and traveled as far as the Valley of the [Grape] Clusters to survey it.
There they gathered some of the fruit of the land and brought it back to you, and they said:
The land that Jehovah our God is giving to us is good!
‘However, you refused to enter it and you rebelled against the words of our God Jehovah.
For you went back to your tents and started complaining, saying,
Jehovah hates us, because he has brought us out of the land of Egypt just to put us into the hands of the Amorites who will destroy us!
So, why would we want to go there?
‘Then your brothers grabbed at your heart strings when they said,
It’s a big country and they have many more people that are stronger than us… their cities are huge, with walls that reach into the sky, and we saw the sons of the giants there!
‘But I told you:
Don’t be afraid and don’t fear them,because Jehovah your God is traveling before you and He will fight them for you and win, just as He did for you in the land of Egypt!
You have already seen Him do this [many times] while you were in this desert on the way to the mountains of the Amorites, because Jehovah your God carried you as dearly as any man could nurse his own children throughout all your travels on the way to this place.
‘But you didn’t believe Jehovah your Godwho traveled before you, who chose the places where you would stay, and who guided you with a fire each night and showed you the way to go with a cloud each day.
And when the Lord heard the things you were saying, He became very angry.
So He swore and said,
None of these men will be allowed to see the good land that I swore to give to their ancestors,except Caleb (the son of JephonNe)…
He will see it and I’ll give this land that he traveled to, to him and to his sons, because he did what Jehovah said.
‘Then Jehovah became very angry with me because of you.
For he told me:
You won’t enter the land either.Rather, JoShua (the son of NaWeh) who stands at your side will enter [the land].
So, you must give him [your] strength, because he will help IsraEl to inherit it.
However, only the young children that haven’t yet come to know good from evil will enter [the land with him]…
I’m going to give it to them and they will inherit it!
‘Thereafter, you turned around and marched back into the desert, along the banks of the Red Sea.
But later, you said:
We have sinned against Jehovah our God, so now we’re going to go back and fight, just as our God Jehovah had commanded!
So, everyone picked up his weapons of war and they gathered to return to the mountain.
‘However, Jehovah said to me:
Tell them not to go and fight, because I’m not with them, so their enemies will destroy them!
‘And that’s what I told you… but you wouldn’t listen to me!
You disobeyed Jehovah’s commandments and you forced your way up the mountain.
Then the Amorites who lived there came out to meet you and chased you like bees all the way from [Mount] SeIr to [Mount] Herman.
And thereafter, you sat down and bawled before our God Jehovah, but He wouldn’t listen to you or pay any attention to you.
Well, following that, you spent a long time living in KaDesh.’
‘After that, we turned left and [traveled] through the desert, following the Red Sea, just as Jehovah had told me, and we circled Mount SeIr for many days.
And finally, the Lord said to me:
You have circled these Mountains long enough; now turn and head north.
Tell the people that you’re now going to cross the borders of your brothers, the children of Esau who live in SeIr, and that will really make them fear you.
But don’t fight with [the children of Esau], because I won’t give you enough of their land to stand on, since I have given Mount SeIr to the children of Esau as their inheritance.
Rather, you will have to pay for any food that you buy from them to eat, and for any water that you will drink.
‘Yet, Jehovah our God has continued to bless you in everything that you’ve done…
Just think of how you were able to travel through that great and terrible desert!
For {Look!} during those 40 years under Jehovah your God, you haven’t lacked for anything!
‘Then we passed by our brothers, the children of Esau who lived in SeIr, walking through the desert between AiLon and GesiOn Gaber.
And after that, we turned and walked through the deserts of MoAb.
It was then that Jehovah said to me,
Don’t argue with the MoAbites and don’t fight with them, for I won’t give you their land as an inheritance either, since I have given AroEr to the children of Lot as their inheritance.
The OmMin, a nation that was as large and powerful as the Anakim, used to live there(they were once known as the RaphaIn), as did the Anakim (whom the MoAbites called the OmMin).
The ChorRhites also used to live in SeIr before the sons of Esau destroyed them and wiped them out.
For then they took possession of the land, as IsraEl will take possession of this land that Jehovah is giving to them as an inheritance.
‘After that, I was told that we should leave and cross the Zaret Valley.
So, we spent the next 38 years traveling between KaDesh Barne and the Zaret Valley, until the whole generation of the men of war had died (as Jehovah God had sworn to them).
For it was the hand of Jehovah that wiped them out of our camp until they were all gone.
‘Then after all the men of war had died,the Lord spoke to me and said,
Now, cross the borders of MoAb and go on to AroEr today.
But don’t approach the children of AmMon… don’t argue with them or war with them, for I won’t give you the children of AmMon’s land as an inheritance, since I’ve already given it to the children of Lot as their inheritance.
It is also called the land of the RaphaIn, because the RaphaIn (whom the AmMonites call the ZochomMin) also used to live there.
They were once a great nation with many more people and were mightier than you are (as were the Anakim).
But Jehovah destroyed them and [the AmMonites] inherited their land, where they live to this day,[in the same way that] the children of Esau that live in SeIr destroyed the ChorRhites and inherited their land, where they live to this day,and the Evites (who lived between AsedOth and Gaza) were conquered by the Cappadocians…
They came from CappaDocia to destroy them, and now they live in their land.
‘So [then the Lord told us]:
Get up and cross the Arnon Valley; for {Look!} I have given SeOn (the Amorite king of Hesh-EbonEh) and his land into your hands.
Fight with him and inherit his land today.
Start putting fear and terror into the faces of all the nations under the sky;
For they will be disturbed whenever they hear your name, and they will become very sad when they hear that you’re heading toward them.
‘Then, from the KedamOth Desert, I sent ambassadors to SeOn the king of Hesh-EbonEh with words of peace, saying,
I wish to pass through your land. I will just travel along the roads and I won’t turn to the right or to the left.
We will pay for any food that we eat with money, and we will pay for any water that we drink.
We will pass through on foot,as we did with the sons of Esau who live in SeIr, and with the MoAbites that live in AroEr, until we reach the JorDan and the land that Jehovah our God is giving to us.
‘But SeOn (the king of Hesh-EbonEh) wouldn’t allow us to pass through his land, because Jehovah our God hardened his spirit and gave him a stubborn heart so that he would be delivered into our hands on that day.
For the Lord said to me:
Look! I’m putting SeOn (the Amorite king of Hesh-EbonEh) and his land into your hands.
So now, inherit his land!
‘Well, SeOn (the king of Hesh-EbonEh) came out with all his people to fight us at JasSa.
But our God Jehovah handed him over to us and we cut them all down (him, his sons, and all of his people).
Then we took all of his cities, destroying each one in succession, along with their women and children… we left no one alive.
However, we took their cattle and we looted their cities.
And all the way from AroEr (which lies at the edge of the brook of Arnon) to the cities in the valley to Mount GileAd, there wasn’t a town that escaped us.
Jehovah our God gave them all into our hands.
However, following Jehovah’s instructions, we didn’t go near the children of AmMon or even get close to their border along the JaBoc Wadi and their cities in the mountains.’
‘Then we turned and traveled toward BaShan, and Og the king of BaShan came out to fight us with all of his people at Edraim.
So the Lord said to me:
Don’t be afraid of him, because I’m giving him, all of his people, and all of his land into your hands.
Therefore, do to him as you did to SeOn, the king of the Amorites that lived in Hesh-EbonEh.
‘So Jehovah our God did give him into our hands, as well as all of his people.
We cut them down until none of their seed was left;and then we captured all of their cities.
For at that time, there were 60 cities all around the country of ArGob that belonged to King Og.
They were all strong cities with high walls, high gates, and strong locks.
[We also captured] many Pherezite citiesand we destroyed everything, as we had done to SeOn the king of Hesh-EbonEh.
We destroyed each city in its order, as well as all the women and children.However, we took all their cattle and we looted the cities.
‘At that time, we also captured land that belonged to two Amorite kings that [lived on] the other side of the JorDan. Their land ran from the brook of Arnon to HerMon.
(The Phoenicians call HerMon SaniOr, but the Amorites called it SanIr.)
We captured all the cities of Misor, all of GileAd, and all of BaShan as far as ElCha and Edraim, which were cities of the kingdom of Og in BaShan.
‘Og, the king of BaShan was the last of the RaphaIn.
{Look!} His bed (which was found in the capital city of the children of AmMon) was made of iron. {Look!} It was 13 feet (4m) long and 6 feet (1.8m) wide!
‘So at that time, we inherited all the land from AroEr (along the border of the Arnon), plus half of Mount GileAd, which cities I gave to ReuBen and Gad.
Then I gave the rest of GileAd and all of Og’s kingdom of BaShan to the half-tribe of ManasSeh, which includes all the country around ArGob (which [used to be] the land of the RaphaIn).
‘Then JaIr (the son of ManasSeh) took all the country around ArGob, as far as the borders of GarGasi and MachAthi, and he named them after himself – BaShan, ThavOth, and JaIr – which is what they are still called today.
Then I gave GileAd to MachIr,and I gave the land below GileAd – from the middle of the Arnon Wadi, which borders the children of AmMon, all the way to JaBoc – to ReuBen and Gad.
So, the Araba and the JorDan are the boundaries of MachanAreth, running east from the Sea of [GaliLee] to the [Dead] Sea below AsedOth Phasga.
‘At that time, I told [the men of the tribes of ReuBen, Gad, and the half-tribe of ManasSeh] that Jehovah their God had given them this land [to be assigned] by lottery, and that all the mighty [men] should then arm themselves and march ahead of their brothers, the children of IsraEl.
However, they were to leave their women, children, and cattle (I know that they have many cattle) in the cities that I had given to them,until Jehovah our God provides their brothers a haven (the same as He has given to them) and they inherit the land that Jehovah is giving to them on the other side of JorDan…
Yes, that’s when each one will have his own inheritance.
‘That’s also when I told JoShua:
You have seen everything that Jehovah our God did to these two kings, and that’s what He’s going to do to all the kingdoms that you are crossing over to there.
So, you must not be afraid of them, because Jehovah our God will fight for you!
‘Then I went before Jehovah and asked:
Lord God; You have just begun to show Your strength, Your power, Your mighty hand and mighty arm to Your servants. For, what God is there in heaven or on earth that can do as You have done by Your might?
So, [please] allow me to cross into this good land and see what’s beyond the JorDan… its wonderful mountains and the borders of Lebanon.
‘But Jehovah replied:
Because you didn’t show respect or listen to Me, don’t ask Me about this anymore.
Now, climb to the top of the rocks and look west, north, south, and east… look with your eyes. However, you may not cross the JorDan!
Then speak to JoShua… give him strength and encourage him, because he’s going to lead these people, and he’s the one that will give them their inheritance in the land that you’ve seen.
‘Well thereafter, we camped in the valley near the house of PhoGor.’
‘And now, O IsraEl; Listen to the rules and decisions – everything that I’m going to teach you today – so that you can live, grow, and inherit the land that Jehovah the God of your ancestors is giving to you.
Don’t add anything to or take anything away from these Commandments that I’m giving you today. Just obey the Commandments of Jehovah our God and do everything that I’m commanding you.
For, you’ve seen everything that Jehovah our God did to the men [that started worshiping] BeEl PhoGor… Jehovah destroyed them all from among you!
And it’s only because you stayed close to your God that you’re all still alive today!
‘{Look} I’ve shown you all the rules and decisions, just as Jehovah gave them to me; so you must follow them in the land that you’re traveling to and which you will inherit.
Obey them and do them, because this is what will brand you as a wise and understanding people to the nations.
For when they hear all these rules they will say,
Look; They’re a great nation of wise and understanding people!
What other nation is there that is so great that they have a God as close to them as our God Jehovah is [to us], and to whom we may call about anything?
And what other nation has rules and decisions that are as righteous as all these laws that I’m setting before you today?
‘So, keep an eye on yourselves and carefully guard your hearts.
Don’t forget any of the things that you’ve seen… keep them in your hearts throughout the rest of your lives!
You must teach your sons and your grandsonsthe things that happened when you gathered before Jehovah our God at Horeb… when the Lord said to me,
Gather the people to Me and have them listen to My words, so they can learn to fear Me for as long as they live in the land, and then teach this to their sons.
‘You yourselves went and stood at the base of the mountain as it burned with fire all the way into the heavens… and there was darkness, blackness, and wind.
Then the Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire with a voice and with words that you heard… yes, although you saw no shape, you heard the voice!
Then He proclaimed His Sacred Agreement with you, and He ordered you to keep the Ten Commandments that He wrote on the two tablets of stone.
‘And then Jehovah commanded me to teach you His rules and decisions, which you should obey in the land that you’re going to inherit.
Yes, keep them in your hearts; for you’ve never seen another day like the one when Jehovah spoke to you on Mount Horeb from the midst of the fire!
‘So, don’t sin by carving images of any kind… no, not in the shape of males or females,of any animals on the ground, of any winged creatures that fly in the sky,of any slithering animals that crawl on the ground, or of any creatures that live in the waters below the ground.
Nor should you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, stars, or any of the other heavenly bodies that Jehovah your God provided to all the nations under the heavens, and then go off and worship and serve them.
For God took you and led you out of the land of Egypt – out of that iron furnace – to be His people and His inheritance today.
‘Then Jehovah God became very angry with me over things that you said, and He swore that I wouldn’t cross the JorDan and enter the land that He’s giving to you as your inheritance.
So, I will now die in this land and I won’t [be allowed to] cross the JorDan… but you will cross it and inherit that good land.
‘Therefore, pay attention to yourselves and don’t forget the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah our God made with you.
Don’t sin by carving images of any of the things that Jehovah your God told you not to [worship].For Jehovah your God is zealous, and He can be a consuming fire!
‘Then, after you’ve fathered sons and they’ve grown old and had grandchildren… if they sin and carve images of things and start acting wickedly toward Jehovah your God and anger Him;
I swear before heaven and earth that they will be destroyed from the land that you’re going to inherit across the JorDan… they won’t live to get any older and they will be cut off!
Then Jehovah will scatter them among all the nations and they’ll become the minority among all the [people] wherever Jehovah sends them.
There they will serve other gods… things that men make with their hands from wood and stone… gods that can’t see, hear, eat, or smell.
‘But if they will search for Jehovah their God in that place, they will find Him.
For, whenever you are oppressed and you search for Him with your whole hearts and souls, [you will find Him]…and that’s what will happen to [your people] in the last days.
They must turn to Jehovah their God and listen to His voice;
Because, Jehovah your God is also a God of pity, so He won’t forget the Sacred Agreement that He made with your ancestors, and He won’t leave you or destroy you.
‘Ask from one end of the sky to the other… since the time that God created man on the earth, has anyone ever heard of such a great thing happening?
Has any other nation ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire, as you’ve heard it and experienced it?
What [other] nation has God elevated and taken as His own with trials, signs, wonders, and war (with His mighty hand and mighty arm)… yes, with all these great things that we saw Jehovah our God do in Egypt?
So, you should know that Jehovah your God is The God, and that there is no other than just Him!
For it was His voice that you heard coming from the sky and teaching you when He showed you His great fire and when you heard His words from the midst of that fire!
‘It was only because He loved your ancestors that He chose you (because you’re their seed) and drew you to Him; and then with His great strength, He brought you out of Egypt.
Thereafter, He destroyed nations that were much greater and stronger than you are – right in front of you – to bring you here today and to give you their land as your inheritance.
‘So, recognize all of this and consider it in your hearts. For Jehovah your God is the God of the skies above and of the lands below them… and there is no other!
So if you keep His Commandments and rules – all that I’m giving you today – it will go well for you and your descendants, and you may live on the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you for a long time…
Through the ages!’
Then Moses set aside these three towns on the east side of the JorDanas refuge cities where men that have unintentionally killed a neighbor (someone whom they’ve never hated) can run to and live:
Bosor in the plains of ReuBen, RamOth in GileAd (Gad’s land), and GauLon in BaShan (ManasSeh’s land).
These were the laws that Moses laid out before the children of IsraEl…
They are the testimonies, rules, and decisions that Moses told the sons of IsraEl after they left Egyptand while they were on the other side of the JorDan in the valley near the house of PhoGor in the land of SeOn (the king of the Amorites that lived in Hesh-EbonEh) and whom Moses and the sons of IsraEl destroyed.
So they inherited this land…
The land of Og (the king of BaShan) and that of the two Amorite kings, which is east of the JorDanand runs from from AroEr (which borders the Arnon Wadi) to Mount SeOn (or HerMon)…
All the plains from the JorDan east and down to [Mount Pisgah].
Then Moses gathered all of IsraEl and said to them:
‘Listen to the rules and decisions… all that I’m going to tell you today!
Learn them and obey them, O IsraEl;for your God Jehovah made a Sacred Agreement with you at the Dry Place (Horeb)…
He didn’t make it with your ancestors, He made it with you… yes you that are all here and living today!
He spoke to you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fireas I stood between you and the Lord, and then I reported His words to you, because you were afraid of the fire and you didn’t want to get any closer to the mountain.
‘He said:
I am Jehovah your God that brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery.
So, you must have no gods other than Me,and you must not make images for yourselves of anything in the skies above, on the ground below, or of things that live in the water under the ground.
You must not bow before them or serve them, for I (Jehovah your God) am a zealous God, and I bring the sins of the ancestors upon the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of those that hate Me,while I am merciful to the thousands that love Me and keep My Commandments.
‘Therefore, you must not misuse the Name of your God, Jehovah;
For your God Jehovah will not forgive those that misuse His Name.
‘Keep the Sabbaths and make them holy, just as Jehovah your God has commanded you.
You may work and get everything done in 6 days,but the 7th day is the Sabbath of your God Jehovah, when you must do no work…
Not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your oxen, your burros, any of your cattle, or any converts that are visiting among you.
Both you and your servants must rest.
Remember that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt before Jehovah your God brought you out of there with His strong hand and mighty arm.
So, Jehovah has instructed you to keep the Sabbaths and to make them holy!
‘Honor your father and mother, as Jehovah your God commanded you, so that things may go well for you and that you may live a long time in the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you.
‘You must not commit murder.
‘You must not commit adultery.
‘You must not steal.
‘You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
‘You must not desire your neighbor’s woman, his house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his burro, any of his other animals, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
‘Yes, these are the words that Jehovah spoke to the gathering with a loud voice at the mountain from the midst of the fire, darkness, blackness, and storms… and He didn’t add anything more.
He then wrote them on two tablets of stone and He gave them to me.
‘Then after you heard his voice from the midst of the fire (for the mountain was burning with fire when all of you went there with the heads of your tribes and your elders),you said,
{Look!} Jehovah our God has now shown us His glory and we have heard His voice coming from the midst of the fire.
We have also seen that when God speaks to men, we can still live!However, we were all [afraid] that we would die… that this great fire would burn us up and kill us if we listened to the voice of Jehovah our God any longer.
For, what flesh has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking from a fire as we have, and still lived?
‘[So you told me]:
We want you to go up to Him and listen to whatever Jehovah our God has to say, then come back and tell us whatever Jehovah our God has said…
For we will do [whatever He tells you that we must do]!
‘Well, when the Lord heard what you said to me, He told me this:
I have heard everything that these people have said to you… and everything that they’ve said is good.
However, I just wish that they had the types of hearts in them that would cause them to fear Me and to keep My commandments, so that things would continue to go well for them and their descendants through the ages!
‘So now, go back and tell them to return to their homes.
Then you can stand here with Me and I will give you all the Commandments, rules, and decisions that you must then teach to them, and they must obey all of them when they enter the land that I’m giving to them as their inheritance.
They must pay close attention and do everything that Jehovah their God commands them to do… they must not stray to the right or to the left.
Rather, they must follow the path that Jehovah their God will tell them to walk so that He may provide them with rest, so that things may go well for them, and so that they may live even longer in the land that they’re going to inherit.’
‘These are all the Commandments, rules, and decisions that Jehovah your God gave to you and taught you to obey in the land that you will inherit.
So, fear Jehovah your God and follow all the rules and Commandments that I’m giving to you, to your sons, and to your grandsons for as long as you all may live!
‘Now, listen to them, O IsraEl, and obey them so that things may go well for you and so that your [families] will grow, just as Jehovah the God of your ancestors promised that He would do for you when He gives you a land flowing with milk and honey.
Yes, these are the rules and decisions that the Lord gave as Commandments to the children of IsraEl while they were in the desert, after they left the land of Egypt.
[He said]:
Listen, O IsraEl; Jehovah your God is the only Lord,and you must love Him with your whole mind, with your whole life, and with your whole strength.
And these words that I am commanding you today must stay in your hearts and in your lives…then you must teach them to your children.
Speak of them while you’re sitting at home, while you’re out walking, before you go to bed and when you get up.
You must tie them to your hands as a sign and keep them before your eyes…
Write them on the doorposts of your homes and on your gates!
‘And when Jehovah your God brings you into the land that He promised your ancestors AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob that He would give to you, along with great and beautiful cities that you didn’t build,houses that are full of all sorts of good things that you didn’t put there, wells dug in rock that you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive groves that you didn’t plant, and where you will eat and be filled;
You must be careful not to forget Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery.
So, you must fear Jehovah your God and serve only Him!
You must stick to Him and swear by His Name!
‘Don’t follow other gods, such as the gods of the nations around you,for Jehovah your God (who is among you) is a zealous God.
Otherwise, Jehovah your God will be very angry with you and [He will] destroy you from the face of the ground.
‘You must not test Jehovah your God as you tested Him in the [desert].
You must absolutely keep all the Commandments, decisions, and rules that He gave to you,and you must do everything that is pleasing and good before Jehovah, so that things will go well for you and you may enter and inherit the good land that Jehovah promised to your ancestors,from which He promised to chase all of your enemies away ahead of you.
‘Then if your son should ever ask you,
What are the words, rules, and decisions that Jehovah our God has given to us?
You must tell him:
We were once slaves to PharaOh in the land of Egypt; then Jehovah brought us out of there with His strong hand and mighty arm.
For Jehovah performed signs and great miracles on our behalf there in Egypt, before PharaOh and His house.
Then He brought us out of there to give us this land, which He promised our ancestors that He would give to us.
Then the Lord taught us to obey all His rules and to fear our God, so that things will go well for us through the ages that we will live here, [starting from] today.
For, Jehovah our God will be merciful to us if we pay attention and obey all these Commandments that He gave to us.’
‘And when Jehovah your God brings you in and gives you the land where you are going; [He] will remove great nations from before you – the Hittites, Gergesites, Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, and Jebusites – 7 nations that are larger and stronger than you are.
Jehovah your God will give them into your hands and you must cut them down… destroy them!
You must not make any treaties with them or feel pity for them,nor may you marry among them or give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons.
Otherwise, they will draw your sons away to serve other gods, and Jehovah will be very angry with you and quickly destroy you.
‘This is what you should do to them:
Destroy their altars and break down their [sacred] columns, then cut down their sacred poles and burn the carved images of their gods with fire…
For you are a holy people to Jehovah your God, and He chose you to be His people over all the other nations on the face of the earth!
‘But, Jehovah didn’t prefer and choose you because there are more of you than there are in other nations… for you are smaller than the rest.
Rather, He chose you because He loves you and because He wants to keep the promise that He made to your ancestors.
So He brought you out of the house of slavery – out of the hand of PharaOh, the king of Egypt – with His strong hand.
Therefore, you should know that Jehovah your God is a faithful God that keeps promises, and that He is merciful to those that love Him and keep His Commandments through thousands of generations.
Yet, He pays back those that hate Him to their faces by destroying them… He doesn’t cut any slack for those that hate Him.
‘So you must keep His Commandments, rules, and these decisions that I am giving to you today.
And after you hear them (and if you decide to keep them), Jehovah your God will keep His Sacred Agreement with you and show the mercy to you that He promised to your ancestors.
He will love you, bless you, and make you grow.
He will also bless the children that come from you, as well as the fruitage of your [fields] – your grain, wine, oil, herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep – in the land that Jehovah swore to your ancestors that He would give to you.
You will be blest beyond all other nations, and neither you nor your cattle will be impotent or sterile.
Jehovah your God will also take away all illnesses…
He won’t bring any of the terrible diseases that you saw in Egypt upon you, but He will send them upon all those that hate you.
‘You may eat whatever you take from the nations that Jehovah your God is giving to you.
But you must not spare them, nor may you serve their gods, because that would be a sin!
Now, if you start thinking that some nation is stronger than you are and you wonder if it’s even possible for you to destroy them;
Just remember all that Jehovah your God did to PharaOh and to the Egyptians.
For you’ve seen all the great signs, wonders, and the strong hand and mighty arm that Jehovah your God used to bring you out of there;
And that’s the same thing that He will do to those nations… they will [shake in] fear when they see you!
Jehovah your God will send hornets against them until all that are left and hiding from you are destroyed.
Yet, none of you will even be wounded, because Jehovah your God who is among you is a great and powerful God.
‘However, Jehovah your God will only destroy these nations a little at a time…
You won’t be able to destroy them quickly; otherwise, the land would become desert again and there would be too many wild animals in your fields.
Yet, Jehovah your God will give them all into your hands… so you must [keep on] destroying them until they are all gone.
He will deliver their kings into your hands and you will wipe away their names…
No one will be able to stand before you until you’ve destroyed them all!
‘Then you must burn all the carved images of their gods in fires…
You must not loot their [images] of silver or gold, for that would offend Jehovah your God, since these things are disgusting to Him!
So, don’t bring their disgusting things into your homes…
Hate them and consider them as cursed, because they really are cursed!’
‘You must be careful to obey all the Commandments that I’m giving you today so you can live and grow, and then enter and inherit the land that Jehovah your God has promised to your ancestors.
Don’t forget how Jehovah your God led you through the desert where He tested and tried you in order to show what’s in your hearts… whether you would keep His Commandments or not.
For He tested you and corrected you with hunger, and then He fed you with manna (something that your ancestors had never heard of) to show you that men don’t just need bread to live, but also all the words that come from the mouth of The God.
Then your clothes didn’t wear out, nor did your shoes… and your feet never grew hard during these past 40 years!
‘In your hearts, you must realize that Jehovah your God has been disciplining you in the same way that any man should be disciplining his sons.
So, you must keep His Commandments, follow His paths, and fear Him.For Jehovah your God will bring you into a large and good land where there are deep springs and rivers that flow down the mountains and into the plains.
It’s a land where there is wheat, barley, vines, figs, and pomegranates… a land of olive oil and honey,where no one will go hungry and nobody will be [poor]…
A land where stones are made of iron and copper is mined in the mountains!
‘Then after you have eaten and are filled, you must praise Jehovah your God in the good land that He’s giving to you.
Pay attention to yourselves and don’t forget Jehovah your God or overlook His Commandments, decisions, and rules, which I’m giving to you today.
So, after you’ve eaten and are full, and have built good houses and are living in them,and your herds of oxen and sheep have increased, and you’ve become wealthy and have many possessions;
Don’t become too proud in your hearts and then forget Jehovah your God that brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery,and who thereafter led you through that great and terrible desert where there were scorpions, biting snakes, and drought.
For when there was no water, He brought you a fountain of water out of flinty rock.
Then He fed you with manna in the desert, which was something of which you and your ancestors have never heard.
He did all of this to [discipline] you, so He could do good things for you in the future.
‘Therefore, you must never say in your hearts,
I’ve gained all this wealth with my own hands and by my own power.
You must remember that it was Jehovah your God that has given you the power to gain your wealth…
And this is because of the Promise that He swore to your ancestors.
‘And if you should ever forget Jehovah your God and choose to follow, bow before, and serve other gods; then I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that you will be destroyed!
For, just as Jehovah is destroying the nations before you; that’s how you will be destroyed if you fail to listen to the voice of your God!’
‘Listen [to me], O IsraEl;
Today you’re going to cross the JorDan and you will inherit nations that are greater and stronger than you are, as well as large cities with walls that reach into the skies.
The people there are great, numerous, and tall… people like the sons of Enac, with whom you are familiar and of whom you’ve heard it said,
Who can stand before the children of Enac?
But I want you to know today, that your God Jehovah will go ahead of you.
For He is a consuming fire and He will destroy them…
He will move them back before you and destroy them all quickly, just as He promised.
‘Now, after Jehovah your God has destroyed all these nations before you, don’t say in your hearts,
Jehovah brought me here to inherit this good land because I’m so righteous.
For it isn’t because of your righteousness or due to the holiness in your hearts that you’re inheriting their land.
Rather, it’s because these nations are so wicked that Jehovah will destroy them… and [He’s doing it] so that He may fulfill the Promise that He swore to our ancestors AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.
‘No, it isn’t because of your righteousness that Jehovah your God is giving you this good land as an inheritance; for you are a [rebellious] people!
Don’t forget how much you angered Jehovah your God in the desert, starting from the day that you left Egypt until you arrived here, because you have continued to disobey Him!
‘[Do you remember how] you made Jehovah so angry in the dry place (Horeb) that He wanted to destroy you?
Back when I went up the mountain to receive the stone tablets of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah made with you (the mountain that I was on for 40 days and 40 nights, and during which I had nothing to eat or drink),and the Lord gave me the two stone tablets that had been written on by the finger of God (yes, all those words that Jehovah said to you on the day that you gathered at the mountain)…
At the end of those 40 days and 40 nights when Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets containing the Sacred Agreement,He said to me:
Now, get up and hurry down the mountain, because the people you brought out of the land of Egypt have sinned!
They’ve already left the Commandments that I gave to them and they’ve made an image for themselves against Me!
‘Then the Lord said to me:
As I told you before, I have seen these people and {Look!} they are rebellious.
So, now I’m going to destroy them – blot their names out from under the sky – and make a great and mighty nation of you… one that will be greater than them!
‘So, as the mountain was burning with fire that reached into the heavens, I turned around and went back down the mountain carrying the two tablets of Proofs, one in each hand.
And when I saw that you had sinned against Jehovah your God and made yourselves an idol – something that Jehovah had commanded you not to do –I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands and broke them there before you.
Then I prayed and begged before the Lord (during another 40 days and 40 nights when I didn’t eat or drink anything), because of all your sins and the evil things that you did before Jehovah your God to anger Him.
And [this time] I was really frightened, because He was so angry with you that He wanted to destroy all of you!
However, Jehovah listened to me one more time.
‘He was also so angry with Aaron that He wanted to destroy him… so I also prayed for Aaron.
Then, because of your sins, I took that [gold] calf and burned it in a fire…
I beat it down and ground it into dust, then I threw the dust into the brook that runs down the mountain!
‘You also angered Jehovah at the Burning, at the Temptation, and at the Graveyard of the Greedy.
And when Jehovah sent you from KaDesh Barne and said,
Go and inherit the land that I am giving to you;
you disobeyed Jehovah your God again… you didn’t believe Him and you wouldn’t do what He told you to do.
You’ve disobeyed everything that Jehovah has said since the day that you first came to know Him!
‘So I prayed to Jehovah for 40 days and 40 nights… that’s how long I prayed to Jehovah, begging Him not to destroy you!
I prayed this to God:
O Lord, King of gods; Don’t destroy Your people… Your inheritance whom You purchased and whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with Your great power, strong hand, and mighty arm.
Remember Your servants AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, to whom You swore an oath by Your [Name]. Don’t look at the hard hearts of these people, at their lack of respect, and at their sins;
Otherwise, those that live in that land from which You carried us away will say,
Jehovah was unable to bring them into the land that He promised to them, because He didn’t care for them!
So He carried them away from here just to kill them in the desert.
But, these are Your people… those whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with Your great strength, Your mighty hand, and Your mighty arm, because they are Yours!’
‘Then the Lord said to me:
Cut two stone tablets for yourself just like the first ones; then come up here to Me on the mountain.
Also make a wooden chest for yourself,[and I will] write the same words on these tablets that [I wrote] on the first tablets, and then you must put them into the chest.
‘So I made a chest from boards of durable wood, and I cut stone tablets that were like the first ones;
Then I climbed the mountain with the two tablets in my hands,and there He wrote the Ten Commandments (which Jehovah spoke to you about from the midst of the fire on the mountain) on the tablets, the same as He did on the first ones, and then He gave them back to me.
So I turned and came down the mountain, and I put the tablets into the chest that I had made, just as Jehovah commanded.
‘Well from there, the children of IsraEl left BeerOth (of the sons of JaKim) and they traveled to MisadAi, where Aaron died and was buried, then his son EliEzer replaced him as the Priest.
And after that, we left and headed to GadGad.
Then from GadGad [we went] to EteBatha, which is a land where there is a lot of running water.
It was there that Jehovah assigned the tribe of Levi to carry the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement and to stand before Jehovah to serve and praise His Name down to this day.
And from that point on, the Levites were to have no part in the inheritance of their brothers; for He told them:
Jehovah is your inheritance.
‘Well, I stayed on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights, and Jehovah listened to me and decided not to destroy you.
Then He told me:
Now, lead these people… let them enter and inherit the land that I promised their ancestors that I would give to them.
‘So now, O IsraEl;
What does Jehovah your God require of you other than that you fear Him, walk in His paths, love Him, and serve Him with your whole hearts and souls?
Therefore, you should obey the Commandments of your God Jehovah and follow all His rules that I’m telling you today, so that things will go well for you.
Look into the skies and into the heavens of heavens; for they, all the lands, and everything that’s in them belong to your God Jehovah.
‘It is Jehovah that chose your ancestors and their seed (which includes you) over all the other nations, to be loved by Him.
So, circumcise the hardness from your hearts and don’t be [rebellious],for Jehovah your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords.
He’s the great, strong, and terrifying God that doesn’t [show special] favor to anyone or accept bribes.
He brings justice to converts, orphans, and widows… yes, He loves the converts and He provides them with food and clothing.
Therefore, you must also love the converts, since you were once [aliens] in the land of Egypt.
‘You must fear Jehovah your God… serve Him, stick to Him, and swear your oaths by His Name!
He’s the One about whom you can boast, because He’s your God that did all these great and glorious things that you’ve seen while He’s been among you.
Remember that there were only 75 people among your ancestors that went down to Egypt…
But now Jehovah your God has made you like the stars in the skies in numbers!’
‘So, you must love your God Jehovah and follow His decrees, laws, commandments, and decisions throughout your lives.
‘Now, recognize that I’m not [addressing] your children here today… those that don’t know and haven’t seen the discipline of your God Jehovah,
Or His wonderful works, strong hand, mighty arm,miracles, and the wonders that He performed before PharaOh (the king of Egypt) and upon his whole land,
Or what He did to the Egyptian army and their chariots and cavalry when He made the waters of the Red Sea cover them and destroy them as they were chasing us,
Or all the things that He did for us in the desert as we were coming here,
Or the things that he did to Dathan and AbiRam (the sons of EliAb and grandsons of ReuBen) when the ground opened her mouth and swallowed them, their families, their tents, and all their belongings there in the midst of all IsraEl.
Rather, [I’m addressing you]! For it was your eyes that saw all these mighty deeds that Jehovah performed among us.
‘As I’ve told you before;
You must keep all His Commandments so you can live, grow, and inherit the land across the JorDanthat’s flowing with milk and honey, and then live a long time on this land that Jehovah promised your ancestors that He would give to them and to their seed.
For the land that you’re going to inherit isn’t like the land of Egypt that you left, where you planted the seeds and then watered them under your feet as in an herb garden.
Rather, the land that you’re going to inherit is a land of mountains and plains; so it will drink its water from the skies!
It’s a land that Jehovah your God will keep an eye on and watch over throughout the whole year.
‘Now, if you will listen to all the Commandments that I’m telling you today and love and serve Jehovah your God with your whole hearts and souls,
He will bring the rains to your land (early rains and late rains in their seasons);
You will have a full harvest of grain, wine, and oil;
And He will put food into the fields for your cattle.
‘But after you’re full and satisfied,be careful not to allow your hearts to become proud and cause you to sin by worshiping and serving other gods.
For if Jehovah becomes angry with you, He will bind up the skies and there won’t be any rain, the earth won’t produce its fruit, and you will soon be destroyed from the good land that Jehovah is giving to you.
‘Keep these words in your hearts and souls…
Tie them on your hands as a sign, and keep them in front of your eyes,then teach them to your children…
Talk to your children about them while you’re sitting at home, while you’re walking along, before you go to sleep, and when you get up.
Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates,so that your days and the days of your children will last a long time in the land that Jehovah swore to your ancestors that He would give to them for as long as the skies cover the ground.
‘Now, if you will listen to all these Commandments that I’m telling you today, and you will love Jehovah your God, walk in all His ways, and stick close to Him;
He will drive out all these nations that are before you and you will inherit nations that are greater and stronger than you are.
Then everywhere that the soles of your feet touch the ground will become yours, from the desert to the borders of Lebanon, and from the great River EuPhrates to the [MediTerranean] Sea… these will all be your borders.
Then no one will be able to oppose you, and your God Jehovah will put the fear and dread of you over all the ground that you walk on, just as He promised.
‘Look, I’m putting a blessing and a curse on you today.
The blessing will come if you listen to all the Commandments of your God Jehovah that I’m giving to you today,
And the curse will come if you don’t listen to the Commandments of your God Jehovah that I’m giving to you today, so that you stray from the path that I’m setting out, and then start serving other gods whom you don’t know.
‘Now, after our God Jehovah has brought you into the land that you’re going to inherit, you must put the blessings on Mount GiriZim and the curses on Mount Ebal.
{Look!} These [mountains] are on the other side of the JorDan, to the west in the land of CanaAn near GolGol and the big oak tree.
‘So, as you cross the JorDan to enter the land that Jehovah our God is giving you to live in and inherit throughout the rest of your lives;
Pay attention and obey all His rules and decisions… all that I’m setting before you today.’
‘Now, these are the rules and decisions that you must be sure to follow in the land that Jehovah the God of your ancestors is giving to you as your inheritance and during the entire time that you will live in the land:
You must destroy all the places where they serve their gods, whether on high mountains, on hills, or under the trees.
You must destroy their altars, break their [sacred] columns into pieces, then cut down their sacred poles and burn the carved images of their gods with fire…
You must erase their names from the land!
‘However, you must never do that to [the Name of] your God;
For your God Jehovah will choose one of your cities where He will put His Name… and that’s where He’ll call for you and where you must go to search for Him.
That’s where you’ll carry your whole burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your first fruitage, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, your thanksgiving offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
Then you must eat [the sacrifices] there before Jehovah your God, as you rejoice over all the things that Jehovah your God has touched and with which He has blest you and your families.
‘At that time, you won’t be doing the same things as we are doing here today… where every man does as he wishes.
For until now, you haven’t arrived at the resting place and the inheritance that Jehovah our God is giving to you.
But you will soon cross the JorDan to live in the land that Jehovah our God is taking as an inheritance for you.
And soon He will provide you with rest from all your enemies round about you, and you will live in security.
‘So, there is going to be a place where Jehovah your God will choose to be called by His Name.
And it’s there that you must bring all the things that I’m telling you to bring today… your whole burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the first fruitage of your hands, and any gifts that you choose to offer as a freewill vow to Jehovah your God.
And it’s there that you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites that live outside of your [city] gates (since they won’t have their own inheritance among you) must rejoice before Jehovah your God.
So, pay attention to yourselves and make sure that you don’t offer your whole burnt offerings in just any place that you may see fit to choose…just in the place that Jehovah your God will choose from among one of your tribes.
That’s [the only place] where you may offer your whole burnt offerings, and that is where you must do all the things that I’m telling you today.
‘Now, you may kill and eat any flesh, which has the blessings of your God Jehovah, that you may desire (such as male and female antelope) in any city that you may wish.
Both the clean and the unclean may eat it there.
But you may not eat its blood… you must pour it out on the ground like water.
And you may not eat any tithes of grain, wine, oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock that you’ve offered as a vow, or as offerings of thanks, or as the first fruitage of your hands, in your own cities.
You, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the strangers that are staying inside your [city] gates may only eat such things before Jehovah your God in the place that He will choose for Himself;
And it’s there that you must rejoice before Jehovah your God with whatever you’re bringing to Him.
Also, be sure that you never abandon the Levites for as long as you live on the ground!
‘Now, when Jehovah your God enlarges your borders, as He told you He would do, and you desire to eat flesh; you may eat all the flesh that your soul desires.
And if the place that Jehovah your God chooses for Himself (where His Name will be called) is far away from you; you may slaughter any [animals] from your herd or flock that God has given to you (just as I’ve told you), and you may eat as much of it as you want in your own cities.
Also, everyone among you may eat male and female antelope, whether you are clean or unclean.
Just make sure that you don’t eat any of their blood, because their blood is their life, and the life can’t be eaten with the flesh.
You must not eat it… you must pour it out on the ground like water.
No, you must not eat it if you want things to go well for you and for your descendants. Always do what is good and pleasing before Jehovah your God!
‘But whenever you have holy things, you must take them and your vow offerings to the place where Jehovah your God will choose to put His Name.
It is there that you must sacrifice the flesh of your whole burnt offerings… on the Altar of your God Jehovah.
The blood of your sacrifices must be poured out at the foot of the Altar of your God Jehovah, and then you may eat the flesh.
‘Be careful!
Listen to and obey all the Commandments that I’m telling you, and then things will go well for you and for your descendants through the ages… that is, as long as you do all that is pleasing and good before Jehovah your God.
‘Now, after Jehovah your God destroys the nations where you are going and you inherit their land and start living there;
Be careful not to become like them after you’ve destroyed them and then say,
How did those nations worship their gods? I think I’ll start doing the same thing!
No, don’t do this to your God;
For the things that they sacrifice to their gods are disgusting to Jehovah, and He hates those that offer their sons and daughters to their gods in fires.
‘So, obey every word that I’m commanding you today, and don’t add anything to them or take anything away from them!’
‘And if a prophet or someone that [has visions] in dreams should arise among you and foretell a sign or a miracle,and the sign or miracle that he foretells comes true…
And then he comes to you and says,
Let’s go and serve other gods…
Don’t listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, because Jehovah your God may be testing you to find out whether you love your God with your whole heart and soul.
‘Rather, you must follow Jehovah your God and fear Him! You must listen to His voice and trust in Him alone!
Then that prophet or dreamer of dreams must be put to death for what he said in trying to make you turn from your God Jehovah who brought you out of the land of Egypt and purchased you from slavery, and for trying to lead you away from the direction that Jehovah your God has commanded you to walk.
So, you must remove any evil that is among you!
‘Even if your own brother (by your father or mother), your son or daughter, your beloved woman, or a friend whom you love as your own life should come to you and say,
Let’s go and serve gods that our ancestors haven’t known…
Or, The gods of the nations that live around us…
Or even, Those at the ends of the earth;
you must not agree with them or listen to them.
‘Then your eyes shouldn’t spare them and you mustn’t feel sorry for them or try to protect them in any way.
Rather, you must report them and you must be among the first to kill them, so that all the rest of the people don’t become involved in it.
They must stone him with rocks until that person dies, because he has tried to draw you away from Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery.
And by doing this, all IsraEl will come to hear of it and be afraid to do such evil things among you.
‘Also, if you should hear people in one of the cities (which Jehovah God is giving you to live in)say that evil men have caused all the inhabitants of a land to fall away by saying,
Let’s go and worship other gods;
You must ask about it and see if this is true. And {Look!} if it is true and this disgusting thing has really happened among you;
You must destroy all those who live in that land with swords. Then you must pronounce the land and everything in it as cursed.
You must take all its valuable things into the streets and burn the city and its things with fire before Jehovah your God, and it must remain uninhabited through the ages, never to be rebuilt.
Don’t allow any of their cursed things to stick to your hands, so that Jehovah’s rage may be turned away from you and so that He may show mercy upon you.
‘He will care for you and cause you to grow, just as He swore to your ancestors that He would doif you will listen to the voice of your God Jehovah, keep His Commandments that I’m telling you today, and do everything that’s good and pleasing before Jehovah your God.’
‘Because you are the sons of your God Jehovah, you must not shave your heads when someone dies,since you are a holy people to Jehovah your God and He has chosen you as His alone from among all the nations on the face of the earth.
Also, you must not eat anything that is disgusting.
These are the animals that you may eat:
· From the herd, calves;
· From the flocks, lambs;
· From the goats, kids;
· Male and female deer;
· Antelope;
· Wild goats;
· Wild sheep.
You may eat all animals that have split hooves and chew the cud.
‘You may not eat these animals:
Those that chew the cud but don’t have split hoofs, such as camels, hares, and rabbits… they are unclean because they chew the cud but they don’t have split hooves.
And the same is true of pigs. They have split hooves, but they don’t chew the cud, so you must consider them unclean, and you may not eat their flesh or touch their dead bodies.
‘You may eat anything that lives in the water and has fins and scales.
But anything that doesn’t have fins and scales must be considered unclean and may not be eaten.
‘You may eat all clean flying creatures.
However, these are the ones that you may not eat:
· Eagles
· Vultures
· Ospreys
· Falcons
· Kites and the like,
·· Crows and the like,
· Terns
· Owls
· Seagulls
· Herons
· Swans
· Storks
· Cormorants
· Hawks and the like
· Hoopoes
· Ravens
· Pelicans
· Diving birds
· Red bills
· Bats.
Also, you may not eat winged creatures that slither (insects), for they are unclean.
‘You may eat any sort of clean winged creatures,but you may not eat anything that dies on its own.
You may give them to people that are visiting in your cities and they can eat it, or you may sell it to strangers…
But not you, for you are a holy people to Jehovah your God.
‘You must not boil a lamb in its mother’s milk.
‘You must bring 1/10th of all the grain and fruit of your fields as a tithe each year,and you must eat it in that place where Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called.
That’s where you must bring your tithes of grain, wine, oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
‘So, learn to always fear Jehovah your God!
‘Now, if the journey to that place where Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called is too far for you, and you are unable to take [your offerings] there because of the distance;
Jehovah will bless you if you sell them for money and take the money to the place that Jehovah will choose.
And there, you may use the money to buy whatever your soul desires, such as oxen, sheep, wine, liquor… anything that your soul desires.
Then you must eat it there before Jehovah your God, and you and your family must rejoicealong with the Levites that live in your cities.
For since they will not have a share in your inheritance, they will have nothing to bring.
‘You may store the tithes in your cities; but, every three years, you must bring them all.
Then you must invite all the Levites and all the strangers, orphans, and widows in your cities (those who don’t have anything to bring) to come with you, and they may eat until they are full.
Then Jehovah your God will bless you in everything that you do.’
‘Every 7 years you must cancel all debts…and these are the rules:
You must cancel any debts that your neighbor owes you personally, and you must not ask to have them paid back, because this is a cancellation [of debts] to Jehovah your God.
You may ask strangers to pay whatever they owe you, but not your brothers… you must cancel their debts.
That way, there won’t be any poor people among you and Jehovah your God will surely bless you in the land that He’s giving to you as your inheritance.
‘Now, if you listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and obey all these Commandments that I’m giving you today;
Jehovah your God will bless you (as He told you), and then you will lend to many nations.
However, you must never borrow from them, nor may you rule over them…
But then, they won’t rule over you either.
‘If you find a poor man among your brothers in your city in that land which Jehovah your God is giving to you, you must not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted with your brother who is in need…
You must reach out to him and lend him as much as he needs!
‘Now, be careful not to secretly say in your hearts,
the 7th year (the Year of Release) is getting close,
then allow your eyes to look wickedly at your brother who is in need and not lend him anything.
For then he will call out to Jehovah about you, and you will be guilty of a serious sin.
So, you must be sure to lend Him as much as he needs with no grudge in your hearts.
For, because of your good deeds, Jehovah your God will bless everything that you do and everything that you touch.
‘There will always be poor people in your land, and that’s why I’m telling you to do this.
You must reach out to your poor brothers and to anyone that is having a hard time in your land.
‘And if your brother (a Hebrew man or woman) should be sold to you, he may serve you for 6 years; but in the 7th year, you must set him free.
And when you set him free, don’t send him away empty-handed!
You must give him provisions from your flock, from your grain, and from your wine… as Jehovah your God has blest you, that’s how you must treat him.
Don’t forget that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt before Jehovah your God brought you out of there…
That’s why I’m telling you to do this!
‘However, if [the slave] should tell you that he doesn’t want to leave you because he loves you and your family; if you approve of this,you must take an awl and punch a hole through his ear against the door.
Then he will be your servant through the age…
And female servants should be dealt with in the same way.
‘[None of] this will create a hardship on you.
For though such people will only serve you for 6 years as hired hands; Jehovah your God will bless you in everything that you do.
‘Now, when it comes to the firstborn among your oxen and sheep;
You must offer the males as holy to Jehovah your God. You may not work a firstborn calf, and you may not shear a firstborn sheep.
You and your household must eat them before Jehovah each year in the place that Jehovah your God will choose.
However; if it’s lame, or blind, or deformed, you must not sacrifice it to Jehovah your God.
Both the clean and the unclean among you may eat it in your cities, the same as you would a male or female deer.But you must not eat its blood… you must pour it out on the ground like water!’
‘You must celebrate the month of New Grain and sacrifice the Passover to Jehovah your God, because that’s the month when you left Egypt during the night.
You must sacrifice your Passover sheep and oxen in that place where Jehovah your God will select to have His Name called,and you may not eat bread that is fermenting for 7 days.
You may only eat fermentation-free bread, which is the bread of hard times, because you left Egypt in a hurry.
You must remember the day when you left the land of Egypt for as long as you live.
‘Fermentation must not be seen anywhere inside your borders for 7 days, and none of the flesh that you sacrifice in the evening may be left over until the next morning.Nor are you allowed to sacrifice the Passover in just any of the cities that Jehovah your God is giving to you.
The Passover may not be sacrificed anywhere other than in the place that Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called, in the evening, after sunset… which is the day that you left Egypt.
You must boil or roast [the meat] and then eat it in the place that Jehovah your God will choose; and then you should go back to your homes the next morning!
You must eat fermentation-free bread for 6 days, and then the 7th day is to be a holiday and a feast to Jehovah your God, during which you may not do any work other than that which is common to everyone.
‘Then, start counting off 7 weeks from the time that you first cut the grain with a sickle,and you must celebrate the Festival of Weeks (Pentecost) to Jehovah your God with as much strength and with as many things as Jehovah your God has given to you.
You must rejoice before Jehovah your God with your sons and daughters, with your male and female servants, and with the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows that live among you in that place where Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called.
For you must show that you remember the [time] when you were slaves in the land of Egypt by doing all these things and by obeying these Commandments.
‘You must also celebrate the Festival of Temporary Dwellings for 7 days, after you’ve stored away your grain and made your wine.
Then you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows in your cities should rejoice.
You must hold a feast to Jehovah your God for 7 days in the place that Jehovah your God will choose for Himself.
And you must rejoice over all the harvest with which Jehovah your God has blest you and for all the things that you’ve accomplished.
‘All your males must appear before Jehovah your God three times each year in the place that Jehovah will choose, for these festivals:
· The Festival of Fermentation-free Bread
· The Festival of Weeks
· The Festival of Temporary Dwellings.
And don’t appear before Jehovah your God empty handed!
Each one must bring whatever he can, as Jehovah your God has blest him.
‘You must appoint judges and officials in the cities that Jehovah your God is giving to each of your tribes, and they must judge the people righteously.
They must not be unfair, show anyone special favor, or accept gifts, because gifts blind the eyes of the wise and twist the words of the righteous.
You must always work at being just, so you may live and inherit the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you.
‘You must never erect poles or plant any trees for yourselves near the Altar of your God,nor may you erect sacred columns for yourselves, because Jehovah your God hates such things!’
‘You must not sacrifice a calf or a sheep to Jehovah your God that is scarred or deformed in any way, for that would be disgusting to Jehovah your God.
‘And if a man or a woman should ever be found among you (in any of the cities that Jehovah your God is giving to you) who chooses to do what is evil before Jehovah and sins against His Sacred Agreementby going and serving other gods, or by worshiping the sun, moon, or any of the stars in the skies (something that He has commanded you not to do),and someone tells you about it;
You must inquire about it and investigate to see if this disgusting thing has really happened in IsraEl.
[If so], you must bring that man or woman outside [the city] and stone him/her to death with rocks.
The person must be put to death if there are two or three witnesses to testify against him. But, no one should be put to death on the testimony of just one witness.
And then, those who testify against him must be the first to put him/her to death…
They must [throw their rocks] in front of the rest, and you must remove the evil person from among yourselves.
‘Now, whenever a matter is too difficult for you to judge in your cities (as between blood and blood, cause and cause, stroke and stroke, and contradiction and contradiction);
You must take the matter before the Levite priests who will then be at the place which Jehovah your God will choose, and they must judge the case.
They must perform their own investigation and then report their findings to you,and you must do whatever they have decided in the place that Jehovah your God will choose…
You must be sure to do whatever the Law tells you to do.
‘Yes, you must always follow the Law and abide by any judgments that are handed down.
Don’t deviate to the right or to the left from any of the decisions that are reached.
For any man who acts so haughtily that he won’t listen to the Priests who stand and serve in the Name of your God Jehovah or to a presiding judge, must be put to death.
You must remove that evil person from IsraEl,so that everyone who hears about it will thereafter be afraid to show so little respect in the future!
‘And when you enter the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you (after you’ve inherited it and are living there), and you decide that you want a king to rule over you like the other nations around you;
He must be chosen by Jehovah your God.
Kings may only be selected from among your brothers;
So, don’t empower yourselves to select a king who isn’t a brother.
‘[And no king should] accumulate horses for himself, nor may he send [My] people back to Egypt.
He may [decide to] do this if he starts collecting horses for himself… but Jehovah has told you not to go back there again!
Nor may he start accumulating many women for himself, for they will change his heart…
And he shouldn’t collect a lot of silver and gold for himself.
‘And when [such kingships] are established and they start to rule, the [kings] must each write their own copy of these Laws in a scroll with the help of the Levite priests.
Thereafter, they must keep [the scroll] and read from it all the days of their lives, so they will learn to fear Jehovah their God and keep and observe all these Commandments and rules.
By doing this, they won’t consider themselves more important than their brothers in their hearts, nor will they swerve to the right or to the left of the Commandments, so that they and their sons will continue to reign for a long time in their land among the children of IsraEl.’
‘None of the Priests, including the whole tribe of Levi, will have any inheritance in IsraEl, because the burnt offerings of Jehovah are their inheritance and their food.
They will have no inheritance among their brothers, because Jehovah is their portion, just as He told them.
‘The Priests will get the things that the people offer as sacrifices, such as [a portion of] the calves and sheep (the shoulder, cheeks, and bellies),and the first-fruitage of your grain, your wine, your oil, and the fleece from your sheep.
Because, Jehovah has chosen them from among all your tribes to stand before Jehovah your God to serve and praise His Name on behalf of His sons, the children of IsraEl.
‘Also, if a Levite is living in any of the cities of the children of IsraEl (for he can live wherever he chooses),he must serve the Name of His God Jehovah.
And he and all His brothers (the Levites who stand before Jehovah your God)must still be given their portion… even if they’ve inherited any proceeds from property that was left to them by their fathers, which they’ve chosen to sell.
‘And once you’ve entered the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you, you must not learn [any of] the disgusting things that those nations are doing, such as:
· Offering their sons or daughters in fire
· Using occult powers to tell the future
· Looking for omens
· Serving as witches
· Speaking incantations
· Consulting spirits to tell the future
· Looking for signs
· Asking [questions of] the dead.
For, through the ages, those that have done such things have been disgusting to Jehovah your God.
And if you do such disgusting things, Jehovah will destroy you from before His face…you must be perfect before Jehovah your God!
So, though all those nations whose land you will inherit have paid attention to omens and [followed] occult practices;
Jehovah your God doesn’t allow you to do that!
‘Then Jehovah your God will raise a Prophet like me from among your brothers, and you must listen to him.
Remember that, after you had received all that you desired from Jehovah your God in the dry place (Horeb), the whole gathering said:
We don’t want to listen to the voice of your God Jehovah again or to see His great fire, so we won’t die!
And then the Lord said to me:
What they are saying is good;so, I will raise a Prophet like you from among their brothers, and I will put My words into his mouth and he will tell them whatever I command him to say…
Then I will bring My vengeance upon anyone that doesn’t listen to what that Prophet says in My name.
But, any prophet that uses My Name in an irreverent way by saying things that I didn’t tell him to say, or speaks in the name of other gods, must die!
‘Now, if you ever start wondering in your hearts which words weren’t said by Jehovah;
[Remember that] anything a prophet says in the Name of the Lord that doesn’t come true, is something that wasn’t said by Jehovah…
So that prophet has spoken wickedly; don’t have anything to do with him!’
‘And when Jehovah your God has destroyed the nations that He’s giving to you, along with their lands, cities, and houses that you will inherit and live in;
You must set aside three cities in the midst of the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you.
Perform a survey and divide the borders of your land into three parts, [then assign central cities as] places of refuge for those that have [unintentionally] killed someone.
‘And this is the rule:
Those that are guilty of manslaughter (anyone that has accidentally struck his neighbor… someone whom he has never disliked) may run to [one of these cities] and stay there.
For example:
If someone should go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his ax head flies off its handle and hits his neighbor, killing him; he must then flee to one of these cities and live there,so that the angry blood avenger doesn’t chase him down and kill him (because he isn’t worthy of death, since he hasn’t hated his [neighbor] in the past)…
But, that’s what will happen if [the refuge cities] are too far away.
This is why I’m telling you to set these three cities aside.
‘And if Jehovah enlarges your borders (as He promised your ancestors that He would do), and if He gives you all the land that He said He would give to you,you must obey these Commandments that I’m giving to you today.
[Since you must] love Jehovah your God and always walk in His ways, you must choose three cities within your borders,so that the blood of those that are innocent won’t be spilled in the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you as your inheritance, and none of you will ever be found guilty of [spilling innocent] blood.
‘However, if someone truly hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him, then sneaks up and kills him, and he thereafter flees to one of these cities;
The local elders must hand him over to the blood avenger, who must kill him.
Don’t feel sorry for him, because you must purge the innocent blood from IsraEl, so that things may go well for you.
‘Also, don’t move your neighbor’s property markers that were set by your ancestors as their inheritance…
Those that will be assigned to you in the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you as your inheritance.
‘In addition; the testimony of a single witness may never be used against a person for any sins that he may commit…
It requires two or three witnesses to prove anything.
And if someone brings a charge against a person [that can’t be proven];
Both people in the controversy must stand before Jehovah and before the priests or judges in those days.
Then the judges must seriously investigate the matter to see if the person has brought a false charge against his brother.
And if he has, you must do the same wicked thing that he wanted to do to his brother, to him…
You must remove the evil from among yourselves,so that the rest will hear about it and be afraid to do such bad things among you.
Don’t forgive this person…
It must be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot!’
‘And when you go to war against your enemies and find that they have a larger army and more horsemen than you do;
Don’t be afraid of them, for Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt will be with you!
But, before you go out to fight; the Priests must come and speak to the people, and tell them this:
Listen, O IsraEl!
Today you’re going to fight against your enemies, so you must be courageous!
Don’t be afraid, don’t get confused, and don’t retreat,because Jehovah your God is with you and He will fight against your enemies and save you!
‘The scribes must also speak to the people and say:
If any man has built a new house and he hasn’t consecrated it yet, he should go back home. For he might die in the war, and then someone else would be able to consecrate it.
And any man that has planted a vineyard and not yet [enjoyed its wine] should go back home. For he might die in the battle and then someone else would get to enjoy it.
Also, if any man is engaged [to marry] and he has not yet taken his woman, he should go back home. For he might die in the battle and then someone else would take her.
‘The scribes should also say to the people:
If there is any man that isn’t [brave] and is afraid;
He too should go back home, so his fear doesn’t discourage his brothers.
‘And after the scribes have finished speaking to the people, they must appoint generals over the army to lead them.
‘Now, whenever you approach a city; before you go to battle against them, you must call out to them peacefully.
And if they answer you peacefully and open [their gates] to you, all the people that are found there must become your subjects and serve you.
But if they don’t listen to you and they choose to fight a war against you; then you must [lay siege to the city]until Jehovah your God gives it into your hands.
And thereafter, you must kill all the men with swords.
You may spare the women, their possessions, all their cattle, and anything else that is in that city…
You may loot it and take whatever you wish and eat whatever your enemies may have, because Jehovah your God has given it to you.
‘Now, that’s what you must do to the distant cities, but not to the cities of these nations that Jehovah your God is giving to you and whose land you will inherit.
You must not leave anything alive there!
You must curse the Hittites, Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, Jebusites, and Gergesites, just as Jehovah your God has commanded you,so that they don’t teach you to do all the disgusting things that they are doing before their gods and cause you to sin before Jehovah your God.
‘And whenever you lay siege to a city and you don’t succeed in capturing it right away;
You must not cut down and destroy any of its [fruit] trees.
Rather, [pick the fruit] and eat it… for the trees in the fields aren’t men that must be cut down to capture [the city].
However, you must cut down and destroy any trees that you know aren’t fruit bearing, and then use them to build a mound against the [walls] of the city that has chosen to battle with you, until it is captured.’
‘If anyone is found murdered with a knife and [his body is] left in a field in the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you as an inheritance and no one knows who did it;
Your elders and judges must go there and measure the distances from the slain man to the cities round about.
Then, from whichever city is nearest to him, the elders of that city must choose a heifer from the herd that has never worn a yoke or been worked,and lead it into a valley that has never been tilled or planted, and you must slaughter the heifer there.
Thereafter, the Levite priests must go there (because they’re the ones whom Jehovah has chosen to represent Him and to praise His Name), and whatever they decide must stand.
‘Thereafter, all the elders of the city that went out to the murdered man must wash their hands over the head of the heifer that was slaughtered in the valley and say,
Our hands didn’t shed this blood and our eyes didn’t witness it.
So, please be merciful to Your people IsraEl whom You have redeemed, O Lord, so that Your people IsraEl aren’t held responsible for this innocent blood.
And by doing this, the blood will have been paid for by them.
For you must remove all innocent blood from among yourselves if you wish to do what is good and pleasing before Jehovah your God.
‘And when you’re going to fight a war against your enemies and Jehovah your God allows you to conquer them and carry away loot,and if you then notice a woman with a pretty face among the captives whom you wish to take as your woman;
When you bring her home, you must shave her head, cut her nails,and remove all the clothes that she was wearing when she was captured.
Thereafter, she must be allowed to mourn for her father and mother in your home for a month.
And only after that may you have sex with her, live with her, and take her as your woman.
But if you thereafter find that you are unhappy with her, you must then send her away free…
She can’t be sold, nor may you mistreat her, because you’ve dishonored her.
Also, if a man has two women and he loves one and doesn’t care as much for the other, and both women have given birth and the son of the one for whom he cares less is the firstborn;
When he divides his property among his sons as their inheritance, he may not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the woman whom he loves more.
He must recognize the rights of the firstborn and give him twice as much of the things he owns, because he’s the first of his children, and he owns that birthright.
‘Now, if any man has a son who is disobedient, likes to argue, and refuses to obey his father and mother or to listen when they correct him;
They must take him before the elders at their city gateand tell them:
This is our disobedient son. He won’t listen to us and he has become a drunk and a partier.
Then the men of the city must stone him to death with rocks; for you must remove those that are evil from among yourselves, so that the rest will hear about it and fear.
And if someone sins and is sentenced to death, and you choose to execute him by hanging him on a tree;
Don’t allow his body to remain on the tree overnight. You must bury it on that same day.
Because, through the ages, anyone that is hanged on a tree is cursed before God, and you must not [allow his body to] dirty the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you as your inheritance.’
‘Whenever you see your brother’s calf or sheep wandering loose in the road, don’t just pass it by; rather, you must lead it back to your brother and give it to him.
However, if your brother doesn’t live near you and you don’t know [who owns the animal];
You must take it home with you and keep it until your brother comes searching for it, and then you must give it back to him.
That’s what you must do for his burro, his clothing, or anything else that your brother may have lost… don’t overlook anything!
And if you see your brother’s burro or ox fallen on the road, don’t just pass it by; be sure to help him get it back on its feet.
‘A woman should never wear men’s clothing, nor should a man ever wear women’s clothing.
For, through the ages, such a thing has been considered disgusting by Jehovah your God.
‘And if you should find a bird’s nest where the bird is brooding eggs or chicks in the road, or in a tree, or on the ground;
You must not take the nest with its young.
You may take the [eggs], but you must let the mother go, so things will go well for you and so that you may have a long life.
‘Whenever you build a new house, you must build a wall around [the roof] to keep anyone from falling from it, so you don’t bring the guilt of someone’s blood upon your home.
‘You must not plant different types of seeds in your vineyard;
For the [plants] could [cross-pollinate] and make your vineyard unholy.
‘You must not hitch an ox and a burro together to [pull] the same plow.
‘You must not wear clothing made of both linen and wool.
‘You must put fringes on all 4 sides of your clothing, no matter how you may dress yourselves.
‘If any man should take a woman that he comes to dislike after he has lived with her,and then he starts saying bad things about her and calling her bad names, saying,
When I took this woman and had sex with her, she didn’t prove to be a virgin;
Her father and mother must bring the girl’s proof of virginity to the elders at the city gate,and the girl’s father should tell the elders:
I gave my daughter to be this man’s woman,and now he no longer cares for her and he’s saying that he found no indication of my daughter’s virginity. But here’s the proof…
And he must unfold the sheet with her [blood] before the city’s elders.
[If he can do this], the elders of that city must take the man and discipline him,then fine him 100 small silver coins and give it to the girl’s father for slandering the name of a virgin of IsraEl.
Thereafter, she must continue to be his woman and he may never divorce her.
‘However, if what he says proves to be true and no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found;
They must take her in front of her father’s house and stone her to death with rocks, because she has dishonored the children of IsraEl and the house of her father by her immorality.
You must remove the evil person from among yourselves!
‘Also, if [you find] a man having sex with another man’s woman, you must kill both the man and the woman…
You must remove those who are wicked from IsraEl!
‘And if a young woman is already engaged to a man and another man in the city has sex with her,you must take both of them outside the city gate and stone them to death with rocks…
Her, because she didn’t scream, and him, because he dishonored the woman of his neighbor.
You must remove the evil ones from among yourselves!
‘However, if a man catches an engaged woman out in a field and rapes her, you must put the man that did this to death;since, the woman hasn’t committed a sin for which she should be killed.
Something like this is just as serious as when one man murders another,because he found and [raped] an engaged woman that screamed when no one was around to help her.
‘And if any man should assault a young virgin that isn’t engaged, and this can be proven;
The man who assaulted her must pay her father 50 silver coins, then he must marry her and never be allowed to divorce her, because he dishonored her.
‘Also, no man may lay his father bare by having sex with his father’s woman.’
‘No man that has been castrated, or whose sexual parts have been damaged,or any son of a whore may enter the gathering of Jehovah.
‘AmMonites and MoAbites may not enter the gathering of Jehovah…
Not through the 10th generation or through the ages,because they didn’t meet you and bring you bread and water as you were coming from Egypt, and because they hired BalaAm the son of BeOr of MesoPotamia to curse you.
Jehovah your God didn’t listen to BalaAm and He changed the curses into blessings, because He loved you.
So, you must not speak to them in peace or for profit for as long as you live, and through the ages.
‘You must not hate Edomites, because they’re your brothers;
And you must not hate Egyptians, because you were once strangers in their land.
So, their 3rd-generation sons may enter the gathering of Jehovah.
‘Also, whenever you go out to fight with your enemies, you must refrain from doing anything that is wicked.
‘If any man happens to be unclean because of a release [of semen] during the night, he must leave the camp, or not return to it.
Then that evening, he must wash his body in water and return to the camp after sundown.
So, you must set aside a place outside of the camp where [the unclean] may go.
‘And [each of] you must carry a spade in your belts, so that when you need to relieve yourselves somewhere [outside of the camp], you may use it to dig [a hole] in the ground and then cover your excrement.
[You must do this] because Jehovah your God walks in your camp to save you and to give your enemies [into your hands];
Therefore, your camp must be holy and nothing disgusting may be seen that will make Him turn away from you.
‘You must not return a slave to his master after he has run away and come to serve you.
He must live with you and among you, and you must not mistreat him for as long as he continues to please you.
‘There may be no whores among the daughters of IsraEl, nor may there be any [men] among the sons of IsraEl who are whoremongers.
‘There may be no idol worshipers among the daughters of IsraEl or among the sons of IsraEl.
‘You may not bring the wages of a prostitute or the price of a dog into the House of your God Jehovah to pay any vow, because these things are disgusting to Jehovah.
‘You must not charge your brother interest for borrowing silver, or meat, or anything else that you may lend to him.
You may charge interest on loans to strangers, but not to your brothers, so that Jehovah your God will bless everything you do in this land that you are entering and will inherit.
‘Whenever you swear an oath to your God Jehovah, you must be quick about paying it, because your God requires that you do this.
And if you don’t, this will be held as a sin against you.
If you are unwilling to offer anything, that isn’t a sin.
But whatever you vow to offer as a gift to Jehovah God must be [paid] as promised.’
‘If you take a woman and live with her, and then find that you don’t care for her because of some indecent thing that she has done, you may write out a divorce certificate and put it into her hands, then send her away from your home.
And after leaving, if she becomes another man’s womanand he also finds that he dislikes her and writes a certificate of divorce and puts it into her hands and sends her out of his home, or if this last man that took her as his woman should die;
The former husband may not take her back after she has been defiled. For that is a disgusting thing before Jehovah your God.
You must not dirty the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you as your inheritance.
‘And whenever a man has recently married, he must not go to war, nor may anyone require him to do so.
Rather, he must live free in his house for 1 year as a joy to the woman whom he has taken.
‘You may not take another man’s millstone as collateral for a loan, because those that do this are requiring a life as part of the agreement.
‘Any man that is caught kidnapping and selling one of his brothers of the children of IsraEl must die…
You must remove those that are evil from among yourselves.
‘Pay special attention when it comes to the plague of leprosy…
You must be very careful to obey all the laws that the Levite priests may give you and you must do as I have instructed you.
For, remember all that Jehovah your God did to MiriAm while you were traveling from Egypt.
‘If your neighbor owes you a debt (no matter what kind), you may not enter his house to collect it.
You must stand outside, and the man that owes you the debt should bring it out to you.
However, if the man is too poor [to pay it]; you may not go to sleep while you’re holding the thing that he pledged [as collateral].
You must return it before sunset, so he can sleep in his clothes… then he will praise you, and Jehovah your God will be merciful to you.
‘You must not be unfair and withhold the wages of those that are poor and needy among your brothers, or [the wages] of strangers that come to live in your cities.
You must pay them their wages on the same day [that they do the work]… don’t allow the sun to set before [paying them], because they are poor and they need it.
For if you do, they will call out to Jehovah about you, and this will be a sin for you.
‘Fathers shouldn’t be put to death for what their children may do, nor may sons be put to death for what their fathers may do.
Rather, each person must be put to death for his own sins.
‘You must not be unjust to strangers, orphans, or widows; and you must never take a widow’s clothing as collateral.
For, remember that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah your God bought you out of there.
So, do what I’m telling you to do!
‘And when you’re harvesting the grain in your fields and you realize that you’ve missed some, you must not return to get it.
Such things must be left for the strangers, orphans, and widows, so that Jehovah your God will bless you in everything you do.
‘And when you’re picking your olives, you must not go back and pick them all… some must be left for the strangers, orphans, and widows.
Don’t forget that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt, so I’m commanding you to do this!
‘And whenever you pick the grapes in your vineyard, you must not glean everything;
Rather, you must leave some for the strangers, orphans, and widows.
Don’t forget that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt, so I’m commanding you to do this!’
‘Whenever there’s a dispute between two men, they should carry it to the judges and allow them to decide who’s right and who’s guilty.
And if the guilty one is sentenced to be beaten with a whip; he must be held down in front of the judges and they must have him whipped there before them for his sin.
However, they must not have him lashed more than 40 times;
For if you whip your brother more than that, he will be disgraced.
‘You must not muzzle the ox that [is used to] thresh the grain.
‘If brothers should live together and one of them dies without producing a seed; his woman may not marry someone that isn’t related to her husband.
Rather, her husband’s brother must go and take her as his woman and live with her.
Then, any children that she gives birth to thereafter will carry her deceased husband’s name, so his name won’t be blotted out of IsraEl.
‘However, if the man isn’t willing to take his brother’s woman, she should go to the elders at the [city] gate and say,
My husband’s brother has refused to keep my husband’s name alive in IsraEl.
Then the city elders should call him and make him stand before them and tell them why he refuses to take her.
And thereafter, his brother’s woman must come up before the elders and remove one shoe from his foot, then spit in his face and say,
This is how they treat the man that won’t build his brother’s house in IsraEl.
And from then on, everyone in IsraEl must speak of his house as being,
The house of the man whose shoe was removed.
‘Also, if a man gets into a fight with a brother and then one of his women should come and try to stop the other man from beating her husband by grabbing him by the testicles;
You must cut off her hand… don’t allow your eyes [to feel sorry for] her!
‘You must not carry oversized and undersized weights in your bag,nor may you keep oversized and undersized units of measure in your house.
You must have accurate weights and units of measure, so that you may live a long time in the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you as your inheritance.
For, through the ages, all that have done such unrighteous things have been disgusting to Jehovah your God.
‘Don’t forget what the AmaLechites did to you as you were traveling from the land of Egypt.
For they got in your way and harassed those that were worn out at your rear, leaving you hungry and tired, and they didn’t fear God.
So, when Jehovah your God finally provides you rest from your enemies in the land that He’s giving you to inherit, you must wipe the name of the AmaLechites out from under the skies…
Don’t forget to do this!
‘Once you’ve entered the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you as your inheritance and you have each received your individual inheritance and started living there,you must collect the first fruitage [from the harvest] in the land that He’s giving to you and put it into a basket, then carry it to the place where Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called.
And when you bring it to the Priest (whomever it may be then), you must say to him,
I’m testifying before My God Jehovah today, that I’ve come to this land which the Lord swore to our ancestors that He would give to us.
‘Then the Priest must take the basket from your hands and set it before the Altar of your God Jehovah,and you must say this before Jehovah:
A small group of my ancestors (who came from Syria) went down to Egypt and stayed there, where they grew into a large number and a mighty nation.
But the Egyptians made life difficult for us, humiliated us, and put us to work at hard labor.
However, when we called out to Jehovah our God, He heard us.
And when He saw our humiliation, our hardships, and how hard we were working,He brought us out of Egypt with His great strength, strong hand, and mighty arm through great miracles, signs, and wonders.
Then He brought us into this place and gave us this land… a land flowing with milk and honey!
So now {Look!} I’m bringing the first fruits of the land that You gave to us, O Lord, from this land that flows with milk and honey.
‘Then you must leave [the basket there] before Jehovah your God and bow low before Him,as you rejoice over all the good things that Jehovah your God has given to you, to your family, and to the Levites and strangers that are living among you.
‘And in the 3rd year, after you’ve brought in all the tithes of your harvest, you must bring a second tithe for the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows, so that they may eat it and enjoy themselves in your cities.
At that time, you must come before Jehovah your God and say this:
I’ve collected a full measure of the holy things from my home and given them to the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows, just as You commanded. I didn’t sin against Your Commandments and I didn’t forget them,nor did I eat any of it during difficult times, or use it for any unclean purpose, or offer it to the dead.
I’ve listened to the voice of our God Jehovah, and I’ve done just as He commanded me.
So now, look down from your Holy House in the heavens and bless Your people IsraEl, as well as this land that flows with milk and honey, which You swore to our ancestors that You would give to us.
‘Yes, today Jehovah your God is instructing you to keep all of His rules and decisions…
You must obey them and follow them with your whole hearts and souls!
For on this day, you are choosing Him to be your God, and [you’re agreeing] to walk in His ways, follow His rules and decisions, and listen to His voice.
And today Jehovah has chosen you to be His people exclusively – as He promised in His Commandments –to be above all the other nations.
For He has made you famous, glorious, and something to brag about… a holy people to Jehovah your God, just as He promised.’
Then Moses addressed the elders of IsraEl and said:
‘You must keep all these Commandments that I’m giving to you today.
And after you’ve crossed the JorDan and entered the land that Jehovah your God is giving to you, you must erect [two] huge stone [monuments] and cover them with plaster.
Then, write all the words of this Law upon them as soon as you’ve crossed the JorDan into the land that Jehovah the God of your ancestors is giving to you…
The land that’s flowing with milk and honey, which Jehovah the God of your ancestors promised to you.
‘And after you’ve crossed the JorDan, you must erect these stones with the Commandments that I’m giving you today upon Mount Ebal, then coat them with plaster.
Also, build an altar there to Jehovah your God from rocks that haven’t been cut with an iron tool.
Use whole stones and build an altar to Jehovah your God, then place whole burnt offerings to Jehovah your God upon it…
You must sacrifice them as peace offerings, which you must eat until you’re full, as you rejoice before Jehovah your God…
Be sure that the Law is clearly inscribed on the [monuments]!’
Then Moses addressed the Levite priests of IsraEl and said:
‘Be quiet and listen, O IsraEl! For today you’re becoming the people of your God, Jehovah.
Listen to His voice and obey all His Commandments and rules… all those that I will be [giving] to you today.’
And on that same day, Moses addressed the people and said,
‘After you’ve crossed the JorDan, these [tribes] must assemble on Mount GiriZim [to pronounce the blessings]:
Levi, Judah, IsSachar, [both tribes of] JoSeph, and BenJamin.
And these [tribes] must assemble on Mount Ebal to pronounce the curses:
ReuBen, Gad, Asher, ZebuLon, Dan, and NaphTali.
And from there, the Levites must shout to all IsraEl:
Any man that carves an idol or any other disgusting thing or has one that has been manufactured and puts it in a secret place, is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that shows disrespect to his father or mother is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that moves his neighbor’s property markers is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that misleads a blind person is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that is unfair to a stranger, orphan, or widow is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that uncovers his father’s [naked body] by having sex with his father’s woman is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that has sex with an animal is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that has sex with [his sister] is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that has sex with his daughter-in-law is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that has sex with his woman’s sister is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that secretly [murders] his neighbor is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that is paid to kill an innocent man is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!
Any man that doesn’t observe and obey all the words of this Law is cursed!
And all the people must answer and say, May it be so!’
‘Now, if you listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and follow and obey all these Commandments that I’m giving to you today, you will be raised higher than all the other nations on the earth by Jehovah your God,and then these blessings will search for you and find you.
For if you listen to the voice of your God Jehovah:
· Your fields and your cities will be blest.
· The offspring that comes from your bodies, the fruit of your land, your herds of oxen, and your flocks of sheep will be blest.
· Your barns and your storage bins will be blest.
· You will be blest when you leave and blest when you return.
· Jehovah will give your enemies [into your hands], and those that oppose you will fall before you.
If they come against you from one direction, they’ll run from you in 7 directions.
· Jehovah will put His blessings on your barns and on everything that you do in the land that He’s giving to you.
· Jehovah will raise you as a holy people to Himself, just as He promised your ancestors that He would do if you would listen to His voice and walk in all of His ways.Then, all the nations on the earth will see that you are called by the Name Jehovah, and they will stand in awe of you.
· Jehovah your God will bring [many children] from your bodies, many young from your cattle, and much fruit from your land… this land that Jehovah swore to your ancestors that He would give to you.
· Jehovah will open His treasures in the skies and bring rain to your land in [the proper] seasons, and He’ll bless everything that you do.
· You will lend to many nations and not borrow, and you’ll rule over many nations and not be ruled.
For, Jehovah your God will make you the head not the tail, putting you on the top…
You’ll never be on the bottom if you’ll listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and obey all the things that I’m telling you today.
· You must not swerve to the right or to the left from any of the Commandments that I’m giving to you today, or follow and serve other gods.
‘However, if you don’t listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and obey all His Commandments that I’m giving to you today, these curses will come here and catch up with you:
· You will be cursed in your cities and in your fields.
· Your barns and your storage sheds will be cursed.
· [The children] who come from your bodies, the fruit from your land, your herds of oxen, and your flocks of sheep will be cursed.
· You will be cursed when you leave and when you return.
· Jehovah will send shortages and famines [among you], and everything you do will be consumed until He has totally destroyed you.
Yes, if you leave Him and start doing evil things, you will be quickly exterminated.
· Jehovah will bring plagues among you until you’ve all been wiped from this land that you’re going to inherit.
· Jehovah will strike you with dysentery, fever, chills, inflammations, sores, and paleness…
They will chase you down and destroy you.
· He will turn the sky above you into brass and the ground beneath you into iron.
· Jehovah your God will turn the rain that falls from the skies into dust, until it destroys you and quickly consumes you.
· Jehovah will hand you over to your enemies and they will slaughter you.
You will attack them from one direction, but you’ll run from them in 7 directions, and then you’ll be scattered throughout all the kingdoms of the earth.
· Your dead will become food for the flying creatures in the skies and the animals on the ground… and nothing will scare them away.
· Jehovah will strike your bottoms with the sores of Egypt… and the scabs will itch and never heal.
· Jehovah will strike you with mental illnesses, blindness, and anxiety,so you’ll grope around in the daytime like the blind grope around in their darkness.
· Nothing you do will prosper; you’ll be treated unfairly;
You’ll be looted continuously, and no one will come to your aid.
· You’ll take women for yourselves, but other men will have them.
· You’ll build houses and not live in them.
· You’ll plant vineyards and not gather their grapes.
· Your calves will be butchered before you, but you won’t eat any of the [meat].
· Your burros will be taken from you and never be returned.
· Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and no one will get them back for you.
· Your sons and daughters will be given to other nations, then you’ll search for them as your eyes are wasting away and your hands are growing feeble.
· A nation that you’re unfamiliar with will eat the produce of your land, and all your hard work will be crushed and done away with…
You’ll be amazed by the things that you’ll see!
· Jehovah will strike you with bad sores on you knees and legs that won’t heal… from the soles of your feet to the tops of your heads.
· Jehovah will drive you and the leaders whom you’ll set over yourselves away, and you’ll be sent to a nation that neither you nor your ancestors have ever known.
There you’ll serve gods made of wood and stone;
And there, [the things that happened to you] will be used as amazing examples and illustrations among all the nations where Jehovah your God will send you.
· You’ll plant many seeds in your fields but harvest little, because the locusts will eat whatever you plant.
· You’ll plant vineyards and cultivate them, but you won’t drink the wine or enjoy any of it for yourselves, because worms will eat them.
· You’ll plant olive trees all around your land, but you won’t receive any oil to anoint yourselves, because your trees will drop their fruit.
· Sons and daughters will be born to you, but they’ll never be yours, because they’ll be carried away as captives.
· All the trees and produce of your land will be consumed by blight.
· The strangers who live among you will be lifted high, while you will be dragged down;
Then they will lend to you and you won’t be able to lend to them, for they’ll be the heads and you’ll be the tails.
‘All of these curses will come upon you and chase you down until they’ve consumed and destroyed you, if you don’t listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and keep the Commandments and rules that He has given to you.
They will serve as signs and wonders among you and among your seed through the ages,if you fail to serve Jehovah your God happily and with a [cheerful] heart, because of all the many [good] things that you will have received.
‘Then you must serve the enemies that Jehovah will send against you.
You’ll be hungry, thirsty, naked, in need of everything, and you’ll have to wear iron yokes on your necks until they’ve destroyed you.
‘Jehovah will bring a nation against you from the ends of the earth that will come like fast-flying eagles, and you won’t understand their language.
They’ll be a fearsome people that won’t respect your old people or pity your young.
They’ll eat the young of your cattle and the fruit of your land, and they won’t leave any grain, wine, oil, herds of oxen, or flocks of sheep for you, until they’ve destroyed youand totally crushed your cities.
For even your highest and strongest walls will be destroyed, and all your land and all the cities that He has given to you [will be theirs].
‘Then you will eat the fruit of your bodies… the flesh of all the sons and daughters that He has given to you.
For your enemy will bring a great time of stress and difficulty upon you.
And even those that are kind and gentle among you will look at their brothers, their loved women, and any children that may be left in an evil way,and they won’t offer them any of the flesh of their children to eat, because they wouldn’t have enough for themselves.
That’s how your enemies will pressure you and make life difficult for you in all of your cities.
‘Then, even the tender, gentle women among you – those that have never searched the ground for delicacies – will look at their loved husbands, sons, and daughters in an evil way.
For they will eat the newborn that come from between their legs secretly in their [hunger].
Yes, that’s how your enemies will make life difficult for you in your cities.
‘So, if you won’t listen to and obey all the words of the Law that have been written in this scroll and fear the glorious and wonderful Name of your God Jehovah,He will bring these horrible plagues and unending illnesses upon you and your seed.
He will bring all the pain of Egypt that you were so afraid of, and make it stick to you.
And Jehovah will even bring sicknesses and plagues that haven’t been written about in the scroll of this Law, until He has destroyed you.
Then, although you were once as many as the stars of the sky, there won’t be many left, due to the fact that you didn’t listen to the voice of your God Jehovah.
‘And as Jehovah once rejoiced over you, did good things for you, and made you grow;
He will rejoice over destroying you and in quickly removing you from the land that you’re going to inherit.
Then Jehovah your God will scatter you among all the nations – from one end of the earth to the other – and you must serve other gods there, which are made of wood and stone, and of whom you and your ancestors have never heard.
‘In addition; [in the places where you will be living] among those nations, He won’t provide any quiet, nor will the soles of your feet find any rest.
For there, Jehovah will give you weak hearts, failing eyes, and wasted lives.
You won’t know [what each day will bring], and you’ll be afraid both night and day; for nothing in your lives will be sure.
In the morning, you’ll say,
I wish it were evening!
And in the evening, you’ll say,
I wish it were morning!
You’ll have fear in your hearts and you’ll be afraid of everything you see.
Then Jehovah will take you back to Egypt in ships – back to the place that He said you should never see again – where you’ll be offered for sale to your enemies as slaves…
And nobody will [wish to] buy you!’
These are the words of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah commanded Moses to make with the children of IsraEl in the land of MoAb, which were added to the Sacred Agreement that He’d made with them at the dry place (Horeb).
Moses then called all the sons of IsraEl and said to them:
‘You have seen all the things that Jehovah did to PharaOh, to his servants, and to his entire land of Egypt.
Yes, you’ve seen the great signs and wonders with your eyes.
Yet, down to this day, Jehovah God hasn’t given you the heart to understand, the eyes to see, or the ears to hear.
However, as He was leading you through the desert during [the past] 40 years, your clothes didn’t wear out, your sandals didn’t wear off your feet,and you didn’t eat bread, or drink wine or liquor.
[He did this] so you would know that He is Jehovah your God.
‘Then when we got to this place and SeOn (the king of Hesh-EbonEh) and Og (the king of BaShan) came out to meet us in war,we cut them down and took their lands, which I gave to ReuBen, Gad, and half of the tribe of ManasSeh, as their inheritance.
So now, pay attention to all the words of this Sacred Agreement and understand all the things that you must do.
‘Here you stand before Jehovah your God today… the heads of your tribes, your elders, your judges, your officers – every man of IsraEl –as well as your women, children, and the converts who have come to live in your camps (from the wood cutters to those that draw the water).
And now, you must conclude a Sacred Agreement with your God Jehovah and swear as many oaths as Jehovah your God will be asking of you today,so that He may appoint you to be His people and for Him to be your God, as He told you and as He swore to your ancestors, AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.
‘Understand that this Sacred Agreement and these oaths aren’t just for you…they apply to everyone that is here before Jehovah your God today, as well as to anyone that isn’t here with you today.
For you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we came through the midst of [several] nations,where you saw their disgusting things and their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold.
So, if the hearts of any man, woman, family, or tribe here aren’t with Jehovah your God;
They should leave you now and go to serve the gods of those nations, so that there will be no root that is filled with gall and bitterness among you!
‘And if there’s anyone that listens to these words and their curses and then chooses to flatter himself by saying in his heart,
Good things will happen to me even if I keep on walking in the errors of my heart,
[he should also leave]! Otherwise, the innocent may be destroyed along with the sinners…for God won’t pardon him.
Rather, Jehovah’s rage and zeal will blaze against that man, and all the curses of this Sacred Agreement that are written in this scroll will come upon him…
Jehovah will blot his name out from under the skies.
‘Jehovah will also hold the children of IsraEl responsible for all their evil [and bring] all the curses of the Sacred Agreement that are written in this scroll of Law upon them.
Then, future generations – your descendants that come after you and strangers that come from far away lands – will see the plagues on your land and the diseases that Jehovah has sent here.
For then there will be sulfur rocks and burning salt, and the entire land won’t be cultivated, nor will anything green grow there. It will become like [the cities of] Sodom, GomorRah, Adama, and Seboim, which Jehovah destroyed in His anger and rage.
‘Then all the nations will ask,
Why has Jehovah done this to His land… what made Him so fierce and so angry?
And others will answer,
It’s because they broke the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah, the God of their ancestors. For, this is what He warned their ancestors that He would do to them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.
However, they still went and served other gods… and this is [how He showed] His disapproval!
So Jehovah became very angry with that land and He brought all the curses upon it that are written about in the scroll of this Law.
Then in His rage, anger, and indignation, He removed them from their land and threw them into other lands… it’s why all these things have happened to them!
‘Remember that even the things that are done in secret [are known by Jehovah] our God, and He uncovers them.
So, the responsibility of our children and us is to obey all the words of this Law through the ages.’
‘And after all these things have happened to you;
You must recall to mind the blessings and the curses that I’ve set before you today, wherever [you may be] among all the nations where Jehovah will have scattered you.
Then you must return to Jehovah your God, listen to His voice, and [obey] everything that I’m telling you today with your whole hearts and souls,so that Jehovah may heal you from your sins, feel pity for you, and gather you back from all the nations to which He will have scattered you.
‘It won’t matter whether you’ve been dispersed from one end of the skies to the other;
Jehovah will gather you from there and take youback to the land that your ancestors inherited, and you will inherit it once again.
Then He will do good things for you and cause you to grow greater than your ancestors.
For Jehovah will purge your hearts and those of your seed, and then you must love Jehovah your God with your whole hearts and souls, so you may live!
‘And after that, Jehovah your God will put all these curses on your enemies (on those who have hated and persecuted you),if you’ll turn back and listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and keep all His Commandments that I’m telling you today.
Jehovah your God will bless everything that you do, as well as the offspring of your bodies, of your cattle, and of the crops in your fields.
Then Jehovah your God will be happy over you once again… but [this time], in even a better way than He was happy with your ancestors.
[This will all happen] if you’ll just listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and keep His Commandments, rules, and decisions that are written in the scroll of this Law, and if you’ll return to Jehovah your God with your whole hearts and souls.
‘For these Commandments that I’m giving you today really aren’t a burden, nor are they far away from you.
They aren’t in the skies above, so you’d have to say,
Who will go up into the sky and take them for us so we can hear them and obey them?
Nor are they beyond the sea, so you’d have to say,
Who will cross the sea and take them for us so we can hear them and obey them?
These words are near to you… in your mouths, in your hearts, and in your hands!
‘Look, I’m setting life and death, as well as good and evil before you today.
If you’ll listen to the Commandments of your God Jehovah that I’m giving to you today… if you’ll love Jehovah your God, walk in His ways, and follow all His rules and decisions; you’ll live, grow in numbers, and Jehovah your God will bless you throughout the land where you’re going and which you will inherit.
But if you have a change of heart and choose not to listen to Him, and then go to worship and serve other gods;
I’m warning you today that you’ll be destroyed and you won’t live long on the land that you’re crossing the JorDan to inherit!
‘So I now call the land and the sky as witnesses against you today, that I’ve set life and death, the blessings and the curses, before you.
Choose life so that you and your seed may live!
Love Jehovah your God!
Listen to His voice and stick to Him, for He is your life, and [He’s] the length of the number of days that you will live in the land that Jehovah promised your ancestors AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob that He would give to you.’
Well, after Moses had finished telling the children of IsraEl all these things, he said:
‘I’m a 120 years old today, and I won’t be able to [lead] you anymore. For Jehovah has told me that I may not cross the JorDan.
However, Jehovah your God will continue to walk before you… He will destroy the nations before you and you will inherit them.
And He told me that JoShua will now lead you.
‘Jehovah your God will do the same things to [those nations] that He did to the two Amorite kings, SeOn and Og, and to their land on [this side] of the JorDan, when He destroyed them.
Jehovah has given them to you, and you must do all that I’ve said you must do to them.
So, be courageous and strong! Don’t be afraid or act cowardly… don’t let them scare you!
For Jehovah your God is marching with you and among you, and He won’t forget you or leave you.’
Then Moses called JoShua and said to him before all IsraEl:
‘You must be courageous and strong, for now you must lead these people into the land that Jehovah swore to your ancestors that He would give to them as their inheritance.
Jehovah will be going with you, and He won’t forsake you or abandon you;
So, don’t be timid or afraid!’
Then Moses wrote the words of this Law in a scroll and gave it to the priests (those sons of Levi who bear the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement) and to the elders of the sons of IsraEl.
And then Moses told them this:
‘After 7 years, during the Year of Release and on the Feast of Temporary Structureswhen all IsraEl assembles before Jehovah your God in the place that Jehovah will choose; you must read this Law so that all IsraEl can hear it.
The whole assembly – the men, the women, the children, and any converts that are living in your cities – must all hear it, so that they may learn to fear Jehovah your God and to obey all the words of this Law.
Also, the sons that haven’t [been born yet] must hear it and learn to fear Jehovah your God for as long as they live in the land that you’re crossing the JorDan to inherit.’
Then the Lord said to Moses:
‘Look; The day of your death has arrived!
Now, call JoShua and go stand at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, where l can [explain things] to him.’
So, Moses and JoShua went to the Tent of Proofs and stood at the entrance.
Then the Lord descended in a cloud and stood next to the entrance in a column of clouds.And He said to Moses:
‘{Look!} [It’s time] for you to go to sleep with your ancestors.
However, from among these people [some] will arise that will commit adultery with the strange gods of the land that they will be entering… they will leave Me and break the Sacred Agreement that I made with them.
And when that happens, I will be very angry with them and I will leave them… I’ll turn My face away from them and they will thereafter be devoured.
But, after many bad things and plagues have come upon them, they will [finally] say,
These bad things have happened to us because Jehovah our God isn’t with us!
However, I will still just look away, because of all the wicked and evil things that they will do, and because they will have turned to other gods.
‘Now, write the words of this song and teach it to the children of IsraEl…
Have them learn to sing it, so this song may testify about Me to the faces of the children of IsraEl.
For I’m bringing them into the good land that I swore to their ancestors that I’d give to them… a land flowing with milk and honey.
But, after they’ve eaten and are full and satisfied, they will turn and follow other gods and serve them… they will break their Sacred Agreement with Me and anger Me.
And it’s this song that will stand as a witness against them, because they won’t forget it, nor will their seed ever forget it.
For, I’ve known how wicked they are and of the wicked things that they will do long before I brought them to this good land that I promised to their ancestors.’
So Moses wrote the song that day, which he would thereafter teach to the children of IsraEl.
Then he spoke to JoShua and said:
‘Be courageous and strong, because you’re now going to lead the sons of IsraEl into the land that Jehovah promised to them… and He will be with you!’
It was then that Moses finished writing the words of this Law all the way to the end.
And thereafter, he gave these instructions to the Levites who bear the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah, saying,
‘Take this scroll of the Law and put it inside the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of your God Jehovah, so it will [always] be there among you as a testimony.
‘Oh, I know how irritating and rebellious [these people] can be; for, throughout my life with them – down to this day – they’ve been provoking God by the ways that they act.
So, how can I expect them to be any different after my death?
‘Now, gather all the heads of your tribes, as well as your elders, judges, and officers, so that I can speak all these words into their ears as I call the land and the sky as witnesses against them.
For I know that after my death they’ll become very sinful and turn from the ways that I’ve commanded them [to follow]…
Then bad things will eventually happen to them because they will make their God Jehovah angry with all the evil things that they will do.’
And thereafter, Moses spoke the words of this song, teaching it to the whole gathering:
‘Listen, O heavens, and I’ll speak…
May even the ground hear the words from my mouth.
May the things that I say be looked for like rain,
And may my words fall like dew…
Like a shower on the plants and snow on the grass.
‘For, I’ve called on the Name of the Lord,
And I’ve spoken of the greatness of God.
His works are true and His ways are all just…
He isn’t unrighteous, but faithful…
Jehovah is holy and fair.
‘Against Him, they have all sinned,
For they are children with spots…
A generation of the pushy and perverted.
Is this how they pay back Jehovah?
‘Are these people all foolish and stupid?
Didn’t He become their own Father?
Didn’t He purchase them back?
Didn’t He form them and make them?
‘Remember the days of long ago…
Think of the years of past ages.
Ask your fathers and they will remind you…
Ask your elders and they will explain.
‘When the Most High divided the nations…
When the sons of Adam, He moved apart,
He set the borders for all of the nations
By the numbers of the messengers from God.
‘Jacob (His people), became the Lord’s portion;
IsraEl was what He’d inherit.
So He kept them alive in land that was dry,
And in the desert, [He sated] their thirst.
Thereafter, He led them and taught them,
And He kept them as the apple of His eye.
‘As an eagle that watches over his brood,
And as one that yearns for his young;
They were chosen by Him.
So [for them], He spread out His wings
And He lifted them onto His back.
‘It was only Jehovah that led them,
When no other gods had they known.
He raised them on the strength of the land,
And fed them with the fruit of the fields.
So, out of rocks, they sucked honey,
And out of boulders, sucked oil.
‘With the butter of cows and the milk of their sheep…
With the fat of their lambs and their rams, calves, and kids…
With the fat of kidneys and wheat.
They also drank wine… the blood of the grape.
So, Jacob ate and was filled.
‘Then this loved one kicked and grew fat…
He soon became thick and broad.
And from the God that made him, he turned…
From the God who’d saved him, he strayed.
‘With strange gods, they enraged Me,
And with loathsome things, made Me mad.
To demons unknown, they then sacrificed,
And not to the God [of all] gods.
‘Then they turned to things that were new…
[Things] of which their fathers knew not,
And they left the God who gave them birth…
They forgot the God that provided their food.
‘Jehovah was jealous when He saw this…
By His sons and daughters, He was enraged.
So He said, From them, I’ll now turn My face,
And I’ll show them what the last days will bring.
For, they’re a perverted generation,
And they are unfaithful sons.
‘They’ve made Me angry and jealous,
With gods that are nothing at all,
And they also disturbed Me with idols.
So I’ll make them angry and jealous
Over others that are not [of your] nation…
I’ll enrage them with people whom they never knew.
‘For a fire has been started by My rage,
Which will burn to the place of the dead down below.
It’ll devour their land and its fruitage,
And burn to the bottoms of their hills.
‘Evil things, I’ll now bring upon them…
I’ll fight them with all of My weapons.
With hunger, they will be consumed,
And their [bodies] will be eaten by birds…
Their destruction will not be repaired.
‘I’ll send against them the teeth of wild beasts,
And the rage of things that crawl on the ground.
‘Their children will be taken from them without swords,
And in their beds, they’ll know terror.
Young men will be killed with the virgins,
As well as the newborn and those who’ve grown old.
For I told them that they would be scattered,
As their memory is erased among men.
‘Were it not for their enemys’ rage,
They would have lived a long time.
But their enemies will have gathered to attack them.
‘Yet, may their enemies never be able to say:
I did this with my own mighty arm.
For, it is Jehovah that will do all these things.
‘They’re a nation that has lost its direction,
And there’s no understanding among them…
They have no sense, so they won’t understand,
That after they’ve made such a choice,
This is what will happen to them.
‘How can one man chase a thousand,
Or two men route tens of thousands,
Unless they’d been sold by their God…
If Jehovah hadn’t handed them over?
‘Since their [new] gods are not like our God,
Our enemies will not understand.
For, their vine is like that of Sodom,
And the branch of their vines are GomorRah.
All their grapes are like gall,
And all their clusters are bitter.
Like the rage of snakes is their wine…
Like the deadly anger of asps.
‘{Look!} Weren’t they all assembled by Me…
Weren’t they sealed with My treasures?
So, in the time of My vengeance, I will pay them back,
And their feet will be tripped in that day
When their destruction has arrived,
And My decisions have fallen upon them.
‘For, Jehovah will judge all His people,
And take comfort [in the fall of] His servants.
Because He saw they were failing and weak;
In a hostile invasion, they’ll [fall].
‘So, where are these gods in whom you’ve put trust…
Where is the fat that they ate,
And the wine that you offered, which they drank?
Let them arise and come to your aid…
Let them become your protectors!
‘Look! I AM… there are no gods other than Me!
I alone can kill or make it alive…
Only I can strike down or heal…
They can’t wrest this power from My hands!
‘So I’ll lift My hand to the heavens and swear;
Yes, by My right hand, I can say:
I am alive through the ages!
‘Then, I will grab hold of My sword,
And make it like lightning, there in My hand.
I’ll grab My enemies and judge them in justice,
And pay back all those that hate Me.
‘My weapons will then be drunk on their blood,
And My sword will devour much flesh…
With the blood of the wounded and captured,
And the heads of My enemies that ruled them.
‘So, rejoice with Him, O you heavens,
And may God’s messengers all bow low before Him.
Rejoice with His people, you nations,
And may all of God’s sons be strengthened by Him.
‘For, He will avenge the blood of His sons,
And on His enemies, bring vengeance and justice.
He’ll bring what’s due to all those that hate Him,
When they’re purged from the land of His people.’
This was the song that Moses wrote on that day, and which he then taught to the children of IsraEl.
And thereafter, Moses and JoShua (the son of NaWeh) [stood up] and [read] all the words of this Law where the people could hear it.
And when they had finished,[Moses] added:
‘Pay whole-hearted attention to these words that I [read] to you today, and command your sons to follow and obey all the words of this Law.
Don’t allow these to be just words to you, for they’re your life… they will allow you to live for a long time in the land that you’re crossing the JorDan to inherit!’
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said:
‘Now, go to the mountains of your forefathers and climb Mount Nebo, which is in the land of MoAb near JeriCho, and gaze at the land of CanaAn that I’m giving to the sons of IsraEl.
Then you will die in those mountains and be added to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Or and was added to his people.
For, you disobeyed [Me before] the children of IsraEl at the Waters of Rebellion at KaDesh in the Sin desert, when you failed to [speak of] Me in a holy way among the sons of IsraEl.
However, [I want you to] see this land that’s before you, which you will not be allowed to enter.’
Then Moses, the man of God, gave this blessing to the children of IsraEl before he died.He said:
‘Jehovah came down from Mount SinAi,
And He appeared to us at Mount SeIr.
Then He quickly moved to Mount Pharan
With 10,000 Holy Ones at His right,
And [all] of His messengers with him.
‘To His people, He then brought salvation…
His holy ones, [He kept] in His hands.
Below Him, they [all heard] His words…
The Law, which Moses gave as their own
To the whole gathering of Jacob.
‘He will be with the leader He loves,
And the rulers of the peoples, among IsraEl’s tribes.
‘May ReuBen live and never die out,
And may he grow into a crowd.’
And this is the blessing of Judah:
‘O Jehovah; listen to what Judah asks,
And pay attention to his people.
With his hands, he will wage war,
And against his enemies, You’ll give him aid.’
And for Levi he said:
‘Give Levi the signs and the truth
Of a man who’s been very holy.
For they tested him at the Temptation,
And spoke against him at the Waters of Rebellion.
‘He’s the one that must say to his father and mother,
[Sorry], but I can’t [come to] visit.
He knows not his brothers, and he knows not his sons,
But he’s kept Your words and Your Sacred Agreement.
‘[Levi] will proclaim Your rules among Jacob,
And Your Laws among IsraEl.
They’ll always burn incense on Your Altar,
Even in times of Your rage.
‘O Jehovah;
Please keep on blessing his strength,
And accept the things that he offers.
Break all the enemies that may come against him,
And don’t allow those that hate him to stand.’
And to BenJamin he said:
‘Jehovah’s beloved, in safety will live;
For, God’s shadow will always be with him,
And between [God’s] shoulders, he’ll rest.’
And to JoSeph he said:
‘His land is the blest of Jehovah…
[A land of] seasons, sky, dew, and deep wells…
Of the fruitage of the changes in the seasons and sun,
And the produce of [each of] the months.
‘[Water runs down] from the tops of old mountains…
From the tops of the hills of the ages,
To produce full crops in their seasons.
‘May the things that please him be poured on his head;
On the crown of this one that has been glorified
Above all of His brothers.
Like a first-born bull, is his beauty,
And as a rhinoceros, are his horns.
‘He’ll use them to thrust out at nations
To the ends of the earth.
For, his are Ephraim’s tens of thousands,
As well as the thousands of ManasSeh.’
And to ZebuLon he said:
‘Rejoice O ZebuLon, as well as all those
Who dwell in IsSachar’s tents.
For, you’ll ariseand destroy many nations.
‘Many men, you will call that will gather
To offer sacrifices that are righteous.
The wealth of the sea will be your provisions…
The stores of those living by water.’
And to Gad he said:
‘Praise the One who’s given Gad more;
For, he will rest like a lion
That has crushed many arms along with their their kings.
‘He’ll see that his land bears the first fruits,
And leaders will gather with his people’s chiefs.
For [he’ll do what the Lord says is] righteous,
And to IsraEl, he will bring justice.’
And to Dan he said:
‘Dan is the cub of a lion,
And he will leap out of BaShan.’
And to NaphTali he said:
‘NaphTali will be filled with good things,
And he will receive the blessings from God.
For, he will inherit the west and the south.’
And to Asher he said:
‘With many children, Asher is blest,
And he’ll be approved by his brothers.
With oil, his feet are anointed,
And his sandals are like both iron and brass.
‘He’ll be strong for as long as he lives,
Since his helper is the God whom he loves…
The One that rides through the skies…
The Magnificent One of the cosmos.
‘[And as long as he stays under] God’s rule,
He will [be there] to protect you.
He will drive your enemies away
By the great might of His arm.
He’ll drive them away through the ages,
Saying to them, Be destroyed.’
‘So, IsraEl will live by themselves
In safety, within Jacob’s land;
With grain, and wine, and the clouds in the sky,
And with plenty of dew.
‘You’re blest, O IsraEl, for who else is like you…
You who’ve been saved by your helper, God.
‘He’ll hold His shield over you,
And of His sword, you will boast.
Then, you will tred on the necks
Of the enemies who’ve dared to lie before you.’
Finally, Moses went from ArabOth in MoAb to the Nabau Mountains, and climbed to the top of Mount Pisgah (near JeriCho).
There Jehovah showed him all of GileAd to the land of Dan, the land of NaphTali,the lands of Ephraim and ManasSeh, the land of Judah all the way to the Sea,the whole desert, the country around JeriCho, and the land between the City of Palm Trees and Segor.
Then Jehovah said to Moses:
‘This is the land that I swore that I would give to the seed of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.
And now that you’ve seen it, you may not go there.’
So Moses, the servant of Jehovah, died there in the land of MoAb, as Jehovah said,When he died, Moses was 120 years old.
Yet his eyes were still sharp and he still had all of his natural functions.
Thereafter, the children of IsraEl cried for Moses (in ArabOth of MoAb at the JorDan near JeriCho) for 30 days, which was the [maximum traditional] period for mourning.
Then JoShua (the son of NaWeh) became filled with the spirit of knowledge, because Moses had laid his hands upon him.
So, the children of IsraEl listened to him as they did when Jehovah was commanding Moses.
But there was never again a Prophet in IsraEl like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,whom Jehovah sent to perform all the signs and wonders to Egypt (to PharaOh, his servants, and his entire land),and who displayed before all IsraEl the other great wonders and powers that He had.
After the death of Moses, the Lord spoke to Moses’ servant JoShua (the son of NaWeh) and said,
‘My servant Moses is now dead; so I want you and all of these people to get up and cross the JorDan [River] into the land that I’m giving to them.
I’m giving you every place that you step as yours, just as I told Moses,from the desert and the borders of Lebanon to the great River EuPhrates and to the Sea…
Your borders will run to the sunset.
‘No man will be able to stand against you during all the days of your life; for, as I was with Moses is how I’ll be with you…
I won’t fail you and I won’t leave you.
Therefore, be strong and act like a man, because, now you must divide up the land among these people that I swore to their ancestors that I would give to them.
So, you must be strong, behave like a man, and pay attention and obey, just as My servant Moses instructed you…
Don’t swerve to the right or to the left, so that you may prove to be wise in everything that you do.
‘And don’t allow the Law that has been written on the scroll to leave your mouth…
You must think about it day and night, so that you’ll know how to do everything that’s written in it.
Then you’ll be blessed, you’ll succeed, and you’ll be wise.
Look; I’m commanding you to be strong and courageous!
Don’t be a coward or fearful, for Jehovah your God will be with you no matter where you may go.’
Then JoShua gave this commandment to the people’s scribes:
‘Go throughout the camp and tell the people to get ready, for in three days we will cross the JorDan to enter and take possession of the land that Jehovah the God of your ancestors is giving to you.’
And thereafter, JoShua said this to [the tribes of] ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh:
‘Remember what Moses the servant of Jehovah told you to do.
He said,
Jehovah your God has allowed you to rest by giving you this land.
So now, settle your wives, children, and cattle here in the land that He has given to you; then, all who are strong and willing to fight must arm themselves to cross [the JorDan] before their brothers.
[You must be willing to do this] until Jehovah your God has allowed your brothers to rest, just as He has [allowed] you [to rest], after they have inherited the land that Jehovah your God is giving to them.
Only then may you each return to the inheritance that Moses allotted to you east of the JorDan.
So they answered JoShua and said:
‘We will do everything that you’ve commanded and we’ll go wherever you may send us.
For, just as we listened to Moses, we will listen to you… and may our God Jehovah be with you as He was with Moses.
If anyone chooses to disobey you, or doesn’t listen to you and obey whatever you tell him to do, he must die…
But you must be strong and courageous!’
Then from SatTin, JoShua (the son of NaWeh) sent two young men as spies into the land, saying,
‘Go there and look at the land… and [specifically] at JeriCho.’
So, the two young men went and entered JeriCho and stayed at the house of a prostitute named RaHab.
However, [someone] reported this to the king of JeriCho, saying,
‘Men of the sons of IsraEl have come here as spies!’
Then the king of JeriCho sent [men to the house of] RaHab, that said,
‘Bring out the men that entered your house this evening, for they have come to spy in our land!’
But the woman had hidden the two men, and she told [the king’s] messengers:
‘The men came here,but before the [city] gate was closed this evening, they left… and I don’t know where they went.
You should chase after them to see if you can catch them.’
However, she had taken them up on the [roof] and hidden them under some hay that she’d spread there.
So the [king’s] men left and traveled toward the fords in the JorDan, and the [city] gate was closed once again.
Then, after the men that were chasing them had left (and before the spies had fallen asleep), she went up to them on the roof of her house and said,
‘I know that Jehovah has given you this land, so we’re all afraid [of you].
We’ve heard how your God Jehovah dried up the Red Sea before you when you left the land of Egypt, and of the things that He did to the two Amorite kings across the JorDan… to SeOn and Og whom you destroyed.
When we heard of this, our hearts were stunned and we were barely able to breathe because of you; for Jehovah your God is truly the God of the skies above and of the lands below.
So now, swear to me by Jehovah your God that, since I’ve been merciful with you, you’ll be merciful to the house of my father,and that you’ll allow the house of my father – my mother, my brothers, myself, and everyone in my home, as well as everything that we own – to be saved from death.’
And the men replied,
‘[We will offer] our lives for yours, even to death.’
Then she said,
‘When Jehovah gives this city to you, you must be merciful and true to me!’
And at that, she lowered them [outside the city gate] through her windowwith instructions to head toward the hill country where they should hide for three days before returning, for fear that they would run into the men that were chasing them.
And the [spies] said,
‘We promise to do what you’ve asked.
{Look!} But because we’re going to [destroy] this city, you must give us a sign.
Tie this scarlet cord in the window from which you let us down, then bring everyone – your father, mother, brothers, and your father’s entire family – into your house.
However, if anyone goes outside the door of your house, they will be guilty and no part of our promise.
We will just be responsible for those that are found inside your home.
And if anyone harms us or betrays us, the promise is broken.’
Then she told them,
‘May it be as you said.’
And at that, she sent them away.
Then they headed toward the hill country where they remained for three days… so although the people that were chasing them searched all the roads, they couldn’t find them.
Then the two young men left the mountains and returned to JoShua (the son of NaWeh) and told him everything that had happened to them.
They said:
‘Jehovah has put the entire land under our power, because everyone that lives there is shaking in fear of us.’
Well, JoShua got up early the next morning, and thereafter, [the whole camp] left SatTin.
Then when they reached the JorDan, they stayed there [until it was time to] cross.
And [for the next] three days, the scribes went throughout the entire camptelling the people that as soon as they saw the Levite Priests bearing Jehovah God’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement, they were to follow behind it…
But at a distance of as much as 3,000 feet (914m), because they weren’t to get near it.
And that’s when everyone started to realize that things weren’t going to be the same as they had been in the past.
Thereafter, JoShua said to the people:
‘Now, make yourselves holy, because tomorrow Jehovah will perform a miracle among you.’
And [on the next day], JoShua told the Priests to pick up Jehovah’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement and lead the people onward.
So, the Priests picked it up and walked ahead of the people.
Then Jehovah said to JoShua:
‘Today I’m going to start [raising your prestige] before all the children of IsraEl, so they will know that I’m with you, just as I was with Moses.
Therefore, tell the Priests that are carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement that as soon as they get to the edge of the water, it will part;
And then they are to go down and stand still in the middle of the JorDan.’
So JoShua gathered the children of IsraEl and said:
‘Come here and listen to the words of our God Jehovah,for this is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will destroy the CanaAnites, Hittites, Pherezites, Evites, Amorites, Gergesites, and the Jebusites ahead of you:
Watch what happens when the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of the Lord of the whole earth [is being carried] into the JorDan.
‘You must choose 12 men, one from each of your tribes,and these will [serve as witnesses] to the fact that when the feet of the Priests that are carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement [step into] the JorDan, the water will [move away], and that which is pouring down from above will stop flowing.’
So then, the people packed up their tents to cross over the JorDan, as the Priests walked ahead of them carrying the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement.
And when the feet of the Priests who were carrying the Chest entered the JorDan, the water parted (although it was harvest time and the river was at flood stage)…
The water that was flowing down from above stopped in a solid wall, backing up all the way to the region of KiriAth JaiRim, and the water that flowed down to the Salt Sea dried up.
So, there the people were, standing across from JeriCho.
Then the Priests that were carrying the Chest continued on and they stopped in the middle of the JorDan and just stood there until all the children of IsraEl had passed through it on dry ground.
Well, after everyone had crossed the JorDan, the Lord spoke to JoShua and said:
‘Now, select one man from each tribe,then tell them to go out to the middle of the JorDan and pick up 12 appropriate rocks and carry them back to the place where you will be camping tonight.’
So JoShua selected 12 important men from among the children of IsraEl, one from each tribe,and he told them:
‘Now, walk in front of me to the middle of the JorDan, and there in the presence of the Lord, each of you must pick up a rock and carry it on your shoulders (one [rock] for each of the 12 tribes of IsraEl).
These will serve as signs to future [generations], so that when your sons ask you,
What do these rocks mean to us?
you can tell them:
The JorDan River dried up in front of the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of the Lord of the whole earth as it started passing through.
So, these rocks are to serve as reminders of this event to the children of IsraEl through the ages.’
And that’s what the children of IsraEl did… they did just as the Lord had commanded JoShua.
They picked up 12 rocks from the middle of the JorDan (after all the children of IsraEl had finished crossing), then they carried them into their camp and laid them there.
And JoShua also had 12 other rocks placed in the JorDan at the location where the feet of the Priests that carried the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah had entered…
And they are still there to this day!
Well, the Priests that were carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement just kept on standing there in the middle of the JorDan until JoShua had finished all that the Lord had commanded him to do and until everyone had crossed.
Then, after all the people had crossed, they carried Jehovah’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement and the rocks [to the other side].
Also, the sons of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh led the way for the children of IsraEl, just as Moses had commanded them…
40,000 of their armed men crossed [the river] before Jehovah so as to join in the attack against the city of JeriCho.
As the result;
On that day, Jehovah raised JoShua’s prestige [in the eyes of] all the people of IsraEl, and they started fearing him as they [had once feared] Moses.
Then the Lord spoke to JoShua and said:
‘Now, tell the Priests that are carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement [that it’s time for them to] to come up out of the JorDan!’
So JoShua told the Priests to come from the JorDan;
And as soon as the Priests that were carrying the Chest stepped out of the JorDan and set their feet on dry ground, the water quickly returned to its place and overflowed its banks as it had been doing before.
It was on the 10th day of the 1st month that the children of IsraEl crossed the JorDan, and they set up camp at GilGal, east of JeriCho.
It was there at GilGal that JoShua set up those 12 rocks that they had taken from the JorDan.
And he said:
‘When your sons ask you what these rocks are,tell them that IsraEl walked on them as they crossed the JorDan on dry ground,back when our God Jehovah dried up the JorDan’s waters before them until they had all crossed, the same as He did at the Red Sea when He dried up its waters until we had all crossed.
[They are here] to remind every nation on the earth of the mighty power of Jehovah, and that you should always be bowing low before Jehovah your God!’
Well, when the kings of the Amorites on the [west] side of the JorDan and the kings of Phoenicia heard that Jehovah God had dried up the JorDan River in front of the children of IsraEl as they crossed it;
Their hearts dropped, they were terrified, and they were beside themselves because of the children of IsraEl.
And thereafter, the Lord said to JoShua:
‘You must now make yourself some knives out of sharp stones, then sit down and circumcise the children of IsraEl.’
So JoShua made some very sharp knives out of stone, and he circumcised the children of IsraEl at a place [that came to] be known as, ‘The Hill of Foreskins.’
By doing this, JoShua cleansed all the children of IsraEl that had been born along the way, as well as all the uncircumcised that had come with them from Egypt…
He circumcised all [the males] that had wandered in the MabDaris Desert for the past 40 years.[Of course, this didn’t include] the uncircumcised fighting men that had left the land of Egypt but then disobeyed the commandments of God, for God had decided that they wouldn’t see the land that He had sworn to their ancestors that He would give to them…
A land flowing with milk and honey.
But in their place, He elevated their sons… these were the ones whom JoShua circumcised, since those that had been born along the way hadn’t been circumcised.
So, after they were circumcised, they had to stay there in the camp and rest until they had all healed.
It was then that the Lord said to JoShua (the son of NaWeh):
‘On this day, I have removed all the shame of Egypt from you.’
And that’s when He named the place GilGal (Circle of Stones).
It was on the 14th day of the month, in the evening, in a field to the west of JeriCho on the [west] side of the JorDan, that the children of IsraEl then celebrated the Passover.
There they ate the yeast-free new grain [that they had found] in the land;and after they had eaten the grain, the manna stopped coming.
So, the children of IsraEl no longer had the manna, and they went on to eat the fruitage from the land of the Phoenicians for the rest of that year.
Well, as JoShua was approaching JeriCho, he looked up and he saw a person standing in front of him that had a drawn sword in his hand.
So he went up to him and asked:
‘Are you for us or are you on the side of our enemies?’
And he replied:
‘I have come here as the leader of the army of Jehovah!’
Well at that, JoShua fell with his face to the ground and he asked,
‘Lord, what would you command your servant to do?’
And the leader of Jehovah’s army said to JoShua:
‘Untie the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground!’
Well, by this time, JeriCho was all closed up and ready for a siege, so nobody could enter or leave.
But then the Lord said to JoShua:
‘{Look!} I’m giving JeriCho to you, along with its king and all its mighty men.
So, station your army around the city,and when they hear the trumpets blowing, all the people must shout.
For it is this shouting that will bring down the walls of the city.
And thereafter, everyone must rush straight into it.’
So JoShua (the son of NaWeh) went to the Priests and said:
‘Give the sacred trumpets to 7 of the Priests, and have them blow [the trumpets] loudly as they walk before Jehovah, followed by the Lord’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement.
Also tell the people to walk in a circle around the city with the men all armed and ready for war before Jehovah.
The army is to walk ahead of the Priests, who must keep blowing the trumpets, [and they will] be followed by the Lord’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement.’
Then JoShua told the people:
‘Don’t shout or say a word until [God] Himself tells you it’s time to shout.
For, the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of God will circle the city, and then it must immediately be returned to the camp and be left there.’
So on the next day, JoShua got up in the morning and the Priests picked up the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah.
Then the 7 Priests that had the 7 trumpets walked ahead, followed by the men of war, then the rest of the group, and finally by the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah, as the Priests were blowing the trumpets.
The group circled the city closely 6 times, then they returned to the camp… and they did this for 6 days.
Then on the 7th day, they all arose early and circled the city 7 times…
And on the 7th round, the Priests blew their trumpets.
Then JoShua told the children of IsraEl:
‘Now shout, for Jehovah has given you the city!
You must dedicate it and everything that is in it to Jehovah of Armies, except for the prostitute RaHab and the things in her house.
You must stay free from the cursed things that are there, for fear that you might be tempted to take some and bring a curse upon the camp of the children of IsraEl, which would cause us [all] to be destroyed!
Also, all the gold, silver, brass, and iron that is there is to be considered as holy to Jehovah, so it must be taken to the Lord’s treasury!’
[Well, on the 7th round], the Priests blew their trumpets; and when the people heard that, they all started shouting together as loudly as they could…
And all the walls around the city collapsed.
So the people rushed in.
Thereafter, JoShua dedicated it and everything in it (the men and the women, both the young and the old, as well as their cattle and burros) to destruction by the edge of the sword.
However, JoShua told the two young men that had served as spies to go to the house of the woman [that had sheltered them] and bring her and all that was hers out of it.
So, the two young men went to her house and brought out the prostitute RaHab, along with her father, mother, brothers, all of her relatives and everything she had, and set her up outside of the camp of IsraEl.
And thereafter, they burned the city along with everything in it, except for the gold, silver, brass, and iron, which they carried into the treasury of Jehovah.
However, JoShua allowed RaHab the prostitute and all the house of her father to live…
And she still lives in IsraEl today, because she had hidden the spies that JoShua sent to JeriCho.
Also on that day, JoShua made everyone swear before Jehovah that any man who rebuilt the city would be cursed…
The one that laid its foundation would lose his firstborn, and the one that rebuilt its gates would lose his youngest son.
Yet, that’s what Hozan of BethEl did;
He laid the foundation [with the body of] AbiRom his firstborn, and he set up its gates [with the body of] his youngest son.
Thereafter, because Jehovah was with JoShua, his name became [famous] throughout all the lands.
However, the children of IsraEl committed a serious sin by taking some of the things that had been cursed.
It was Achar (the son of CharMi, the son of ZamBri and grandson of ZaRa) of the tribe of Judah that took the cursed things, which made Jehovah very angry with the children of IsraEl.
Well, [after JeriCho had been destroyed], JoShua had sent men as spies to Gai (which was close to BethEl).
And when they returned, they told him,
‘We won’t need the whole army. All we will need is two or three thousand men to take the city, because not many of our enemies are there.’
Therefore, they sent about 3,000 there to fight…
But these had to turn and run from the people of Gai,and the [people there] killed 36 of their men as they chased them away from their [city] gate, destroying them as they were running down the steep hill.
Of course, this upset the [IsraElites], and it caused their hearts to become like water.
So, JoShua started ripping his clothes, and he and the elders of IsraEl threw dust on their heads and fell with their faces to the ground before Jehovah, [just lying there] until the evening.
Then JoShua prayed:
‘O Lord; Why did You have Your servant bring these people across the JorDan and then allow the Amorites to destroy us?
We would have been better off if we had stayed on the other side of the JorDan and settled there.
What can I tell them now that IsraEl has [been forced to] flee from our enemies?
And when the CanaAnites and all the other inhabitants of the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe us out of their land…
And then, what will You do for Your great Name?’
But the Lord said to JoShua:
‘Why have you fallen to your face? Get up!
[I allowed this because] the people have sinned and broken the agreement that I made with them by stealing things that are cursed and hiding them among their possessions.
Because of this, the children of IsraEl won’t be able to stand before their enemies… they’ll have to run from them, because they’ve brought a curse upon themselves.
So, I won’t be with you anymore until you remove those cursed things from among yourselves!
‘Now, get up and make the people holy… yes, tell them to make themselves holy!
Then explain to them that Jehovah the God of IsraEl says that there are cursed things among them and that they won’t be able to stand before their enemies until they’ve removed these cursed things.
You must gather all the tribes in the morning, and Jehovah will indicate which tribe, which family line, which household, and which man [is guilty] of doing this.
Then, those to whom He points must be burned with fire for breaking the agreement with Jehovah and bringing wickedness upon all IsraEl.’
So JoShua got up early [the next morning] and he assembled the people by their tribes.
Well, the tribe of Judah was the first to be indicated;so, all of their families [were set aside].
Next the family of the Zaraites was indicated;and all of their people were set aside.
[And finally], Achar (the son of ZamBri and grandson of ZaRa) was indicated.
So JoShua said to Achar:
‘Give glory to Jehovah the God of IsraEl today and confess.
Tell me what you’ve done… don’t [try to] hide it from me!’
And at that, Achar said to JoShua,
‘Yes, I have sinned against Jehovah the God of IsraEl… this is what I did:
I noticed an embroidered shawl, 200 silver coins, and a piece of gold among the treasures.
So because I wanted them, I took them and hid them inside my tent [under the shawl].’
Well at that, JoShua sent messengers that ran to his tent in the camp, and they found those things hidden under the shawl.
Then they brought them to JoShua and the elders of IsraEl and laid them before Jehovah.
As the result, JoShua took Achar (the son of ZaRa), along with his sons, daughters, calves, burros, sheep, tent, all his belongings, and all the people that lived with him, and he brought them to the Valley of Achar at Emec.There, JoShua said to Achar:
‘You’ve destroyed us, so today Jehovah is going to destroy you!’
Then all IsraEl stoned him along with all that were with him with rocks, and they burned [their bodies] in a fire, after which they covered [their bones] with a huge pile of rocks… which are still there today.
This brought an end to Jehovah’s rage, and it’s why that place is still called The Valley of Achar (the Troublemaker) to this day.
Then Jehovah said to JoShua:
‘Don’t be afraid or tremble anymore; for, now you must take all the men of war and return to Gai. Look; I’ve given the king of Gai and his land into your hands!
So you must do to Gai as you did to JeriCho and its king; however, [this time] you may take their cattle.
Now, go and set up an ambush behind the city.’
Therefore, JoShua got the men of war ready to go to Gai.
He chose 30,000 mighty men and sent them during the night,giving them these orders:
‘Wait in ambush behind the city… don’t go too far, and everyone must be ready.
Then I will take [a group] up to the city [gate];
And when the people of Gai come out to meet us, we’re going to turn and run from them,so they will chase after us and leave the city… for they’ll think that we are running from them as we did before.
That’s when those that are lying in ambush must get up and enter the city.
You must do exactly as I’ve commanded you!’
So JoShua sent them on, and they waited in ambush to the west of Gai, between BethEl and Gai.
Well, early the next morning, JoShua got up and counted off the people. Then he and the elders went up to face the people of Gai,approaching it from the east,as the rest hid in ambush to the west of the city.
---And when the king of Gai saw them, he and all his people rushed out to meet them head on, not realizing that an ambush had formed behind their city.
Then JoShua and IsraEl turned and retreated from them,and they chased the children of IsraEl for some distance,which left very few people inside Gai…
They had left the city wide open as everyone was out chasing IsraEl.
Then Jehovah said to JoShua:
‘Now, raise the spear that’s in your hand toward the city, for I’ve given it into your hands.
Those that are hiding must quickly get up and enter it.’
So then JoShua raised his spear toward the city.
And when those that were hiding in ambush saw him raise his spear, they quickly arose and entered the city, capturing it and setting it on fire.
Well, when the inhabitants of Gai turned around and looked back, they saw the smoke from their city rising high into the sky, and they [realized] that they then had nowhere to run.
And when JoShua and all IsraEl saw that the city had been taken and its smoke was rising into the sky, they turned around and started cutting down the men of Gai.
Then the men [that were burning] the city came out and attacked them from their rear, cutting them all down until no one was left… not a survivor or an escapee.
They also captured the king of Gai and brought him before JoShua.
Well, after the children of IsraEl had finished killing everyone in Gai in the fields and on the descent from its mountain where they had started chasing them, JoShua returned to Gai and cut down all those that remained with his sword.
So, 12,000 inhabitants of Gai fell and were destroyed that day (both the men and the women).
---Then the children of IsraEl took all their cattle and they looted the city for themselves, following the instructions that Jehovah had given to JoShua.
Thereafter, JoShua finished burning the city. He turned it into an uninhabitable pile of rubble, which is what it has remained through the ages down to this day.
Then he hung the king of Gai [on a tree] and left [his body] there until the evening.
But after the sun had set, JoShua gave instructions to take his body down, and they threw it into a pit and piled a heap of rocks over it, [which can still be seen] to this day.
Then JoShua built an altar to Jehovah the God of IsraEl on Mount Ebal,just as Moses (Jehovah’s servant) had commanded the children of IsraEl, and as it is written in the Law of Moses.
It was an altar made of rocks that hadn’t been cut or touched by iron. And there he sacrificed whole burnt offerings and a peace offering to Jehovah.
Thereafter, JoShua inscribed the Law of Moses on those rocks in front of all the children of IsraEl.
Then everyone in IsraEl (including their elders, judges, and scribes) filed past the [Sacred] Chest, passing on either side, as the Levite Priests were carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah.
And after that, all the native [IsraElites] and the aliens were divided into two groups.
Half were stationed near Mount GiriZim, and the other half were stationed near Mount Ebal, just as Moses (Jehovah’s servant) had commanded, so as to receive the first blessings on the people.
Then JoShua read all the words of the Law… all the blessings and curses that were written in the Law of Moses.
There wasn’t a word that Moses had said to JoShua that wasn’t read within the hearing of the entire assembly of the children of IsraEl… the men, the women, the children, and all the aliens that had joined themselves to IsraEl.
Well when the kings of the Amorites on the [west] side of the JorDan (all those in the mountain country, those in the plains by the [MediTerranean] Sea, and those near the borders of Lebanon), as well as the Hittites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, Amorites, Gergesites, and the Jebusites heard what had happened there,they all banded together to fight against JoShua and IsraEl.
However, when the inhabitants of GibeOn heard what Jehovah had done to JeriCho and Gai,they craftily made [a plan to save themselves].
They put old sacks over their shoulders, they carried old torn and patched wine skins,and they tore off the upper parts of old shoes and sandals and put them on their feet.
Then they dressed themselves in old clothes and carried along some bread that was dry, moldy, and rotting;and they went to JoShua at the camp of IsraEl at GilGal, and said,
‘We’ve come from a faraway land, [and we want you to] make a treaty with us.’
But [JoShua] asked the GibeOnites:
‘How can I sign a treaty with you if you live near to us?’
And they told JoShua:
‘We’re [coming here to be] your servants!’
Then JoShua asked:
‘So, who are you and where have you come from?
And they replied:
‘Your servants have come from a far away country in the Name of your God Jehovah.
For we’ve heard of His Name and of all that He did in Egypt,as well as of the things He did to the kings of the Amorites across the JorDan, and of what He did to SeOn the king of the Amorites and to Og the king of BaShan that lived in AstarOth and in EdraIn.>
And when our elders and the people that live in our land heard of this, they spoke to us and said,
Take along enough provisions for the trip and travel to meet with them; then tell them that we’ll be their servants and that [we want to] make a treaty with them.
Look at our bread! On the day that we started our journey to come here, it was hot. But now it’s all dry and moldy.
And look at these wine skins! When we filled them they were new, but now they’re torn…
And our clothes and shoes are worn out because of the long journey!’
So the leaders [of IsraEl] shared their provisions with them. And because they had failed to ask Jehovah’s direction,JoShua concluded a peace treaty with them and agreed to allow them to live…
And the leaders of the gathering also swore to this.
Well, it was three days after they had made the treaty [with the GibeOnites] that [the IsraElites] found out that they were [actually] close neighbors who lived in their midst.
So the children of IsraEl went to their cities (GibeOn, KePhira, Berot, and the cities around JaRim).
However, they didn’t fight against them, because all the leaders had sworn not to do this in an oath that they’d made before Jehovah the God of IsraEl…
And this caused the whole gathering to start grumbling against their leaders.
So the leaders spoke to the gathering and said this:
‘Because we have sworn [an oath] to them by Jehovah the God of IsraEl, we can’t touch them!
However, we will do this:
We’ll let them live and we’ll protect them, so [God] won’t be angry with us for [breaking] the oath that we swore to them.
But they will have to serve our entire gathering as woodcutters and water bearers, just as our leaders have told them.’
Well thereafter, JoShua assembled the [GibeOnites] and he asked them:
‘Why did you deceive me?
Why did you say that you live far away from us, when you are actually the fellow countrymen of the rest of the people that live here?
Because you did this, you are cursed and you will always have to serve as slaves, woodcutters, and water drawers for me and for my God!’
And they replied to JoShua:
‘We were told that Jehovah your God ordered his servant Moses to [take] this land and to destroy us, along with everyone else that lives here.
So it was because we feared for our lives that we did this thing!
And now look… we’ve surrendered to you, so you may do to us whatever pleases and seems good to you.’
Well, that’s what they did.
JoShua saved them from the hands of the children of IsraEl, and he didn’t allow them to be killed.
Then JoShua made them woodcutters and water bearers to the whole gathering and for the Altar of God. [And he said]:
‘The inhabitants of GibeOn will continue to serve as the woodcutters and water bearers for the Altar of God even in that [future] place that will be chosen by Jehovah.’
Well, when Lord Bezek (the king of Salem) heard that JoShua had taken Gai and destroyed it the same as he had done to JeriCho and its king, and that the inhabitants of GibeOn had gone over to JoShua and IsraEl,this frightened him.
For he knew that the cities of GibeOn were large… they were some of [the land’s] primary cities, and [they were renown] for their mighty men.
So Lord Bezek sent [messages] to ElAm (the king of HebRon), PhiDon (the king of JeriMuth), JephTha (the king of LachIsh), and Dabin (the king of OdolLam) that said:
‘Come and help us to conquer GibeOn, because the GibeOnites have gone over to JoShua and the children of IsraEl!’
And at that, the 5 kings of the Jebusites joined with the king of Salem (this included the kings of HebRon, JeriMuth, LachIsh, and OdolLam).
Then they and all their people went and camped around GibeOn, laying siege against them.
So the GibeOnites sent [a message] to JoShua at his camp at GilGal, which said:
‘Hurry and send your servants to help us!
Save us from the Amorite kings of the hill country, for they have all united against us!’
Well at that, JoShua collected the best of his army [and marched them] from GilGal.
And the Lord told JoShua:
‘Don’t be afraid, for I’m giving them into your hands… there won’t be anyone left to oppose you!’
Then, because JoShua had marched all night from GilGal, he caught them by surprise,and Jehovah struck them with terror before the children of IsraEl.
So they destroyed them all with a great slaughter there at GibeOn.
He chased them to the road that leads to OroNin, Azeca, and MakeDa,and as they were fleeing the children of IsraEl along the descent from OroNin, the Lord threw hailstones from the sky at them all the way to Azeca.
And more died from the hailstones than were killed in battle by the children of IsraEl.
Then JoShua spoke to Jehovah that day as He was delivering the Amorites into the [hands] of IsraEl.
While they were destroying [their enemies] at GibeOn, JoShua said,
‘May the sun stand still over GibeOn and may the moon [stand still] over the valley of AiLon!’
And at that, the sun and the moon actually stood still as God brought vengeance on their enemies…
The sun stood still in the midst of the sky and it didn’t move for a whole day!
There has never been a day like that before or since;
For God listened to a man and He fought on the side of IsraEl!And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal. [spurious words]
Well, the 5 kings had all run away and hidden themselves in a cave at MakeDa.
And when JoShua was told that the 5 kings had been found hiding in the cave at MakeDa,he said:
‘Roll boulders to cover the mouth of the cave, and then appoint men to guard them.
But don’t stop there; just keep on chasing your enemies and attacking them from the rear.
Don’t allow them to go back into their cities, for Jehovah our God has given them into our hands!’
However, although JoShua and IsraEl wiped most of them out, those that escaped finally did take refuge in their fortified cities.
Well, after the battle, all the people returned safely to JoShua at MakeDa, and none of the children of IsraEl grumbled against him after that.
Then JoShua said:
‘Now, open the cave and bring out those 5 kings!’
So they brought the 5 kings out of the cave… the king of Salem, the king of HebRon, the king of JeriMuth, the king of LachIsh, and the king of OdolLam.
And when they brought them out to JoShua, he assembled all IsraEl and said to the chiefs of the army that went with him,
‘Now, come here and put your feet on their necks.’
So they came and put their feet on the necks [of the kings],and JoShua said:
‘You must not be afraid or cowardly… you must be courageous and strong!
For this is what Jehovah will do to all of the enemies against whom you will fight.’
Then JoShua killed them and hung their bodies on 5 trees, where they remained until the evening.
It was about sunset when JoShua commanded them to be taken down from the trees, and their [bodies] were thrown into the cave where they had run for refuge.
Then stones were rolled back over the cave, and [their bodies] are still there to this day.
Also on that same day, they captured MakeDa and destroyed its inhabitants with swords…
They destroyed every living thing that was there… no one was left or escaped.
Then they did the same thing to the king of MakeDa as they had done to the king of JeriCho.
Well, after MakeDa, JoShua and all IsraEl left and laid siege against LebNa,and Jehovah gave it into their hands.
They captured it and its king, then they killed all the inhabitants with swords… they killed everything that breathed there… no one survived or escaped.
Then they did the same thing to its king as they had done to the king of JeriCho.
Thereafter, JoShua and IsraEl left LebNa and went on to LachIsh, where they camped around the city and laid siege to it.
Then Jehovah handed LachIsh over to IsraEl.
They captured it on the 2nd day and put all the inhabitants to death with swords, after which they destroyed [the city], just as they had done to LebNa.
Well, because ElAm (the king of GaZer) had gone to help LachIsh, JoShua also cut him and his people down with swords until there were none left and none had escaped.
And from LachIsh, JoShua and all IsraEl went on to OdolLam, laid siege to it, and took it.
Yes, Jehovah gave it into the hands of IsraEl on that same day, and they killed all the inhabitants as well as every breathing thing that was there with swords, as they had done at LachIsh.
Thereafter, JoShua and all IsraEl went on to HebRon and camped around it.
Then they cut it down along with all the living creatures in it with swords, leaving nothing alive there.
They destroyed the [city] and everything in it, as they had done to OdolLam.
After that, JoShua and IsraEl returned to DabIr and camped around it.
Then they took it, its king, and its villages, cutting them down with swords…
They destroyed everything that breathed there. They left nothing alive!
And what they had done to HebRon and her king is what they did to DabIr and its king.
Then JoShua attacked all the hill country, the Negev, the plain country, and AsedOth and all their kings… they didn’t spare anything.
They destroyed everything that had the breath of life (just as Jehovah the God of IsraEl had commanded),from KaDesh BarNea to the Gaza, and all of Goshen as far as GibeOn.
JoShua struck down all of their kings and he took their lands, because Jehovah the God of IsraEl was fighting on his side.
And when JabIsh (the king of Asor) heard about this, he sent for Jobab (the king of MaRon), the kings of SymoOn and Aziph,the kings around Sidon, those in the hill country, those in the Araba across from KenerOth, those in the plains, those in PhenaEdDor,the CanaAnites along the eastern border, the Amorites along their borders, the Hittites, the Pherezites, the mountain Jebusites, the Evites, and all those living near Mount HerMon in the land of MasSyma.
And when all those kings and their armies came together, they were like the sands on the seashore in numbers, with multitudes of horses and chariots.
All the kings were there in person, and they camped at the waters of MaRon to prepare for war with IsraEl.
Then Jehovah said to JoShua:
‘Don’t be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this same time I will make them flee before IsraEl.
Then you must hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.’
So JoShua and all the men of war made a surprise attack on them at the waters of MaRon and in the hill country,and Jehovah gave them into IsraEl’s hands.
They struck them down and chased them all the way to Sidon, MasEron, and eastward to the plains of MasSoch… they kept destroying them until there were no more.
Then JoShua did as Jehovah commanded; he hamstrung the horses and burned their chariots in a fire.
Next, JoShua went back and took Asor and her king (back then, Asor was the capital city of those kingdoms),and they killed everything that breathed with swords…
They destroyed them all and nothing was left alive there.
Then they burned Asor with fire.
Thereafter, JoShua conquered all the cities that belonged to those kings, and he had everyone put to death by the sword.
He left no survivors, just as Moses (the servant of Jehovah) had commanded.
However, they didn’t burn down all the walled cities, just Asor.
This time, the children of IsraEl looted the cities and killed all the people with swords, leaving no breathing survivors,for this is what Jehovah had commanded His servant Moses to do, and it’s what Moses commanded JoShua to do.
So JoShua did everything that Moses had commanded.
Next, JoShua took all the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the plain country, all the [country] to the west, the mountains of IsraEl, the low country near the mountainsfrom Mount ChelCha to SeIr (all the way to BalaGad), and the plains to the borders of Lebanon near Mount HerMon.
He captured all their kings and he destroyed everyone.
This war that JoShua waged with those kings went on for quite some time,and there was no city that IsraEl warred against that they failed to conquer.
For Jehovah had hardened all the hearts [of the people in those cities] when they went to war against IsraEl, so that they might be destroyed without mercy, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Then JoShua went and destroyed the Enakim in the hill country from HebRon, to DabIr, to AnabOth, as well as all the other races in the land of IsraEl, including those in the mountains of Judea and their cities…
JoShua destroyed them all,for the children of IsraEl left no one.
And among the Enakim, the only survivors were found in Gaza, Gath, and AselDo.
Thereafter, JoShua took all their land, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses, and he and [divided] it among IsraEl by their tribes as their inheritance.
Then that’s when the wars ended.
These are the kings in that land whom the children of IsraEl killed and whose land they inherited [on the east side] of the JorDan, which ran from the Arnon Valley to Mount HerMon, and all the land of the Araba in the east:
· SeOn, the king of the Amorites.
He lived in Hesh-EbonEh and ruled [over the area] from the Arnon (which is on the side of the valley) and half of GileAd as far as the JaBoc, to the borders of the children of AmMonand the Araba, up to the Sea of [GaliLee], then down to the [Dead] Sea and along the road to AsimOth, from ThaEman to AsedOth Phasga.
· Og, the king of BaShan.
He lived in AstarOth near EdraIn, which was [inhabited by] giants.
He ruled over all the land of BaShan from Mount HerMon and SecChai to the borders of GerGesi, Machi, and half of GileAd, up to the borders of SeOn, the king of Hesh-EbonEh.
They were the ones whom Moses (the servant of Jehovah) and the children of IsraEl had struck down, and whose [land] Moses gave as an inheritance to ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh.
These are the kings of the Amorites whom JoShua and the children of IsraEl killed [on the west side of] the JorDan along the [MediTerranean] Sea, from the plains of Lebanon to Mount ChelCha and along the road to SeIr (which JoShua gave to the tribes of IsraEl as their inheritance),to the mountains and plains, in the Araba and AsedOth, and to the desert and the Negev…
The [lands] of the Hittites, Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, and Jebusites:
· The king of JeriCho
· The king of Gai (near BethEl)
· The king of JeruSalem
· The king of HebRon
· The king of JeriMuth
· The king of LachIsh
· The king of ElAm
· The king of GaZer
· The king of DabIr
· The king of Gader
· The king of HerMath
· The king of Ader
· The king of LebNa
· The king of OdolLam
· The king of ElAth
· The king of Taphu
· The king of Opher
· The king of Ophec and Aroc
· The king of Asom
· The king of SymoOn
· The king of MamBroth
· The king of Aziph
· The king of KaDesh
· The king of ZachAc
· The king of MaredOth
· The king of Jecom and CarMel
· The king of OdolLam (under PhenNeAldor, the king of Gei of GaliLee)
· The king of Thersa (29 kings all together).
Well by then, JoShua had grown very old; so the Lord said to him:
‘You’re getting very old and there’s still a lot of land to [divide as] inheritances;for all of this is still left:
· The borders of the Philistines, Gesirites, and CanaAnitesfrom the desert across from Egypt to the borders of AcCaron (the CanaAnites are thought to have had 5 principalities among the Philistines).
They are the inhabitants of Gaza, including Azotus, AshCalon, Geth, and AcCaron.
· The Evitesfrom ThaEman through the land of CanaAn to the Gaza.
· The Sidonians from Aphec to the borders of the Amorites.
· The Philistine land of GoliAth from the border of Lebanon east of GilGal at Mount HerMon and the road to Emath.
· All those that inhabit the hill country from Lebanon to MaserEth-MemphoMaim, and all the Sidonians.
I’m going to destroy them all before IsraEl;
So, divide their land as an inheritance among IsraEl, as I told you.
Divide it [and let it be offered] in a lottery to the 9 tribes and to the half tribe of ManasSeh.
Its boundaries will run west from the JorDan to the [MediTerranean] Sea.’
Now, Moses (the servant of Jehovah) had already given the tribes of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh their inheritance in the east across the JorDanfrom AroEr (at the brook of Arnon) to the city in the middle of the valley, as well as all of Misor to MaEdAbanand all the cities of SeOn (the king of the Amorites) who reigned from Hesh-EbonEh to the borders of the children of AmMon,as well as the region of GileAd, the borders of the Gesirites and Machatites all around Mount HerMon, the land of BaShan to Acha,and the entire kingdom of Og in the region of BaShan (he reigned in AstarOth and in EdraIn near the giants before Moses struck him down and destroyed him).
But the children of IsraEl didn’t destroy the Gesirites, Machatites, and CanaAnites; so the king of the Gesiri and the Machatites are still living among the children of IsraEl to this day.
However, no inheritance was given to the tribe of Levi;
For Jehovah the God of IsraEl is their inheritance, as He told them.
This is how Moses divided the land among the children of IsraEl at ArabOth in MoAb on the other side of the JorDan near JeriCho…
To the tribe of ReuBen and their families he gave all of this:
Their borders ran from AroEr across from the Brook of Arnon (which includes the cities in the valley of Arnon and all of Misor)to Hesh-EbonEh.
So theirs included all the cities in Misor, DaEbon, BaEmonBaAl, BethMeElBoth,BaShan, BakedMoth, MaEphaAd,KiriAth JaiRim, Sebama, Serada, Sion (on Mount Enab),BaethPhogor, AsedOth, Phasga, BaethThasinOth,all the cities of Misor, and all the kingdom of SeOn (the king of the Amorites whom Moses struck down, along with the leaders of MidiAn – Evi, Roboc, Sur, Ur, and Robe, who was the leader of the looters in Sion), all the inhabitants of Sion,and BalaAm the son of BeOr (they also killed this prophet in the battle).
The [western] border of ReuBen started at the JorDan.
So, those are the boundaries and inheritance of the children of ReuBen, which were divided among all their families, as well as their cities and villages.
He gave this inheritance to the sons of Gad and to their families:
Their borders run from JaZer (they include all the cities of GileAd and half the land of the children of AmMon) to the Araba near Arad.
Then on from Hesh-EbonEh to ArabOth through MasSepha, Botanim, and MaAn, to the borders of DaEbon,EnAdom, OtharGai, BaenThanabra, SocCotha, and Saphan, and the rest of the kingdom of SeAn (the king of Hesh-EbonEh) to the JorDan, then up to the Sea of GaliLee on the east side of the JorDan.
This is the inheritance of the children of Gad and their cities, which was divided among their families.
They had to [stick together when facing] their enemies, because those cities and villages were to be distributed among their families.
He gave this inheritance to half the tribe of ManasSeh and their families:
Their borders ran from MaAn, through the kingdom of BaShan, and the entire kingdom of Og (the king of BaShan), all the villages of JaIr that are in the region of BaShan (some 60 cities),half of GileAd, and AstarOth and EdraIn (the royal cities of Og in the land of BaShan).
That is what Moses gave to the sons of MachIr (the son of ManasSeh) and their families, which comprised the half tribe of ManasSeh.
They’re the ones that urged Moses to give them all the land east of the JorDan at ArabOth MoAb.
And these were the children of IsraEl that received their inheritance in the land of CanaAn – those to whom EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and the family heads of the tribes of the children of IsraEl gave an inheritance.
The 9-1/2 tribes received their inheritances in a lottery, just as Jehovah had commanded JoShua;
But the Levites received no inheritance among themother than their own cities and suburbs, where their cattle were kept separate from those of the rest.
So the children of IsraEl did just as Jehovah commanded Moses, and they divided up the land.
Then (one of) the sons of Judah (Caleb, the son of JephoNe the Kenite) went to JoShua at GilGal and said to him:
‘You know what Jehovah said to Moses (the man of God) about me at KaDesh BarNea.
For I was 40 years old when Moses (the servant of God) sent me from KaDesh BarNea to spy in this land, and I returned to him and gave him an answer that pleased him.
Though my brothers that went with me preferred to listen to the people, I kept following my God Jehovah.
So Moses swore on that day, saying,
The land where you went will become the inheritance of you and your children through the ages, because you made sure that you followed our God, Jehovah.
‘Well, Jehovah has kept me alive until now, and it has been 45 years since Jehovah said that to Moses back when IsraEl [lived] in the desert.
So today, {Look!} I’m 85 years old!Yet, I’m still as strong as when Jehovah sent me; in fact, I’m still strong enough to fight as a soldier!
So now I’m asking you for this mountain [in order to fulfill Jehovah’s promise] which you heard on that day.
And though the Enakim are here in large fortified cities;
If Jehovah is with me, I’ll destroy them just as Jehovah has instructed me.’
So JoShua blessed him and gave HebRon to Caleb (the son of JephoNe and grandson of Kenez) as his inheritance.
And since then, HebRon has been the inheritance of Caleb, because he followed the commandments of Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.
The name of that city used to be ArGob when it belonged to the Enakim; but after the war, it was renamed HebRon.
The border of the tribe of Judah (which land was divided among their families) runs south from Idumea and the Sin Desert, as far as KaDeshin the south.
It runs from part of the Dead Sea into the high country,then it goes toward the base of Mount AcraBin, around Sena, then south to KaDesh BarNea, over to AsoRon, up to SaraDa, then along the road west of KaDesh,out to SelMona toward the valley of Egypt, and it ends at the Sea.
These are their southern borders.
Their borders on the east run from the Dead Sea and up the JorDan. Their borders in the north run from the Sea over to part of the JorDan.
They run from BethLehem in the north to the House in the Plains, along the stone [wall] of BaeOn to the borders of the sons of ReuBen.
The border continues through a 4th part of the Valley of Achor and goes down toward GilGal to the approach to AdamMin (on the south side of the valley), and terminates at the water [that flows from] the Spring of the Sun and the Spring of RogEl.
Then it runs southward to the valley of EnNom behind Jebus (which is now JeruSalem), and ends at the top of the mountain facing the seaward side of the valley of EnNom, with the land of the RaphaIn in the north.
Then the border runs from the top of the mountain to the spring water of NaphTho, and on to Mount EphRon along the [road] that leads to BaAl (which is now the city of JaRim).
Then it runs from BaAl to the sea across Mount AsSar, which is behind the city of JaRim to the north (ChasLon), and down to the City of the Sun. From there, it heads south.
This border terminates behind AcCaron (to the north), then it runs on to SocChoth and southward to LebNa, then over to the Sea.
The [MediTerranean] Sea is their [western] border.
These are the borders of the [land that was distributed among] the families of the children of Judah.
And to Caleb (the son of JephoNe), JoShua set aside a [special] portion in the midst of the children of Judah, as God had commanded JoShua.
He gave him the city of ArBoc and the metropolis of Enac, which is now called HebRon.
So, Caleb (the son of JephoNe) destroyed the three sons of Enac (Susi, Tholami, and Achima) there,then he [attacked] DabIr, which used to be called The City of Letters.
Then Caleb swore:
‘To whoever takes, conquers, and destroys the City of Letters, I will give my daughter AsCha to be his woman.’
And it was GothoniEl (the son of Chenez, Caleb’s brother) who took [the city], so [Caleb] gave him AsCha his daughter to be his woman.
But as she was leaving [her father], she said to [Chenez]:
‘I’m going to ask my father for a field.’
So she got off her burro and started crying.
And Caleb asked her,
‘What’s wrong?’
Then she said:
‘Give me a blessing, for you’re sending me into the land of Negev… give me [a place where there are] springs!’
So he gave her both the upper and lower springs.
This is all the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah.
And their cities within the borders of Edom by the desert are BaeSeleEl, Ara, Asor,Icam, RegMa, AruEl,KaDesh, AsoriOnain, MaEnam,BalmaEnan and its suburbs,the cities of AseRon (which are now called Asor),Sen, SalmaA, MoLada,Seri, BaePhalath,CholaseOla, BeerSabee (and their villages and towns),Bala, Bacoc, Asom,ElBoudad, BethEl, Herma,SekeLac, Macharim, SethenNac,Labos, Sale, and EroMoth…
29 cities and their villages.
In the plain country, [the cities are] AstaOl, RaA, AsSa,Ramen, Tano, IluthOth, MaeAni,JerMuth, OdolLam, MemBra, SaoCho, Jazeca,SacArim, GadeRa and its villages…
14 cities and their villages.
Also, SenNa, AdaSan, MagadalGad,Dalad, MasPha, JaChareEl,BasedOth, IdeaDalea,Chabra, Maches, MaAchos,GedDor, BagadiEl, Noman, MacheDan…
16 cities and their villages.
Also, LebNa, Ithac, Anoch,Jana, Nasib,KeILam, AkiEzi, Kezib, BethEsar, AiLom…
10 cities and their villages.
Also, AcCaron and her villages and towns,AcCaron-Gemna, and all the cities near AsedOth and their villages,AsiedOth and her villages and towns, Gaza and its villages and towns, which run to the river of Egypt and along the [MediTerranean] Sea.
In the hill country, [the cities are] SamIr, JeTher, Socha,RenNa, The City of Letters (DabIr),Anon, Es, Man, AiSam,Goshen, Chalu, ChanNa, Gelom…
11 cities and their villages.
Also, AiRem, RemNa, Soma,JemaIn, BaethAchu, Phacua,Euma, the city ArBoc (HebRon), and SoraIth…
9 cities and their villages.
Also, MaOr, CarMel, Ozib, Itan,JariEl, AriCam, Zacanaim,GabaA, and ThamNatha…
9 cities and their villages.
Also, AiLua, BethSur, GedDon,MagarOth, BethAnam, and Thecum…
6 cities and their villages.
Also, Theco, EphRatha (BethLehem), Phagor, AiTan, Culon, Tatam, Thobes, Carem, Galem, Thether, and ManoCho…
11 cities and their villages.
Also, KariAth-BaAl (JaiRim) and SoTheba…
2 cities and their villages.
Also, BadDargeIsh, ThaRabaAm, AiNon, AiOchiOza, NaphLazon, Sadon, and AnKadesh…
7 cities and their villages.
Well, the Jebusites lived in JeruSalem, because the children of Judah couldn’t destroy them…
And they still live there today.
The borders of the children of JoSeph run from the JorDan past JeriCho on the east, and from JeriCho to the hill country, to the desert, then up to BethEl Luza.
And from BethEl they proceed on to the borders of AchaTarOthi,then they go across toward the sea along the borders of ApTalim, and to the borders of Lower BethOron, then on to the sea.
[And that’s where] the sons of JoSeph (Ephraim and ManasSeh) claimed their inheritance.
The borders of the children of Ephraim that were divided among their families as their inheritance run eastward to AtarOth and Eroc, then on to Upper BethOron and Gazara.
They run from the sea to IcasMon north of TherMa, then east to TheNasa and SelLes, and on to JaNoca,Macho, and AtarOth (which are their villages), then toward JeriCho, ending at the JorDan.
From there they run on to Tapho, to ChelCana, and back to the sea.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of Ephraim and their families.
Many of the cities and their villages that were given to the sons of Ephraim were in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of ManasSeh.
And Ephraim failed to destroy the CanaAnites who lived in GaZer; so the CanaAnites lived in Ephraim until PharaOh, the king of Egypt (possibly Ramses the Great) went there, took it, and burned it with fire.
Then PharaOh gave the CanaAnites, Pherezites, and those that live in Gaza to his daughter as her dowry.
Now, these are the borders of the tribe of the children of ManasSeh (JoSeph’s firstborn):
MachIr was the firstborn of ManasSeh and the father of GileAd, who [took] the land of GileAd and BaShan.
And the other sons of ManasSeh were also given land, which was divided among their families… the sons of Jezi, the sons of Kelez, the sons of JeziEl, the sons of SheChem, the sons of Symarim, and the sons of Opher (the family heads).
SalpaAd (the son of Opher) had no sons, just daughters, and these are their names:
SalpaAd, MaAla, Nua, Egla, Melcha, and Thersa.
They had gone before JoShua, EliEzer the Priest, and the rulers and said,
‘God commanded Moses to give us an inheritance in the midst of our family.’
So at the command of Jehovah, they were given an inheritance among their uncles.
In the lottery, these women were assigned all [the land] from AnasSa to the plain of Labec in the land of GileAd [west of] the JorDan.
And because these daughters of the sons of ManasSeh inherited land inside of GileAd, the rest of it was assigned to the other sons of ManasSeh.
Thus, the borders of the sons of ManasSeh start at DelAnath (close to the sons of Anath) and proceed to the edge of JaMin and JasSib, to the spring of ThaphThoth.
It all belongs to ManasSeh; but ThaphEth on its border belongs to the sons of Ephraim.
Then the borders go down to the valley of CaraNa, and southward past the valley of JariEl where there’s a pine tree that belongs to Ephraim near the city of ManasSeh.
Then its border runs northward to the brook and over to the sea.
The land to ManasSeh’s south belongs to Ephraim, and it runs along their border from the seacoast, then northward along the border of Aseb, and eastward up to [the land of] IsSachar.
And in the land of IsSachar, ManasSeh owns Asher, BethSan and their villages, the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, the inhabitants of MegidDo and its villages, and 1/3 of MaphEta and its villages.
However, the sons of ManasSeh weren’t able to destroy those cities, so the CanaAnites started living there.
But when the children of IsraEl were strong enough, they made the CanaAnites their subjects (they didn’t destroy them).
Then the sons of JoSeph went to JoShua [and complained]:
‘Why did you just give us just one inheritance and one border? For God has blessed us and made us a large group of people!’
But JoShua replied:
‘If you have a lot of people and the hills of Ephraim are too small for you, then go up to the forest and clear more land for yourselves.’
However, they replied:
‘We don’t like the hills of Ephraim, and the CanaAnites are living there in BethSan and its villages, as well as in the JezreEl Valley…
And they have many horsemen and iron [weapons].’
But JoShua told the sons of JoSeph:
‘If you have many people and you are very strong, you may claim more inheritance.
Also, if you need wood, there is [plenty of] wood there. Clear it and the land will be yours.
Then destroy the CanaAnites; for even if they do have good horsemen, you are stronger than they are.’
Well, the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl assembled at ShiLoh, and there they set up the Tent of Proofs (since they had already conquered that land)…
And the sons of IsraEl that hadn’t received their inheritance yet (7 tribes), stayed there.
Then JoShua asked the sons of IsraEl:
‘How much longer are you going to hold back from inheriting the land that our God Jehovah has given to you?
Now, appoint three men from each tribe and have them travel throughout the land.
Then come and describe it to me so it can be properly divided.’
And thereafter, they came to him and he [arranged for them to] divide it into 7 sections.
For he said,
‘Judah’s borders to the south will stand, as will [the land of] the sons of JoSeph to the north.
But now you must divide the [rest of] the land into 7 parts and then bring the descriptions here to me, so I can parcel them out in a lottery before Jehovah our God.
However, the sons of Levi won’t receive a share among you; for the Priesthood of Jehovah is their portion.
Also, Gad, ReuBen, and the half tribe of ManasSeh have already received their inheritance east of the JorDan, which was given to them by Moses, the servant of Jehovah.’
Then as the men got up to leave, JoShua gave these orders to those that were to explore the land:
‘Go and survey the land, then come to me and I will divide it in a lottery here in ShiLoh, before Jehovah.’
So they went and explored the land.
And after examining it, they divided it into 7 parts by cities, and [they drew a map], which they brought back to JoShua.
Then JoShua threw lots for them before Jehovah there at ShiLoh.
It was the tribe of BenJamin and their families that came first, and the borders they received were between the children of Judah and the children of JoSeph.
Their borders to the east went up the JorDan behind JeriCho, northward to the mountains in the west, and to BethOn of MabDara.
It runs around the south side of Luz (BethEl), and down to MaAtarob-Orech into the hill country that is south of Lower BethOron.
Then it proceeds to the part that faces the sea, south of the mountain in front of BethOron, and ends at KariAth-BaAl (KiriAth JaiRim), a city of the children of Judah.
This was their boundary on the west.
On the south side, it runs from the border of KiriAth-BaAl across to Gasin, and to the Spring of NaphTho.
Then it runs in front of the forest of SonNam (which is east of Emec-RaphaIn) in the north, and comes down to the EnNa Valley behind JebuSai;
Then it runs south to the Spring of RogEland over to the Spring of BethSamys.
From there, it goes in front of GalilOth by way of AiThamin, then down to the stone of BaeOn (of the sons of ReuBen), where it passes behind the north side of BethAraba to the sea in the north.
These borders end at the creek of the Dead Sea and run north along the JorDan (which is their southern border)…
So the JorDan is their boundary on the east.
This is the inheritance of the children of BenJamin and their families, and these are their borders.
The cities of the children of BenJamin and their families are JeriCho, BethAgaeo, the AmeCasis,BethAbara, Sara, BesAna,AiEin, Phara, EphRatha,CarApha, Cephira, and Moni
(12 cities and their villages)
GibeOn, Rama, BeerOtha,MasSema, Miron, Amoke,Phira, Caphan, Nacan, Selecan, ThareEla,Jebus (JeruSalem), and GabaOth JaiRim
(13 cities and their villages).
This is the inheritance of the sons of BenJamin and their families.
the 2nd lot fell to the children of SymeOn, so their inheritance is in the midst of the land of the children of Judah.
They were given BeerSabee, SamaA, CalaDam,ArSola, Bola, Jason,ErThula, Bula, Herma,SikElac, BethMachereb, SarSusin,BathAroth…
13 cities and their villages.
Also, EremMon, Thalcha, JeTher, and Asan…
4 cities and their villages.
Their cities run from Balec and the road to Bameth southward.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of SymeOn and their families.
It is part of the lot of Judah, because Judah’s portion was very large, so the inheritance of the children of SymeOn is in the midst of theirs.
The 3rd lot fell to ZebuLon and their families.
The boundaries of their inheritance run from EsedekGolato the sea and on to MagelDa, then it reaches to BethAraba in the valley across from JekMan.
From there it goes back to SedDuc and heads east to BethSamys along the border of ChaShilohThaith, and passes on to DabIrOth, then it goes up to PhanGai.
From there it goes back eastward to GeBere and the city of CataSem, and on to RemMonaA-MatharaOza.
Then it goes north to AmOth and ends at GaEphaEl,CataNath, NaBaAl, SymoOn, JeriCho, and BethMan.
This (and these cities and their villages) is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of ZebuLon and their families.
The 4th lot fell to IsSachar.
Their borders include Jazel, ChasalOth, Sunam,Agin, Siona, ReErOth,AnaChereth, DabIron, Kison, Rebes,RemMas, Jeon, TomMan, AiMarec, and BerSaphes.
They border on GaethBor, Salim, and BethSamys in the west, and then the border runs to the JorDan.This (and these cities and their villages) is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of IsSachar and their families.
The 5th lot fell to Asher and their families.
Their borders include ExelEketh, Aleph, BethOk, KeAph,EliMelech, AmiEl, and MaAsa.
Their border runs west from CarMel and on to Zion and LabaNath.
Then it runs west from BethEgeneth to where it joins ZebuLon (EkGai and PhthaeEl), then northward to SaphthaeBethMe and InaEl; then it goes on to ChobaMasomEl,ElBon, RaHab, EmeMaon, CanThan, and Sidon.
From there, it turns back and runs to Rama, to the Spring of MasPhasSat and the border of Tyre;
Then it returns to JaSiph and ends at the sea (it includes ApoLeb, EchoZob,ArchOb, Aphec, and RaAu).
This (and these cities and their villages) is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher and their families.
The 6th lot fell to NaphTali.
Their borders include MoOlam, Mola, BesemiIn, Arme, Naboc, JephThamai (as far as Dodam), and end at the JorDan.
Then it runs west at AthAbor and goes on to JaCana.
It borders on ZebuLon in the south, Asher in the west, and the JorDan in the east.
Theirs includes the walled cities of the Tyrians – Tyre, OmaThadakEth, KenerEth,ArmaIth, AreAl, Asor,KaDesh, AsSari and the well of Asor,Keroe, MegalaArim, BeatThame, and BethSamus.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of NaphTali.
The 7th lot fell to Dan.
Their borders include SarAth, Asa, the cities of SamMaus,SalaMin, AmMon, SilAtha,Elon, ThamNatha, AcCaron,AlCatha, BegEthon, GebeElan,Azor, BanaeBacat, and GethRemMon.
Then west of HierAcon, the border is near JopPa.
This (including these cities and their villages) is the inheritance of the children of Dan and their families.
However, the children of Dan didn’t drive out the Amorites.
So, they constantly harassed them in their mountains and wouldn’t allow them to come down into the valley.
They also forcibly took a portion of their land.
Then the sons of Dan went and fought against LachIsh and took it.
They cut [the people] down with swords and started living there, and they renamed the city LasenDan.
However, the Amorites continued to live in Edom and in SalamIn, but the Ephraimites held them down and forced them to pay a tribute.
So the children of IsraEl proceeded to take possession of the land inside their borders, and they gave an inheritance to JoShua (the son of NaWeh) among them.
Following the command of God, they gave him the city that he asked for, ThamnaSarach in the hills of Ephraim.
So he built the city and lived there.
These are the divisions that EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and the family heads of the tribes of IsraEl assigned in a lottery before Jehovah at ShiLoh, at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
And thereafter, they each went out to take possession of their lands.
Then the Lord spoke to JoShua and said:
‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them to assign the refuge cities that I spoke to you about through Moses.
They are to be havens for those that accidentally kill another person…
Cities to run to, so the one that killed the other won’t be put to death by the person acting as next-of-kin over the blood.
‘He must flee to one of these cities and go to the city gate to speak to the city elders about his case.
Thereafter, he is to be handed over [to those that are living there] and given a place where he can stay among them.
‘And when the one that is acting as the next of kin over the blood (the one that is pursuing him) arrives, they are not to hand him over for unintentionally striking his neighbor (someone whom he didn’t dislike on the previous days).
‘The person must continue to dwell in that city until he stands trial before the congregation, and thereafter, he must stay there until the death of the High Priest (whomever it may be in that day).
So then, the blood-avenger must just return to his city and home, (to the place from which the person had fled).’
Therefore, [JoShua] set aside KaDesh in the hills of NaphTali in GaliLee, SheChem in the hills of Ephraim, and the city of ArBoc (HebRon) in the hills of Judah.
And across the JorDan, he set aside Bosor in the desert plain of the tribe of ReuBen, AremOth in GileAd of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in the country of BaShan of the tribe of ManasSeh.
These were the cities that were selected for the sons of IsraEl and for the aliens who lived among them, where those that unintentionally killed another could run, so they wouldn’t be put to death by the blood avenger before they stood trial in front of the gathering.
Then the heads of the families of the sons of Levi came to EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and the heads of families of the tribes of IsraElat ShiLoh in the land of CanaAn, and said,
‘[Remember that Jehovah] gave the commandment through Moses that we should be given cities to live in, as well as land roundabout them for our cattle.’
So, following the commands of Jehovah, the children of IsraEl gave the Levites cities and their surrounding countrysides as their inheritance.
The first lot fell to the children of CaAth;
So the sons of Aaron (the Levite Priests) received 13 cities from the tribes of Judah, SymeOn, and BenJamin, which were divided among their families in a lottery.
And then the remaining sons of CaAth were given 10 cities from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half tribe of ManasSeh.
The sons of GedSon received 13 cities, which were divided [among their families] by lottery from the tribes of IsSachar, Asher, NaphTali, and the half tribe of ManasSeh in BaShan.
The sons of MeraRi received 12 cities, which were divided among their families by lottery from the tribes of ReuBen, Gad, and ZebuLon.
The children of IsraEl also gave the Levites the land around their cities, as Jehovah had commanded Moses, which were divided in a lottery.
These are the cities that the tribes of the children of Judah, SymeOn, and part of the tribe of the children of BenJamin assignedto the sons of Aaron (the family of CaAth of the sons of Levi), for whom the first lot fell:
· KiriAth-ArBoc and the metropolis of the sons of Enac (HebRon) in the Mountain country of Judah and the surrounding suburbs.
However, JoShua gave the city itself and its villages to the sons of Caleb (the son of JephoNe) as his [family’s] possession.
He also assigned HebRon and its suburbs as a refuge city for unintentional killers. [He also gave them:]
· LemNa and its suburbs
· AiLom and its suburbs
· Tema and its suburbs
· GelLa and its suburbs
· DabIr and its suburbs
· Asa and its suburbs
· Tany and its suburbs
· BethSamus and its suburbs – 9 cities from these two tribes.
And from the tribe of BenJamin, they were given:
· GibeOn and its suburbs
· GathEth and its suburbs
· AnathOth and its suburbs
· Gamala and its suburbs – 4 cities.
So all together, the sons of Aaron (the Priests) were given these 13 cities.
And the remaining families of the sons of CaAth (the Levite Priests) were giventhese cities from the tribe of Ephraim:
· SheChem and its suburbs (which was also a refuge city)
· Gazara and its appendages and suburbs
· KibZaim and its suburbs
· BethOron and its suburbs – 4 cities.
And from the tribe of Dan [they were given]:
· HelcoThaim and its suburbs
· GethEdan and its suburbs
· AiLon and its suburbs
· GethEremMon and its suburbs – 4 cities.
And from the half tribe of ManasSeh [they were given]:
· Tanach and its suburbs
· JeBatha and its suburbs – 2 cities.
So in all, 10 cities and their suburbs were assigned to the remaining families of the sons of CaAth.
And JoShua gave the sons of GedSon (the Levites) these cities from the other half-tribe of ManasSeh:
· Golan in the country of BaShan and its suburbs, which was also a refuge city
· Bosora and its suburbs – 2 cities.
And from the tribe of IsSachar [they were given]:
· Kison and its suburbs
· DebBa and its suburbs
· RemMath and its suburbs
· The Well of Letters and its suburbs – 4 cities.
And from the tribe of Asher [they were given]:
· BaselLa and its suburbs
· DabBon and its suburbs
· Chelcat and its suburbs
· RaHab and its suburbs – 4 cities.
And from the tribe of NaphTali [they were given]:
· KaDesh in GaliLee and its suburbs, which was a refuge city
· NemMath and its suburbs
· ThemMon and its suburbs – three cities.
All together, the families of GedSon received 13 cities.
The remaining families of the sons of MeraRi (the Levites) received these cities from the tribe of ZebuLon:
· MaAn and its suburbs
· KaDesh and its suburbs
· SelLa and its suburbs – three cities.
Then on the other side of the JorDan near JeriCho, they received these cities from the tribe of ReuBen:
· Bosor in the Miso Desert and its suburbs, which was a refuge city
· JaZer and its suburbs
· DecMon and its suburbs
· Mapha and its suburbs – 4 cities.
Then from the tribe of Gad [they received]:
· RamOth in GileAd and its suburbs, which was a refuge city
· Camin and its suburbs
· Esbon and its suburbs
· JaZer and its suburbs – 4 cities.
So altogether, the families of the sons of MeraRi of the tribe of Levi received 12 cities and their outlying land.
And the Levites received 48 citiesand all their surrounding land and suburbs.
Then after JoShua stopped dividing the land and setting their borders, the children of IsraEl gave JoShua his portion, because this is what Jehovah had commanded them.
They gave him the city that he asked for, ThamnaSarach in the hills of Ephraim.
Then JoShua built the city and lived there.
Thereafter, JoShua took stone knives and circumcised all the children of IsraEl that had been born along the way, and he let [them recuperate] at ThamnaSarach.
So, Jehovah gave IsraEl all the land that He had promised to their ancestors…
They inherited it all and lived there.
He also gave them a time of peace, as He had promised to their ancestors;
For, none of their enemies could stand against them and He gave them all into their hands.
As the result, all the good things that Jehovah had promised to the children of IsraEl started to be realized.
Then JoShua called the sons of ReuBen, the sons of Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh togetherand said to them:
‘You’ve [obeyed] all that Moses (the servant of Jehovah) commanded you to do, and you’ve paid attention to everything that I told you about his instructions,for you haven’t deserted your brothers during all this time and you’ve followed the commandments of your God Jehovah.
So, now that our God Jehovah has given our brothers [a place] where they can rest (as He promised), you can return to your land and to the homes that Moses gave to you on the other side the JorDan.
However, be careful to obey the Commandments and the Law that Moses (the servant of Jehovah) gave you…
Love Jehovah your God, walk in all His paths, keep His commandments, stick with Him and serve Him with your whole minds and souls.’
Then JoShua blessed them and dismissed them, and they returned to their homes.
Moses had given a portion of the land of BaShan to half of the tribe of ManasSeh, and JoShua gave the other half a portion with their brothers on the west side of the JorDan.
And when JoShua sent them home, he blessed themwith much wealth;
For he divided the loot that they had plundered from their enemies among them and their brothers, which included great numbers of cattle, as well as silver, gold, iron, and clothing.
So at that, the sons of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh left the children of IsraEl in ShiLoh (in the land of CanaAn) and they headed toward GileAd and the land that they had inherited at the command of Jehovah through Moses.
Then, when when they got to GileAd near the JorDan (in the land of CanaAn), they built a huge altar there next to the JorDan.
And when the [other] children of IsraEl heard about it, they said,
‘Look! The sons of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh have built an altar at the border of the land of CanaAn – at GileAd next to the JorDan – directly across from [the rest] of the children of IsraEl!’
And as the result, they all gathered at ShiLoh to go and fight against them.
But first, the children of IsraEl sent PhiNeas (the son of EliEzer and grandson of Aaron the Priest) to talk to the sons of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh in the land of GileAd,along with 10 of the chiefs –
One chief from each of the households of the rest of the tribes of IsraEl, who were generals over thousands in IsraEl.
So when they got to the sons of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh in the land of GileAd, they said,
‘This is what the whole gathering of Jehovah wants to know:
What is this sin that you’ve committed before the God of IsraEl by building yourselves an altar? Did you do this so that you could turn away from Him?
Was the sin at PhoGor – from which we have yet to be cleansed – that insignificant to you, despite the fact that it brought a plague among the entire gathering of Jehovah?
So, now that you’ve revolted against Jehovah, you will come to know the wrath of all IsraEl!
‘If your land has become too small for you, then you should cross [the JorDan] and come into into the land that Jehovah [has given to us] and where the Tent of Jehovah stays, so you can receive an inheritance here among us.
You must not turn away from God by building an altar apart from the Altar of Jehovah!
For look! Didn’t Achar (the son of ZaRa) sin by taking things that were cursed and bring the wrath [of God] on the whole gathering of IsraEl?
And [remember] that he died for his sin!’
However, the sons of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh replied to the generals of the thousands of IsraEl:
‘God – our God – is Jehovah.
As God Himself knows, and as IsraEl knows; if we have broken away from Jehovah and become apostates, He won’t save us today.
But we didn’t build an altar for ourselves to turn away from Him or to sacrifice whole burnt offerings or peace offerings on it (those things that Jehovah requires).
Rather, we [built this Altar] as a testimony… we did it because we were afraid that sometime in the future, your sons might ask our sons what portion we have in Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.
For now that Jehovah has set a boundary between you and us (the JorDan), we don’t want your sons to alienate our sons and keep them from worshiping Jehovah.
So, this is why we gave orders to build this altar… not for burnt offerings or for meat offerings,but as a witness between you and us and between our children, that we do serve Jehovah, and that we will sacrifice our burnt offerings, meat offerings, and peace offerings to Him.
Then your sons won’t be able to say to our sons that we don’t [belong to] Jehovah.
‘Therefore, it was in order to prevent them from ever saying such a thing to us and our descendants [that we want them to] see our representation of the altar of Jehovah.
It wasn’t built for the sake of burnt offerings or meat offerings, but as a witness between you and us and between our sons.
Far be it from us to turn away from Jehovah today by building an altar for burnt offerings or peace offerings separate from the Altar of Jehovah that stands before His Tent.’
And when PhiNeas the Priest and all the chiefs of the gathering of IsraEl that were with him heard what the children of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh said, they were pleased.
Then PhiNeas the Priest said,
‘Today we know that Jehovah is with us, because you aren’t guilty of a serious sin against Jehovah and you have saved the children of IsraEl from the hand of Jehovah.’
So, PhiNeas (the Priest) and the leaders left the children of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh at GileAd and they all returned to the land of CanaAn, where they reported what was said to the children of IsraEl,and everyone was very pleased.
Then they spoke to the children of IsraEl and praised them [for their zeal], and told them not to go to war against the children of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh, or to destroy their land… and they all agreed.
Thereafter, JoShua named the altar of the children of ReuBen, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh, and said:
‘It is their testimony that Jehovah is their God.’
Well, Jehovah had allowed IsraEl to rest from all their enemies [that lived] around them for a considerable time, until JoShua was old and up in years.
Then JoShua called all the children of IsraEl together – their elders, leaders, judges, and their officers – and said to them:
‘I’m old and up in years,and you’ve seen all that Jehovah our God has done to these nations around us and how your God fought for you.
Now look; I’ve given all these remaining nations to your tribes in a lottery;
For though I’ve destroyed some of them, our borders run from the JorDan to the [MediTerranean] Sea in the west,and Jehovah our God will keep on destroying them before us until they’re all gone.
Then He will send wild animals against them until He has wiped out them and their kings;
So you will inherit their land, just as Jehovah our God has promised.
‘However, you must be sure to observe and do all the things that are written in the book of the Law of Moses… don’t stray to the right or to the left!
And don’t associate with the remaining nations, nor should the names of their gods even be mentioned among you… don’t serve them or bow before them!
Rather, you must stick to Jehovah your God, just as you have been doing until now.
Then Jehovah will destroy even the great and strong nations from among you; for no one has been able to stand against us so far.
Each one among you has been able to chase thousands, for our God Jehovah has fought for you just like He promised.
So, be sure to love our God Jehovah.
‘But if you turn away from Him and start associating with these nations that still remain, then marry among them and get mixed up with them (and them with you);
Realize that Jehovah won’t destroy them. Rather, they will become snares and stumbling blocks – nails in your heels and darts in your eyes – until they’ve wiped you out of this good land that Jehovah your God has given to you.
‘And now I’m getting ready to die, as everyone on this earth does.
But, know in your hearts and souls that not a single word has failed of all the things that Jehovah our God has [promised] about us.
And after all the good things that Jehovah God will bring upon you are completed;
Remember that He will also do bad things until He wipes you off of this good land that He has given to youif you break the Sacred Agreement of our God Jehovah, then go and serve other gods by bowing before them.’
So JoShua gathered all the tribes of IsraEl at ShiLoh, where he summoned their elders, officers, and judges; then he stood them there before God.
And JoShua spoke to all the people and said,
‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl said:
Your ancestors (such as Terah, the father of AbraHam and NaHor) once stayed beyond the [JorDan] river and served other gods.
But I took AbraHam (your ancestor) from the other side of the river and guided him throughout this entire land. Then I made his seed grow…
I gave him IsaAc, and to IsaAc [I gave] Jacob and Esau.
Then I gave Mount SeIr to Esau as his inheritance, as Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt, where they became a great and mighty nation.
‘But then, the Egyptians started oppressing them,so I struck down Egypt with the miracles that I sent among them.
And afterwards, I brought your fathers out of Egypt.
Then when they approached the Red Sea, the Egyptians chased them into the Sea with their chariots and horses.
But when they called out to Jehovah, I put a cloud and darkness between [them and] the Egyptians, and brought the Sea down upon [the Egyptians] and covered them.
‘So with your own eyes, you have seen all that Jehovah did in the land of Egypt, and of how you spent a long time in the desert.
And now He has brought us into the land of the Amorites that lived across the JorDan, and Jehovah has given them into our hands…
You have inherited their land and destroyed them!
‘[Do you remember when] Balak, the king of MoAb (the son of SepPhor) went to war against IsraEl, and of how he called BalaAm to curse us?
Yet, Jehovah your God wouldn’t destroy you;
He blessed us and saved us from their hands, then He handed them over to us!
‘Thereafter, you crossed the JorDan and came to JeriCho, where the people of JeriCho fought against us – as did the Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, Jebusites, Hittites, and the Gergesites – and Jehovah gave them all into our hands.
You didn’t chase them with swords or bows;
Rather, He sent hornets ahead of you and drove them away… the 12 kings of the Amorites!
‘Now He has given you a land that you didn’t clear and cities that you didn’t build, where you’ve now settled and where you are eating from vineyards and olive groves that you didn’t plant.
So, fear Jehovah and serve Him righteously and justly…
Get rid of all the strange gods that our ancestors served across the river and in Egypt, and serve Jehovah!
‘However, if you don’t wish to serve Jehovah, then choose whom you will serve today…
Whether it’s the gods that your ancestors [served] while they were on the other side of the [JorDan] river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you’re now living.
But as for me and my household;
We will serve Jehovah, because He alone is holy!’
And the people answered:
‘We won’t leave Jehovah and serve other gods,because our God Jehovah is The God!
He was the One that brought our ancestors and us out of Egypt, and that protected us from all the nations that we passed along the way that we walked.
And it was Jehovah that threw out the Amorites and all the other nations that lived in this land.
Yes, we will serve Jehovah, for He is our God!’
Then JoShua said to the people:
‘You won’t really be able to serve Jehovah, because He is holy.
And because He is very zealous, He won’t forgive your sins and your errors.
So when you leave Jehovah to serve other gods, He will come against you, oppress you, and consume you, because He’s the One that did all these good things for you.’
Then the people replied:
‘No! We will serve Jehovah!’
And JoShua said:
‘Then, you are witnesses against yourselves that you’ve chosen to serve Jehovah.
So now, get rid of all the strange gods that you have and set your hearts right with Jehovah the God of IsraEl.’
And the people replied:
‘We will serve Jehovah and listen to His voice!’
So JoShua made a sacred agreement with them that day, and he gave them the laws and rules there in front of the Tent of the God of IsraEl, in ShiLoh.
And then he wrote those words in the Scroll of the Laws of God.
Thereafter, JoShua took a large block of stone and erected it under the oak tree before Jehovah.
Then he told the people:
‘Look, this stone will serve as a witness among you, for it has heard all the words that you’ve spoken before Jehovah.
And because He has spoken to you on this day, this stone will serve as a witness against you in the last days when you deal treacherously with my God Jehovah.’
Then JoShua dismissed the people and they each returned to their homes.
Thereafter, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), the servant of Jehovah, died at the age of 110,and they buried him in the land that he had inherited in ThamNa Sarach in the hills of Ephraim north of Mount GileAd.
They put his [body] in a tomb, along with the stone knives that he had used to circumcise the children of IsraEl at GilGal after Jehovah had brought them out of Egypt…
And they are all still there today.
Well, IsraEl served Jehovah for as long as JoShua and the elders of JoShua’s era (who knew all that Jehovah had done for IsraEl) were still alive.
And thereafter, the children of IsraEl brought the bones of JoSeph ([which they had carried from] Egypt) and buried them in Sicima, in the tract of land that Jacob bought from the Amorites in Sicima for 100 ewes, and which was given to JoSeph as his property.
Shortly thereafter, EliEzer (Aaron’s son) the High Priest also died and was buried in GabaA in the hills of Ephraim (which had been given to his son PhiNeas).
And on that day, the children of IsraEl took the Chest of God and carried it among the people.
Then, after EliEzer’s death and burial at GabaA, PhiNeas was appointed as [High] Priest in place of his father.
Well, the children of IsraEl each left and returned to their own cities and homes, and then they started worshiping Astarte, AstarOth, and the gods of the nations roundabout them.
So Jehovah handed them over to Eglom, the king of MoAb, who ruled over them for the next 18 years.
After the death of JoShua, the sons of IsraEl asked Jehovah:
‘Who will lead us in battle against the CanaAnites now?’
And the Lord replied:
‘The Judeans must take the lead, for I have delivered this land into their hands.’
Then the Judeans said to their brothers [of the tribe of] SymeOn:
‘Come join us and we will go to war with the CanaAnites… we’ll all go together!’
So the SymeOnites joined the Judeans,and Jehovah delivered the CanaAnites and Pherezites into their hands… cutting down 10,000 men at Bezek.
For they caught up with AdoniBezek at [the city of] Bezek and fought against him, and there they cut down the CanaAnites and the Pherezites.
However, AdoniBezek escaped; so, they chased after him, and when they caught him, they cut off his thumbs and big toes…after which AdoniBezek said:
‘70 kings whose thumbs and big toes were cut off have gathered under my table.
So, God has now repaid me for the things that I did to them.’
Thereafter, they carried him to JeruSalem, and that is where he died;
For the sons of Judah had fought against the people of JeruSalem and captured the city, and then they cut down [all that lived there] with swords and burned it with fire.
Then the sons of Judah went down to fight with the CanaAnites that lived in the plains, in the hill country to the south,and with those that lived in HebRon (formerly KiriAth Arbo-Sepher).
There the people came out to fight with them, and that’s when they cut down SesSi, AchiMan, and TholMi (the sons of Anak).
From there, they went on to fight the inhabitants of DabIr (formerly KiriAth-Sepher, or, The City of Letters).
And Caleb said,
‘I’ll give my daughter As cha to be the woman of the first one that can take and destroy The City of Letters.’
Well, it was GothoniEl (the youngest son of Kenez, Caleb’s brother) who captured it;
So Caleb gave his daughter AsCha to be GothoniEl’s woman.
Then when he came to claim her, GothoniEl urged her to ask her father for a plot of land.
So, as she was sitting on her burro, she started complaining and crying, saying,
‘You’re sending me away into that land in the south!’
And Caleb asked her:
‘What else do you want?’
And AsCha replied:
‘I beg you to give me a blessing. For, since you’re sending me into a land in the south, you must also provide me with watered [land] as my ransom.’
So Caleb gave her what her heart desired as a ransom… the upper and lower [springs].
Meanwhile, the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law (‘His Excellence’ the Kenite) had left the City of Palm Trees with the sons of Judah, and they traveled into the desert south of Judah, to the edge of Arad, where they took up living among the people there.
Thereafter, the Judeans went with their brothers the SymeOnites, and they cut down and killed all the CanaAnites that lived in SephEth, then they renamed their city, AnaThema.
However, the Judeans didn’t claim anything within the borders of Gaza, AshKalon, AcCaron, Azotus, or any of the lands around them as their inheritance.
But because Jehovah was with the Judeans, they inherited all the hill country, though they weren’t able to destroy the inhabitants in the valley, because they had iron chariots.
Then they gave HebRon to Caleb, just as Moses had instructed, and he inherited the three cities of the sons of Anak.
The sons of BenJamin didn’t take JeruSalem from the Jebusites as their inheritance either;
So the Jebusites still live among the sons of BenJamin in JeruSalem to this day.
Then the sons of JoSeph went up to BethEl, and Jehovah was with them.
So they camped there and [sent spies] into the city (which was then called Luza).
And when the spies noticed a man leaving the city, they captured him and said,
‘If you’ll show us a way into the city, we will be merciful to you.’
So he showed them how to get into the city, and they cut down everyone there with swords.
And thereafter, they set the man and his entire family free,so he went to the land of ChetTin and built a city there, which he named Luza…
And it is still called that today.
ManasSeh also failed in their drive against BethSan (in Skythia) and against its towns and suburbs, as well as against Thanac and its towns, Dor and its suburbs and towns, Balak and its suburbs and towns, MegidDo and its suburbs and towns, and JeblaAm and its suburbs and towns;
So, the CanaAnites continued living in their land.
But after IsraEl became strong enough (though they failed to drive them out), they made the CanaAnites pay tributes to them.
Nor did Ephraim drive out the CanaAnites that lived in GaZer.
So the CanaAnites also lived in their midst, but they were forced to pay tributes [to Ephraim].
ZebuLon too failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kedron and Domana;
So the CanaAnites lived in their midst and paid tributes to them.
Also, Asher didn’t drive out the inhabitants of AcCho (who thereafter paid tributes to them), or those of Dor, Sidon, DalAph, AsChazi, ChebDa, Nai, or EreO.
So Asher lived in the midst of the CanaAnites, because they couldn’t drive them out.
And because NaphTali didn’t drive out the inhabitants of BethSamus or BethAnath, NaphTali too had to live in the midst of the CanaAnites;
But the inhabitants of BethSamus and BethAneth had to pay tributes to them.
Also, the Amorites drove the sons of Dan into the mountains and kept them from moving down into the valley.
So Dan took up living on Shell Mountain (in MyrSinon and ThalaBin), where there are bears and foxes.
Yet, the house of JoSeph [made life difficult] for the Amorites and made them pay tributes.
So at the time, the Amorite border ran from AcraBin into the hill country.
Well, a messenger of Jehovah had traveled from GilGal to The Place of Tears at BethEl, to address the house of IsraEl.
There he told them,
‘This is what Jehovah has said:
I brought you out of Egypt and into the land that I promised to your ancestors, and I said that I would never break the Agreement that I made with you.
However, I told you not to make any agreements with [the people] that live in this land, and that you were not to worship their gods.
Rather, [I told you to] destroy their carved images and to pull down their altars.
However, you haven’t listened to My voice, and you’ve done [many bad] things.
Therefore, just as I told you, I won’t drive them out from in front of you, so they’ll harass you, and their gods will oppress you.’
Well, after the messenger of Jehovah said all of this to the sons of IsraEl, the people started shouting and crying;
And that’s why they named it The Place of Tears.
Then they offered sacrifices to Jehovah there,and thereafter, JoShua dismissed the people and they each returned to the lands that they were given as their inheritances.
So the people served Jehovah [faithfully] for as long as JoShua and all the elders who knew of the great things that Jehovah had done in IsraEl were still alive.
But then JoShua (the son of NaWeh), the servant of Jehovah, died at 110 years old,and they buried him along the border of his inheritance in ThamNa-Thares in the hills of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount GaAs.
Also, the rest of that generation was laid to rest with their ancestors. So, another generation came along that didn’t know Jehovah or of the things that He had done for IsraEl.
Therefore, the sons of IsraEl started doing evil things before Jehovah, and they started serving the BaAls.
Yes, they left Jehovah (the God of their ancestors) who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and started following and worshiping other gods – the gods of the nations roundabout them –and this made Jehovah very angry…
They left Him and started serving BaAl and the stars!
Well, because Jehovah was very angry at IsraEl, He handed them over to looters that plundered them…
He sold them into the hands of their enemies [that lived] roundabout them, and they were no longer able to stand against their enemies.
Also, even though Jehovah had appointed Judges to save them from the hands of those that were looting them, they wouldn’t listen to the Judges.
They just continued in their immoral relations with other gods by worshiping them, and they quickly turned from the way that their ancestors had walked, refusing to listen to the words of Jehovah.
But because Jehovah had appointed those Judges, He blest them and continued to save [IsraEl] from the hands of their enemies during the entire era of the Judges; For Jehovah was moved by all their groaning about those who were attacking and looting them.
Yet, after each Judge died, they would just go right back to being corrupt – even worse than their ancestors – by worshiping and serving other gods;
And they stubbornly refused to abandon their evil ways,which made Jehovah very angry with IsraEl.
So He told them:
‘Because this nation has broken the Sacred Agreement that I made with their ancestors and refused to listen to My voice,I will no longer drive away a single man from those nations among them that were allowed to stay in the land by JoShua, the son of NaWeh.
[I’m doing this] to see whether IsraEl will ever choose to follow and walk in My ways, as did their ancestors.’
So, Jehovah didn’t bother all those nations that JoShua didn’t conquer, and He didn’t drive them away.
These are the nations that Jehovah left [in the land] to test those in IsraEl who didn’t know about the wars in CanaAn,because that generation of IsraEl hadn’t fought in the wars:
The 5 kingdoms of the Philistines and all the CanaAnites, Sidonians, and Evites who lived south of Lebanon from Mount HerMon to LaboEmath.
He used them to test IsraEl and to find out whether they would obey the commands that He had given their ancestors through Moses.
So, the sons of IsraEl lived in the midst of the CanaAnites, Hittites, Amorites, Pherezites, Evites, and Jebusites,and they married their daughters, gave their daughters to their sons, and they started serving the gods [of these nations].
[Of course], this was all evil in the eyes of Jehovah, for they had forgotten Jehovah their God and were serving the BaAls and the sacred poles.
As the result, Jehovah became very angry with IsraEl and He sold them into the hands of Chushan RishaThaim, the king of Syrian-MesoPotamia, and the sons of IsraEl served him for 8 years.
It was then that the sons of IsraEl once again started calling to Jehovah, so Jehovah appointed a savior for IsraEl who delivered them… GothoniEl (the son of Kenez), the younger brother of Caleb.
Jehovah poured His Breath upon him, and this man served as IsraEl’s Judge.
Then when he went to war against Chusar Sathaim, Jehovah gave the king of Syrian-MesoPotamia into his hands, and he was conquered.
So thereafter, the land was quiet for 40 years… until GothoniEl (the son of Kenez) died.
However, the sons of IsraEl kept doing evil things before Jehovah;
So, because of their evil ways, He allowed Eglom (the king of MoAb) to grow stronger and then come against IsraEl.
First, he brought together all the sons of AmMon and Amalec, and then he went and cut down IsraEl, capturing The City of Palm Trees.
So, the sons of IsraEl served Eglom (the king of MoAb) for the next 18 years.
Well, once again the sons of IsraEl called to Jehovah and He provided them a savior, Aod (the son of Gera and grandson of JeMeni), who was just as strong with his left hand as he was with his right.
And when the sons of IsraEl sent him to carry tributes to Eglom,Aod made himself a two-edged dagger that was 8 inches (20cm) long, which he hid on his right thigh under his robe.
And thereafter, he went and carried the tributes to Eglom, who was a very fat man.
So, after he had presented all the tributes, he sent those that had carried the gifts away(he did this after they had all returned from the quarries at GilGal).
And he said,
‘I have a secret message for you O king!’
So Eglom told him not to say anything more until after he’d dismissed all of his attendants.
Then later, Aod went in to see Eglom as he was sitting in his upper summer chamber all by himself.
And Aod said,
‘I have a message for you from God, O king.’
Then, as Eglom arose from his throne,Aod reached in with his left hand and grabbed the dagger from his right thigh, and he plunged it into [Eglom’s] belly…
He drove it in so far that the handle went in and the fat closed over it… and he left the whole dagger inside his belly.
Then Aod just walked out on the porch, passing the guards on the way, and he closed and locked the chamber doors as he left.
Well when Eglom’s servants came and saw that the doors to the upper chamber were locked, they said:
‘Doesn’t he usually [lie undressed] in the summer chamber?’
Then they waited so long that they finally became embarrassed.
And when they saw that no one had opened the doors to the upper chamber [for a long time], they got the keys and opened them…
And that’s when they found their lord lying dead on the floor.
Meanwhile, Aod had escaped during the confusion, for nobody had paid any attention to him.
So he passed the quarries and ran to Setir Otha.
Then when Aod got back to the land of IsraEl, he blew his horn in the hills of Ephraim, and the sons of IsraEl came down from the mountains to him.
So he he stood before them and said:
‘Now follow me; for Jehovah God has given our enemies the MoAbites into our hands!’
Well, they all followed him and they captured the fords of the JorDan near the land of MoAb, and they wouldn’t allow anyone to cross it.
Thus, they cut down MoAb that day, killing about 10,000 mighty men, and no one escaped.
As the result, MoAb was put back into the hands of IsraEl, and the land rested for the next 80 years…
And Aod judged them until he died.
Well after him, Jehovah appointed SamEgar (the son of DiNach).
He’s the one that cut down 600 Philistines with an ox plow.
And he too delivered IsraEl.
But once again, after Aod died, the sons of IsraEl went back to doing evil things against Jehovah,so He sold them into the hands of JaBin (the king of CanaAn) who ruled from Hazor.
The leader of his army was SiSara, and he lived in The Ironworks-of-the-Nations.
Then the sons of IsraEl started calling to [Jehovah again], because [SiSara] had 900 iron chariots, which [he used to] oppress IsraEl for 20 years.
Well, DeborAh (the wife of LapidOth) was a Prophetess, and she was the Judge of IsraEl at the time.
She would sit under [what came to be known as] ‘The Palm Tree of DeborAh,’ which was located between Rama and BethEl in the hills of Ephraim, and the sons of IsraEl would come to her for judgment.
Then DeborAh sent for BarAk (the son of AbiNeEm) who was in Cades of NaphTali, and she asked him:
‘Hasn’t Jehovah the God of IsraEl given you any instructions?
Take 10,000 men from among the sons of NaphTali and ZebuLon, and go to Mount Tabor.
There He will send SiSara (JaBin’s general) against you with his army and chariots at the Kison Wadi, and He will give them into your hands.’
But BarAk replied:
‘If you will go with me, I’ll go. But if you won’t go, I’m not going!
For I’m not sure on which day Jehovah will bless me [by sending] His messengers.’
So she said,
‘Then I’ll go with you, but understand this:
You won’t be honored by this expedition, for Jehovah will give SiSara into the hands of a woman.’
As the result, DeborAh then left Cades and went with BarAk.
He also called [for help from] ZebuLon and NaphTali there at Cades, and 10,000 men showed up who all then traveled with DeborAh.
Now, Heber (the Kenite) had moved away from the sons of Jobab (Moses’ brother-in-law) at Cana and pitched his tent beside the Oak-of-the-Envious, which is near KaDesh.
And when SiSara was told that BarAk (the son of AbiNeEm) had left for Mount Tabor,he called for all his iron chariots (all 900 of them) and for all the people [who lived between] the Ironworks-of-the Nations and the Kison Wadi.
Then DeborAh told BarAk:
‘Now [get ready], for this is the day that Jehovah will give SiSara into your hands…
Yes, the Lord will travel before you!’
So BarAk descended Mount Tabor with 10,000 men,and because Jehovah had created problems for SiSara, his chariots, and his army, BarAk cut them down with swords.
Meanwhile, SiSara had jumped from his chariot and run away.
Well, BarAk pursued the chariots and SiSara’s army [all the way] to Ironworks-of-the Nations and cut them all down, leaving no survivors.
But, SiSara had run toward the tent of JaEl, the woman of Heber the Kenite (because [Heber] was his friend, and there was peace between JaBin the king of Hazor and Heber’s family).
So, JaEl went out to meet SiSara and said to him:
‘Hide in here, my lord… come here to me and don’t be afraid.’
Therefore, he turned to her and entered her tent, then she covered him with a blanket.
There SiSara said to her,
‘I’m very thirsty… please give me some water to drink.’
So she opened a jar of milk, gave it to him to drink, and then she covered him again.
Then SiSara said to her:
‘Now, stand by the entrance to the tent, and if anyone comes and asks if you’ve seen me, tell him that you haven’t.’
Well, JaEl (Heber’s woman) thereafter grabbed a tent pin and a hammer, and she crept up to him and drove the pin through his temple… driving it all the way into the ground.
So he passed out, everything went dark, and he died.
And when JaEl finally saw BarAk (who was pursuing SiSara), she went out to meet him and said:
‘Come in here and I’ll show you the man you’re looking for.’
Then he entered [her tent] and saw SiSara lying dead with the pin through his temple.
So God drove JaBin (the king of CanaAn) away from before the sons of IsraEl that day,and they kept attacking JaBin until they had finally destroyed him.
Well, on that day, DeborAh and BarAk (the son of AbiNeEm) sang this song:
‘IsraEl was shown what to do,
And the people were made willing… praise Jah!
‘Hear, O you kings and listen you rulers;
For, this is what I will sing…
It’s the song that I’ll sing to Jehovah…
A psalm to IsraEl’s Lord and their God.
‘O Jehovah; You went up to SeIr…
With You, we approached Edom’s land.
Then the ground started shaking and the skies dripped with dew,
And from clouds up above, poured the rain.
‘The ground shook before the face of Jehovah…
SinAi [trembled] before the face of the Lord
In the days of SamEgar, son of Anath,
And in the days of JaEl.
‘For, [IsraEl] had strayed from their way
And followed in paths that were crooked.
In IsraEl, there were no more mighty men;
They’d failed until DeborAh arose…
A mother within IsraEl.
‘For, because they had chosen new gods;
When their cities and rulers went out to fight,
There wasn’t a spear or a shield to be seen
Among the 40,000 of IsraEl.
‘But, my heart had so yearned
For IsraEl to see order again
Among those that still praised Jehovah…
To have someone mount a burro at noon,
And go sit on the seat of judgment once more,
For the sake of those that travel the roads…
Someone to sit and judge on the way.
‘Now, you should proclaim that you have been saved
From those that once brought disturbance to us.
‘O Lord;
May those that go out to draw water,
Speak of the righteous things that You’ve done.
May Your righteous deeds in IsraEl grow,
And may Jehovah’s people return to their towns.
‘Awaken… yes, wake up, O DeborAh!
Awaken and sing us a song.
Arise O BarAk… lead your captives away!
O son of AbiNeEm; lead them away.
‘A small group of [God’s] mighty went with him…
These mighty ones came from among us.
Ephraim used them to pry Amalec’s roots,
As BenJamin and others traveled behind.
‘The sons of MachIr also arrived,
To search for the rest of our foes.
And from ZebuLon also came those
Who recorded it all with the pens of their scribes.
‘With DeborAh and BarAk, came IsSachar’s leaders.
Then, to the valleys of ReuBen,
BarAk made him run for his life.
‘With fluttering hearts,they then sat between pens,
Where they heard the bleating of Ruben’s flocks,
As each man searched through the things in his heart.
‘Yet, the GileAdites stayed in their tents
On the other side of the JorDan,
And the [men of] Dan remained in their ships.
‘Those of Asher just sat by the shore,
And they stayed in their tents at the ports,
While ZebuLon’s men [laid] their lives [on the line],
And NaphTali marched ‘cross the hills of their land.
‘Then the kings of CanaAn formed to wage war,
And fought ThanaAch at MegidDo’s waters.
Yes, the stars in the heavens formed for war,
As they traveled to beat SiSara.
‘So, the Kison Wadi then swept them away…
The ancient brook Kison (my mighty soul),
[Is what] really trampled them down.
For in it, the hoofs of their horses got mired,
So those mighty men had to flee.
‘May you be cursed, O Meroz;
For God’s angel then cursed all that lived there,
Since they didn’t [fight] for Jehovah,
And they failed to give aid to His mighty.
‘Bless JaEl, the woman of Heber the Kenite…
May she be praised above female tent-dwellers.
For he asked for water and she gave him milk…
In a bowl, she brought butter for a leader.
‘Then, she leaned with a nail in her left hand,
And hit it with the hammer in her right.
She cut SiSara down with a nail through his head…
She pinned him with a nail through his temples.
‘Beneath her feet, he fell and he rolled.
But after that, he just lay there…
He bowed and fell where he bowed, lying dead.
‘SiSera’s mother then looked through her window…
She looked out of her peephole and asked,
Why has his chariot been shamed…
Why did the wheels of his chariots stop?
‘But, thus replied her wise ladies:
You answered yourself when you said,
They’ll find him dividing the loot…
He’s dividing dyed clothes with his men…
For SiSara, are the spoils of many dyed clothes…
Embroidered dyed clothes are the spoils for his neck.
‘O Jehovah; may Your enemies all perish this way,
And may those that love You become just as strong
As the journeys of the sun as it’s [crossing the skies].’
Well after that, the land rested [for the next] 40 years.
However, the sons of IsraEl kept doing evil things in the eyes of Jehovah, so He put them under the hand of the MidiAnites for 7 years.
They proved to be so strong against IsraEl that the IsraElites took up living in mountain caves, in [animal] dens, and in holes in the rocks.
And whenever the sons of IsraEl would plant anything, the MidiAnites, AmaLechites, and sons of the east would get togetherto [fight] against them and destroy their crops.
Also in Gaza, they stole all their [cattle], leaving nothing to support life in the land.
So [the IsraElites] moved into temporary shelters along with their livestock and camels, living like locusts, as their land was being destroyed.
And because they had been driven into such an impoverished state by MidiAn,the sons of IsraEl once again started calling to Jehovah.
As the result, Jehovah sent a Prophet to the sons of IsraEl, who told them,
‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl says:
I’m the One that brought you out of the land of Egypt… out of that house of slavery!
Yes, I saved you from the hands of the Egyptians, then I saved you from these people that are now persecuting you… these whom I once drove away and whose land I gave to you.
Then I told you that because I am Jehovah your God, you shouldn’t fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live…
But you refused to listen to Me!’
Well thereafter, a messenger from Jehovah came and sat down under the fir tree at EphRatha (BethLehem) in the land of JoAs (of the line of ObiEzri) where his son GideOn was threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the MidiAnites wouldn’t notice [what he was doing].
The messenger appeared to him and said,
‘Jehovah is with you, you mighty [man].’
And GideOn replied:
‘Please be patient with me, my lord; for if Jehovah is really with us, then, why are all these bad things happening to us…
Where are all His miracles that our ancestors told us about, as when He brought them out of Egypt?
But now He has obviously rejected us, for He has given us into the hands of the MidiAnites!’
Then the messenger of Jehovah turned to him and said:
‘Go and use your strength to save IsraEl from the hands of MidiAn.
Look; I’m sending you!’
But GideOn replied:
‘Be patient with me my lord;
How can I save IsraEl?
For look; though there are thousands in [the tribe of] ManasSeh, they are all weak… and I’m the very least one in the house of my father!’
And the messenger of Jehovah said to him:
‘Because Jehovah will be with you, you will cut down the MidiAnites as though you were just one man.’
But GideOn said:
‘If I’ve found mercy in your eyes and if you’re really going to do all these things that you told me about today;
Don’t leave this place until I return with an offering and lay it before you.’
And [the messenger] replied:
‘I’ll stay here until you return.’
So, GideOn went back and prepared a kid goat and a quart of fine fermentation-free flour.
Then he put the [cooked] meat in a basket, poured its gravy into a jar, and he carried it to [the messenger, who was still sitting] under the fir tree.
And God’s messenger said to him:
‘Now, take the meat and the fermentation-free cakes and lay them on that rock, then pour the gravy over it.’
So that’s what he did.
Then Jehovah’s messenger stuck out the walking stick that was in his hand and touched the meat and the fermentation-free bread, and fire came out of the rock, which consumed it all.
And at that, the messenger of Jehovah vanished from his sight.
Well, that was when GideOn realized that this was [really] a messenger from Jehovah.
So he said:
‘Ah… ah… Jehovah my God!
I’ve seen a messenger from Jehovah face to face!’
And the Lord replied:
‘May you have peace.
Now, don’t be afraid, for you’re not going to die.’
And so GideOn built an altar to Jehovah there and called it, ‘The Peace of Jehovah.’
It’s still there today in EphRatha, [at the home of his] father EsDri.
Then that night, the Lord said to him:
‘Now, take the [second bull] that belongs to your father, the one that is 7-years old.
And thereafter, you must destroy your father’s altar to BaAl along with his sacred poles.
Then you must build an altar to Jehovah your God on the top of this hill, and get everything ready…
Then, take the calf and sacrifice it as a whole burnt offering, using the wood from the sacred poles that you are to cut down.’
So GideOn took 10 of his servants and did just as the Lord said.
However, because he was afraid of the house of his father and the men of the city, he did it during the night.
Well, when the men of the city woke up early the next morning and saw that the altar of BaAl and the nearby sacred poles had been demolished, and they saw the calf that GideOn had offered on an altar that he had built,they each started asking their neighbors,
‘Who did this?’
So after asking around, they found out that it was GideOn (the son of JoAs) who had done this.
Then the men of the city went and told JoAs to send out his son so they could kill him for destroying their altar of BaAl and their sacred poles.
But GideOn asked the men that had come for him:
‘Are you now pleading for BaAl, and are you trying to save him?
If so, may all those that have come to plead on his behalf die this morning!
Yes, if he’s really a god, let him plead for himself [before the one] that has torn down his altar!’
Well, from that day on, [they started calling GideOn] JeroBaAl (May BaAl Plead).
For he said:
‘Let BaAl plead for himself [before the one] that has torn down his altar.’
Meanwhile, all the MidiAnites, AmaLechites, and sons of the east had gathered and set up camp in the JezreEl Valley.
Then the Breath of Jehovah came over GideOn and he blew his [battle] horn, and he called for the AbiEzerites to come with him.
GideOn also sent messengers throughout [the lands of] ManasSeh, Asher, ZebuLon, and NaphTali, calling for them to join him.
And GideOn said to God:
‘If You’re really going to use me to save IsraEl, as You said;
Look, I’ve put some wool fleece on the threshing floor.
If only this fleece is covered with dew and the ground all around it is dry [in the morning], I will know that You’re going to use me to save IsraEl, as You said.’
Well, when he got up early the next morning, he wrung out the fleece, and a full bowl of water poured from it.
But GideOn then said to God:
‘Please don’t be angry, but allow me to ask for just one more thing.
So I can be sure, let the fleece be dry [in the morning], while dew is all over the ground.’
And this is what God did that night… there was dew all over the ground, but the fleece was dry.
So, JeroBaAl (GideOn) got up early and camped his army at the Spring of Harad, with the camp of MidiAn to the north… [their camp] stretched from BabaAh and ThamorAi down into the valley.
And the Lord said to GideOn:
‘There are too many people with you, so I won’t deliver MidiAn into your hands; for then IsraEl would boast before Me and claim that they had saved themselves!
So, tell the people this:
All that are nervous or afraid may now leave Mount GileAd.’
Well, of the 22,000 that came with him, only 10,000 remained.
Then the Lord said to GideOn:
‘There are still too many people!
So now, lead them all down to the water, and I will reduce their numbers for you.
Then, whichever ones I select and say,
This one must go with you,
you must take.
And those that I tell you not to take must not go with you… make sure that they don’t come along!’
So GideOn led the people down to the water, and the Lord said to GideOn:
‘Now, I want you to set aside all those that lap the water like a dog from those that get down on their knees to drink.’
Well, 300 men lapped water with their hands to their mouths, while all the rest got down on their knees to drink.
Then the Lord said to GideOn:
‘Now I’m going to save you and give MidiAn into your hands with these 300 men that lapped the water.
All the rest must leave.’
So, they gathered the provisions from the rest of the people and took their trumpets before sending them back to their tents.
And after that, he armed the 300 and got them ready;
For the army of MidiAn was camped just below them in the valley.
And that night, the Lord told {GideOn]:
‘Now, get up and go down into their camp, for I’ve given it into your hands!
However, if you’re still afraid, I want you and your servant Phara to go down into their campand listen to what they’re saying…
Then you won’t be afraid anymore.’
So he went down to the edge of where the companies of fifties were camped, along with his servant Phara;
For MidiAn, Amalec, and all the sons of the east were scattered throughout the valley like locusts, and their camels were like the sands on the seashore.
Then GideOn overheard a man telling his comrade of a dream he had, saying:
‘{Look} I had a dream, and in it I saw a cake of barley bread roll into [our] camp; then when it reached a tent, it knocked it down.
And as [the tent] fell, it turned upside down.’
And his comrade said to him:
‘This was none other than the sword of GideOn, the son of JoAs, an IsraElite man;
For God has given MidiAn and our entire army into his hands.’
So when GideOn heard the story of the dream and its interpretation, he thanked Jehovah.
Then he returned to the camp of IsraEl and said,
‘Now get up, for Jehovah has given the camp of MidiAn into our hands!’
So he divided his 300 men into three companies, and he gave each of them trumpets, torches, and empty pitchers.
He had them put their torches inside the pitchers,and he said:
‘Now, watch me and do what I do! For I’m going down to the edge of their [camp];
Then I’ll blow my trumpet, and at the same time, you must each start blowing your trumpets all around their camp and shout,
For Jehovah and for GideOn!’
So GideOn and his company [crept] down to the edge of their army toward the start of the middle watch, and he aroused the guards by blowing his trumpet and breaking the pitcher that was in his hands.
Then all three companies blew their trumpets and broke their pitchers, and they held the torches in their left hands as they blew their trumpets with their right hands and shouted,
‘A sword for Jehovah and for GideOn!’
Well, all [that GideOn’s people] really did after that was just stand around the camp while the [MidiAnite] army sounded alarms and everyone started running about.
For, after the 300 blew their trumpets, Jehovah caused the entire [MidiAnite] army to start attacking each other with swords.
And then they started running away, retreating as far as BethSeEd and TagaraGatha, from AbelMeula to TaBath.
Then the men of IsraEl (those from NaphTali, Asher, and everyone from ManasSeh) also came to chase after MidiAn.
So, GideOn sent messengers throughout the mountains of Ephraim, telling them:
‘Come down to join [in my fight against] against MidiAn… take (control of) all the water and the JorDan as far as BethEra!’
Well, all the men of Ephraim started shouting, and they took control of all the water along the JorDan up to BethEra,where they captured the leaders of MidiAn, Oreb and Zeb.
Then they killed Oreb at Oreb’s Rock, and they killed Zeb at Zeb’s Winepress.
And after they chased down MidiAn, they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeb back to GideOn from across the JorDan.
But then, the men of Ephraim asked GideOn:
‘What were you doing?
Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight against MidiAn?’
(They were very angry with him).
And he replied:
‘What have I done in comparison to you?
For, aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim better than the full harvest of AbiEzer?
It was Jehovah who delivered the leaders of MidiAn (Oreb and Zeb) into your hands… and what did I do to compare to that?’
Well, after he said that, they calmed down.
Then GideOn went to the JorDan and crossed it all by himself, as his 300 men (who were very hungry) lagged behind.
He went on to SokChoth, and he said to the men there:
‘Please give me some bread to feed these men who are coming after me, because they’re starting to get weak.
For look! We’re in pursuit of ZebeE and SalMana, the kings of MidiAn.’
But the leaders of SokChoth replied:
‘Have you already captured ZebeE and SalMana, so that we should now have to feed your army?’
And GideOn said,
‘Okay then; but when Jehovah gives ZebeE and SalMana into my hands, [I will come back here] and then I will tear your flesh with thorns in the Desert of the Sons of Kainan.’
Well from there, he went up to PeniEl and he made the same request of them…
But they answered in the same way as did the men of SokChoth.
So GideOn told them:
‘When I return in peace, I’m going to tear down your fortifications!’
Meanwhile, ZebeE and SalMana were in CarCar with their army, but there were only about 15,000 left of their mercenary army, for 120,000 of their soldiers had already been killed.
Then GideOn traveled past the tent dwellers east of NabAi and JegEbal, and he cut down and captured their army.
But ZebeE and SalMana fled; so he chased after them and caught the two kings of MidiAn after he had routed their army.
Well, as GideOn (the son of JoAs) was returning from the battle,he questioned a young man among the captives that was from SokChoth, and he had him write down the names of the leaders and elders of SokChoth… all 77 men.
Then GideOn went to those leaders of SokChoth and said:
‘Look! Here are ZebeE and SalMana about whom you so rudely asked,
Are ZebeE and SalMana now in your hands, so that we should have to give your hungry men bread?’
So thereafter, he took those elders [and had them dragged through] the thorns of the Desert of the Sons of Kainan, tearing them to pieces.
And then from there, he went and tore down the fortifications of PhanuEl and killed all the men in that city.
Well, after that, he asked ZebeE and SalMana:
‘Who were those men that you killed in Tabor?’
And they replied:
‘They looked like you… like the sons of a king!’
And GideOn said:
‘Those were my brothers… the sons of my mother.
So as Jehovah lives; if you had left them alive, I wouldn’t have to kill you.’
Then he said to JeTher (his firstborn):
‘Take them out and kill them!’
But the young man wouldn’t draw his sword, because he was young and afraid.
And ZebeE and SalMana said:
‘If you’re a man, then why don’t you kill us yourself?’
So GideOn got up and killed ZebeE and SalMana.
Then he took all the round ornaments that were hung around the necks of their camels.
Well thereafter, the men of IsraEl [came to him] and said to GideOn:
‘Our lord; become our ruler… you, your sons, and the sons of their sons, for you’ve saved us from the hands of MidiAn.’
But GideOn replied:
‘I’m not going to rule over you, nor will any of my sons; for Jehovah alone must be your ruler!’
And GideOn added,
‘All I ask from you is one thing: I want each man to give me an earring from his loot’ (since [those whom they’d conquered] were IshMaElites, he knew they all had gold earrings).
And they replied,
‘Yes we’ll give them to you.’
So he unfolded his robe and each man tossed one of the ear rings that they had looted into it.
Well, the weight of these gold earrings that he had asked for amounted to about 40 pounds (18kg)… so he had this in addition to the purple robes of the kings of MidiAn and the collars that were around the necks of their camels.
Then GideOn took the ornaments and robes and made a sacred vest, which he then placed in his city of Ophrah.
However, later on, all IsraEl came and committed immoral acts before it there. So it became a snare to GideOn and to his house.
Meanwhile, MidiAn had been so shamed by the sons of IsraEl that they were unable to raise their heads.
And everything was peaceful in IsraEl during the 40 years that GideOn [judged the land].
JeroBaal (GideOn), the son of JoAsh, lived in his own home,and 70 sons issued from his loins, because he had taken many women.
In addition, he also had a son that had been born to his concubine in SheChem, whom he named AbiMelech.
Well eventually, GideOn (the son of JoAsh) died (with a good head of grey hair), and he was entombed with his father JoAsh in Ophrah of the AbiEzerites.
And after GideOn died, the sons of IsraEl turned around and started having immoral relations with the BaAls once again, agreeing that BaAl would be their god.
So the sons of IsraEl forgot their God Jehovah who had saved them from the hands of all those around them that had been oppressing them,and they no longer treated the house of JeroBaAl (GideOn) well, despite all the good things that he had done for them.
Well, [one day],AbiMelech (the son of JeroBaAl [or GideOn]) went to see his mother’s brothers in ShiKima, and he spoke to them and all his relatives in his grandfather’s house, saying:
‘Please speak to all the men of ShiKima and ask them,
Which is better for you; to have 70 men (all the sons of JeroBaAl) rule over you, or just one man…
And remember that I’m your own flesh and [blood]!’
So his uncles spoke about him to all the men of ShiKima and told them all the things that he said.
And this moved their hearts [to follow] AbiMelech; for they said that he was their brother.
Then they gave him 70 silver coins from the [temple] of BaAl Berith, which AbiMelech thereafter used to hire some vain and cowardly men to be his followers.
So, he went to the house of his father in EphRatha and killed all of his brothers (JeroBaAl’s legitimate sons) on a rock…
That is, all except JoAtham the youngest, because he ran away and hid.
So after that, all the men of ShiKima and the house of BethMaAlo got together and appointed AbiMelech to be their king at the Oak of Sedition in ShiKima.
But when JoAtham heard about this, he went and stood on top of Mount GiriZim and shouted to them:
‘Listen to me, you men of ShiKima; for God is listening also!
The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they asked the olive tree to be their ruler.
But the olive tree replied:
Must I now give up my oil that men use to glorify God in order to be promoted over the [rest of the] trees?
‘Then they said to the fig tree,
Come rule over us!
But the fig tree replied:
Must I leave all my sweetness and good fruit to be promoted over the [rest of the] trees?
‘Then they said to the [grape] vine,
Come rule over us!
And the vine replied:
Must I leave my wine that brings happiness to God and to men just to be promoted over the [rest of the] trees?
‘And finally, all the trees said to the brier bush,
Come rule over us!
And the brier bush replied:
If you will really anoint me to be your king, [all of you] must come and stand under my shadow.
But if you refuse to do this, I will send out fire that will burn down the cedars of Lebanon!
‘Now, [judge for yourselves whether] what you’ve done was the right thing when you made AbiMelech your king.
And ask if you’ve been fair with JeroBaAl and his house… whether you’ve given him the reward that he deserves!
Though my father fought for you and put his life on the line when he saved you from the hands of MidiAn,you’ve risen against the house of my father today and you’ve murdered his sons – 70 men – on a stone.
Then you made this AbiMelech, the son of his slave [woman], the king over the men of ShiKima, just because he’s your brother.
‘Now, if you think that you’ve dealt faithfully and righteously with JeroBaAl and his house, then find joy in AbiMelech, and may he rejoice over you.
But if you don’t do that; may fire come from AbiMelech to devour the men of ShiKima and the house of BethMaAlo…
And may fire come from the men of ShiKima and the house of BethMaAlo to devour AbiMelech.’
Thereafter, JoAtham ran away and lived at BaeEr, to get way from his brother AbiMelech.
Well, it turned out that AbiMelech reigned over IsraEl for just 3 years,for God created a bad relationship between AbiMelech and the men of ShiKima, and the men of ShiKima started dealing treacherously with the house of AbiMelech…
[Which is what he was due] for the bad things that he had done to the 70 sons of JeroBaAl.
[God] had laid the blood of his brothers upon AbiMelech who’d murdered them, as well as on the men of ShiKima, since they were the ones that had empowered him to kill his brothers.
So the men of ShiKima made trouble for [AbiMelech] by sending highwaymen into the mountains, where they robbed everyone that passed that way…
And all of this was reported to King AbiMelech.
Well, GaAl (a son of JoBel) and his brothers had moved to ShiKima. And because the men of ShiKima trusted him,they all went into his field where they gathered grapes and had a good time pressing them [into wine].
Then they brought the [wine] into the temple of their god, where they ate, drank, and cursed AbiMelech.
It was GaAl (the son of JoBel) that asked:
‘Just who is this AbiMelech… just who is this son of ShiKima that we should serve him?
Isn’t he the son of JeroBaAl, and isn’t ZeBul his steward the son of EmMor?
Why should we be serving him?
If these people would [start serving] me, I would remove AbiMelech… I would say to him,
Gather your army and come here!’
Well, when ZeBul (the ruler of the city) heard what GaAl (the son of JoBel) said, it made him very angry.
So he sent messengers to AbiMelech secretly, that said,
‘Look! GaAl (the son of JoBel) and his brothers have come to ShiKima and they [are stirring up] the city against you.
So, come here tonight with your army and lie in wait for them in the fields.
Then at sunrise, approach the city; and when he and his people come out to confront you, you can do whatever you wish to him…
That is, if you are mighty enough.’
Therefore, AbiMelech and his army marched by night and formed an ambush against ShiKima with 4 companies.
And when GaAl (the son of JoBel) went out and stood before the city gate, AbiMelech’s army came to attack him.
Well, when GaAl saw them coming, he said to ZeBul:
‘Look, there are people coming down from the tops of the mountains!’
And ZeBul replied:
‘You’re just seeing the shadows on the mountains [and thinking that they’re] men.’
But GaAl kept talking. He said,
‘Look, there are people coming from the west, near the middle of the land, and another group is coming down the road from Helon-MaOnenim.’
And ZeBul asked him,
‘Just what were you thinking when you said,
Who is AbiMelech that we should serve him?
These men for whom you’ve shown so much disdain are now coming, so we’d better get ready and form battle lines!’
So at that, GaAl gathered the men of ShiKima and set up battle lines to fight AbiMelech.
But AbiMelech attacked and killed many people… all the way up to the city gate. And GaAl had to retreat.
Then AbiMelech returned to AreMa.
But, ZeBul thereafter drove GaAl and his brothers out of ShiKima.
Then the next day, when the people [of ShiKima unlocked the gates] and went out into their fields, someone reported this to AbiMelech.
So he gathered his army and divided them into three companies, then he once again formed an ambush out in the fields.
And when he saw the people leaving the city, he attacked them and cut them down.
Meanwhile, AbiMelech and his generals rushed up and attacked the city gate, as the other two companies were outside attacking the people in the fields.
So AbiMelech fought against the city all that day and captured it.
Then he killed all the people, [burned] the city, and poured salt over its land.
However, when the men in ShiKima’s citadel saw what was happening, they all gathered inside the temple of their god, Berith.
And when AbiMelech heard that all the men in the citadel had gathered in one place,he took his army up Mount SelMon.
Then he grabbed an axe, cut off a tree branch and laid it on his shoulders, and he told his troops:
‘Now, do the same thing I’m doing as quickly as you can!’
So they each cut a branch off of a tree and they followed AbiMelech;
Then they laid the [branches] against the temple and set them on fire, burning it and killing all the people in the citadel of ShiKima (about 1,000 men and women).
And after that, AbiMelech left the temple of Berith and then he attacked TheBez, and captured it.
It also had a citadel in the middle of the city, and all the people ran there and locked the door, then they climbed to the top of the citadel.
Well, AbiMelech attacked the citadel and laid siege to it; and when he got close to the door, he set it on fire.
But as he was doing this, a woman dropped a piece of a millstone on his head, fracturing his skull.
So he quickly called to the young man that was his armor bearer and said,
‘Draw your sword and kill me, for I don’t want anyone to say that I was killed by a woman.’
Therefore, the young man ran him through with a sword, and he died.
Then when the men of IsraEl saw that AbiMelech was dead, they all just went back to their homes.
And that’s how God paid AbiMelech back for the bad things that he’d done against his father, and for murdering his 70 brothers.
It’s also how He paid back the men of ShiKima…
God brought their guilt down on their heads, and the curse of JoAtham the son of JeroBaAl came true.
Well, after AbiMelech [died], Thola (the son of Phua) arose to save IsraEl.
He was from the family of IshSachar and he lived in SamIr in the mountains of Ephraim.
He judged IsraEl for 23 years, and then he died and was buried in SamIr.
And after him, there was JaIr of GileAd; he judged IsraEl for 22 years.
He had 32 sons, they had 32 burros, and they ruled over 32 cities in the area of GileAd… which are still called JaIr’s cities to this day.
And when JaIr died, he was buried in RhamNon.
Then the sons of IsraEl once again started doing evil things in the eyes of Jehovah, and they [turned to the worship of] BaAl Im, the Ashtar Oths, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of MoAb, the gods of the sons of AmMon, and the gods of the Philistines.
So they abandoned Jehovah and no longer served Him.
As the result, Jehovah became enraged with IsraEl and He gave them into the hands of the Philistines and the sons of AmMon.
During this time (some 18 years), they had totally broken and crushed the sons of IsraEl that lived on the other side of the JorDan in the land of the Amorites and in GileAd.
And after that, the AmMonites crossed the JorDan to battle with Judah, BenJamin, and the house of Ephraim.
So they made life exceedingly difficult for all the sons of IsraEl.
And the sons of IsraEl started crying out to Jehovah once again, saying:
‘We sinned against You when we abandoned our God and started serving BaAl Im!’
But this time, the Lord said to the sons of IsraEl:
‘Haven’t I delivered you from the oppression of Egypt, and from the Amorites, the sons of AmMon, the Philistines,the Sidonians, the AmaLechites, and the MidiAnites…
When you called out to Me, didn’t I save you from them?
But you still left Me and served other gods, so I won’t be saving you anymore.
Go and call to the gods that you’ve chosen for yourselves and let them save you whenever you’re in trouble!’
And at that, the sons of IsraEl said:
‘We have sinned! Therefore, do whatever You find good in Your eyes… but just save us today!’
Then they got rid of all their other gods and they started serving Jehovah once again.
And before long, [God] became impatient over all the wailing of IsraEl.
Meanwhile, the sons of AmMon went and camped around GileAd, so the sons of IsraEl got together and camped on the hill just above them.
Then the leaders of the people of GileAd asked each other:
‘Who will lead us in battle against the sons of AmMon?’
And they decided,
‘Whoever is willing to do so will become the head over all that live in GileAd.’
Well, JephThah (the GileAdite) was a mighty man who was the son of GileAd by a whore.
Meanwhile, GileAd’s woman had also given birth to sons, and when they grew up, they drove JephThah out of the house, saying,
‘You aren’t going to receive an inheritance in the house of our father, because you’re the son of [his] mistress.’
So JephThah left his brothers and went to live in the land of Tob, where a lot of worthless men started following him and traveling with him.
Then later, when the sons of AmMon were preparing to fight against IsraEl,the elders at GileAd sent [messengers] to call JephThah from the land of Tob,saying,
‘Come and lead us in our fight against the sons of AmMon.’
And JephThah replied:
‘Aren’t you the ones who disliked me, drove me out of my father’s house, and banished me?
So, why are you calling for me now?’
And the elders of GileAd said:
‘Well, we’re turning to you because we’re asking you to lead us in our war against the sons of AmMon.
If you’ll do this, you can be the head over all the inhabitants of GileAd.’
So JephThah told the elders of GileAd that if they’d bring him back to fight against the sons of AmMon, and if Jehovah would hand them over to him, he would become their leader.
And the elders of GileAd replied:
‘Jehovah is our witness that we will do just as you said.’
As the result, JephThah returned to GileAd, and the elders made him the head [of their army and their] ruler.
Well, JephThah first prayed to Jehovah about this (at MasSepha).
And after that, he sent messengers to the king of the sons of AmMon to ask,
‘What have I done to you that you’ve come to fight against me and against my land?’
And the king of the AmMonites told JephThah’s messengers:
‘[We’re doing this because] IsraEl took all our land from the Arnon, to the JaBoc, and to the JorDan after they came from Egypt.
But now, if you’ll return it peacefully, we’ll withdraw.’
Then JephThah sent messengers to the king of AmMon again, who told him:
‘JephThah says that IsraEl didn’t just take the land of MoAb or the land of the sons of AmMon.
For when we left Egypt, IsraEl traveled through the desert along the Red Sea until we got to Cades.And there, IsraEl sent messengers to the king of Edom and asked if [he would allow us] to pass through their land. But the king of Edom wouldn’t let us do that.
And IsraEl asked the same thing of the king of MoAb, and he wouldn’t allow us [to cross his land] either; so, we stayed in Cades.
Thereafter, we traveled through the desert and went around the lands of Edom and MoAb.
Then when we got to the east side of MoAb, we camped in the country on the other side of the Arnon;
So, we never crossed the borders of MoAb (for the Arnon is their border).
‘Then IsraEl sent messengers to SeOn (the king of the Amorites and the king of HeshBon) to say,
Please allow us to cross your land so that we may get to our land.
But SeOn didn’t trust IsraEl to just pass through his land, so he gathered all of his people, then he set up camp at Jasa and formed battle lines against IsraEl.
However, IsraEl’s God Jehovah gave SeOn and all of his people into the hands of IsraEl, and they cut them all down.
Thereafter, we inherited all the land of the Amorites that lived there,from the Arnon to the JaBoc, and from the desert to the JorDan.
So, now that Jehovah the God of IsraEl has removed the Amorites [and given their land to] His people IsraEl, are you trying to take it back?
Why not accept the land that your god CheMosh has given to you as your inheritance and allow us to inherit all the land that our God Jehovah has taken from you?
‘Are you any better than Balak (the son of SepPhor) the king of MoAb… didn’t he start a war and fight with IsraEl?
And after IsraEl had been living in HeshBon and its suburbs, and in AroEr and its suburbs, as well as in the cities around the JorDan for some 300 years… what [land] did he recover then?
So, I haven’t sinned against you, and you’re doing me wrong by preparing to war against me.
Therefore, may Jehovah serve as the judge between the sons of IsraEl and the sons of AmMon today!’
Nevertheless, the king of the sons of AmMon refused to listen to the words that JephThah had sent to him…
And then the Breath of Jehovah came over JephThah.
So he went up to GileAd (in ManasSeh), passed by its watchtower and the sons of AmMon, and he went to the other side of the city.
There he made a vow to Jehovah.
He said,
‘If you’ll give the sons of AmMon into my hands;whoever is the first to come out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in peace after [conquering] the sons of AmMon must belong to Jehovah…
I will offer him as a whole burned offering.’
So thereafter, JephThah advanced to meet the sons of AmMon in battle, and Jehovah gave them into his hands.
He cut them down all the way from AroEr to the Arnon… 20 of their cities as far as Ebel Charmim.
It was a huge destruction and the sons of AmMon were conquered by the sons of IsraEl.
Well, when JephThah returned to his home in MasSepha, it was his daughter that he first saw coming out to meet him, dancing and shaking a tambourine
(his only child… he didn’t have any other sons or daughters).
And when he saw her, he ripped his clothes and shouted,
‘Oh no, my daughter! You’ve ruined me!
I’m so sad, because I made a promise about you to Jehovah, and now I can’t change it.’
But she said:
‘Father, do to me whatever you’ve promised to Jehovah, for He has given you vengeance on our enemies, the sons of AmMon.’
And she went on to say:
‘Father, I know that you must do this thing, so allow me to have 2 months with my friends as we travel through the mountains to wail over my virginity.’
And he replied:
‘Then go.’
So he allowed her to leave for 2 months, as she and her friends went into the mountains to weep over her virginity.
And after 2 months, she returned to her father so that he could keep his vow concerning her… and she never [had sex with] a man.
As the result; it became a rule for the daughters of IsraEl to go and cry over the daughter of JephThah (the GileAdite) for 4 days each year.
Well after that, the men of Ephraim got together and traveled north to see JephThah, and they asked him:
‘Just why did you go over to fight with the sons of AmMon and not call for us to go with you?
Because you did that, we’re going to burn down your house with you in it!’
And JephThah said to them:
‘My people and I were very busy fighting the sons of AmMon, and when I called for you, you didn’t come to save me from their hands.
So, when I saw that you weren’t going to be any help, I put my life in my own hands and attacked the sons of AmMon… and Jehovah gave them to me.
So now, just why are you coming against me today?’
Well, JephThah gathered all the men of GileAd and fought against Ephraim, and the men of GileAd cut them down.
However, those who escaped warned him:
‘[Don’t forget that your town] GileAd is in the midst of Ephraim and ManasSeh!’
So the GileAdites took the fords of the JorDan River before the Ephraimites could get there, and when they tried to cross [to get back home], the men of GileAd asked each one,
‘Are you an Ephraimite?’
And when they said,
‘No,’
They told them to say ‘Stachys’ (for the Ephraimites couldn’t pronounce it properly).
Then they killed them there at the fords of the JorDan, and 40,000 men of Ephraim died that day.
Well, JephThah (the GileAdite) judged IsraEl for 6 years, and then he died and was buried in his city of GileAd.
Thereafter, Papa IbSan of BethLehem judged IsraEl.
He had 30 sons and 30 daughters.
He [married off his 30 daughters to men outside of his land], and he brought in 30 [women] for his sons from [outside of their land].
He judged IsraEl for 7 years,then Papa IbSan died and they buried him in BethLehem.
After him, AiLom of ZebuLon judged IsraEl for 10 years.
Then AiLom died and was buried in [the town of] AiLom in the land of ZebuLon.
Thereafter, AbDon (the son of ElLel the PhaRathonite) judged IsraEl.
He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons that rode upon 70 young burros.
He judged IsraEl for 8 years.
Then AbDon (the son of ElLel the PhaRathonite) died, and he was buried in PhaRathon, in the land of Ephraim on Mount Amalec.
But then, the sons of IsraEl started sinning against Jehovah again; so He handed them over to the Philistines for the next 40 years.
Well, during that time, a man [from the town of] SaraAh named ManoEh (of the family of Dan) who had a woman that hadn’t given birth to any sonswas approached by a messenger from Jehovah, that said to her:
‘I see that you have never given birth to a son.
Now, you must be very careful not to drink any wine or liquor, or to eat anything that’s unclean.
For {Look!} you are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son, upon whose head an iron [razor] may never [be used].
This child will be dedicated to God (a Nazarite) from the time that he’s born, and he will start saving IsraEl from the hands of the Philistines.’
Well at that, the woman went back inside and said this to her husband:
‘A man of God just came to me who looked very impressive… like an angel.
So, I didn’t dare to ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name.
But he said to me,
{Look!} You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son, upon whose head an iron [razor] may never [be used].
This child will be dedicated to God (a Nazarite) from the day he’s born until the day that he dies.’
So ManoEh prayed to Jehovah and said:
‘I wish to beg You, O Jehovah my Lord, concerning the man of God that you just sent.
Let him come to us once again and teach us what we must do concerning this child that is soon to be born.’
Well, Jehovah listened to the voice of ManoEh and He sent His messenger to the woman again.
But at the time, she was sitting in a field… ManoEh (her man) wasn’t with her.
So she ran home and said,
‘Look! The man that came the other day has appeared to me again!’
Then ManoEh got up and followed his woman; and when they got to him, ManoEh asked:
‘Are you the person that spoke to my woman?’
And the messenger replied,
‘I am.’
Then ManoEh said:
‘May [your] words come to pass… but tell us how we must raise the child and how we must deal with him.’
And the messenger of Jehovah said to ManoEh:
‘Your woman will remember all that I’ve told her…
She must not eat anything that comes from the vine, or drink any wine or liqueur, or eat anything that is unclean…
She must follow all of these [instructions] that I’ve given to her.’
Then ManoEh said to the messenger of Jehovah:
‘Please stay here for a while and let us prepare a young goat as a meal for you.’
And the messenger of Jehovah said to ManoEh:
‘If you want me to stay, I won’t eat your bread.
But if you wish to sacrifice a whole burnt offering to Jehovah, you should do it.’
Well, because ManoEh didn’t realize that [this person] was really an angel, he said:
‘Tell us your name, so that when your words come true, we can come to you and bow before you.’
And the messenger of Jehovah replied:
‘Why do you ask my name? It’s just too wonderful.’
So ManoEh then took a kid goat along with its grain offering, and he offered it to Jehovah on a rock.
And that’s when the messenger did something that was very unusual, as ManoEh and his woman looked on.
Suddenly the flames on the altar rose high into the sky, and the messenger of Jehovah flew away in the flames.
And when ManoEh and his woman saw this, they both fell with their faces to the ground.
Well, the messenger never appeared to ManoEh and his woman again.
But after ManoEh realized that it was a messenger of Jehovah,he said to his woman:
‘We’re going to die, because we’ve seen God!’
However, his woman replied:
‘If Jehovah wanted to kill us, He wouldn’t have accepted our whole burnt offering and food offering, nor would He have revealed and let us hear all these things.’
Well thereafter, the woman did give birth to a son whom she named Samson, and Jehovah blest him as he grew.
For the Breath of Jehovah entered him there in the camp of Dan between SaraAh and EsthaOl.
[Then several years later], Samson went down to ThamNatha, and he noticed a woman there that was the daughter of one of the Philistines.
So he went and told his father and mother:
‘I saw a girl in ThamNatham, a daughter of one of the Philistines, whom I want you to take to be my woman!’
And his parents asked:
‘Aren’t there enough daughters among our brothers or any women among all our people?
Why do you want to take a woman from among the uncircumcised Philistines?’
And Samson replied:
‘Take her, because she really appeals to me.’
Well, what his father and mother didn’t realize is that this [action] had come from Jehovah;
For He wanted to bring His vengeance upon the Philistines that were dominating IsraEl at the time.
So, Samson traveled with his father and mother down to ThamNatha, and when he got to the vineyard there, a young lion roared and ran out to meet him.
Well, the Breath of Jehovah came over him in a powerful way, and he crushed the lion as though it were a kid goat, leaving nothing in his hands.
However, he didn’t tell his father and mother what he had done,for they were off speaking to the woman whom Samson had found so attractive.
Well, sometime later, as he was returning to take the girl, he went back to look at the carcass of the lion, and he noticed that a swarm of bees had taken up living in its mouth;
So, he took some of the honey and traveled on.
He ate part of it, then he went and offered the rest to his father and mother.
They also ate it, because he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the mouth of a lion.
Well thereafter, his father went [and took] the woman [for Samson], and Samson held a wedding banquet in that place that lasted 7 days (which was customary for young men to do at the time),to which 30 [local] guests were invited, and that stayed with him.
Then Samson said to them:
‘Let me tell you a riddle, and if you can answer it correctly during the next 7 days of the banquet, I will give [each of you] a wrap and a new set of clothes.
But if you can’t answer it, you must each give me a wrap and a new set of clothes.’
And they replied,
‘Okay; tell us your riddle.’
Then he told them this:
‘The eater came for the meat, but sweetness came from the strong one.’
Well, they tried to solve the riddle for three days, but they couldn’t figure it out.
Then on the 4th day, they went to Samson’s woman and said,
‘We want you to fool your husband. For, unless you make him explain that riddle to you, we’re going to burn down your father’s house with you in it…
Surely you didn’t invite us here just to [rob] us!’
So Samson’s woman went to him and started crying, saying:
‘You don’t really care for me…
You don’t love me, because you haven’t given me the answer to the riddle that you posed to the sons of my people!’
And Samson asked her:
‘If I haven’t given the answer to my own father and mother, why should I tell it to you?’
Well, she just kept on crying in front of him throughout their banquet; so on the 7th day he gave her the answer, because she kept bothering him…
And then she told it to the [guests].
So before sunrise on the 7th day, the [guests] (who were from the city) came to him and answered:
‘What is sweeter than honey, and what is stronger than a lion?’
Then Samson said to them:
‘If you hadn’t been plowing with my heifer, you would never have figured out my riddle!’
And at that, the Breath of Jehovah came over him and he went down into the city and destroyed 30 men, then he took their clothes and gave them to the ones that had answered the riddle.
And after that, Samson was so angry that he just went back to the house of his father.
Meanwhile, [her father] gave Samson’s woman to his best man… to one of his friends!
Well, sometime later (during the wheat harvest), Samson went to visit his woman, bringing along a kid goat.
And he said:
‘I want to go in to my woman… into her bedroom.’
But her father spoke to him and said:
‘Because I felt that you must surely hate her, I gave her to one of your friends.
Now, isn’t her sister better than she? Let her become yours instead!’
And Samson said:
‘Well, I finally have a good reason to harm the Philistines, and no one can blame me.’
So Samson trapped 300 foxes. He paired the foxes and tied each pair’s tails together, and tied torches to their tails.
Then he lit the torches and released the foxes into the Philistine’s grain fields, and everything that they owned (their threshing floors, their fields of grain, their vineyards, and their olive groves) was burned.
Well, when the Philistines asked,
‘Who did this?’
They were told,
‘It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Thamnite… because he gave [Samson’s] woman to one of his friends.’
As the result, the Philistines went and burned down the house of Samson’s father-in-law, with his woman inside it.
Then Samson went to them and said:
‘Because you did this to her, I’m going to get even… for, only then will I be satisfied!’
So he cut off all of their legs to their thighs and left… and he went down and lived in a cave in The Rock of Etam.
Well, sometime thereafter, the Philistines went into Judah and set up camp all around Lechi.
And when the men of Judah asked why they were getting ready to attack them, the Philistines replied:
‘We’ve come here to capture Samson; for we want to deal with him in the same way that he dealt with us!’
So, 3,000 men of Judah went down to the Hole in The Rock of Etam and said to Samson:
‘Don’t you know that the Philistines rule this country… what have you done to us?’
And Samson replied:
‘I’ve just treated them the way that they’ve treated me.’
And they said:
‘Well, we’ve come here to take you and hand you over to the Philistines.’
Then Samson told them:
‘Swear to me that you won’t do anything bad to me yourselves.’
And they promised:
‘No, we’ll just tie you up and hand you over to them… we won’t kill you.’
So they tied him up with two new ropes and led him away from the Rock.
Well, when they reached [the place that he later called] ‘The Jaw,’ the Philistines started shouting and they all ran to meet him.
Then the Breath of Jehovah came down upon him and the ropes became like burned hemp in his arms… they just melted away.
And noticing the jawbone of a burro that had been tossed aside, he reached down and picked it up, and he [used it to] strike down 1,000 men.
Then Samson [sang this song]:
‘With a burro’s jaw, I destroyed them…
A thousand men, I cut down
With the bone of a burro.’
Thereafter, he threw the jawbone away… and that’s when he started calling that place,
‘Destroyed by the Jaw.’
Meanwhile, he had become extremely thirsty; so he called to Jehovah and said:
‘Though it has pleased You to use Your servant’s hands to bring about this great deliverance; must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’
That’s when God broke open a hole in the ground [near] that jawbone, from which water started flowing.
So he drank it, his spirit was renewed, and he regained his strength.
Then he named that spring,
‘The Well of the Calling,’
which is still in Lechi today.
Well, after that, [Samson] Judged IsraEl for 20 years (during the period of Philistine [domination]).
Sometime later, Samson went to Gaza, and there he [met up with] a prostitute, with whom [he had sex].
Well, when this was reported to the Gazites (when they were told that Samson was there), they surrounded [the house] and quietly waited for him all night long inside the city gates.
[Their plan] was to wait until he left at dawn, then [catch him] and kill him.
However, Samson only slept there until midnight.
For he got up and went out to the city gate, and [because it was locked], he pulled its two posts [out of the ground], lifted them (along with the locked gate) onto his shoulders, and he climbed to the top of the mountain in front of HebRon and laid them there.
Well after this, he fell in love with a woman who lived by the river at Sorech, whose name was DeliLah.
So the leaders of the Philistines came to her and said,
‘Seduce him and find out where he gets all his great strength (what the real source of his strength is), so we can take him, bind him up, and humble him.
[If you’ll do this], we’ll give you 1,100 silver coins.’
So DeliLah said to Samson:
‘Please tell me where you get all your strength… is there any way that you could be tied up, captured, and imprisoned?’
And Samson replied:
‘Yes; if I were tied up with 7 ropes that have been soaked in water, I would be as weak as any ordinary man.’
So the leaders of the Philistines brought her 7 wet ropes and she used them to tie him up,as their men hid in her bedroom.
Then she shouted,
‘The Philistines are coming, Samson!’
And he broke the ropes as though they were burned threads; for no one knew how strong he really was.
And then DeliLah said to Samson:
‘You’ve misled me and lied to me!
Now, tell me how you can really be held.’
And he said to her:
‘I would have to be tied up with new ropes, not with ropes that have been used for work…
Then I would be as weak as any other man.’
So DeliLah took new ropes and tied him up, as the men that were waiting in her bedroom [prepared themselves to] run out when she shouted,
‘The Philistines are here Samson!’
But he broke the [ropes] off his arms like threads.
And again, DeliLah said to Samson:
‘Look, you’ve deceived me and lied to me.
Now, please tell me how you can be held.’
And he said to her:
‘If the 7 locks on my head were woven together into a braid and then nailed to a wall, I would be as weak as any other man.’
So after he fell asleep, DeliLah took the 7 locks on his head and braided them, then she nailed them to the wall and shouted,
‘The Philistines are here, Samson!’
But when he woke up, he just jerked the nail that held the braids out of the wall.
And DeliLah asked Samson:
‘How can you say that you love me when your heart doesn’t belong to me?
This is the third time that you’ve deceived me; for you haven’t really told me where you get all your strength.’
Well, she kept nagging him and complaining all night long, until he was exasperated to the point of dying.
So he told her all the things that were in his heart, saying:
‘A razor must never touch my head; for I have been a person dedicated to God since [I came from] my mother’s belly.
So if [my hair] should be shaved, my strength would leave me and I would become as weak as any other man.’
DeliLah realized that what he said this time came from his heart, so she sent for the Philistine rulers and said:
‘Come here one more time, for he has told me what’s in his heart.’
And as the result, all the Philistine rulers came there and laid the silver in her hands.
So then DeliLah allowed Samson to fall asleep on her knees, and she [motioned to] a man that cut the 7 locks off his head… and his strength left him.
As the result, when DeliLah shouted,
‘The Philistines are here, Samson!,’
he woke up thinking,
‘I’ll just shake myself free and leave, as I’ve done before.’
But he didn’t know that Jehovah had left him.
So the Philistines captured him, put his eyes out, bound him in brass fetters, and took him down to Gaza, where they locked him in a dungeon.
However, during the time he was there, his hair started to grow back again… and soon it became as long as it had been before.
Well thereafter, the leaders of the Philistines assembled to offer a big sacrifice to their god Dagon and to celebrate what they claimed their god had done by giving their enemy Samson into their hands.
So when the people saw him, they started singing praises to their god, saying:
‘You’ve given our enemy who destroyed our land and who killed many of our people into our hands!’
And after everyone had been worked into a joyful frenzy, they said:
‘Now, bring in Samson and have him [act the fool] before us.’
So they sent for Samson, and he was brought from the dungeon to stand as a fool before them.
They led him by the hand and stood him between the [temple] columns.
And Samson said to the young man that was holding his hand:
‘Please let me feel the columns that support the building, so I can steady myself on them.’
Well, the building was filled with men and women, including all the leaders of the Philistines, and almost 3,000 more people had perched themselves on the roof
(They had all come to watch and to make fun of Samson).
Then Samson called to Jehovah and said:
‘O Jehovah, my Lord; please remember me and give me strength just one last time, O God, so that I can make the Philistines pay for the loss of my eyes.’
And at that, he braced his hands against the two columns that supported the building and pushed – one with his right hand and the other with his left.
And Samson said,
‘Let my woman also die along with the Philistines!’
So he bent over and shoved, and the temple collapsed, killing the leaders and all the people in it.
And in his death, Samson killed more than he had killed during the rest of his lifetime.
Well thereafter, his brothers and the rest of his father’s house went there and recovered his body, then they buried it between SaraAh and EsthaOl, in the tomb of his father ManoEh.
For he had Judged IsraEl for 20 years.
Then there was a man from the mountains of Ephraim named MicaYas.
He had said this to his mother:
‘Do you remember those 1,100 silver coins that you once had and which you cursed me for taking?
Well, here they are, for I did in fact take them.’
And his mother said:
‘May Jehovah bless you, my son.’
So he returned her 1,100 silver coins, and his mother said:
‘I had dedicated this money to the Lord and set it aside for [you], my son, to make a molded and carved image…
So it’s yours anyhow.’
However, he went on and gave the money back to his mother.
Then his mother took 200 of the silver coins and gave them to a silversmith, who used them to mold and carve an idol for the house of MicaYas;
So, the house of MicaYas was thereafter used as the temple to his god.
Then [MicaYas] made a sacred vest and a religious emblem, and he anointed one of his sons to be his priest.
For back in those days, there was no king in IsraEl and everyone did whatever seemed right in his own eyes.
Well, there was a young Levite from BethLehem of Judea that happened to be passing by one day.
He had left BethLehem in Judea, heading toward whatever place he might find. And when he got to the hills of Ephraim and to the house of MicaYas, his journey ended.
For MicaYas asked him,
‘Where have you come from?’
And he replied,
‘I’m a Levite from BethLehem of Judah, and I’m traveling to any place that I may find.’
So MicaYas said to him:
‘Then, live with me!
If you’ll become a father and a priest to me, I will give you 10 silver coins every year, as well as a change of clothing, and I’ll also provide you free room-and-board.’
So the Levite lived there with MicaYas and became like one of his sons,for he had anointed the Levite to serve as his priest, and he thereafter lived inside MicaYas’ home.
MicaYas said:
‘Now I know that the Lord will treat me well, because a Levite has become my priest.’
Well, there was no king over IsraEl back then, and the tribe of Dan was looking for its own land to inherit, because they hadn’t received an inheritance among the tribes of the sons of IsraEl.
So the sons of Dan selected 5 mighty men from among their families and sent them to spy in the land around SaraAh and EsthaOl, in order to find a land [that they could inherit].
Then when they reached the hills of Ephraim and the house of MicaYas, they spent the night there;
For, because they had recognized the voice of the young Levite man, they stopped and asked him questions such as,
‘Who brought you here? What do you do here?’ and ‘Do you enjoy [living] here?’
Then he explained how MicaYas had taken him in and hired him to be his priest.
So they said,
‘Please use your powers to ask God whether the direction we are headed will be blest.’
And the priest told them:
‘Go your way in peace, for the direction you’re heading is the direction of the Lord.’
Well thereafter, the men traveled on, and when they got to LaiSha, they saw that the people there lived peacefully and leisurely (like the Sidonians).
For there was no crime or violence in the land or any robbery, because they were a long way from the Sidonians, and they were quite isolated.
So then the 5 men returned to their brothers at SaraAh and EsthaOl and they said:
‘Why are you just sitting here?Let’s get up and attack these people, for we’ve looked at their land and found it to be very good!
Don’t be silent and don’t restrain yourselves from going there and inheriting their land,for we’ve found a place where the people are living in security and where the land is large enough for all of us, and God has given it into your hands…
It’s a place where the ground produces everything that we need!’
So thereafter, the families of Dan sent 600 armed troops to SaraAh and EsthaOl.
First they went and camped in KiriAth JaiRim in Judah (that’s why that place is still called ‘The Camp of Dan’ to this day.
Look, it’s there behind KiriAth JaiRim!
Then they marched on to the mountains of Ephraim, and when they reached the house of MicaYas,the 5 men that had come as spies into the land of LaIsha told their brothers:
‘There is a sacred breast piece, a religious emblem, and a molded and carved image in this place.
So, let’s think about what we should do next.’
Well, they stopped there and they went up to the house of the young Levite man (which was really the house of MicaYas), and they asked him how things were going.
But meanwhile, the 600 armed men of the sons of Dan were standing just outside of the gate.
Then the 5 men that had come as spies in the land [forced their way into] the house of MicaYas where the priest was standingand they grabbed up the image, the breast piece, and the religious emblem.
And when the priest asked them what they were doing, they said,
‘Put your hand over your mouth and be quiet, for we want you to come with us to serve as our father and priest.
After all, which would be better for you, to be the priest of the house of one man, or to be the priest of a whole tribe and to become a house among the families of IsraEl?’
Well, this sounded good to the heart of the priest, so he went along with the men that had taken the sacred breast piece, the religious emblem, and the molded and carved image.
Now, these men had brought all their sons, all their property, and all their baggage with them.
So even after they had gotten some distance from MicaYas’ house, MicaYas and his neighbors (who had seen them in his house) were able to catch up with them and they started shouting at them.
But the sons of Dan then turned and faced MicaYas, and asked,
‘What’s the matter with you? Why are you shouting at us?’
And MicaYas replied:
‘Because you’ve taken the image that I made and my priest.
So, what have you left for me… why do you think I’m shouting at you?’
And the sons of Dan said:
‘Stop shouting or you’ll make us angry and our men will kill you and your entire household.’
Well thereafter, the sons of Dan traveled on;
For MicaYas realized that they were more powerful that he was, so he just went back to his homeand let them carry off the things that MicaYas had made along with his priest (who went with them).
Then from there, the army traveled on to LaiSha, where the people had been living peacefully and securely, and they attacked them with their broadswords and burned down their city.
No one came to their aid, because the city was so far from Sidon that there was no way to communicate with the people there (it was located in a valley near the house of ReHob).
Then [the sons of Dan] rebuilt the city and took up living there,renaming it, ‘the City of Dan’ (after their ancestor, the son of IsraEl), although it used to be called LaiSha.
And it was there that the sons of Dan erected the carved image for themselves.
So from then on, JoNathan (the son of GerSon and grandson of ManasSeh) and his sons continued to be the priests of the tribe of Dan until the time that the nation was captured and carried away.
Also, the carved image that MicaYas made remained there for as long as the House of God was in ShiLoh; because back then, there was no king in IsraEl.
Now, there was a Levite that had been staying in the hills of Ephraim, and there he took a concubine for himself who was from BethLehem of Judah.
However, his concubine got angry and left him, returning home to her father in BethLehem.
Then after 4 months,he went there (along his servant and a pair of burros) to plead with her to come back to him.
So she let him into her father’s house, and she and her father met with him (for she was really very happy to see him).
Then his father-in-law (the father of the young woman) urged him to stay there for three days; so, they all ate, drank, and stayed together there.
Then on the 4th day, when he got up early in the morning to leave, the girl’s father said to his son-in-law:
‘Have a bite to eat before you go.’
So the two of them sat down together and ate and drank once again.
Thereafter, the girl’s father said to her man:
‘Stick around for a while; spend another night and enjoy yourself!’
And when the man got up to leave, his father-in-law wouldn’t allow him to go, so he spent another night there.
Then when he got up early the next morning (on the 5th day) and got ready to leave, the girl’s father said:
‘Stop acting like a soldier… stay here and build your strength until later in the day.’
So the two [sat down to] eat.
And when the man, his concubine, and his servant got ready to go, his father-in-law said to him:
‘Look, it’s almost evening… spend the night and let’s enjoy ourselves!
You can leave early tomorrow morning and start your trip back home then.’
But he didn’t want to spend another night there, so he got up and left… he saddled his burros and set off with his concubine.
Well, they got as far as Jebus (JeruSalem) and it was getting very late.
So the servant said to his master:
‘Let’s stop here in this Jebusite city and spend the night.’
But his master replied:
‘We don’t want to stay in a city of foreigners; for there are no sons of IsraEl here.
Let’s just continue on and spend the night in GibeAh.’
So they traveled on and arrived at BabaAh (in the tribe of BenJamin) later that night.
Well, when they got to BabaAh, they prepared to stay in the street, because no one had invited them in to spend the night in their home.
But then an old man came in from working in the fields.
He was from the mountains of Ephraim, but at the time he was living in BabaAh among the sons of BenJamin.
And when he saw the travelers sitting in the street, the old man asked them:
‘Where where have you come from where are you heading?’
And [the Levite] replied:
‘We’re coming from BethLehem of Kudag, and we’re heading toward the side of Mount Ephraim. I live there, and I’ve gotten this far from BethLehem in my journey home…
But no one has invited us into his house.
We have enough straw and food for our burros, and enough bread and wine for me, the girl, and my servant; so your servants really don’t need anything.’
Then the man brought them into his home, provided a place for their burros, washed their feet,fed them, and gave them something to drink.
Well, as they were sitting there enjoying themselves, some men from the city (sons of criminals) surrounded the house and started banging on the door.
Then they shouted at the old man that owned the house:
‘Send out the man that came into your house, so we can [have sex] with him!’
But [the old man] stepped outside and said to them:
‘No brothers; please don’t do him any harm, for he’s a guest in my home!
Don’t do such a terrible thing!
Look, here’s my daughter who’s a virgin, and here’s the man’s concubine.
I’ll bring them out to you and you can treat them however you wish… but, don’t mistreat this man!’
However, because the men wouldn’t listen to him, he grabbed the concubine and brought her outside to them, and they raped and abused her all night long, releasing her in the morning.
After that, she came and fell at the door of the house where her man [had hidden] himself.
And when her man got up and opened the door to continue his journey the next morning, he found her lying there by the door with her hands on the threshold.
So he spoke to her and said,
‘Get up, let’s go!’
But she didn’t answer, because she was dead.
Then he lifted [her body] onto his burro and he returned home.
Well, [when he got home], he took his sword and cut his concubine’s body into 12 parts and sent them to [all the tribes] of IsraEl.
And everyone that saw this said,
‘We’ve never seen such a day, nor has anyone seen such a day since the sons of IsraEl left the land of Egypt!
So, let’s assemble and decide what we must do.’
Thereafter, the whole gathering of the sons of IsraEl (from Dan to Beer SheBah) assembled to meet before Jehovah at MasSepha in the land of GileAd.
They all stood there before Jehovah as an assembly of the people of God… 400,000 sword-carrying men.
Meanwhile, the sons of BenJamin learned that they had gathered there.
Well, after everyone had arrived, they asked:
‘Where did this terrible thing happen?’
And the Levite (the owner of the woman that was killed) said:
‘My concubine and I had gone into BabaAh of BenJamin to spend the night.
Then men that lived there came and surrounded the house during the night, for they wanted to kill me. But they abused and raped my concubine instead, until she was dead.
So I picked her up and cut her into pieces, and I sent them to all the inheritances of the sons of IsraEl… for these men have done a lewd and disgusting thing in IsraEl!
Look, all you sons of IsraEl;
Think about what happened and then discuss it among yourselves.’
Well, all the people agreed and said,
‘None of us will return to our tents or housesuntil this thing that was done in BabaAh [is settled].
Let’s hold a lottery to choose who will go to fight against that city…we’ll choose 10 men from among every 100 of all the tribes of IsraEl, 100 out of every 1,000, and 1,000 out of every 10,000.
Then we will gather enough provisions and send them to BabaAh of BenJamin to pay them back for the disgusting things that they’ve done in IsraEl.’
Well, all the men of IsraEl agreed, and they prepared to march on the city.
So thereafter, they sent messengers throughout the whole tribe of BenJamin to say,
‘What is this wicked thing that has been done among you?
Now, surrender those sons of criminals that are in BabaAh, and we will execute them to purge their wickedness from IsraEl.’
However, the sons of BenJamin refused to listen to the voices of their brothers, the sons of IsraEl,and [men from] all of their cities gathered at BabaAh to fight against the rest of IsraEl.
The sons of BenJamin sent 23,000 soldiers, along with 700 of the best men from BabaAh, all of whom were capable of fighting with both hands…
They could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
Meanwhile, the army of IsraEl (those other than the tribe of of BenJamin) numbered 400,000 men of war.
But [before they went to battle], they went to BethEl to ask God,
‘Who must lead us in the fight against the sons of BenJamin?’
And Jehovah replied:
‘Judah must go first and serve as your leader.’
So the next morning, the sons of IsraEl went and camped around BabaAh,and the battle began.
Well, the sons of BenJamin came out of BabaAh and attacked, cutting down 22,000 men of IsraEl.
So the men of IsraEl sent for reinforcements and got ready to fight in the same place where they had fought on the previous day.
[But first] they went and spent the day crying before Jehovah; and in the evening, they asked Him:
‘Should we go to fight against our brothers the sons of BenJamin again?’
And Jehovah said,
‘Go and fight them.’
So the sons of IsraEl advanced against the sons of BenJamin on the 2nd day.
And again the sons of BenJamin came out of BabaAh to meet them, and they killed 18,000 more of [IsraEl’s] soldiers.
Then, all the sons of IsraEl (the people and their troops) went to BethEl and just sat there crying before Jehovah, fasting all day long until the evening, as they offered whole burnt offerings and perfect sacrifices to Jehovah.
For back then, the [Sacred Chest] of Jehovah God was there [in BethEl].
And PhineAs (the son of EliEzer and grandson of Aaron) would go and stand in front of the chest whenever the sons of IsraEl wanted to ask Jehovah for anything.
So they again went to him and asked:
‘Must we go once more to fight with our brothers, the sons of BenJamin?’
And Jehovah’s reply was,
‘If you go there in the morning, I will give them into your hands.’
Therefore, the sons of IsraEl [went back] and encircled BabaAh; [but this time], they set up an ambush.
And when the sons of IsraEl went to fight the sons of BenJamin on the 3rd day, it looked like they were planning to attack BabaAh much as they had done before.
So the sons of BenJamin once again came out to meet them and they started cutting them down in the middle of the road that leads from BabaAh to BethEl, and they killed about 30 men…
But this drew them all outside of the city,as the sons of BenJamin were shouting,
‘They’re falling before us the same as they did before!’
However, the sons of IsraEl had planned their retreat to draw everyone out of the city and into the roads… and that’s what they did.
For all the men that came to fight had assembled at BaAl Thamar, while the rest of IsraEl hid in MaraAgabe.
So, as 10,000 of IsraEl’s best men were attacking BabaAh, and [BenJamin’s] troops were fighting them fiercely, they didn’t realize that they were doomed.
For Jehovah allowed the sons of IsraEl to cut down BenJamin that day.
All together, the sons of IsraEl destroyed 25,000 of BenJamin’s soldiers.
For when the sons of BenJamin thought that they were winning, the men of IsraEl turned around and attacked them, because they trusted in the ambush that they had prepared against BabaAh.
[The plan was that] when they pulled back, those that were hiding were to get up and attack BabaAh and cut down [everyone that was left in] the city with swords.
The sons of IsraEl had also arranged for a battle signal from those that had been hiding… when they captured the city, they were to send up a smoke signal.
And when the sons of IsraEl saw that they had taken BabaAh, that’s when they turned and attacked.
For by then, the sons of BenJamin had started killing the wounded among the men of IsraEl (about 30 of them), and they were saying,
‘Surely they’re going to fall again as they did in the first [two] battles.’
But then the [smoke] signal started to arise, and it kept growing into a huge column of smoke rising into the sky.
Well, when the men of BenJamin looked behind them, they saw that their city was being destroyed.
So when the men of IsraEl turned back and attacked, the men of BenJamin started running, because they saw that something bad had happened.
Then they retreated all the way into the desert before the sons of IsraEl, who soon overtook them, and even people from the [surrounding] cities came to fight them…
They chased the men of BenJamin from Nua to GibeAh in the east,and some 18,000 mighty men of BenJamin fell that day.
Well, the rest [of BenJamin’s army] then turned and ran through the desert to the Rock of RemMon, where the sons of IsraEl picked off 5,000 of them;
And then they chased the remaining ones as far as GeDan, where they cut down 2,000 more men.
So, BenJamin lost 25,000 of their finest soldiers,and the rest (about 600 of them) turned and ran through the desert to the Rock of RemMon, where they hid out for 4 months.
Meanwhile, the sons of IsraEl returned to the territory of BenJamin and cut down [everyone] in the cities around MethLa, including their cattle, burning all the cities and everything that they found there in a fire.
Now, while they were in MasSephath, the sons of IsraEl all swore not to give their daughters as wives to the BenJaminites.
Then they all went to BethEl and sat before God until that evening, calling out to Him and crying:
‘O Jehovah the God of IsraEl;
Why should one tribe of IsraEl now be missing?’
Well, the next morning, the people got up early and built an altar there, upon which they sacrificed whole burnt offerings and peace offerings.
And the sons of IsraEl started asking:
‘Who among the tribes of IsraEl failed to come here and assemble with the rest of gathering of Jehovah?’
For, they had all sworn an oath that those that didn’t come to Jehovah at MasSephath would be put to death.
The sons of IsraEl also grieved over their brothers of [the tribe of] BenJamin, saying:
‘Today, one tribe has been cut off from IsraEl.
So, what must we do to provide wives for those [among BenJamin] that have survived, since we’ve all sworn by Jehovah not to give them our daughters as their wives?’
Then they again asked,
‘Are there any among the tribes of IsraEl that failed to come to Jehovah at MasSephath?’
And they found that no one had come there from JabIsh in GileAd(they counted all the people that were there and found that no one had come from [that city]).
So the gathering sent 12,000 of their mightiest men to JabIsh of GileAd, giving them the orders to take their swords and kill everyone there.
They told them to kill every man and every woman that has [had sex] with a man, but not to kill the virgins… and that’s what they did.
And among the inhabitants of JabIsh GileAd, they found 400 young virgins that had never [had sex] with a man, and they brought them back to ShiLoh in the land of CanaAn.
Then the entire gathering agreed to send [ambassadors] to speak to the remaining sons of BenJamin at the Rock of RemMon and invite them to make peace.
As the result, [the tribe of] BenJamin returned to the sons of IsraEl that day, and they gave them the women that they hadn’t killed among the daughters of JabIsh GileAd… and they were satisfied.
The reason why the people made this concession to BenJamin was because Jehovah had allowed this breakup among the tribes of IsraEl.
Then the elders of the gathering asked,
‘What must we do to provide more women for those of BenJamin that are still alive, since all their women have been destroyed?’
For they all agreed that the BenJaminites that escaped must be allowed an inheritance so that a tribe wouldn’t be destroyed from IsraEl.
However, they couldn’t give them their daughters as wives, because the whole gathering had sworn that anyone that gave a woman to those of BenJamin would be cursed.
Then they said:
‘Look, there’s a feast of Jehovah that’s held each year in ShiLoh’ (it’s a town located north of BethEl, east of the road between BethEl and ShiKima, and south of Lebona).
And they told the sons of BenJamin this:
‘You may go and hide in the vineyards there and watch.
Then, whenever you see any of the daughters of the people in ShiLoh come out to dance, you should each run from the vineyards and grab a woman and carry her back to the land of BenJamin.
And if their fathers or brothers should come to argue the matter with you, you should tell them:
You must give them to us freely, for we haven’t taken them from you in battle.
Rather, we’ve taken them to keep you from sinning against the oath that you made.’
And that’s what the sons of BenJamin did.
They went and took women from among the dancers and brought them back to their inherited land, where they rebuilt their cities and lived in them.
Well thereafter, all the sons of IsraEl returned home to their own tribes, families, and inheritances.
For back in those days (since there was no king in IsraEl), every man did whatever he thought was right.
Back in those days, during the time of the Judges, there was a famine that came to the land.
As the result, a man from BethLehem of Judah traveled into the fields of MoAb with his wife and two sons.
The man’s name was EliMelech, his wife’s name was NaOmi, and his two sons were named MahLon and ChiLion… they were EphRathites.
And after they had moved there from BethLehem of Judah,EliMelech (NaOmi’s husband) died, leaving just her and her two sons.
Thereafter, the sons married Moabite women; one was named Orpah, and the other was named Ruth (gr. Routh).
Then, after [NaOmi] had been there for about 10 years,both MahLon and ChiLion (the sons of her and her husband) also died.
So she got up and told her two daughters-in-law that she was going to return to her own country, because she’d heard (from someone in the land of MoAb) that Jehovah had turned back to His people and that He was once again providing them loaves of bread to eat.
Well, [as she was preparing] to leave the place where she was staying, both of her daughters-in-law came and met with her, because they wanted to go with her to the land of Judah.
But NaOmi said to her daughters-in-law:
‘Go back home to your mothers… and may Jehovah show you as much mercy to you as you’ve shown to my dead ones.
Thank you for meeting with me,but may Jehovah now provide each of you rest in the house of a husband.’
Then she kissed them and they both started to cry,and they said to her:
‘We want to return with you to your people.’
But NaOmi said:
‘No! Please, my daughters! Why do you want to go with me?
Do you think that I still have sons in my belly that I can give as your husbands?
Please go home, my daughters!
Go, because I’ve grown too old to have a man anymore. I’ve asked myself,
Might it be possible for me to marry again and to give birth to sonsfor whom you should wait, and not marry again until they’ve grown into men?
No, my daughters; for I’ve become very bitter since the hand of Jehovah has come against me.’
Then they all started to cry again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and returned to her family.
However, Ruth continued to follow her; so NaOmi said:
‘Look, Ruth; your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. So, please turn back and catch up with your sister-in-law.’
And Ruth replied:
‘Don’t force me to leave you and go back; for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you stay, I will stay.
Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.
Where you die is where I will die, and that’s where I’ll be buried.
May Jehovah [curse] me and add more to it if anything other than death will separate me from you.’
Well when NaOmi saw that she was so determined to go with her, she no longer tried to discourage her.
So they both traveled on together until they arrived at BethLehem.
And when they got there, the whole city of BethLehem cheered for them, asking,
‘Is this really NaOmi?’
And she said to them:
‘Please don’t call me NaOmi, call me Mary (Bitter), because [God] has made me very bitter.
For after I left, Jehovah sent me back with nothing.
So, why call me NaOmi (Pleasure), when Jehovah has humbled and persecuted me?’
Thus NaOmi returned from the country of MoAb with her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, arriving in BethLehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Well, there was a very wealthy man [in BethLehem] that NaOmi knew (because he was a relative of her husband EliMelech) whose name was BoAz.
So Ruth (the Moabite) said to NaOmi:
‘If he approves of me, should I go into his field to glean grain?’
And NaOmi replied:
‘Go, my daughter.’
So she went into the field and followed behind those that were doing the harvesting.
And it so happened that the portion of the field she was in was being harvested by some of BoAz’s relatives at the time.
Then {Look!} when BoAz came from the city (BethLehem), he said to those that were harvesting there:
‘May Jehovah be with you.’
And they replied:
‘May Jehovah bless you.’
Then BoAz asked the servant that was supervising the harvesting,
‘Whose young woman is that?’
And the supervisor replied:
‘She’s the Moabite servant who just came here from the country of the MoAbites along with NaOmi.’
So [Ruth] then [went up] to him and said:
‘Please, may I collect grain here… I’ll just follow behind those that are doing the harvesting.’
Well, she had been working all day long, from morning until evening, and she hadn’t stopped at all to rest.
So BoAz said:
‘Hasn’t anyone told you, my daughter? You don’t have go into my field to just glean… [go and work] with the rest of the young women [who are my relatives].
Look around the field and see where they are, and work along with them, for I’ve instructed my servants not to bother you;
And when you get thirsty, you may go and drink from the water in the jugs that belong to my servants.’
Well at that, she bowed low before him with her face to the ground, and then she asked him:
‘What have I done to find so much favor in your eyes that you should treat me this well, since I’m just a stranger?’
And BoAz answered:
‘All the things you’ve been doing for your mother-in-law since the death of her son (your man) have been reported to me.
For I’ve heard of how you arrived in this unfamiliar land just two days ago after leaving your father, your mother, and your country.
So, may Jehovah repay your good deeds, and may the God of IsraEl that you’ve come here to serve shelter you under His wings.’
Then she said:
‘I [hope] that may I find your favor, my master, and [that I can prove worthy] of the comfort that you’ve given to me; for your words have touched the heart of your slave girl.
Look, I’m your servant!’
Then BoAz said to her:
‘It’s almost suppertime.
Here, take some of my bread… and here’s some vinegar to dip it in.’
And at that, Ruth sat down next to the rest of the harvesters, and BoAz gave her a large amount of toasted grain, which she ate.
Then, after she had eaten enough, she left.
Well, when she got up [the next day] to collect grain, [she found that] BoAz had indeed instructed his servants to allow her to harvest from the midst of the grain and for them to set aside a portion of the field just for her, and not to give her any trouble.
So she worked all day long; and when she beat out the grain, she found that she had collected a heaping bushel full,which she then carried back to the city.
And when her mother-in-law saw how much she had collected and how much had been given to her, she asked:
‘Where did you go today, and where did you get this? May this one that has so recognized you be blest!’
Then Ruth told her mother-in-law where she did [the harvesting] and said,
‘The name of the man that allowed me to do this today is BoAz.’
And NaOmi said,
‘Praise Jehovah, for He hasn’t forgotten to be merciful [to the widows] of those that have died.’
Then she added:
‘This man is our next-of-kin… one of our closest relatives!’
And Ruth said to her mother-in-law:
‘He also told me to [work alongside] his servants until I’ve finished harvesting all that I need!’
Then NaOmi told Ruth:
‘My daughter; it’s good for you to work alongside his servants, for you likely wouldn’t have been able to meet his relatives in any other field.’
So thereafter, Ruth worked along with the young women of BoAz’s family through both the barley harvest and the wheat harvest (about 50 days).
Well, while she was staying there with her mother-in-law, NaOmi said to her:
‘My daughter; How else can I give you some rest and allow good things to happen to you?
[Recognize that] BoAz (the one among whose young women you are working) is a close relative, and tonight he’ll be threshing barley in his barn.
So, take a bath, [rub your body] with [fragrant] oils and dress up, then go to his barn.
However, you must not show yourself to him until after he has finished eating and drinking.
But then, when you see that he has fallen asleep, go uncover his feet and lie down there at his feet and go to sleep.
Thereafter, he will tell you what to do.’
And Ruth said:
‘I’ll do whatever you say.’
So she went down to the barn and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed.
[She saw] BoAz eating and drinking until his heart was quite satisfied, and then he went to sleep in the hay.
So Ruth crept up quietly and uncovered his feet, then she got down to go to sleep.
However, this woke BoAz; and when he saw the woman lying at his feet,he asked,
‘Who are you?’
And she replied:
‘I’m Ruth, your servant girl.
Wrap me in your blanket, for you are my relative.’
So BoAz said:
‘May Jehovah God bless you for your goodness and mercy, my daughter, because you’ve chosen the last over the first.
You could have looked for a younger man, whether rich or poor.
But daughter; don’t be afraid, for I’ll do whatever you ask, since my whole tribe knows what a mighty woman you are.
However, there is someone that is a closer relative than me.
You may spend the rest of the night here, but in the morning we will go and find out if he’s willing to do right by you, since he is your closest relative.
Now, as Jehovah is living, you may just go to sleep until the morning.’
So [Ruth] went back to sleep at his feet and she stayed there until the next morning.
And when she awoke (while [it was still too dark] to be seen), BoAz said:
‘Don’t tell anyone that a woman spent the night in my barn.’
Then he said to her:
‘Now, bring me the apron that you wore.’
So she held it out, and he poured 6 quarts (5.7l) of barley into it for her; and thereafter, she returned to the city.
Well, when she got back, her mother-in-law asked:
‘What happened, my daughter?’
And she told her everything that the man had done, saying,
‘He also gave me 6 quarts (5.7l) of barley,and he told me to carry this to my mother-in-law.’
Then [NaOmi] said:
‘Now, let’s just sit here and wait, my daughter, to see how this thing works out.
For the man won’t be satisfied until he has finished everything that has to be done.’
Well, the [next morning], BoAz went and sat down at the [city] gate.
Then {Look!} before long, he saw the man about whom he had spoken [to Ruth], so he asked him to come and sit in a secluded spot.
He also found 10 of the city’s elders and asked them to come and sit with them. So, they all sat down together.
Then BoAz said to the relative:
‘This matter is regarding the portion of the field that belonged to our brother EliMelech, which he passed on to NaOmi.
Since she has just returned from the land of MoAb,I thought that I should whisper in your ear and urge you to purchase the field before others in the city do so, or before the elders claim it, for you are [EliMelech’s] closest living relative.
However, if you aren’t interested in buying it, let me do that, since I’m next in line as his relative.’
And [the man] replied:
‘I’ll [claim it] as his next of kin!’
And BoAz said:
‘Well, on the day that you buy the field from NaOmi, you must also take the Moabite woman, Ruth.
For she was the [wife] of your dead relative, and you must keep his name alive to receive his inheritance.’
Well at that, the relative said:
‘Oh, then I won’t be able to accept the responsibility of being his closest relative, for I’m afraid that it would ruin the rights of my own inheritors.
So, you may go and claim the right.’
Now, it was the custom in IsraEl at the time (when it came to establishing matters that have to do with inheritances and such) for the man that [was giving up his right], to untie his sandal and give it to the one that would be the acting next-of-kin, as proof that the right of inheritance was being given to him.
For this is how they testified to such things in IsraEl back then.
So when the relative told BoAz that he could buy it for himself and the right of inheritance would be his, he untied his sandal and gave it to BoAz.
Then BoAz said to the elders and to everyone else that was sitting there:
‘You people are all witnesses today that I have acquired the right to buy everything that belonged to EliMelech, ChiLion, and MahLon from NaOmi…including Ruth, the Moabite woman.
So I have now acquired MahLon’s woman as mine, and I will raise a [son] in the name of the one that died, so that his inheritance won’t be lost.
For I’m his brother, and you and all the people at this gate are my witnesses.’
Well, all the elders all agreed, saying:
‘We are witnesses. And may Jehovah make the woman that is entering your home like RachaEl and LeAh who built the house of IsraEl.
May they succeed in doing that in a powerful way in EphRatha, and in making a name in BethLehem.
May your house become like the house of Perez, whom Thamar bore to Judah, and may this woman give birth to the seed of your children.’
So BoAz took Ruth and she became his woman.
Then he [slept with] her and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son.
And thereafter, she said to NaOmi:
‘May Jehovah be praised, because He didn’t rest until He provided a son for you today.
May [this son] speak of your name in IsraEl,and may he restore life and nourishment to your grey hair; for your daughter-in-law has given birth to a good child that is better than 7 sons.’
Well after that, NaOmi took the boy and held him to her breasts, becoming his wet nurse.
Then she called the neighbors in and named him… she said,
‘Since NaOmi has now given birth to a son, I will call him Obed (Servant).’
This one became the father of JesSe and the grandfather of David.
Now, these are the descendants of Perez:
· Perez fathered HezRon
· HezRon fathered Aram
· Aram fathered AmiNadab
· AmiNadab fathered NaShon
· NaShon fathered SalMon
· SalMon fathered BoAz
· BoAz fathered Obed
· Obed fathered JesSe
· JesSe fathered David.
There was a man from RamAh of Zophim in the Hills of Ephraim whose name was ElKanah.
He was the son of JerHam, grandson of EliHu, great-grandson of ToHu, and the great-great grandson of Zuph, all of whom were from the hills of Ephraim.
He had two women, the first was named HanNah and the second was PeninNah.
Now, PeninNah had [given birth to] children, but HanNah had no children.
Well, each day [ElKanah] would leave his city and go up to ShiLoh to bow and offer sacrifices to Jehovah of armies, along with Eli and two of his sons, HophNi and PhineAs, who were Priests of Jehovah.
And one day, when ElKanah was there offering sacrifices, he gave his woman PeninNah and her sons and daughters their inheritances;
However, he only gave HanNah a single portion, because she didn’t have any children.
Yet, ElKanah loved HanNah more than he loved PeninNah, despite the fact that Jehovah had kept her womb locked(for He hadn’t given her a child to love and to remove her sorrow).
As the result, she became depressed and she believed that Jehovah wouldn’t allow her to have a baby.
Well, each year she would go up to the House of Jehovah to cry and fast there.
Then [one day], her husband ElKanah asked her,
‘HanNah, why are you always crying?
Why won’t you eat and why is your heart [so sad]?
For I [love you more] than 10 children.’
Well, HanNah then went to ShiLoh and stood before Eli, who was the High Priest then. She had gone without eating or drinking for some time;
And because her soul was in such great pain, she [just stood there] praying and crying before Jehovah.
Then she made a vow, saying:
‘O Jehovah of Armies; if You’ll just look at me, You’ll see how Your slave woman has been disgraced.
Please remember me and don’t forget that I’m your servant… remember me and don’t forget me!
If You will give me a son, I will stand him before You and dedicate him to You throughout his entire life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.’
Well, as she was praying there before Jehovah, the Priest Eli was watching her mouth,and he recognized that she was speaking from her heart.
He could see that her lips were moving, but he couldn’t hear her saying anything, so he figured that she was probably drunk.
So he said to her:
‘How long have you been drinking?
Why don’t you get rid of your wine?’
But HanNah said:
‘No, my lord; I’m just a woman that has seen hard times.
I haven’t had any wine or liquor to drink, and I’m not drunk.
Rather, I’m pouring out my soul before Jehovah.
Please don’t consider your servant a delinquent daughter; for my worries and depression have grown into a mountain.’
And Eli told her:
‘Then, go in peace, for the God of IsraEl will give you all that you’ve asked from Him!’
And she said:
‘Has your servant found favor in your eyes?’
So then, she went back to her husband and she started eating and drinking again, and her face wasn’t sad anymore.
Then they both got up early the next morning and bowed before Jehovah, and they went back home.
And after ElKanah got back home to RamAh, he [had sex] with his woman HanNah, and Jehovah remembered her and she got pregnant.
Well, when the time came, HanNah gave birth to a son whom she named SamuEl (God Heard), for she said:
‘He’s what I asked of the Almighty God.’
And after that, whenever ElKanah left home to go up and offer the required sacrifices at ShiLoh and pay his vows,HanNah didn’t go with him, for she said:
‘I will wait until the boy is weaned to stand him before Jehovah.
Then he can spend the rest of the age there.’
And ElKanah told her:
‘You may do whatever you see is best. But after he’s weaned, may [Jehovah hold you responsible] for this thing that you’ve vowed.’
So the woman nursed her son until the time he was weaned,then they took him up to ShiLoh along with a 3-year-old calf, a quart of fine flour, and a skin flask of wine.
There they entered the house of Jehovah in ShiLoh, bringing the boy inside with them,and then they stood him before Jehovah.
Thereafter, they slaughtered the calf, and HanNah brought the child to Eliand said:
‘My Lord, may you live a long life.
I’m the woman that stood before you while praying to Jehovah, and here’s my son.
This is the boy that I prayed for, and Jehovah gave me what I asked of Him.
So, may he now serve Jehovah all the days of his life, for [we are presenting him to you here] to be used by the Lord.’
Then HanNah prayed and sang [this song]:
‘My [faith] is now firm, O my God,
And my heart [belongs to Jehovah].
For, my horn has been raised by my God,
And against my enemies, my mouth’s opened wide.
‘I thank You for my salvation;
For, this salvation has given me joy.
There are none as holy as Jah,
Or any as righteous as God…
No, none are more holy than You.
‘So, we should never be boasting,
Or allow haughty words to come from our mouths.
For, Jehovah is a God of [great] knowledge,
And a God who accomplishes all that He plans.
‘He weakens the bows of the mighty,
And gives strength to those that are weak.
Though those full of bread now have less,
And the hungry have been overlooked in our land;
The one that was sterile gave birth 7-fold,
As the one with many grew weaker.
‘Both life and death come from Jehovah…
He takes them to the grave and leads them back out.
It’s Jehovah that makes the poor and the rich…
He’s the One that humbles and raises.
‘From the ground, He raises the needy,
And He lifts the poor from the dirt,
To seat them among the mightiest of men,
Where a throne of glory, they inherit.
‘He gives what is asked to those that make vows,
And He blesses the years of the righteous.
For, men can do nothing by their own strength…
Jehovah alone makes their enemies weak…
Yes, He is their [great] Holy Lord.
‘May the smart not boast of their smartness,
And may the mighty not boast of their strength.
May the rich not boast of their wealth,
But, let them all boast of this:
‘Let those who boast come to know
That it all really comes from Jehovah;
So, may they observe His decisions,
And recognize His justice throughout the whole earth.
‘For, Jehovah descends from the heavens,
And from the skies, He sends thunder.
He [searches] and judges the wicked,
And to the ends of the earth, seeks the righteous.
‘He’s the One that gives kings all their power,
And raises the trumpets of His anointed.’
So thereafter, she left [her son] there before Jehovah, and she went back home to her house in RamAh. And from that day on, the boy served Jehovah before Eli the Priest.
Now, Eli’s Sons were very wicked,because they didn’t [really believe in Jehovah].
As the result, these Priests felt that all the sacrifices the people brought belonged to them.
And whenever there was some boiled meat in the kettle, they would reach in with the 3-pronged hook and take [the whole thing]…
They would drop the meat hook down into the large kettle and grab whatever they could.
So, rather than allowing [the people to eat their portion of the sacrifices], the Priests would take whatever they wanted.
And that’s how they treated all the people of IsraEl that came to ShiLoh to offer sacrifices to Jehovah.
Also, when the servants of the Priests were burning the [sacrificial] fat on the Altar, one of them would say to the other that was doing the sacrificing,
‘Give the roasted meat to the Priests, because we don’t want any of that boiled meat in the kettle.’
But if the one that was doing the sacrificing said,
‘Allow me to burn the fat first, because that’s what’s required,’
They would say,
‘No! Give it to me or I’ll take it myself!’
And that’s how the young men were sinning before Jehovah in such a great way, for they viewed His sacrifices as worthless.’
Well, SamuEl served there in the presence of Jehovah as a boy, wearing a sacred chest piece of linen.
He wore a little doubled robe that his mother had made for him, which she carried to him when she returned with her husband to offer the sacrifices that were required back then.
Eli also praised ElKanah and his woman.
For he said:
‘The Lord has taken the seed of this woman as a loan, because of the way that she has acted toward Jehovah.’
Well thereafter,Jehovah again visited HanNah, so she got pregnant and gave birth to three more sons and two daughters.
However, it was the responsibility of the boy SamuEl to stay and serve in the presence of Jehovah.
Now, Eli had gotten very old, and he knew about all the things that his sons were doing to the people of IsraEl; for they were even sleeping with the women that stood around the Tent of Proofs.
So he asked them:
‘Why are you doing all these bad things that the people of Jehovah are talking about?
No, my sons, no! The things that I’m hearing aren’t good! I don’t want to hear any more about this, for you’re here to serve the people of God!
If you’re sinning against the people, they will go and pray to Jehovah about it…
And if you’re the ones that are sinning against Jehovah, who will there be to pray for you?’
But they wouldn’t listen to their father, because Jehovah really wanted to destroy them.
Meanwhile, the boy SamuEl went on to become great, for he was in good standing before both God and men.
Well thereafter, a man of God went to Eli and told him,
‘This is what Jehovah has said:
I revealed Myself to the house of your fathers in the land of Egypt who were servants in the house of PharaOh,and I chose the house of your fathers from all the tribes of IsraEl to serve Me as Priests that will approach My Altar, burn incense, and wear My sacred chest piece.
I also gave the house of your father all the sacrifices that were burned on the fire as their food.
So, why have you looked at My incense and My sacrifices in disgust?
And why have you treated your sons better than Me by allowing them to bless themselves with the first fruitage of all the sacrifices that IsraEl brings before Me?
‘Because you have allowed this,
says Jehovah, the God of IsraEl,
your house and the house of your father will fall before Me through the ages.
And from now on, only those that are glorifying Me will be glorified, while those that are treating Me with contempt will be disgraced.
‘Look! The days are coming when I will destroy your seed… the sons of the house of your father.
And after that, you will see how well things will be done in IsraEl.
But, never again will there be a man that grows old in your house.
For I will destroy every man among you that serves at My Altar…
I will make their eyes fail and cause their lives to flow out of them, then men will cut your family down with swords.
‘This is the sign that I will give to your two sons, HophNi and PhineAs in the day that they’re both going to die:
I will appoint for Myself a [High] Priest that is trustworthy, and I will do for him whatever things are in My heart and soul.
Then I’ll build his house into one that I can trust, and he will be My anointed for the rest of his life.
So after that, anyone that is left in your house will have to come and bow before him bearing a silver coin and a loaf of bread and say,
Allow me to be one of your Priests, so I may eat some of the food.’
Well, the boy SamuEl served as an official of Jehovah under Eli, the [High] Priest.
And back then, the Word of Jehovah was prized, because the [Priests] weren’t being given any visions of what they were supposed to do.
Then one day, Eli went to sleep inside [the Tent of God], and because his eyes had grown weak and he was [almost] blind,the [sacred] lampstand of God had been left burning.
Well, SamuEl had also [slept] in the Holy Place of Jehovah, near the Chest of Proofs;
And there the Lord called SamuEl…
He said,
‘SamuEl!’
And SamuEl replied,
‘Here I am.’
Then he ran to Eli and said,
‘Here I am… you called me.’
And Eli replied,
‘I didn’t call you, go back to sleep!’
So he went back to his bed.
But then the Lord called to him again, saying,
‘SamuEl.’
So he went over to Eli again and said,
‘Look, here I am, for you called me.’
And Eli said,
‘I didn’t call you child, go back to sleep!’
Well, SamuEl didn’t realize that it was God speaking, and that the words of Jehovah were about to be revealed to him.
So when the Lord called SamuEl a third time, he got up and went to Eli and said,
‘Look, here I am. For you did call me!’
And it was then that Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy.
So he said to SamuEl:
‘Go back to bed, child; but if you hear Him calling again, you should say,
Speak to me O Lord, because Your servant is listening.’
Well, SamuEl then went back to his bed,and the Lord came and called to him again, saying,
‘SamuEl… SamuEl!’
And SamuEl replied:
‘Speak, because Your servant is listening!’
And the Lord said to SamuEl:
‘Look! Though the people have come to think that My words have been extinguished in IsraEl; from now on, everyone will hear them in both of their ears.
For the day has come when I will bring about all the things that I said against the house of Eli, and I will finish them off.
I told [Eli] that I would punish him and his house through the ages for the unrighteousness of his sons, because he knows of the evil things that they are doing against God and he hasn’t punished them!
So, I swore an oath against the house of Eli that through the ages they will pay for the sins that they committed while they were offering up the incense and the sacrifices.’
Well thereafter, SamuEl went back to bed until the morning.
And when he got up early in the day and opened the entrance to the House of Jehovah, he was afraid to tell Eli what he saw.
But Eli called to him, saying:
‘SamuEl… SamuEl… child!’
And he replied:
‘Here I am!’
Then [Eli] said:
‘Tell me every word that you were told… don’t try to hide it from me!
May God [punish you] if you don’t tell me every word that He spoke into your ears!’
So SamuEl reported everything that was said to him… he didn’t try to hide a single word.
And Eli said:
‘Jehovah is good, and He will do everything that He said He will do.’
Well thereafter, SamuEl became great, because Jehovah was with him, and there wasn’t a word he was told that failed to come true in the land.
So all of IsraEl, from Dan to BeerSheba, came to know that SamuEl was a faithful Prophet of Jehovah.
For Jehovah started showing Himself at ShiLoh again, revealing Himself to SamuEl and speaking to him there.
Thus SamuEl became the trusted Prophet of Jehovah throughout all of IsraEl from one end of the land to the other.
However, Eli was very old, and his sons kept doing things that were wicked before Jehovah.
Well from then on, whatever things that SamuEl said [were spread] throughout all IsraEl.
Thereafter, the Philistines assembled to go to war with IsraEl, so IsraEl went out to meet them in battle.
They camped at EbenEzer, while the Philistines had set up camp at Aphek.
And when the Philistines attacked, the battle went badly for IsraEl, for they lost 4,000 men.
So when they returned to their camp, the people asked:
‘Why did Jehovah allow us to fall before the Philistines today?
[Next time] we should take Jehovah’s Chest of Proofs from ShiLoh and carry it in our midst, for it will save us from the hands of our enemies!’
So they sent people to ShiLoh to get the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement [to summon the power] of the cherubs [on its cover];
And both sons of Eli (HophNi and PhineAs) traveled with the [sacred] Chest of God.
Well when the Chest was brought into the camp, the IsraElites let out a shout that resounded throughout the land.
And when the Philistines heard it, they started asking each other:
‘Why are they shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?’
And they concluded that it was because the Chest of Jehovah had been brought into the camp,which frightened them.
So they said:
‘They’ve brought their gods into their camp.
Woe to us! Please save us today, O Lord, just as you’ve done for the past three days.
O woe to us, for who will rescue us from the hands of their mighty gods?
They’re the same gods that brought the calamity upon Egypt and [to those] in the desert!
O Philistines; we must be strong and act like men so we won’t have to serve the Hebrews.
[Since our Gods] want them to serve us, we’ll have to act manly when we go to battle against them!’
Then the Philistines attacked, and the men of IsraEl started falling before them… they chased them all the way back to their tents.
It was a huge defeat and 30,000 of their soldiers were lost.
Also, the Chest of God was captured, and both of Eli’s sons (HophNi and PhineAs) were killed.
Well, there was a man of the tribe of BenJamin that had returned from the battle; and when he got back to ShiLoh that day, his clothes were torn and it looked as though the earth had fallen on his head.
And when he got there, he saw Eli sitting on his chair [atop] the gate that faces the road.
And since this man’s heart was broken over the loss of the Chest of God; when he got there, he yelled out his report to the whole city.
And when Eli heard him yelling, he asked,
‘Who’s doing all that shouting?’
So the man went up and reported to Eli.
By then, Eli was 98 years old, his eyes were dim, and he couldn’t [hear well].
So he asked the Priests around him:
‘What’s he saying?’
And when the man came up before him,he said:
‘I’ve just come here from our camp, and we all had to flee from the battle today!’
Then Eli asked:
‘What about my [sons]?’
And [the man] replied:
‘All the men of IsraEl turned and ran from the Philistines… it was a huge loss for our people!
Both of your sons were killed and the Chest of God was captured as well.’
Well, when Eli heard [the news] about the Chest of God, he fell backward out of his chair [from the top of] the gate and landed on the ground, breaking his back.
So he died, because he was old and fat.
But he had judged IsraEl for 40 years.
And after that, when Eli’s daughter-in-law (PhineAs’ woman – who was pregnant) heard the message that the Chest of God had been captured and that her husband and her father-in-law had died, she started crying and went into labor…
And then she started to die.
Well, the women around her said:
‘Don’t be afraid, for you’ve given birth to a son.’
However, she didn’t answer, because she couldn’t understand them.
But she named the boy IchaBod (Where’s the Glory?) after the [Sacred] Chest of God, her father-in-law, and her husband.
For she said:
‘The glory of IsraEl is gone, now that they’ve taken the Chest of God.’
Thereafter, the Philistines took the Chest of God from EbenEzer and carried it to AshDod,where they put it into the Temple of Dagon, next to his [image].
But when the people of AshDod got up early the next morning and entered the Temple, {Look!} they found Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground before the Chest of God.
So they lifted Dagon up and set him back in his place.
Well, Jehovah’s hand continued to be heavy against the people of AshDod and the surrounding country through the rest of that day;
For He tormented them and struck them all [with boils] on their backsides.
Then once again, when they got up the next morning, {Look!} they found that Dagon had fallen on his face before the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement;
But this time, his head had fallen off and both of his hands had broken off at their wrists and were lying by the [front] door… so all that was left of him was his torso.
And this is the reason why the Priests of Dagon will no longer cross the threshold of Dagon’s Temple in AshDod.
Well, Jehovah continued to oppress and torment the people of AshDod, and He struck [the people with boils] on their backsides throughout its borders.
And when the men of AshDod realized what was happening, they said:
‘Don’t leave the Chest of the God of IsraEl with us, because that’s [what’s making Him angry] with us and with our God Dagon.’
So the Philistines sent officials throughout the land asking,
‘What should we do with the Chest of the God of IsraEl?’
And the people of Gath said,
‘You can send it to us!’
So as the result, they sent the Chest of the God of IsraEl to Gath.
But as they were moving it there, Jehovah created a tremendous problem for them; for He struck all the people of the city (both the small and the great) [with boils] on their backsides.
Therefore, they sent the Chest of God on to EkRon.
But when it got there, the people started shouting,
‘Why are you bringing the Chest of the God of IsraEl to us? Are you trying to kill us?’
So, they called all the Philistine governors together, who decided that they should send the Chest of the God of IsraEl back to where it belongs, so it didn’t destroy them and all of their people.
But thereafter, confusion set in;
For throughout the city, people started dying as the Chest of the God of IsraEl was being brought there, and both the living and the dying were struck [with boils] on their backsides.
So, cries from the city reached into the heavens!
Well threafter, the Chest of Jehovah just laid there in a Philistine field for 7 months, and soon their land became overrun with mice.
So the Philistines called a meeting of their priests, clairvoyants, and witches, and they asked:
‘What should we do with the Chest of Jehovah? Tell us how we can go about returning it to where it belongs!’
And they replied:
‘If you return the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah the God of IsraEl, return it empty.
For by doing this, you will really upset them… but the thing will be settled.
[Their God] will no longer [oppress you] and everyone will be healed [from the plague].’
Then [the leaders] asked:
‘But, what should we do to make up for all the torment that it caused us?’
And they replied:
‘Each of the 5 Philistine governors should send along a gold [image of their] buttocks, since the fault was theirs… both the rulers and the people.
Also, send along a representation of 5 gold mice, the type that are overrunning the land.
However, [don’t forget to] give glory to Jehovah if you want Him to [stop being angry] with you, your gods, and your land.
Don’t allow Him to oppress your hearts the way that He oppressed the hearts of the Egyptians and their pharaoh.
For it was only after He mocked them that [His people] were finally set free.
‘So now, take a new wagon and two first-born oxen that have given birth to their first calves, and hook them to a yoke.
Then hitch the oxen to the wagon and lock their calves inside the temple.
Next, take the Chest of Jehovah and put it on the wagon, then replace the things in the Chest with the gold representations of your torment.
After that, send it on; and if it travels across their border continuing on to BethShemesh, we’ll know that He’s the One that brought all those evil things upon us.
But if it doesn’t, we’ll know that it was just a coincidence.’
Well, that’s what the Philistines did. They took two first-born oxen and hitched them to the wagon (after locking their calves inside their temple).
Then they put the Chest of Jehovah on the wagon and placed the gold mice and the images of their buttocks inside the chest(after removing all the [sacred] things that were in there).
Thereafter, they sent it along the road to BethShemesh… and [the oxen] didn’t turn to the right or to the left.
Meanwhile, all the Philistine governors followed behind it until it had reached the borders of BethShemesh.
Well at the time, the people of BethShemesh were out harvesting their wheat in the valley.
And when they saw the Chest of Jehovah, they started cheering and ran to meet it.
Then they took the wagon into the field of JoShua (which was near BethShemesh) and they led it up to a huge rock, where they split the wood of the wagon and sacrificed the oxen as whole burnt offerings to Jehovah.
Thereafter, the Levites took the Chest of Jehovah and removed the items of gold that were in it, placing them all on that large rock.
And there the men of BethShemesh sacrificed the whole burnt offerings (along with other sacrifices) to Jehovah.
Meanwhile, the 5 Philistine governors were watching all of this. Then they turned around and headed back to EkRon that day.
These are the gold buttocks that the Philistines sent to remove the torment of Jehovah:
One from AshDod,
One from Gaza,
One from AshKelon,
One from Gath,
One from EkRon.
Also, each of the well-fortified Philistine cities sent gold mice, one from each of the 5 governors.
And that large rock where they placed the Chest of Jehovah can still be found in the field of JoShua near BethShemesh to this day.
But then Jehovah struck down the men of BethShemesh because they had gotten too close to the Chest of Jehovah…
He struck down 70 of their [leaders] and 50,000 of their people.
So they went into mourning, because Jehovah had struck so many people with such a great calamity.
And the people of BethShemesh asked:
‘Who can stand in the presence of this holy God Jehovah, and whom can we use to carry this Chest?
So they sent messengers to the people of KiriAth JaiRim saying,
The Philistines have returned the Chest of Jehovah, so please come here and take it!’
Well thereafter, people from KiriAth JaiRim went to [BethShemesh] and took the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement, then they carried it to the House of AmiNadab, [who lived on] a hill.
And EliEzer and his sons [purified] themselves there, so they could serve as guardians of the Chest.
But the ‘day’ that the Chest was to be kept in KiriAth JaiRim became many days…
In fact, it stayed there for 20 years!
Meanwhile, the whole house of IsraEl had started [returning to the worship of Jehovah].
So SamuEl spoke to the house of IsraEl and said:
‘If you wish to return to Jehovah with your whole hearts, you must remove the gods of the foreigners that live among you as well as their sacred poles, then you must prepare your hearts to serve Jehovah alone.
If you’ll do this, He will rescue you from the hands of the Philistines!’
So the sons of IsraEl [got rid of their images of] the BaAls and their sacred poles of AstarOth, and they started serving only Jehovah.
Then SamuEl said:
‘All of IsraEl must now gather at MizPah, and I will pray to Jehovah for you there.’
So all the people traveled to MizPah.
There they drew water and poured it out on the ground before Jehovah, and they fasted throughout the whole day; for they said,
‘We have sinned against Jehovah.’
Then SamuEl prayed on behalf of the sons of IsraEl there at MizPah.
Well, when the Philistines heard that all the sons of IsraEl had gathered at MizPah, the Philistine governors assembled their armies to attack them.
And when the IsraElites heard of this, they were frightened because of what the Philistines were doing.
So they went to SamuEl and said,
‘Don’t just remain silent! Call out to your God Jehovah and ask Him to rescue us from the hands of the Philistines!’
Then SamuEl took a newborn lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to Jehovah before all the people, and he called to Jehovah on behalf of IsraEl, and Jehovah listened.
Meanwhile, just as SamuEl was offering up the sacrifice, the Philistines started their attack…
And then the voice of the Lord spoke like thunder to the Philistines, which confused them, so they turned and retreated.
And at that, the men of IsraEl swarmed out of MizPah and they pursued the Philistines, cutting them down all the way to the borders of BethCar.
Well thereafter, SamuEl took a [block of] stone and erected it between MizPah and the old city, which he named EbenEzer, which means, ‘The Rock of the Helper.’
For he said,
‘This is where Jehovah came to our aid.’
So, Jehovah humbled the Philistines on that day, and they didn’t enter the borders of IsraEl thereafter; for the hand of Jehovah was against the Philistines during the entire lifetime of SamuEl.
And the Philistines also had to give back all the cities between EkRon and Gath that they had taken from the sons of IsraEl.
So, the borders of IsraEl remained free of the Philistines, and there was also peace between IsraEl and the Amorites.
Well, SamuEl served as the mediator between IsraEl [and God] for the rest of his life.
And each year, he would make the circuit between BethEl, GilGal, and MizPah, where he would speak to God on behalf of IsraEl.
Then he would return to his home in RamAh, where he served as the mediator for IsraEl and where he built an Altar to Jehovah.
Well, after SamuEl had grown old, he appointed his sons to be judges in IsraEl.
The firstborn was JoEl and the second was AbiJah. They each served as judges in BeerSheba.
However, they weren’t like [SamuEl], because they accepted contributions and took bribes, so they didn’t [always] make righteous decisions.
As the result, the men of IsraEl got together and went to SamuEl at RamAh and said:
‘Look, you’re getting old and your sons aren’t doing things the way that you did them.
So, appoint a king to settle matters between us, like the rest of the nations have.’
However, SamuEl viewed this as something wicked when they said,
‘Appoint a king to settle matters between us.’
So he prayed to Jehovah.
And Jehovah replied:
‘Listen to the voice of the people and do all that they’re asking.
For they aren’t treating you with contempt,they’re just doing the same things they’ve been doing to Me since the day that I led them out of Egypt.
And as they’ve abandoned Me to serve other gods; that’s how they’re treating you now.
So, do whatever they ask.
However, explain what will happen when you appoint a king to rule over them.’
Well, SamuEl did tell them everything that Jehovah said about kings, saying:
‘This is what you can expect from the kings that will rule over you:
They will take your sons and mount them on chariots or appoint them as cavalry to ride in front of their chariots.
Then they will appoint commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and [your sons] will have to plow and harvest their fields and pick their grapes before they send them to war on chariots.
‘They will also take your daughters to serve as perfume makers, cooks, and bakers,and they will take the best food from your fields, vineyards, and olive groves to feed their servants.
Then they will claim 1/10th of your grain and grapes for their eunuchs and servants,and they will take the best of your male and female slaves, as well as your burros… 1/10th of everything that you own!
They will take 1/10th of your flocks, and you will then be their servants.
Also, the day will come when you’ll call out to the king whom you will choose for yourselves, and he won’t pay any attention to Jehovah.’
Well, the people didn’t want to listen to what SamuEl was saying, so they told him:
‘We want you to appoint a king over usjust like all the other nations have…
Someone that can settle matters between us, lead us, and wage our wars.’
Then after SamuEl heard what the people were saying, he spoke to them before Jehovah and said:
‘Jehovah told me to listen to whatever you have to say and to appoint a king over you.
So now, each of you should return to your cities.’
Well, there was a man from the sons of BenJamin named Kish (the son of ZerOr, the grandson of BechOrath, and the great-grandson of AphiJAh, of BenJamin), and he was very strong.
He had a son named Saul, who was very tall and handsome…
None among the sons of IsraEl were taller, for he stood head and shoulders above everyone else in the land.
Well, Saul’s father Kish had lost two burros, so he said to Saul:
‘Take one of the servants with you and go look for my burros.’
Then Saul traveled throughout the hills of Ephraim and the land of ShaliSha [searching for them], but he couldn’t find them.
Well, when they got to Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was traveling with him:
‘Come on, let’s just go back to my father [and tell him that we couldn’t find] the burros, because he’s probably worried about us.’
But his servant said:
‘Look, there’s a man of God in this city.
He’s an honorable man, and whatever he says will happen, will happen.
So, let’s go to him and ask which way we should travel.’
And Saul replied:
‘Okay, let’s go there.
However, what do we have with us that we can offer to this man of God, since even the loaves of bread that we were carrying are gone?’
And the servant said:
‘I’ve been carrying a coin in my hand.
We can give it to the man of God, and then he’ll show us the way.’
Well, in IsraEl back then, whenever people wanted to ask something of God, they would say,
‘Let’s go ask the Seer,’
Because the people used to call the Prophets Seers.
So Saul said to his servant:
‘What you’ve suggested is a good idea. Come on, let’s go there.’
And they went to the city where the man of God lived.
Then as they were going up to the city, they noticed some young women that were coming out to draw water, and they asked if the Seer was there.
And they replied:
‘Yes, he is. Look, he’s just up ahead.
But you’d better hurry, because he’s going to the house of worship to offer sacrifices for the people.
As you enter the city, you’ll find him getting ready to go there for a meal, and the people won’t start their meal until he blesses the sacrifice.
But after he does that, the people will [sit down to] eat.
So, go on, because this may be the only day you can find him!’
Well, they entered the city, and as they were traveling toward its center, they saw SamuEl coming to meet them, since he was on his way to the place of worship.
However, Jehovah had opened the ears of SamuEl [on the previous day] and told him:
‘At this time tomorrow, I will send a man from the land of BenJamin to you.
You must anoint him to be the ruler over My people IsraEl, and he will save My people from the hands of the Philistines…
For I’ve watched their humiliation [long enough], and I’ve heard them calling out to Me.’
So when SamuEl noticed Saul, Jehovah said to him:
‘Look, this is the man that I was talking to you about.
He will rule My people.’
Meanwhile, Saul had walked up to SamuEl there in the center of the city to ask where the Seer lives.
And SamuEl told him:
‘That’s me!
Now, come with me to the place of worship and eat with us today. Then in the morning, I’ll show you everything that’s in your heart…
And I’ll also tell you where those burros are that you’ve been searching for over the past three days.
Don’t let your heart be concerned about them, because they’ve been found!
And what could be more beautiful among the things of IsraEl than you and the house of your father?’
Well at that, Saul replied:
‘I’m just a man of the sons of BenJamin, one of the smallest of the tribes of IsraEl, and my family is the least of all the families of BenJamin.
So, why have you spoken to me that way?’
Then SamuEl took Saul and his servant along with him to the place where they would eat, and he called for them to sit at the head of the table before the 30 men that were there.
And he told the cook:
‘Give him the portion [of the meat] that I gave to you and asked you to set aside.’
So the cook brought out a whole hindquarter and placed it before Saul.
And SamuEl said:
‘Look, we’ve set what is left over before you. Eat it… since this is the proof that you’ve been placed over the people, you should pull off a piece!’
So Saul ate with SamuEl that day,and when he returned to the city from the place of worship, the [people] spread some carpets on the roof for Saul, where he bedded down.
Then at dawn the following morning, SamuEl called up to the roof for Saul, and said,
‘Get up, for I’m going to send you on now!’
So Saul got up and went outside to meet SamuEl.
Then, as they were walking from the city into the fields, SamuEl said to Saul:
‘Tell the young man to walk on ahead of us. Then you must stop here so you can hear the Word of The God!’
Well at that, SamuEl took a flask of oil and poured it over [Saul’s] head, and he kissed him and said:
‘Jehovah is anointing you to be the ruler over His inheritance.
‘Now, just as soon as I leave you today, you’re going to find two men near the tomb of RachEl on Mount BenJamin who will be jumping up and down, and they’ll tell you that they’ve found the burros you’re searching for.
However, your father has already stopped worrying about the burros and now he’s worried about you and asking,
What should I do about my son?
‘Nevertheless, before you go there, you must travel on until you reach the oak tree at Tabor, where you’ll find three men that are going up to [worship] God at BethEl.
One will be carrying three goat kids, the 2nd will be carrying three containers of bread, and the 3rd will have a skin flask of wine.
They will all wish you peace and offer you two loaves of their first-fruit bread.
You should just go ahead and accept them,then travel on to the Mountain of God, where you’ll find a Philistine fort.
And when you enter the city, you’ll meet a group of Prophets that will be dancing as they leave the place of worship to the music of a lute, a tambourine, pipes, and a harp, and they will all be prophesying.
Then the Breath of Jehovah will come over you and you should prophesy with them… for you will become another man.
And when you see these signs happening to you, do everything that you’re moved to do, because God is with you.
‘After that, I want you to come and meet me at GilGal, where I’ll give you [animals] to sacrifice as whole burnt offerings and peace offerings.
Then you must stay there with me for 7 days, as I teach you all that you must do.’
Well, just as he turned his shoulder to leave SamuEl, God changed [Saul’s] heart, and then all the signs started coming true that day.
For when he reached the hill and saw the group of Prophets dancing directly opposite him, God’s Breath came over him and he started prophesying in their midst.
So all the things that he was told would happen to him came true during those three days, and there he was in the midst of the Prophets prophesying, as all the people were asking each other:
‘What has happened to the son of Kish?
Has Saul become one of the Prophets?’
Then one of them asked:
‘So, who is his father?’
And because of this, the saying was created:
‘Might Saul be one of the Prophets?’
Well, after he had finished prophesying, Saul went back down the hill.
[Then, upon their return], [Saul’s] uncle asked Saul’s servant:
‘Where have you both been?’
And he replied:
‘We’ve been out looking for the burros, and when we couldn’t find them we went to see SamuEl.’
So the uncle went to Saul and asked:
‘Tell me, what did SamuEl say to you?’
And Saul said,
‘He told me where to find the burros’ (he didn’t say anything about what SamuEl told him about being appointed the king).
Then SamuEl summoned all the people of Jehovah and told them to assemble at MizPah.
And there he told the sons of IsraEl,
‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl has said:
I led IsraEl out of Egypt, where I rescued them from the hands of its PharaOh and then from the hands of all the kingdoms that oppressed them.
Yet today, you’re treating the God that saved you from all of this badness and oppression with contempt, for you’ve all said that you want me to appoint a king over you.
So, that’s why you’re all standing here before Jehovah today by your tribes and family lines.’
Then SamuEl led each of the tribes of IsraEl [past Jehovah], and the tribe of BenJamin was chosen.
Then he led the tribe of BenJamin [past Jehovah] and the family of MatRi was chosen.
Then they drew lots, and Saul (the son of Kish) was chosen.
However, when they went to look for him, he couldn’t be found.
So SamuEl asked the Lord:
‘Is the man still here?’
And the Lord replied:
‘Look, he’s hiding in the tool shed.’
So [SamuEl] ran over there and brought him back, then he stood him in the midst of the people.
Well, [he was easy to see] because he stood head and shoulders above everyone else.
Then SamuEl said to the people:
‘Do you see whom Jehovah Himself has chosen?
There isn’t another man like him among you!’
And because all the people recognized this, they shouted,
‘Long live the king!’
Then SamuEl explained all the rules of kingship to the people, and he wrote everything that he said in a scroll and set it before Jehovah.
Thereafter, he sent the people away, and they each returned to their homes.
Well, after Saul got back home to GibeAh, he found that many powerful men whose hearts had been touched by Jehovah were there to meet with him.
However, the worst among them were asking,
‘Just who is [Saul] that he should be appointed as our savior?’
And though these people said many bad things about him and they didn’t bring him any gifts, Saul didn’t say anything.
Well after that, NaHash the AmMonite [went to attack] JabIsh GileAd, and the people of the city said,
‘Make peace with us and we’ll become your servants.’
But NaHash replied:
‘I’ll make a treaty with you if I can gouge out all of your right eyes; for I detest IsraEl!’
And the men of JabIsh told him:
‘Give us 7 days, and we will send messengers throughout IsraEl. Then if no one comes to save us, we’ll just surrender to you.’
So they sent messengers to Saul at GibeAh, who told the people there what NaHash had said. And at that, all the people started wailing and crying.
Then when Saul returned from the fields behind the town with his oxen, he asked,
‘Why are all the people crying?’
And they [told him about] him the message that had come from the people of JabIsh.
Well, when he heard what was said, the Breath of Jehovah came over Saul and he was outraged.
So he took his two oxen and cut them up, then he sent [the pieces] throughout all IsraEl via messengers that proclaimed,
Whoever refuses to follow Saul and SamuEl will be treated like these oxen.’
And Jehovah then caused a change of heart to come over the people [of IsraEl], and they started shouting together as one person.
So thereafter, when [Saul] counted his forces at the house of worship in AbiEzek, he found that there were 300,000 in the army of IsraEl, and 30,000 more from the tribe of Judah.
So he said to the messengers,
‘Tell the men of JabIsh GileAd this:
Tomorrow, by the time the sun warms [the ground], you will be saved.’
And when the messengers returned to the people of JabIsh and reported what Saul had said, they were jubilant.
However, the men of JabIsh then [sent a message to] NaHash the AmMonite that said,
‘We’re going to come out of the city tomorrow, and you may treat us any way you wish after that.’
Well, very early the next morning, Saul divided his army into three companies and they attacked the AmMonite camp…
They kept slaughtering them until the day got hot and [the AmMonites] were all scattered, so that not even two men were still together.
Then, after [the battle], the people went to SamuEl and asked:
‘Which are the ones who said that Saul shouldn’t be our king?
[Point them out] and we’ll kill them!’
But Saul said:
‘No, none of them are going to die today, because this is the day that Jehovah brought salvation to IsraEl!’
So, SamuEl spoke to the people and said,
‘Come on! Let’s go to GilGal, and we will establish [the ruling part of] our kingdom there.’
Therefore, everyone went to GilGal, and SamuEl anointed Saul as king there before Jehovah.
Then he offered sacrifices before Jehovah, and Saul and all the people of IsraEl were very happy.
There, SamuEl spoke to all the people of IsraEl and said,
‘Look; I’ve listened to everything that you’ve asked and I’ve given you a king to rule over you…so now you can see that you have a king who is leading you!
As for me; I’ve grown old and I’m ready to retire (although my sons are still among you), for I’ve been your leader since I was very young.
Yet look… here I am!
So, testify to this before Jehovah and His anointed one:
Whose calf or burro have I taken? Whom have I tyrannized or pressured?
And from whose hand have I taken a bribe or even a sandal?
Tell me what I’ve taken and I’ll return it all to you!’
But they all replied to SamuEl:
‘You haven’t wronged us or tyrannized us, nor have you taken anything from us… not a single thing.’
Then SamuEl said to the people:
‘So, Jehovah is my witness among you today, as is His anointed one here, that you haven’t found anything in my hands that I’ve taken from you.’
And they replied:
‘It’s a fact.’
So SamuEl said:
‘Then Jehovah (the One that prepared Moses and Aaron and that led our ancestors out of Egypt) is my witness.
And now I’m going to judge you before Jehovah, and I’m going to remind you of all the righteous things that Jehovah has done for you and for your ancestors.
‘After Jacob and his sons moved to Egypt, the Egyptians made them slaves.
So our ancestors called to Jehovah and He sent them Moses and Aaron.
These [men] then led our ancestors out of Egypt and settled them here.
But [our ancestors soon] forgot Jehovah their God, so He gave them into the hands of SiSera (the commander-in-chief of JabIsh and the king of Hazor), then into the hands of the Philistines, and thereafter into the hands of the MoAbites…
And they had to go to war with [each of] them.
But when they called to Jehovah and admitted that they had sinned by abandoning Him to serve the BaAls and the sacred poles, and they asked Him to rescue them,Jehovah sent JeroBaAl, then BarAk, then JephThah, and finally SamuEl.
So, He has continued to save you from the hands of your enemies that live all around you, and now you’re finally starting to feel safe.
However, when you saw NaHash (the king of the sons of AmMon) coming against you, you said,
We want a king to rule over us…
although our God Jehovah is really your king!
‘So now, look!
Here is the king that I got for you and whom you chose.
And because it was Jehovah that appointed him as your king,you must serve Jehovah and listen to His voice… don’t argue with Him!
Both you and the king that rules over you must continue to follow Jehovah your God!
And if you ever stop listening to the voice of Jehovah and you start arguing with Him, His hand will come against both you and your king.
‘Now, stand here and behold the great thing that Jehovah is going to do before your eyes today!
Since this is the time of the wheat harvest, I’m going to call to Jehovah, and He will send thunder and rain.
Then you will see and understand how bad a thing you did before Jehovah when you asked for a king.’
So at that, SamuEl called to Jehovah and He sent thunder and rain that day, which caused the people to fear both SamuEl and Jehovah.
Then the people begged SamuEl to pray to his God Jehovah on their behalf, so they wouldn’t die for the great sin of asking for a king.
But SamuEl told them:
‘Don’t be afraid because of the bad things you’ve done; rather, be in fear of ever turning away from Jehovah again!
You must keep on serving Him wholeheartedly!
Never turn back to those other things that amount to nothing, for they can get you nothing, and they can’t rescue you from anything, because they are in fact nothing at all!
Never allow Jehovah to be pushed away from His people again, because His Name is great, and He chose you to be His people.
‘Now as for me;
May I not sin against Jehovah by ever ceasing in my prayers for you to live good and straight lives.
But you must fear Jehovah and truly serve Him with your whole hearts, because you’ve seen all that He has done among you!
And if you ever turn back to doing bad things and become evil and start sinning again, your king will be numbered among your dead!’
Well, this all happened during the 1st year of Saul’s reign.
And after the 2nd year,Saul selected 3,000 men from IsraEl, 2,000 of whom stayed with him in MichMash (in the hills of BethEl), and the other 1,000 were with his son JoNathan in GibeAh of BenJamin.
However, everyone else was sent back home.
Thereafter, JoNathan attacked a Philistine outpost that was nearby in the hill country, and the rest of the Philistines came to hear of it.
So, Saul then sent trumpeters throughout the landthat told all IsraEl about how they had destroyed the Philistine camp, and of how [the Philistines] were planning to get even as the result.
So the people of IsraEl gathered to Saul at GilGal to go to war.
Well, when the Philistines arrived, they set up camp at BethAven, which is just south of MichMash.
They brought along 30,000 chariots, 6,000 mounted horsemen, and foot soldiers that were numbered as the sands of the seas.
So when the IsraElites saw what they were facing, they were afraid to fight them.
As the result, they went and hid in caves, in animal dens, behind rocks, in quarries, and in sink holes.
Many also ran away and crossed the JorDan into the lands of Gad and GileAd.
So, they all just abandoned Saul at GilGal.
Well, after Saul’s people had deserted him, Saul called for SamuEl.
However, SamuEl didn’t come to GilGal right away.
So after 7 days, Saul said:
‘Bring us some [animals] and I’ll sacrifice the whole burnt offerings and peace offerings myself.’
And then he [personally] offered the sacrifices.
It was shortly after he did this that SamuEl finally arrived.
And when Saul came to meet him and to ask for his blessing,SamuEl asked him,
‘What have you done?’
So Saul said:
‘I did this because I saw that my men had left me… and then you didn’t come when you said you would.
For since the Philistines are camped [just outside] of MichMash,I [thought to myself],
Now the Philistines are going to attack me at GilGal, and I haven’t been able to beg Jehovah for His help.
So I took charge and sacrificed the whole burnt offerings myself!’
But SamuEl said to Saul:
‘You’ve done a foolish thing by not obeying the instructions that I gave you from Jehovah, for He had meant for your kingdom to last through the ages.
However, now the kingdom will not stand, and Jehovah will search for another man – someone that [pleases] His heart – and He will appoint him to be the ruler over His people, because you failed to do what Jehovah said.’
And at that, SamuEl got up and left GilGal, traveling into the hills of BenJamin.
So then Saul counted his troops to see how many he still had left, but he only found about 600.
So he, his son JoNathan, and his remaining army sheltered themselves inside [the walls of] GibeAh of BenJamin, while the Philistines were camped outside at MichMash.
And since the Philistines planned to attack them there, they had stationed a division of their army along the road that leads from Ophrah to the land of ShuAl,a 2nd division along the road to BethHoron, and a 3rd division along the road between GibeAh and the City of Zeboim (which is in the desert).
Well, back then, there were no ironworks anywhere in the land of IsraEl; for the Philistines had kept the IsraElites from [learning this trade], since they didn’t want them to be able to make their own broadswords or spear [tips].
So until that time, the IsraElites had been going to the land of the Philistines to have them forge all their pruning hooks, tools, axes, and sickles.
And whenever such things were needed for the harvesting, the [Philistines] charged the same price for everything, three small silver coins, for a pruning hook, axe, or sickle.
As the result, none of Saul’s soldiers had any spears or broadswords. The only such things among them belonged to Saul and to his son JoNathan.
Well, meanwhile, the Philistines had stationed a contingent of guards just outside of MichMash.
Then JoNathan (Saul’s son) said to the servant that was carrying his weapons:
‘Come with me! Let’s go around to the other side of the Philistine camp’ (and he didn’t tell his father what he was doing).
At the time, Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree on top of the hill at MagaDan. And this is where some of his [remaining] 600 men came to meet with him.
Also, AhiJah (the son AhiTub, who was the brother of IchaBod, the son of PhiNehas and the grandson of Eli) the Priest of Jehovah in ShiLoh, arrived carrying the sacred chest piece of the Priest.
But meanwhile, no one noticed that JoNathan had left the camp.
For JoNathan had forded the river on his way to the Philistine camp at a place where there were jagged rocks on both sides (on one side it was called BoZez, and on the other side it was called SeNeh),along the road that leads from MichMash in the north and to Geba in the south.
Then JoNathan said to the servant that was carrying his weapons:
‘Come on, let’s go to the town of MesSab [and attack] the uncircumcised that are camped there;
For perhaps Jehovah will give them [into our hands].
After all, doesn’t [Jehovah give victory] over many to just a few?’
And the man that was carrying his weapons replied:
‘You do whatever your heart moves you to do… look, I’m with you!
Whatever is in your heart is in my heart also.’
So JoNathan said:
‘We’ll just go up there and confront them.And if they say to us, Wait there, we’ll just stay away and we won’t get any closer.
But if they tell us to come forward, that will be our sign… we’ll know that Jehovah has given them into our hands, and we’ll attack!’
Well, as they walked up to the Philistine camp at MesSab, a Philistine guard shouted out,
‘Look! Here come some Hebrews who’ve crawled out of the burrows where they’ve been hiding!’
Then the men at MesSab called to JoNathan and the man that was carrying his weapons, and said:
‘Come on up here to us and we’ll show you a few things.’
So, JoNathan said to the man that was carrying his weapons:
‘Now, follow me; for Jehovah has given them into the hands of IsraEl!’
Then JoNathan crawled up the hill on his hands and feet, with the man carrying his weapons close behind.
And JoNathan and [his attendant] attacked them, killing 20 men using arrows, slings, and rocks that they’d found in the field…and this caused quite a change in attitude among the [Philistines] in and around MesSab.
For they had caught the men that they destroyed off guard, and everyone was very disturbed over what had been done among them.
Meanwhile, Saul’s watchmen in GibeAh of BenJamin had noticed all the confusion on both sides of the enemy camp.
And Saul said to the people that were meeting with him:
‘Take a head count to see who has left us.’
So they took a head count and found that JoNathan and the man carrying his weapons were missing.
Then Saul said to AhiJah:
‘Bring the sacred chest piece!’ (It was inside the Chest of God that day, there before IsraEl).
And as Saul was speaking to the Priest, he noticed that the sound in the Philistine camp was getting louder and louder.
So he said to the Priest:
‘Let’s gather all the hands!’
Then he gathered his troops, and they went and joined the battle.
Well, the confusion was so bad in the Philistine camp that their men started attacking each other with swords.
And at that, [Saul’s] men (who had [been hiding] for the previous two days) got up and joined the battle with Saul and JoNathan.
Also, when the IsraElites that had run to the hills of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were retreating, they came and joined in the battle too… and Jehovah gave the victory to IsraEl that day.
For, as the battle raged on through BethAven, about 10,000 men had joined Saul.
And the war also continued to be fought in many of the cities and in the hills of Ephraim.
However, that’s when Saul did something very foolish; he placed a curse on the people when he said,
‘Any man that eats before sunset is cursed, because I want my enemies to be punished!’
As the result, none of his men had anything to eat.
Meanwhile, many of his people had gathered in a grove of trees,and nearby (at the edge of a field), there were some beehives.
And when some of his people went up to them, they found that they were full of honey. However, no one would taste any, because of the oath that [Saul] had spoken before Jehovah.
But, JoNathan hadn’t heard about the oath that his father had made in front of people, so he stuck his walking stick into a hive, snagged some honeycomb, and ate it.
Then when he looked up,one of the men said:
‘Your father swore an oath before the people that anyone that eats anything today is cursed.’
Well, the men were famished,and JoNathan realized this, so he said:
‘{Look!} My father is still cleaning out the land… and I’ve already eaten a little of this honey.
If our people could have eaten what they took from their enemies today, they would have been able to kill even more Philistines!’
Of course, after they had destroyed many Philistines at MichMash, the people were extremely tired.
Then [that evening], as they were dividing up [the Philistine’s] flocks and herds; they slaughtered many calves and started eating the [raw] meat with its blood.
And when the report was brought to Saul that the people were sinning against Jehovah by eating the blood, Saul said:
‘You have all sinned! Now, roll a large rock over here.’
Then Saul gave orders for each of his men to bring a calf and a sheep to be slaughtered there on the rock and then eaten.
For he said:
‘You must not sin against Jehovah by eating blood!’
So, everyone brought [the animals] that night and slaughtered them there.
Then Saul built an altar to Jehovah, and he said:
‘Now, let’s go after the Philistines tonight and let’s keep on cutting them to pieces until the morning dawns… don’t leave a single man alive!’
And they replied:
‘We’ll do whatever you say!’
Then [Saul] called for the Priest and told him:
‘Bring [the Chest] of our God here.’
And Saul asked this before God:
‘If I attack the Philistines, will you give them into the hands of IsraEl?’
However, [God] wouldn’t answer him.
So Saul said:
‘Bring [all the men of] IsraEl here and stand them in front of me, because I want to know if anyone has been [guilty of sin] today!
As Jehovah (the One who saves IsraEl) lives; if someone were to tell me that it was my son JoNathan, even he must die!’
But, nobody said a word.
Then he spoke before all the men of IsraEl, and said:
‘You are all part of this, and my son JoNathan and I [are part] of it.’
And the people replied to Saul:
‘Then, do whatever you must!’
And Saul said:
‘O Jehovah, God of IsraEl, give us a sign!’
So lots were thrown, and Saul and JoNathan were chosen; and at that, the people were excused.
Then Saul said:
‘Now, throw the lots between me and my son JoNathan, and whichever Jehovah chooses must die!’
Well, when they threw the lots between him and JoNathan, JoNathan was chosen.
So Saul asked JoNathan:
‘What did you do?’
And JoNathan replied:
‘I took a little honey on the tip of my walking stick and tasted it.
So look; I must die!’
Then Saul said:
‘May God [kill] me again and again rather than allow JoNathan to die today.’
So Saul spoke to the people and asked them:
‘Shall I now kill the one that brought deliverance to IsraEl?
As Jehovah lives; not a hair of his head should fall to the ground over the mercy that God has performed for IsraEl today.’
And thereafter, all the people then prayed on behalf of JoNathan, and he wasn’t put to death.
Well, because of this, Saul didn’t chase after the Philistines that day…
Everyone just went back to their homes.
Thereafter, because Saul had been chosen by lottery to rule over IsraEl, he went to war with all his enemies throughout the land… the MoAbites, the AmMonites, the Edomites, the king of ZoBah, and the Philistines.
And wherever he went, he was saved…he acted decisively and struck down the AmaLechites and anyone else that tried to walk on IsraEl.
Saul’s sons were JoNathan, IshVi, and MelchiShua.
He also had two daughters, Merob and Michal.
Saul’s woman’s name was AhinoAm, and she was the daughter of AhiMaAz.
The commander-in-chief of Saul’s army was AbNer (the son of Ner), who was related to Saul.
Kish was Saul’s father, and AbNer’s father Ner was the son of AbiEl.He was a mighty fighter against the Philistines throughout the life of Saul.
And thereafter, whenever Saul found a valiant or a very strong man, he was recruited to serve him.
[Then later], SamuEl said to Saul:
‘It was Jehovah that sent me to anoint you as king over His people IsraEl; so, listen to what He has to say.
For Jehovah of Armies told me to say this:
Because I’m going to punish the AmaLechites for what they did to IsraEl when [IsraEl] was coming from Egypt;I want you to go and cut them down…
Destroy them and burn everything that belongs to them.
Destroy their men, their women, their children, their babies, their cows, their sheep, their camels, and their burros!’
As the result, this is what Saul told his people that they had to do.
So he counted his troops at GilGal (there were 200,000, plus 10,000 from Judah),and then they marched toward the cities of the AmaLechites and set up camp next to a creek.
He also sent a warning to the Kainites (because they had shown mercy to the sons of IsraEl when they were coming from Egypt), telling them to get away from the AmaLechites or he might have to destroy them too.
So the Kainites separated themselves from the AmaLechites,and then Saul attacked all the AmaLechites from HaviLah to Shur (which is just across from Egypt),and he captured the AmaLechite king AgAg, then he had all the people cut down with swords.
However, Saul and his men [didn’t destroy] their flocks, their herds, their food, their vineyards, or any of their valuable things… they only destroyed the things that had no value.
So thereafter, Jehovah said to SamuEl:
‘I have changed My mind about having Saul rule as king, because he has turned away from Me and he doesn’t listen to what I say.’
Well, this saddened SamuEl, and he kept calling to Jehovah throughout the rest of that night.
Then, when he got up the next morning and went to meet with IsraEl, he found that Saul had gone on to CarMel.
So he raised his arm and wheeled his chariot, then he headed down to GilGal.
And when SamuEl reached Saul, he said to him:
‘Saul, you were blest by Jehovah and I’ve told you everything that He told me.So, why is it that I can hear the sounds of herds of sheep and cattle [in your camp]?’
And Saul replied:
‘My men took them from the AmaLechites.
We only took the best of the herds, and we’re going to use them as sacrifices to your God Jehovah… we destroyed everything else.’
Then SamuEl said to Saul:
‘Listen and I’ll tell you what Jehovah told me last night!’
And [Saul] said,
‘So, speak!’
Then SamuEl said:
‘Weren’t you just a nobody before you became the chief of IsraEl? And wasn’t it Jehovah that anointed you to be the king of IsraEl?
Well, when Jehovah sent you here, He told you to destroy the AmaLechites for sinning against Him… He told you to fight with them until you’ve destroyed them all.
However, you paid no attention to what He said, for you took a lot of loot and you have acted wickedly before Jehovah.’
Then Saul replied:
‘I just did this because I was listening to what my people were saying. I [personally] followed all of Jehovah’s instructions… though I took the AmaLechite king captive, I did kill all of his people.
It was my men that took their flocks, herds, good things, and food… but they took it all so that they could sacrifice it before Jehovah our God at GilGal.’
So SamuEl asked him:
‘Does Jehovah prefer whole burnt offerings and sacrifices, or does He want you to listen to what He says?
Look! Obeying is better than sacrificing, and paying attention is better than the fat of rams!
‘Now, this sin is an omen of the grief and misery that’s going to come upon you.
Because of the contempt that you’ve shown for the words of Jehovah, He is going to treat you with contempt, and you’ll no longer be the king of IsraEl.’
Well at that, Saul said to SamuEl:
‘I have sinned by violating the instructions that you gave me from Jehovah.
But I did it because I was afraid of the people… I was just doing what they asked.
Now, if you will take away my sin and reinstate me [as king], I will bow [with my face] to the ground before your God Jehovah!’
But SamuEl replied:
‘No, I won’t reinstate you, because you’ve treated the words of Jehovah with contempt.
And now, Jehovah is going to treat you with contempt by removing you as king over IsraEl.’
Then as SamuEl turned to go, Saul grabbed [the fringe] on [the bottom of] his robe and ripped it off.
And SamuEl said to him:
‘That’s how Jehovah has ripped your kingship over IsraEl from your hands today. For now He’s going to give it to your neighbor, someone that is better than you…and IsraEl is also going to be ripped into two parts!
The Holy One of IsraEl isn’t going to change His mind about this or be dissuaded about doing this, because, He isn’t like a man that changes his mind.’
And once again Saul said:
‘I have sinned!
Please glorify me before the elders of my people and before IsraEl. Let me be restored and I’ll bow with my face to the ground before your God Jehovah!’
But SamuEl just walked around Saul.
Then he bowed low before Jehovah and said:
‘Now, bring the king of AmaLech to me.’
Well, when they brought him in, he was trembling.
Then AgAg asked,
‘Is this how I’m going to meet my bitter end?’
And SamuEl replied:
‘As you have used your sword to make orphans and widows, your mother is going to be childless.’
Then SamuEl killed AgAg there in the presence of Jehovah in GilGal.
After that, SamuEl went back to RamAh, and Saul returned home to his house in GibeAh.
And until the day he died, SamuEl never again went to see Saul.
Yet, [SamuEl] continued to mourn over Saul and over the fact that Jehovah became unhappy that He had appointed Saul to be the king over IsraEl.
But then the Lord asked SamuEl:
‘How much longer are you going to mourn for Saul?
Don’t I treat him with contempt, and didn’t I remove his rulership from IsraEl?
Now, fill your horn with oil and go, because I’m sending you to JesSe in BethLehem, since I have found My [new] king among his sons!’
And SamuEl asked:
‘How can I go there… for if I do, won’t Saul hear about it and kill me?’
And the Lord replied:
‘Take along a brown heifer and say that you’re going to offer it as a sacrifice to Jehovah.
Then call JesSe and his sons to [participate in] the sacrifice… I’ll tell you what to do then.
You must anoint whomever I indicate to you.’
So SamuEl did everything that Jehovah said and he went to BethLehem.
However, the city elders were startled when they saw him, and they asked,
‘Is your mission here peaceful?’
And he replied:
‘Peace! I’ve come to sacrifice to Jehovah.
So, make yourselves holy, then come and recline with me [to share in] the sacrifice!’
Therefore, JesSe and his sons also made themselves holy and they went to [participate in] the sacrificing.
And when they got there, [SamuEl] said concerning [JesSe’s eldest son] EliAb:
‘Is this one that is standing before [me] Jehovah’s anointed?’
But the Lord said to SamuEl:
‘Don’t pay attention to what [a man] looks like [on the outside], nor should you treat his size with contempt, for God doesn’t look at what a person appears to be on the surface. Rather, He sees what’s in the heart.’
So JesSe next brought AmiNadab up to stand before SamuEl. And [SamuEl] said,
‘He isn’t the one that Jehovah has chosen either.’
Then JesSe brought ShamMah forward. But [SamuEl] said,
‘Nor has Jehovah chosen this one.’
Well, JesSe sent 7 of his sons to stand before SamuEl, but he told JesSe:
‘Jehovah hasn’t chosen any of these.’
So then SamuEl asked,
‘Are these all the boys that you have?’
And JesSe replied:
‘Well, there’s still the youngest… {Look!} he’s out tending my flock.’
And SamuEl said to JesSe:
‘Then, send someone to get him, for we aren’t going to rest [tonight] until he gets here!’
So they sent for [David] and brought him there.
[Now, David] had a ruddy complexion, beautiful eyes, and he was very handsome.
And then the Lord told SamuEl:
‘Arise and anoint him, for he’s the one!’
So SamuEl took his horn full of oil and anointed him there in the midst of his brothers, and the Breath of Jehovah came upon [and remained upon] David from that day forward.
Well after that, SamuEl got up and returned to RamAh.
And that’s also when the Breath of Jehovah left Saul, for Jehovah sent a fearsome smothering spirit over him,so that even Saul’s servants were saying,
‘Look! There is a fearsome spirit from Jehovah that is smothering you!
So please, O lord, allow your servants to speak before you, and allow us to search for a man that will play his harp before you.
Then whenever that fearsome spirit of God comes over you, he can play his harp and make you feel better.’
So Saul said to his servants:
‘Go search for such a man who’s a skilled musician and bring him to me!’
And that’s when one of his servants said:
‘Look, I’ve seen the son of the BethLehemite JesSe, who knows how to play.
He’s very alert, he’s a warrior, he’s good with words, he’s handsome, and Jehovah is with him.’
So then Saul sent messengers to JesSe, who told him:
‘I want you to send your son David to me… the one that shepherds your sheep.’
As the result, JesSe loaded his burro with a bushel of bread, a skin flask of wine and a kid goat, and he gave it to David to carry to Saul.
Then, after David reached Saul and stood before him, Saul came to love him, and he appointed David to be in charge of his weapons.
So he sent a message to JesSe that said:
‘Please allow David to stay with me, because he has found my favor.’
And thereafter, whenever the fearsome spirit of God came over Saul, David would take his harp and play it, which made Saul feel better…
And the fearsome spirit of God would leave him.
Well after that, the Philistines once again gathered their army for war, and they set up camp near Socoh in Judea (between Socoh and AzeKah in EphesDamMin).
So, Saul summoned the men of IsraEl and they set up their camp in the Valley of Pines, across from the Philistines.
The Philistines took up positions on one mountain, and IsraEl took up positions on the other, with the valley between them.
Then a mighty man came out from the Philistine camp who was known as GoliAth from Gath.
He was more than 7 feet (2.1m) tall;he wore a bronze helmet; he had an iron and brass chain-link chest covering that weighed more than 150 pounds (68kg).
He also wore brass leg coverings, and he carried a large shield between his shoulders.
The shaft of the spear that he carried looked like a weaving loom and its iron tip weighed 18 pounds (8.2kg)!
So, out he came in all his armor and weapons,and he just stood there and yelled to the battle lines of IsraEl:
‘Why have you come to fight against us?
Am I not a Philistine, and aren’t you the Hebrews of Saul?
Choose [your best] man and have him come down here to fight me.
If he can beat me and kill me, we’ll all be your servants.
But if I beat and kill him, you’ll be our servants and you’ll serve us.’
Then the Philistine shouted:
‘Look! Here I am mocking the battle lines of IsraEl today…
Send out a man and we will fight for both sides!’
Well, Saul and all IsraEl heard what the Philistine said, which startled and frightened them.
Now, JesSe (an Ephrathite from BethLehem, who was very old) had sent [his son] David to Saul,because three of JesSe’s oldest sons (EliAb, AmiNadab, and ShamMah) had joined Saul to fight in the war.
Since David was the youngest, these three older ones had been sent.
Meanwhile, because David had left Saul, he had gone back to tending his father’s sheep in BethLehem.
Well, by the time he was ready to leave for the battle, the Philistine lines had already been facing IsraEl for some 40 days.
JesSe had instructed his son David to carry a bushel of toasted grain and 10 loaves of bread to his brothers that were in the camp [of Saul],along with 10 rounds of cheese for his brothers and for Saul’s generals.
He also wanted him to check to see how they were getting along and if they were all well.
It was early in the morning when David left, and by this time, Saul and all the men of IsraEl were already down in the Valley of Pines ready to fight the Philistines.
David had left his sheep [in a safe place], and following JesSe’s instructions, he set out with the things he was carrying.
But when he got to the battle lines, the war had already begun…the war cries had gone up and both IsraEl and the Philistines were confronting each other.
So David handed over the things he’d brought to the provisions officer, and then he ran down toward the battle to see how his brothers were doing.
And as he was speaking to them, {Look!} a man walked out [between the lines]… it was GoliAth the Philistine from Gath.
He stood there in front of the Philistine lines and he shouted those words that David heard.
However, all the men of IsraEl then moved back, because they were afraid of him.
Then one of the IsraElite soldiers said [to David]:
‘Did you see that man who just stepped out? He just stepped forward to make fun of IsraEl.
But if any man can beat him, the king promises to make him very rich, he’ll give him his daughter, and the house of his father [will never be taxed] in IsraEl.’
So David said to the men that were standing near him:
‘Who will cut down that Philistine and remove his scorn from IsraEl…
Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that mocks the battle lines of the living God?’
And the men replied to him:
‘Why don’t you go over and strike him down?’
Well, David’s older brother EliAb overheard him talking to those men, and he was furious with David.
He shouted,
‘Why did you come down here, and why did you leave the sheep alone in the desert?
I know that it’s your pride and the evil in your heart that made you come down here to the battle!’
But David asked:
‘What have I done now? Did I say something wrong?’
Then he turned to the soldiers whom he had been speaking to and asked the same thing, and they repeated their challenge to him.
And when they heard David [accept the challenge], they went and told Saul.
So David went up to Saul and said,
‘My lord;
Don’t allow that man to upset you, for your servant will go out to fight this Philistine.’
And Saul said to David:
‘There’s no way that you can fight that Philistine…
You’re just a boy, and he’s been a mighty warrior since he was young!’
But David told Saul:
‘Your servant was tending his father’s flock when first a lion and then a bear came to grab a sheep from the herd.But I ran after each one and I pulled the sheep from their mouths.
Then when they turned against me, I grabbed them by the throat and beat them to death!
So, if a lion and a bear can’t beat your servant, how can I be beaten by this uncircumcised Philistine who is mocking the battle lines of the living God?’
And David added:
‘It was Jehovah who rescued me from [the mouths] of the lion and the bear, and He’s the One that will rescue me from the hands of this uncircumcised Philistine!’
So at that, Saul said to David:
‘Then go, and may Jehovah be with you!’
Well thereafter, Saul put his own armor on David…
He put the brass helmet on his head and the breast-plate on his chest,then David tied on his sword.
However, he could hardly walk in the [armor], because he had never worn such things before.
So David said to Saul:
‘There’s no way that I can use these, because I’ve never worn anything like this.’
And at that, he took it all off.
So he picked up his walking stick and he went out and found 5 smooth rocks in the stream bed, which he put into his shepherd’s pouch.
And with just his sling in his hand, he went out to meet the Philistine man.
Well, the Philistine walked out to meet David carrying his shield in front of him and his spear in his hand.
And when GoliAth the Philistine saw David, he was disgusted, because David was just a boy with a ruddy complexion and pretty eyes.
So he shouted at David:
‘Am I a dog that you’re coming out to me with sticks and stones?’
And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
Then the Philistine said to David:
‘Come over here, so I can feed your flesh to the flying creatures in the skies and the wild animals of the ground!’
And David said to the Philistine:
‘You’re coming against me with a broadsword, a spear, and a shield; but I’m coming to you in the Name of Jehovah the God of armies…
Yes, the God of the army of IsraEl, whom you’ve been mocking today.
So may Jehovah give you into my hands and allow me to kill you.
Then I’ll cut off your head and leave your body in the Philistine camp [where it will be eaten by] the flying creatures in the sky and the wild animals of the ground.
And thereafter, [your people] will come to know that the whole earth belongs to the God of IsraEl,and these called ones will know that Jehovah doesn’t need their swords or spears to save them;
For He’s a God of war, and He’s the One that will save them from you!’
Well at that, the Philistine came forward to meet David, and David ran right up to the Philistine battle lines.
Then he reached into his pouch and grabbed a rock and slung it, hitting the Philistine in his forehead, which penetrated his head… and he dropped with his face to the ground.
So David went and stood over the Philistine with a sword… then he struck him with it and he killed him…
And it wasn’t even David’s sword.
For when David ran up and stood over him, he grabbed [GoliAth’s] broadsword from its sheath and killed him with it by cutting off his head.
Well when the Philistines saw that their mighty one had been killed, they all turned and ran.
And at that, the men of IsraEl and Judah shouted and chased the Philistines all the way to the gates of Gath and EkRon, where they kept on killing the Philistines along the roads that led to the gates of [those cities].
And after the men of IsraEl finally stopped chasing the Philistines, they all went back and looted their camp.
Thereafter, David took the head of the Philistine and his weapons, and he brought them to JeruSalem and put them into his tent.
Now, when Saul first saw David going out to meet the Philistine, he had asked AbNer (his general):
‘Whose son is this young man, AbNer?’
And AbNer replied:
‘May you live a long life, my lord the king; but I don’t know.’
So the king told him:
‘Then, go find out who he is.’
Well, after David had returned from killing the Philistine, AbNer invited him in and took him before Saul (he was still carrying the head of the Philistine in his hand).
Then Saul asked him:
‘Whose son are you, young man?’
And David replied:
‘I’m the son of your servant JesSe from BethLehem.’
Well, as Saul was speaking, [the heart of his son] JoNathan became bound to David…
He loved him as he loved his own life.
Then Saul took him back that day, and he wouldn’t allow him to return to the house of his father thereafter.
Also, because he loved David as he loved his own life, [Saul’s son] JoNathan made a sacred agreement with David…
And he took off the [royal] robes that he wore and put them on David… his uniform, his broadsword, his bow, and his belt.
Well after that, David went wherever Saul sent him, and Saul put him in charge of his entire army.
So, all the people were very pleased with David, as were Saul’s servants.
Then one day, when David was returning to the city from a war with the Philistines, the people came from all the cities of IsraEl to meet Saul, joyfully singing and dancing with tambourines and cymbals;
And the women (that were out in front) were singing and playing:
‘Saul has cut down his thousands,
And David’s cut down his ten thousands.’
Well, this made Saul very angry… in fact, he considered it [treasonous].
So he said,
‘They gave David tens of thousands and they only gave me thousands!
What’s left for him now other than my kingdom?’
And as the result, Saul was suspicious of David from that day on.
Then the very next day, the fearsome Spirit of God came over Saul and he started prophesying there in his house.
So David picked up [his harp] and played it for him throughout that whole day.
Well, it so happened that Saul’s wooden spear was [nearby],and he picked it up and shouted:
‘I’m going to pin David to the wall!’
As the result, David had to run from him twice!
For Saul had come to fear David, since he realized that Jehovah was with him… so David again had to [leave Saul].
And after he left, Saul demoted him from his position as the commander over 1,000 men.
However, he still [marched in victories] before the people;for David was capable in everything that he did, because Jehovah was with him.
But since Saul recognized this, he was always very cautious when dealing with [David].
Meanwhile, all of IsraEl and Judah had come to love David, because he was always [marching in victory] before them.
Then Saul said to David:
‘Look, I’ll give you my eldest daughter MerAb to be your woman, so you can become a powerful son to me, and then you can [be in charge of] the battles of Jehovah!’
But Saul [was really thinking]:
‘This way I won’t have to kill him… I’ll let the Philistines do it for me.’
However, David gave this reply to Saul:
‘Who am I and how important is the life of my father in IsraEl, that I should be an in-law of the king?’
Well thereafter, Saul gave his daughter MerAb (whom he had promised to David) to AdriEl the MehoLathite to be his woman.
However, Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David; and when this was reported to Saul, he was very pleased,for he [thought]:
‘Then I’ll give her to him, because she’ll always be a trap to him and she’ll drive him into the hands of the Philistines.’
So Saul said to David:
‘I want you to form a marriage alliance between you and me today.’
And Saul also gave orders to his servants, telling them to talk to David in private and say,
‘Look, the king really wants you, and [he wants] all of his servants to love you; so, form a marriage alliance with the king!’
But when Saul’s servants spoke to David about these things, David asked them:
‘Do you really think it’s right for me to form a marriage alliance with the king? I’m just a commoner and I’m unworthy of such an honor!’
Well, Saul’s servants went back and reported everything that David said.
And Saul told them:
‘Then, tell David that the king is asking a dowry for her… what he wants is the foreskins of 100 Philistines as vengeance against his enemies.’
However, Saul’s plan was just to put David into the hands of the Philistines,and that’s why he told his servants to say these things to him.
However, what they said to him sounded good to David, so he decided to form a marriage alliance with the king.
And when the time came,David gathered his men and went out to fight the Philistines… and he brought back the foreskins of 200 of their men and carried them to the king.
Well, when Saul saw this, he knew for sure that Jehovah was with David, and that his daughter Michal and all IsraEl loved him.
So, throughout the rest of his life, Saul was afraid of David.
And the rulers of the Philistines also came to realize that David was the most important of Saul’s servants and that he was highly regarded by the people.
So after that, Saul spoke to his son JoNathan and some of his servants about murdering David.
But because JoNathan was very fond of David, he went and told him about the plan. He said,
‘Saul is looking to kill you, so you had best be on guard tomorrow morning… find someplace where you can hide,then I’ll walk out into the field with my father when he goes looking for you, and I’ll stand there and talk to him about you.
Thereafter, I’ll report back to you whatever he says.’
So JoNathan did speak to his father about David, pointing out his good qualities.
He said,
‘The king shouldn’t sin against his servant David, because he hasn’t sinned against you, and he has always done the right thing.
He even put his life on the line for you when he struck down that Philistine… for Jehovah brought a great salvation on that day, and all of IsraEl saw this and rejoiced.
So, why do you want to sin against the blood of an innocent man and kill David, when he really hasn’t been charged with anything?’
Well, Saul [was moved by] what JoNathan had to say, and he swore,
‘As Jehovah lives, I’ll let him [live]!’
And after that, JoNathan called for David and told him everything that was said.
Then he brought David back to Saul, and everything was the same as it used to be.
However, another war came along, and David was put in charge of the battle against the Philistines.
Then, after he defeated them and they had to run from him,the fearsome Breath of Jehovah came over Saul.
So, as he was sitting in his palace (with a spear in his hand) and David was nearby playing his [harp],Saul again threw the spear at David, which stuck into the wall this time.
So David had to leave Saul, because he had barely escaped with his life that night.
And thereafter, Saul sent guards to David’s house to keep an eye on him, because he planned to have him killed the next morning.
But [David’s] woman Michal warned him about this, saying:
‘You have to do something tonight if you value your life, because they’re planning to kill you in the morning!’
So Michal let David down through a window, and he ran away.
Then she took a statue and put it in his bed, put some goat hair over its head, and covered it with a nightgown.
And when Saul’s guards came to take David, she told them that he was sick.
But the guards said:
‘Well, he’ll have to get out of bed, because we’re taking him to be executed.’
And at that, the guards went into his [bedroom] and found the statue with the goat hair on its head.
So Saul then asked Michal:
‘Why did you try to deceive me?
Why did you protect my enemy and help him to get away?’
And Michal replied:
‘He told me that if I didn’t protect him, he’d kill me.’
Well, David got away safely and he went to see SamuEl at RamAh, where he reported everything that Saul had attempted to do to him.
So SamuEl and David traveled to NaiOth and they stayed there.
But then the report was sent to Saul:
‘Look, David is in NaiOth of RamAh.’
So Saul sent men to take David.
However, when they saw a troop of Prophets that were prophesying, with SamuEl taking the lead, God’s Breath came over them and they started prophesying also.
Well when Saul heard about this, he sent more men, and they too started prophesying.
Saul also sent men a third time and they started prophesying.
So Saul was furious, and he went to RamAh himself.
And when he got to the threshing floor there, he asked the Prophets:
‘Where are SamuEl and David?’
And they replied:
‘Look, they’re in NaiOth.’
So [Saul] then traveled to NaiOth.
But the Breath of God also came over him and he started prophesying, just as he was entering the city…
He took off all his clothes and he started prophesying in front of SamuEl, going around naked all that day and the rest of that night.
And [once again], the people were asking,
‘Is Saul also one of the Prophets?’
As the result, David had to flee the city of NaiOth.
So he went to see JoNathan, and he asked him:
‘What have I done?
What’s my offense?
How have I sinned against your father to make him be seeking my life so vigorously?’
And JoNathan replied:
‘That isn’t really what’s happening… he isn’t looking to kill you.
There’s no way that my father would do anything, whether great or small, without telling me.
So, why would my father hide such a thing from me? It just isn’t so!
But David told JoNathan:
‘Your father knows that I’ve found favor in your eyes, so he told the others,
Don’t say anything to JoNathan, because he cares for him.
But, as Jehovah lives and as you live; the only thing that is certain between your father and me is death.’
And JoNathan said to David:
‘Then, do whatever you wish… how can I help you?’
And David told him:
‘Look, tomorrow is the New Moon [Festival] and I’m supposed to come here to eat with the king. However, I want you to send me away.
And thereafter, I’ll go out into the fields and hide there sometime after noon.
And when your father notices that I’m missing, I want you to say this to him:
David asked me to excuse him, because he had to return to his city of BethLehem to offer a sacrifice for the Festival on behalf of his whole tribe.
And if he says,
Fine;
Then your servant is at peace with him.
But if he gives you a harsh reply; it will indicate that he has evil plans for me.
‘Now, you’ve shown great mercy to your servant, for you’ve made a sacred agreement with me in front of Jehovah.
However, if you really believe that your servant has done anything wrong, then condemn me to death and take me to your father.’
But JoNathan replied:
‘That won’t happen!
Do you think that if I find that my father has evil plans for you, I won’t tell you?
And David said to JoNathan:
‘Then, who will you send to tell me if your father answers harshly?’
And JoNathan replied:
‘Come, let’s walk out into the fields.’
And they both walked outside [of the city].
Then JoNathan said to David:
‘Jehovah the God of IsraEl knows that I’ll question my father at least two or three times. And if things look good for you, I’m not going to send you to [live in] the fields.
May God [curse] me and add to it if I’ll allow anything bad to happen to you.
[However, if the message is bad], I’ll tell you and send you away in peace. Then Jehovah will have to watch over you as He once did my father.
But throughout the rest of my life, you must agree to deal with me in the mercy of Jehovah.
And after I die,you must be merciful to my house through the age, so that when Jehovah destroys the enemies of David from the face of the earth,the name of JoNathan will always remain in the house of David, even if Jehovah should allow me to die at the hands of your enemies!’
And thereafter, JoNathan swore an oath to David because of his love for him…
For he loved him as much as his own life.
He said:
‘Tomorrow is the New Moon, and they will be watching your chair.
But after three days, keep an eye out, then come back here and sit behind this boulder.For I’ll come here and I’ll shoot three arrows at a target.
And when I send my servant to look for them; if I say to him,
They’re in front of you, so go pick them up,’
You’ll know that you can return safely, because everything is peaceful.
As Jehovah lives, let’s do it this way, so there’s no miscommunication.
But if I tell the young man,
The arrows are way beyond you,
You’ll know that I am sending you away to Jehovah!
‘Now, when it comes to these things that you and I have agreed to;
May Jehovah serve as the witness between you and me through the age.’
So thereafter, David went off into the fields and hid out.
And when the New Moon [Festival] started, the king arrived to eat at his table as usual (as always, he sat in his chair by the wall),and JoNathan and AbNer were seated there next to him.
Then everyone looked over to where David usually sat,and Saul didn’t say anything that day, for he thought it was just a coincidence (he thought that David had likely become unclean and had gone to cleanse himself).
But on the next day (the 2nd day of the month), Saul looked at the place where David sat, and he asked his son JoNathan:
‘Why isn’t the son of JesSe here?
This is the 2nd day that he hasn’t come to the table!’
And JoNathan replied:
‘He asked to be excused so he could go to his city of BethLehem.He asked me to send him there so he could offer a sacrifice on behalf of his whole tribe.
But, since you’ve put me in charge of my brothers, and if it pleases you; let me go to check on my brother and find out why he hasn’t come to the table of the king.’
Well at that, Saul became furious with JoNathan and said to him:
‘You son of a divorced woman;
Don’t you know that when you call the son of JesSe [your brother], it shames you and it shames the nakedness of your mother?
For, as long as the son of JesSe is alive on this earth, my kingdom will never be yours.
Now, go and catch that young man, for he’s the son of death!’
But JoNathan asked his father Saul,
‘Why must he die?
What did he do?’
Then Saul grabbed his spear and shoved it toward JoNathan in an attempt to kill him; and that’s when JoNathan finally realized that his father was planning to kill David.
As the result, he jumped up from the table in a rage, and he wouldn’t eat anything for the rest of that day, because he was devastated by the fact that his father wanted to do away with David.
So the next morning, JoNathan went out into the field with his servant to meet with David as he’d told him that he would,and he instructed his servant to run and search for the arrows after he shot them.
Well, he shot way over [the target], and when his servant got to the place where he shot them, JoNathan yelled:
‘They’re way out beyond that.’
And he added,
‘Hurry, don’t just stand there!’
As the result, after JoNathan’s servant finally retrieved all the arrows that his master had shot,he really didn’t understand what was actually happening.
But JoNathan and David both understood the meaning of this.
Then JoNathan handed his weapons to his servant and told him to take them back to the city.
And after he left, David stood up from [inside] a [boxed area] and fell with his face to the ground, bowing before [JoNathan] three times.
Then he kissed his friend and they both cried over this ending of David’s important position.
And JoNathan said to David:
‘Now, go in peace!
As we both swore oaths to each other in the Name of the Lord; Jehovah is the witness between you and me, and between your seed and my seed through the ages.’
Then David got up and left, and JoNathan returned to the city.
From there, David went to AhiMelech the Priest at Nob.
He was surprised to see David, so he asked him:
‘Why did you come alone… why didn’t [your people] come with you?’
And David replied:
‘The king sent me today, and he told me not to tell anyone why I came.
[I also sent] my servants ahead to the place called PhalanNi AlomNi.
Now, if you can find 5 loaves of bread, please give them to me.’
But the Priest told him:
‘I don’t have any regular bread, just the holy loaves that the servants have set aside for their women to eat.
And David said:
‘Yes, those that have been set aside for the women will have to do; for we’ve been traveling for three days, and my servants and I are clean.
Though the reason for my journey is secular, it will be made pure by my weapons.’
So the Priest removed the loaves from the presence of Jehovah and gave them to him, because there was no other bread around, and [David] took them.
Now, it so happened that on that day, there was a certain servant of Saul [that had gone there to bow] before Jehovah. He was called Doeg the Edomite.
And when these things happened, he had been there feeding Saul’s mules.
Then David said to AhiMelech:
‘See if you can find a spear or a broadsword, because I don’t have my weapons.
Hurry, for this is a matter of the king!’
And the Priest said:
‘Look, here’s the broadsword of the Philistine GoliAth whom you cut down in the Ela Valley.
I have it wrapped in a cape behind his chest plate. Take it, because there isn’t anything else like it here.’
And David said:
‘No, there’s nothing else like it. [Please] give it to me!’
So [the Priest] went and got it and gave it to David… and David continued to run from Saul.
From there he went to see AchIsh (the king of Gath),and AchIsh’s servants asked,
‘Isn’t this David, the king of the land?
Isn’t he the one about whom the dancing women sang,
Saul cut down his thousands and David his ten thousands?
Well, David took those words to heart and he was afraid to appear before AchIsh.
So he started [putting on an act] in front of them. He crawled around on his hands [and knees], laid on the ground at the [city] gate, and let spit to run down his beard.
So AchIsh said to his servants:
‘Look, you can see that the man is having convulsions! Why have you brought him to me?
Do you want to bring someone that is possessed to me, and should I invite him into my house?’
Therefore, David got away safely, and he went to the cave of OdolLam.
Then when his brothers and the rest of his family heard about it, they went to him there.
Well thereafter, men that were poor, the debtors, and those with a lot of problems starting coming to him, and he became their leader.
Altogether, there were about 400 men.
Then David moved from there to MizPah in MoAb, and he said to the king of MoAb:
‘Please allow my mother and father to stay with you until I know what my God has planned for me.’
So, since he had appealed to the king of MoAb personally, the king allowed them to live with him in his citadel.
Then the Prophet Gad told David:
‘Don’t settle down there in the citadel; you must return to the land of Judah.’
So David went and settled in the city of Hareth.
And when Saul heard where David and his men were staying, he went and stood on the hill (the one by the plowed fields at RamAh) with his spear in his hand and with all of his servants around him,and he said to his servants:
‘Listen, you sons of BenJamin;
Should I really give fields and vineyards to the son of JesSe? For then he would appoint all of you to be his lieutenants and generals,since you’re all against me!
Why, which of you bothered to tell me that my own son had made an agreement with the son of JesSe, and which of you told me that my son has turned my servants into my enemies today?’
It was then that Doeg the Edomite (the one that was in charge of Saul’s mules) said:
‘I saw the son of JesSe going to Nob to visit the Priest AhiMelech (the son of AhiTub).
He went there to inquire of God, and the Priest gave him some food and the broadsword of the Philistine GoliAth.’
So the king sent for the Priest AhiMelech (the son of AhiTub) and his brothers (who were also Priests that were living in Nob). And they all came to the king.
Then Saul said:
‘Listen up, O son of AhiTub! For it’s me, your lord, that is speaking!’
Then Saul asked him:
‘Why did you go against me and agree to give the son of JesSe bread and a broadsword, and why did you speak to God on his behalf…
This man that has been my enemy down to this day?’
And AhiMelech replied:
‘Who of all your servants is as trustworthy as David? He’s the son-in-law of the king, he’s in charge of your army, and he’s a man of honor in your house!
So, why are you asking me the reason for my going before God on his behalf?
Please don’t blame your servant and the entire house of my father about these things that you’re saying, for your servant wasn’t aware of any of these matters, whether small or great.’
And King Saul said:
‘You’re going to die, AhiMelech… you and the entire house of your father!’
Then he told his guards that were standing there:
‘Take them out and kill the Priests of Jehovah, because they’ve sided with David… they knew where he had run and they didn’t tell me!’
However, the [guards] weren’t willing to lift a hand against the Priests of Jehovah.
So he said to Doeg:
‘Then, you [kill] the Priests.’
Well, Doeg the Edomite slaughtered the Priests of Jehovah on that day… 85 men that wore the sacred vests.
Then [Saul] attacked the city of the Priests (Nob) and slaughtered all the men, women, children, babies, oxen, sheep, and burros, with broadswords.
However, one of AhiMelech’s sons (AbiAthar) survived, and he ran to find David.
And when AbiAthar told David that Saul had executed all the Priests of Jehovah, David said:
‘I knew that this would happen when I saw Doeg the Edomite…
I knew that he would report [seeing me] to Saul, so I’m to blame for the deaths of the house and family of your father.
Now, you stay here with me!
Don’t be afraid, because, while I’m watching out for my own life, I’ll also be watching out for yours… I’m going to be your protector.’
Then this report came to David:
‘{Look!} The Philistines have attacked KeiLah and they’re destroying all the barns there!’
So David asked Jehovah:
‘Should I go and fight these Philistines?’
And Jehovah replied:
‘Go fight the Philistines, and you’ll save KeiLah!’
However, the men that were there with David said:
‘Look, we’re already afraid and we’re still here in Judea; so, how can we be of any [help to those in] KeiLah?
Do we want to add ourselves to the Philistine’s spoils of war?’
So David went and asked Jehovah once again, and Jehovah replied:
‘Go down to KeiLah, for I’m giving the Philistines into your hands!’
As the result, David went to KeiLah with his men, and they fought the Philistines and routed them.
It was a great victory, and they took the Philistine’s cattle and saved the people in KeiLah.
Then, after the [Philistines] retreated, AbiAthar (the son of AhiMelech) went to David at KeiLah, carrying his sacred vest in his hands.
Meanwhile, when Saul heard that David had gone to KeiLah, he said:
‘God has sold him into my hands, for now he’s locked inside a city of gates and bars.’
So Saul told his people to go and attack David and his band of men there at KeiLah.
Well, David realized that Saul would soon hear [that he was in KeiLah], and that he would plan to do something evil.
So David said to AbiAthar the Priest:
‘Bring the sacred vest!’
Then David prayed:
‘O Jehovah, God of IsraEl; please hear Your servant. For Saul is planning to attack me in KeiLah, and he’ll destroy the whole city because of me.
So, should we lock it up? For Saul will surely come here, now that he has heard your servant is in this place.
O Lord God of IsraEl; Please tell your servant what to do!’
And Jehovah replied:
‘Lock it up!’
Then David asked:
‘But, won’t the people of KeiLah hand me and my men over to Saul?’
And Jehovah replied:
‘Yes they will, in order to save themselves.’
Therefore, David took his men (about 800 of them) and left KeiLah.
And when Saul heard that David had gone, he spared that city.
Well from there, David traveled into the desert where he lived in narrow passes in the Ziph Desert.
And though Saul kept searching for him for quite some time, Jehovah kept him out of Saul’s hands.
Now, David knew that Saul would keep on looking for him, so he stayed in New City in the Ziph Desert.
And then Saul’s son JoNathan came to David in New City, which strengthened his trust in Jehovah.
For [JoNathan] told him:
‘Don’t be afraid, because my father Saul will never find you.
[Soon] you will become the ruler over IsraEl, with me as your second in command… and my father knows that.’
Then they [once again] made a treaty there in the presence of Jehovah.
Well, David stayed in New City, and JoNathan went back home.
But thereafter, people from the Ziph Desert went to Saul [in GibeAh] and said:
‘Look, David is hiding among us in New City, down in the narrows next to the hill of HachiLah, just to the right of JeshiMon.
Therefore, every desire of the life of the king is here among us.
And now that everything has been revealed to the king, you should come down to us.’
And Saul replied:
‘May Jehovah bless you for coming to me.
Quickly go back and see if he’s still there and that he hasn’t tricked you.
Search all the places where he can hide and come back and tell me… then I’ll be ready to go there with you.
For if he’s somewhere in that land, I’ll send thousands of soldiers from Judah to search for him!’
And at that, the Ziphites left the presence of Saul.
Well, David and his men were in the MaOn Desert at the time, which is to the west and the right of JeshiMon.
And when Saul sent his men to search for David, David heard about it. So he retreated to Petra, which was in the MaOn Desert.
But Saul also heard where he had gone and he followed David into the desert.
Well, Saul had camped his men on one side of the mountain, and David had camped his men on the other side.
But though David was trying to hide from Saul, Saul had camped his men close to David so he could catch him.
Then a messenger came to Saul saying,
‘Hurry and come, because the Philistines are attacking our land.’
So Saul had to break off his chase of David and go back to fight the Philistines.
And that’s why that mountain is now called, ‘Slippery Rock.’
Well from there, David went and settled in the EnGedi Narrows.
Then, after Saul returned from driving away the Philistines, he heard that David was in the EnGedi Desert.
So he selected 3,000 of the best soldiers in all IsraEl and went to look for David along the edge of the Trap of the Wild Goats.
Then when their march was blocked by herds and flocks on the road, Saul stopped and entered a cave to... “prepare himself” [possibly a euphemism for emptying his bowels].
Well, this just happened to be the same cave that David and his men were hiding in!
Well at that, David’s men said to him:
‘Look! This is the day that Jehovah spoke to you about when He said,
I will give your enemy into your hands and you may deal with him in any way that you wish.’
So then, David crept up to Saul and quietly cut the fringe off his robe.
But afterward, David’s heart was bothered by the fact that he had done this.
And he said to his men:
‘Jehovah certainly didn’t mean for me to do such a thing to my lord. I should never have raised a hand against him, because he truly is the anointed of Jehovah.’
And after David said this, he persuaded his men not to kill Saul.
Well, after Saul awoke and left the cave,David got up and followed him outside.
And David shouted after Saul, saying:
‘O my Lord! O king!’
And when Saul looked back, David bowed to him with his face to the ground,saying to Saul:
‘Why do you believe people when they tell you that David wants to kill you?
Look! Today you can see with your own eyes how Jehovah gave you into my hands, and I didn’t want to kill you… I spared you!
For I said,
I won’t lift a hand against my lord, because he’s the anointed of Jehovah!
‘Look here, my father; I’m holding the fringe of your robe in my hand… [I got so close] that I could remove it, and yet I didn’t kill you.
Therefore, you should know that I don’t wish you any evil, nor am I disrespectful or rebellious.
I haven’t sinned against you… yet, you’re still determined to take my life!
So may Jehovah judge between you and me, and may He find me righteous when it comes to you, because He knows that I wouldn’t lift a hand against you.
As the [song] goes:
There is sin in the elder’s lawless ways,
For against you, I’ve not raised a hand.
‘So, who are you chasing, O king of IsraEl?
Are you pursuing the dead or chasing a flea?
May Jehovah be the judge… may He serve as the judge between me and you!
Yes, may Jehovah look down and judge my case, and save me from your hands.’
Well, after David said this to Saul, Saul asked:
‘Is that the voice of my child David?’
Then he broke into tears,and he said to David:
‘You’re a better man than I, because you repaid the bad things I’ve done to you with good things.
Then you [took the time to] tell me about these good things, and of how Jehovah gave me into your hands, but you didn’t kill me.
For what other man, if he were to find his enemy vulnerable, would be good enough to send him away?
So, may Jehovah repay the goodness that you’ve shown today.
And now I know that you’re going to become the king and that you’ll rule over the kingdom of IsraEl.
So [please] swear an oath to me by Jehovah, that you won’t destroy me or my seed, and that you’ll never remove my name from the house of my father.’
So David swore by an oath to Saul, and then Saul went back home, while David and his men went up into the narrows of MesSara.
Well, shortly thereafter, SamuEl died, and all IsraEl went to mourn him.
Then they entombed him inside his house in RamAh.
In the meantime, David had traveled to the MaOn Desert.And a great man was there that had helped to build CarMel.
He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats; and at the time, he was shearing his flock at CarMel.
This man’s name was NaBal, and his woman’s name was AbiGail.
Now, the woman was not only smart, she was also very pretty;
However, her husband [had the reputation for being] hardheaded and dishonest.
Well, while David was there in the desert, he heard that NaBal the CarMelite was out shearing his flock.
So David sent 10 of his servants to NaBal at CarMel, and he told them to say:
‘May you have peace,and may you and yours live a long and healthy life.
Look, I’ve heard that your shepherds are shearing your sheep.And when we saw them out in the desert, we didn’t bother them or take [any of your sheep] as you were leading them to CarMel…
Just ask your servants and they’ll tell you!
So now, if we (your servants) have found favor in your eyes (and we hope that we’ve come on a good day), we’re asking you to give whatever you can to your servants and to your son David.’
So David’s servants went to NaBal and told him all of that in the name of David.
But NaBal jumped to his feet and asked,
‘And just who is this David? Who does this son of JesSe think he is?
Today, many of his servants are those that have run away from their masters.
So shall I take my bread, my wine, and my sacrifices with which I must pay those that are shearing my sheep and give them to others, when I don’t know who they are or where they’ve come from?’
And with that, he sent the servants of David on their way…
And when they got back, they told David what he said.
Well, as the result, David told his men to tie on their swords, and then David tied on his sword, and 400 of them followed David, while the other 200 stayed behind to keep an eye on their things.
Meanwhile, one of NaBal’s servants brought a message about this to [NaBal’s] woman AbiGail, saying:
‘Look, David sent messengers from [his camp] in the desert to bless our master, but he sent them away.
However, [David’s] men were very good to us; for they didn’t get in our way, and they didn’t mistreat us when we were out in the fields.In fact, they protected us both day and night while we were watching over the flocks.
So, think about what you should do, because our master has brought evil down upon his house…
He’s being unreasonable, and there’s no way we can talk him out of it!’
So AbiGail then ran and prepared 200 loaves of bread and 2 large jugs of wine, then she roasted 5 sheep and toasted 5 bushels of grain, and she gathered 10 bushels of raisins and 200 clusters of dried figs, and she loaded it all on some burros.
Then she said to her servants:
‘Take these on ahead… I’ll follow behind’
(But she didn’t say anything to her husband).
Thereafter, she mounted her burro and traveled around the mountain until she reached David and his men… and they came to greet her.
Well at the time, David was saying,
‘Perhaps I was foolish when I guarded all of NaBal’s things in the desert and didn’t try to take anything. For now he has repaid my good deeds with evil.
So, may God [curse] me and add to it if I leave anyone who belongs to NaBal [alive] that can urinate against a wall by [tomorrow] morning!’
Well when AbiGail saw David, she got down off her burro and fell to her face before him, bowing low.
And she said:
‘O my lord, hold me to blame! Please allow your female servant to speak to you, and listen to what I have to say.
Please, my master; don’t set your heart against this despicable man NaBal.
His name means foolishness, and he truly is foolish!
‘I didn’t see the servants that you sent to my master.
But, O my lord; as Jehovah lives and as you live, may God keep you from shedding the blood of the innocent.
For in doing so, you may save your own life… and then may your enemies that are trying to do bad things to you become as NaBal.
‘Now, please accept these blessings that I’ve brought to my lord and distribute them among your servants.
Also, please forgive your female servant, and may Jehovah make the house of my [husband] one that can be trusted. [I pray that] Jehovah will fight your wars and that He will never find you guilty of doing anything that is evil.
If any man chases you and tries to kill you, may Jehovah God save the life of my master… may the lives of your enemies be thrown down as with a sling!
Yes, may Jehovah do all the good things for you that He said He would do, and may He make you the leader over IsraEl.
‘So, please don’t offend your heart by doing this terrible thing to my [husband], and don’t shed innocent blood without a good reason.
Please save [him] from himself, and then Jehovah will do good things for you…
And don’t overlook your female servant or fail to treat her kindly.’
Well at that, David said to AbiGail:
‘Praise Jehovah the God of IsraEl who sent you to me today.
And may the way that you’ve handled this matter today be praised, for you’ve kept me from shedding blood and you’ve saved me from myself.
As Jehovah the God of IsraEl lives; you’ve kept me from doing something bad to you.
For if you hadn’t hurried and come to meet me here, none in the house of NaBal that can urinate against a wall would have lived to see the light of dawn.’
Then David accepted all the things that she brought, and he said her:
‘Now, return to your home in peace, for I’ve listened to what you’ve said and I have deep respect for the person that you have shown yourself to be.’
Well, when AbiGail got back home to NaBal, she found him holding a banquet in his house that was fit for a king.
He was also quite happy, because he’d had too much to drink. So AbiGail didn’t tell him what she’d done until the next morning.
Then in the morning (after NaBal had sobered up from the wine), she told him everything that had happened.
And at that, his heart just died inside him… it became [as heavy as] a rock.
And after 10 days, Jehovah struck NaBal and he died.
Well when David heard that NaBal had died, he said:
‘May Jehovah be praised, for He judged the case of my being scorned by NaBal, and He brought NaBal’s evil down upon his own head, keeping me from doing anything bad to him.’
Then David sent for AbiGail, because he was talking about taking her as his own.
So his servants went to AbiGail at CarMel and spoke to her, saying,
‘David sent us, because he would like to take you to be his woman.’
And at that, she bowed with her face to the ground and said,
‘Look, your female servant…
A girl to wash the feet of my master’s servants.’
Thereafter, AbiGail quickly mounted her burro (bringing along 5 of her young women that followed behind), and she went with David’s servants and became his woman.
Now, David was also married to AhiNoam of JezreEl,as well as to Michal (Saul’s daughter), whom Saul had given to Phalti (the son of LaIsh) from GalLim.
Well thereafter, the Ziphites went up to see Saul again, and they told him:
‘Look, David is hiding among us on HachiLah Hill, in front of JeshSemon.’
So Saul traveled into the Ziph Desert once more with 3,000 of IsraEl’s best men to look for David.
Then Saul set up camp along the road to HachiLah Hill, in front of JeshSemon, as David was camped in the desert.
And when David saw that Saul had come to the desert looking for him again,he sent spies to find out where he was and how prepared he was.
Then David personally went to the place where Saul was and found him sleeping near his Commander-in-chief AbNer (the son of Ner).
Saul was there asleep in his royal chariot, with his men camped all around him.
[Before this],David had asked AhiMelech the Hittite and AbiShai (the son of ZeruJah and the brother of JoAb),
‘Who will come with me into the camp of Saul?’
And AbiShai said,
‘I’ll go with you.’
So David and AbiShai went down into the camp that night, and they walked among [Saul’s] Men.
Well, {Look!} there was Saul sound asleep in his royal chariot with his spear stuck into the ground next to his head, and AbNer and his men were asleep all around him.
So AbiShai said to David:
‘Jehovah has given your enemy into your hands today, so I’m going to run him through with his spear…
I’ll only do it once, I won’t have to do it twice!’
But David said:
‘No, don’t kill him; for, who can lift a hand against the anointed of Jehovah and not be found guilty?’
And he added:
‘As Jehovah lives; It is up to Jehovah to strike him and kill him, or for him to die in battle and then be [buried] with his ancestors.
Since Jehovah hasn’t instructed me to raise a hand against His anointed, we’ll just take the spear that’s next to his head and his canteen of water, and leave.’
So David picked up [Saul’s] spear and canteen and they left… no one saw them or knew that they’d been there, for no one woke up.
They were all sleeping tightly, because Jehovah had put them to sleep.
David actually walked through their camp and then up the mountain.
And when he was some distance away,David called to [Saul’s] men and to AbNer (the son of Ner) saying,
‘AbNer… will you answer?’
And AbNer asked:
‘Who’s calling me?’
Then David said:
‘Aren’t you a man?
Who else is there like you in IsraEl? But, why weren’t you guarding your lord the king?
For a man came there to destroy your lord the king this very night,so what you’ve done isn’t a good thing!
As Jehovah lives; you’re all sons of death, because you weren’t guarding your lord the king… the anointed of Jehovah.
For look!
Where is the king’s spear, and where is his canteen of water… these things that he kept by his head?’
Well, Saul recognized the voice of David and said,
‘Is that the voice of my child David?’
And David replied:
‘It’s my voice O lord… your servant, O king!’
And he asked,
‘So, why is my lord chasing his servant?
How have I sinned and what is the charge against me?
‘Now listen, O my lord the king to the words of his servant:
If it’s God who’s sending you against me, then may you smell your sacrifice.
But if it’s the sons of men, may they be cursed before Jehovah, because they’ve driven me away from the inheritance that I received from Jehovah, telling me to go and serve other gods!
May my blood not be spilled on the ground away from the face of Jehovah;
For the king of IsraEl is searching for this flea as though he were hunting for long-eared owls in the mountains.’
And Saul said:
‘I have sinned. Come back to me, my child David…
I won’t do anything bad to you anymore, now that you’ve shown me how much you value my life.
I’ve acted foolishly and ignorantly!’
And David replied:
‘Look! Here’s the king’s spear; send one of your servants to take it.
The Lord will repay each one for his righteousness and faithfulness, just as Jehovah has saved you from my hands today, since I didn’t wish to raise a hand against the anointed of Jehovah.
And look… as I have valued your life today, may my life be considered more valuable before my lord.
May he shelter me and rescue me from all of my problems.’
Then Saul said to David:
‘You are blest, my child David;
For whatever you do will succeed, and you can accomplish whatever you wish.’
So David went his way, and Saul returned home.
But David said in his heart:
‘I’d best run to the land of the Philistines where I’ll be safe, because things don’t look too good for me here.
Saul will keep searching for me in IsraEl, and by tomorrow I could be handed over to him.’
So David got up and left, taking his 600 men with him, and he went to see AchIsh (the son of MaOch), the king of Gath.
Then David, his men, and both of his women (AhiNoam the JezreElite, and AbiGail the woman of NaBal the CarMelite) sat down to meet with AchIsh there at his house in Gath.
And when Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he stopped searching for him.
Well when David went to AchIsh, he said this:
‘If your servant has found favor in your eyes, please give me a place in one of your rural cities, and I’ll settle there;
For, why should you settle your servant in a city to rule right next to you?’
And AchIsh gave him ZikLag, which still belongs to the Judean kings to this day.
Then (after David had stayed there in the land of the Philistines for 4 months)he and his men attacked the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the AmaLechites…
These are the people that inhabited the land all the way from Shurand to the land of Egypt.
He attacked the entire land and he didn’t leave a man or woman alive.
However, he took their flocks, herds, burros, camels, and clothing, and thereafter, he returned to AchIsh.
So then AchIsh asked David:
‘Whom did you attack today?’
And David replied:
‘The [land] south of Judea, from JerahMeEl south to the [land of the] Kenezites…
And I didn’t bring anyone back alive to Gath, so that no one can say, Look at what David did!’
Well, that’s the way David handled matters for as long as he stayed in the land of the Philistines.
And AchIsh trusted David, for he said:
‘It’s a shame that he’s being treated [so badly] by his own people in IsraEl.
However, he’s welcome to serve me here through the age.’
After that, the Philistines gathered their troops to go to war with IsraEl, and AchIsh said to David:
‘I’m sure that you and your men that are staying with me will join us in this war.’
And David replied:
‘May this prove your servant’s faithfulness.’
So AchIsh said to David:
‘Then I’ll appoint you as the chief of my royal guards during this period.’
Well, SamuEl had already died (after which IsraEl had mourned for him at his tomb in his city of RamAh), and Saul had also [killed off] all those that searched for omens and those that called out to [the dead] in his land.
Then the Philistines went and set up camp at ShuNem, and Saul gathered the army of IsraEl and set up camp in GilBoa.
But when Saul looked at the camp of the Philistines, it frightened him and he became weak at heart.
So he asked for [direction from Jehovah], but the Lord wouldn’t answer him in his dreams, give him any signs, or answer him through the Prophets.
So he said to his servants:
‘Then search for a woman that can tell the future, and I’ll go ask her!’
And his servants told him:
‘Look, there’s a woman that can tell the future in EnDor.’
So Saul disguised himself [by wearing] different clothes, and he covered his face; then he took two men with him and they went to see the woman at night.
And he said to her:
‘Use your powers for me and lead me to the one to whom I wish to speak!’
And the woman replied:
‘Look! Now you know as much as Saul did… the one that killed off all in the land that ask of the [dead] and that look for omens.
So are you coming here to trap and kill me?’
But Saul swore an oath to her by God, saying:
‘As Jehovah lives; I won’t treat you unjustly in this matter.’
So the woman asked Saul:
‘Then, who is it that you want me to bring up for you?’
And Saul replied:
‘Bring up SamuEl for me!’
Well when the woman saw SamuEl, she screamed and she said to Saul:
‘Why have you misled me, for you are Saul!’
And the king said to her:
‘Don’t be afraid! Whom did you see?’
And she said:
‘I see Judges rising from the ground.’
Then he asked her:
‘What else did you see?’
And she replied:
‘A very old man coming up [from the ground] wearing a doubled robe.’
Well, Saul recognized this as SamuEl; so he fell with his face to the ground and bowed low before him.
And SamuEl said:
‘Why are you bothering me and why did you bring me up?’
And Saul said:
‘I’m in a lot of trouble; for the Philistines have come to war against me, and God has left me.
He doesn’t listen to me anymore, nor does He answer the Prophets or reply to me in my dreams…
All I want to know is what I should do!’
Then SamuEl replied:
‘If Jehovah has left you and taken up with your neighbor, why are you asking me?
For, all that Jehovah is doing to you is what I told you that He would do.
He’s going to rip your kingdom from your hands and give it to your neighbor David,because you didn’t listen to His voice when He was showing His rage on the AmaLechites.
Therefore, Jehovah is going to give IsraEl into the hands of the Philistines…
By tomorrow, you and your sons will be with me, while the camp of IsraEl will be handed over to the Philistines.’
Well at that, Saul dropped to the ground shaking, because he was so afraid of what SamuEl had said.
He was already weak in the knees, because he hadn’t eaten anything all that day or night.
Then the woman went up to Saul, and when she saw that he was shaking, she said:
‘Now, look at me and listen to your female servant, for I’ve put my life into your hands, and I’m trusting in what you said.
Do what I tell you… I’m going to give you a little food to eat so you can regain your strength, and then you should leave.’
However he wouldn’t listen to her, because he didn’t want anything to eat.
Yet his aids and the woman kept insisting; so he got up off of the ground and sat in a chair,then the woman went out and butchered a calf that was by her house.
After that, she took some flour and made some fermentation-free bread,and she brought it all to Saul and his servants, and they ate…
Then they returned [to their camp] that night.
Well, the Philistines had marched all their troops to Aphek, and IsraEl had set up camp at EnDor in JezreEl.
Meanwhile, the Philistine governors were coming by the hundreds and thousands…
Then David and his men showed up last with AchIsh.
Well, [on seeing him], the Philistine governors asked AchIsh,
‘Who is [this person] that’s with you?’
And AchIsh replied:
‘That’s David, the servant of Saul the king of IsraEl.
This is the 2nd year he’s been with me, and I’ve found no fault in him.’
However, the Philistine governors were outraged, and they said to him:
‘Return this man to the people over whom you’ve assigned him… don’t allow him to come with us to the battle, because he could be a traitor in our camp.
After all, how do we know that he won’t reconcile with his lord? And if he does, our men will pay with their heads!
For, isn’t this the same David of whom the dancers sang,
Saul killed his thousands and David his ten thousands?’
So AchIsh then called for David and said to him:
‘As Jehovah lives; I know that you’re a good and honest man, and that’s why I invited you to come with me into the camp.
But though I haven’t found anything evil in you since you came to me, the governors don’t trust you.
So, return to [your city] in peace, and don’t allow yourself to be seen doing anything wrong in the eyes of the Philistine governors.’
But David asked:
‘What have I done… what have you found wrong with your servant?
Let me fight against the enemies of my lord the king!’
And AchIsh told him:
‘I know that you’re a good man… like a messenger from God.
But the Philistine governors are saying,
He shouldn’t come with us to this battle.
So when you and your men get up early in the morning, you should return to the city that I gave to you!’
As the result, when David and his men got up early the next morning, they went back and guarded the land of the Philistines, as the Philistines started their war against IsraEl.
Well, while David and his men were returning to ZikLag (it was a 3-day journey), the AmaLechites had come from the south and attacked ZikLag…
They captured it and burned it.
However, they didn’t kill any of the young men or any of the women, they just led them away as captives.
So when David and his men got back to the city and found it burned, and that their women, sons, and daughters had been carried away as captives,David and his men sat down and cried…
They wailed until they were just too weak to cry anymore.
Well, both of David’s women (AhiNoam the JezreElite, and AbiGail, the woman of NaBal the CarMelite) had been captured,which hurt David so much that his men said that they should stone him, because he was so grieved over the people and for each of his sons and daughters.
However, his God Jehovah then gave him strength,and he said to the Priest AbiAthar (the son of AhiMelech),
‘Bring the sacred vest to me.’
So AbiAthar came to David carrying the vest,and David asked Jehovah:
‘Should I chase after them?’
And Jehovah replied:
‘Chase after them; for if you chase them, you’ll catch up with them and rescue [your people].’
So David went after them with all of his 600 men;
And when they reached the Bosor Wadi, he left 200 of them behind [to guard their things]…
So he only had about 400 men.
However, he traveled on with the 400 men (after leaving 200 on the other side of the Bosor Wadi).
Well, on the way, [his men] found an Egyptian man [lying] in a field, and they took him to David, who gave him some food and water.
They also gave him part of a dried cluster of figs and two portions of raisins, which revived him…
For he had gone without anything to eat or drink for more that three days.
Then David asked him:
‘What are you doing here, and where did you come from?’
And the Egyptian man replied:
‘I’m the servant of an AmaLechite man.
My master left me here because I was sick… and I’ve been lying here for three days.
We had just attacked parts of Judah that are south of the Cherethites and south of Caleb, and we burned the city of ZikLag.’
Then David asked him:
‘Can you lead me to his troops?’
And he said,
‘Yes… if you’ll swear by God that you won’t kill me or return me to my master, I’ll lead you to them.’
So he led them, and by the time they caught up with them, everyone was scattered throughout the land and they were eating, drinking, and celebrating over the great quantity of loot that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.
Well, David started slaughtering them from morning until evening and then into the next day…
He left no survivors other than 400 boys who were able to escape by fleeing on camels.
Then David took back everything that the AmaLechites had captured, and he rescued both of his women.
Yet, none [of his men] (from the small to the great) had been killed, and all the sons and daughters, as well as the loot that had been taken, was returned.
Meanwhile, David also took all their flocks and herds, and he looted everything (which was thereafter referred to as ‘the spoils of David’).
Then when they got back to the 200 men that David had left behind at the Bosor Wadi, everyone came to greet David and the men that returned with him.
So David went up to them and wished them peace.
However, all the wicked men and troublemakers among the warriors that went with David said,
‘They didn’t go with us, so why should we divide any of the loot that we recovered with them?
Let them just take back their own women and children, and [be satisfied with that]!’
However, David said:
‘You must not mistreat the brothers of this confederation.
For it was Jehovah that guarded us and gave the enemy to us, and He’s the One that protected the troops that came with us.
So, watch your words, because these men are in no way less than you, and they’ll receive their share of the battle for staying here and watching our equipment…
Yes, they’ll be given the same share as everyone else!’
Well from that day on, this became the rule in IsraEl.
And when David got back to ZikLag, he sent [a portion of] the spoils to the elders of Judah, as well as to some of his neighbors, saying:
‘Look, here is a blessing from the spoils of the enemies of Jehovah.’
[He also sent some of the spoils to the people in] BethEl, Southern RamOth, JatTir,AroEr, SiphMoth, EshTemoa,RachAl, and to those in the JerahMeElite cities, the Kenite cities,the people in HorMah, BeerAshan, and AthAch,and to those in HebRon…
David and his men carried it to each of those places.
Meanwhile, in the war between the Philistines and IsraEl, the IsraElites had been routed by the Philistines, who slaughtered them all the way to Mount GilBoa.
The Philistines also caught up with Saul and his sons, and they were able to cut down Saul’s sons JoNathan, AbiNadab, and MelchiShua.
However, the battle got bogged down as they were fighting Saul… but then a bowman shot at Saul and wounded him in the spleen.
And Saul said to his weapons bearer:
‘Unsheathe your broadsword and run me through with it, so that one of these uncircumcised men doesn’t make fun of me before he kills me!’
Well, the man that was carrying his weapons was afraid and he didn’t want to do it;
So Saul took his broadsword and fell on it.
And when the man carrying his weapons saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword and died also.
So Saul, all three of his sons, his weapons bearer, and all of his men died that same day.
And when the men of IsraEl that were on the other side of the JorDan Valley saw that Saul and his sons were dead, they all ran away…
They just left their cities and ran; and thereafter, the Philistines took [their cities] and lived there.
Well, it was when the Philistines came to strip the dead that they found Saul and his three sons dead on Mount GilBoa.
So they cut off [Saul’s] head and took his weapons, and they sent them all around the land of the Philistines to announce the good news to their idols and to their people.
Thereafter, they presented his weapons [to the goddess] Astarte, and they nailed [Saul’s] body to a wall in BethSham.
However, when the people in JabIsh GileAd heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,all their mighty men went out that night and recovered the bodies of Saul and his son JoNathan from the wall in BethSham, and brought them back to JabIsh, where they were burned [in a funeral pyre].
Then they took their bones and placed them in a tomb in the plowed field of JabIsh, and they fasted for 7 days.
After Saul died and after David had returned from his battle with the AmaLechites, David spent a couple of days in ZikLag.
Then on the 3rd day, a man came to him from the camp of the army of Saul.
His clothes were all torn and his face was covered with dirt. And when he reached David, he fell to the ground and bowed low before him.
Then David asked him:
‘Where have you come from?’
And he said:
‘I’ve struggled to make it here from the camp of IsraEl.’
Then David asked:
‘What message are you bringing? Tell me!’
And he said:
‘Our army has fled the field of battle… many have been injured and many more have been killed!
Why, Saul and his son JoNathan have both been killed!’
Then David asked:
‘How do you know that both Saul and JoNathan are dead?’
And the young man said:
‘I happened to be on Mount GilBoa when I saw Saul leaning on his spear.
The chariots and cavalry started coming toward him, so I went over to his side.And when he looked back and saw me, he called to me and I said,
Look, here I am.
And he asked,
Who are you?
And I said,
I’m an AmaLechite.
And he said to me,
Stand over me and kill me, because an awful darkness is coming over me!
So I stood over him and put him to death, because I knew that he couldn’t survive his wound.
Then I took the [turban] from his head and the armlet from his biceps, and I’ve brought them here to you, my lord.’
Well, David started grabbing his clothes and ripping them, and all of his men started ripping their clothes,beating on their chests, and crying.
Then they fasted for the rest of that day over Saul, his son JoNathan, the people of Judah, and the people of IsraEl who had been cut down with broadswords.
After that, David asked the man that had brought him the message:
‘Where are you from?’
And he replied:
‘I’m the son of an AmaLechite man who is living in your land.’
Then David asked him:
‘So, why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand and kill the anointed of Jehovah?’
And thereafter, David called one of his servants and said:
‘Come here and kill him!’
So he struck the man and he died.
For David told him:
‘Your blood is on your own head, because your own mouth spoke against you when you said,
I have killed the anointed of Jehovah.’
Well after that, David went into mourning over Saul and his son JoNathan.
And to teach the sons of Judah, he sang this song:
‘It’s written in the scroll of the righteous:
‘Erect a stele, O IsraEl,
For those that have died in your hills
And for all the mighty that have fallen.
‘Don’t allow them to announce it in Gath,
Or announce it as good news in AshKelon’s streets,
So the daughters of Philistia will not rejoice…
So the daughters of the uncircumcised will never know joy.
‘May dew not fall on GilBoa,
And may no more rain fall upon it,
There in the fields of the first fruits;
For the shields of the mighty have been treated with contempt.
‘Saul’s shield was not anointed with oil,
Nor with the blood of the slain,
Or with the fat of the mighty.
But, JoNathan’s bow did not come back void,
Nor did the broadsword of Saul return bare.
‘Saul and JoNathan (those who were loved)…
These beautiful men were not parted.
They were handsome in life…
And now they’re together in death.
‘They were swifter than eagles,
And they conquered more than great lions.
‘So, IsraEl’s daughters; you should weep over Saul,
For he dressed you in scarlet and jewels…
He dressed you in clothes, and in gold, and in gems.
But now, these mighty have fallen in war.
‘O JoNathan;
You were killed in the mountains.
And I ache for you, O my brother;
For to me, you were a beautiful man.
‘Your wondrous affection for me
Was greater than the love of a woman.
But now, the mighty have fallen,
And their weapons of war are destroyed.’
Then after that, David asked this of Jehovah:
‘Should I now return to one of the cities of Judah?’
And the Lord replied:
‘Go!’
Then when David asked where he should go, the Lord told him:
‘To HebRon.’
So David thereafter moved to HebRon with his women (AhiNoam the JezreElite and AbiGail the woman of NaBal the CarMelite) and his men.
There, each man [obtained] his own house and they all started living in and around HebRon.
And after that, the men of Judah came and anointed David to be the ruler over the house of Judah.
Well later, when David received the report that the men of JabIsh GileAd had put Saul’s [body] in a tomb,he sent a message to the leaders of JabIsh of GileAd that said:
‘May you be blest by Jehovah for showing such mercy to your lord Saul the anointed of God by building a tomb for him and his son JoNathan,and may Jehovah grant you mercy and truth.
From now on, I will treat you in the same [kind] way that you’ve treated [Saul and JoNathan].
So, prepare yourselves for this and make yourselves strong;
Because, now that your lord Saul has died, I’ve been anointed to rule over the house of Judah and to become your king!’
However, AbNer (the son of Ner), Saul’s commander-in-chief, took Saul’s son IshBosheth from his camp to ManaEmand set him up as the ruler over GileAd, ThasiRi, JezreEl, Ephraim, BenJamin, and all the rest of IsraEl.
Well, when IshBosheth was appointed the king over IsraEl, he was 40-years old, and he ruled from there for the next 2 years.
However, the house of Judah followed David as their ruler,and he ruled from HebRon for the next 7 years and 6 months.
Then AbNer (the son of Ner) and the servants of IshBosheth came from ManaEm to GibeOn,and JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) and David’s servants came from HebRon to meet with them at the spring of GibeOn.
So they all sat down together at the spring, with each group sitting on opposite sides of the spring.
And AbNer said to JoAb:
‘Have your servants get up and play in front of us.’
So JoAb said to them:
‘[Okay men], get up!’
Then 12 of IshBosheth’s servants (BenJaminites) stood up as 12 of David’s men stood up,and they all grabbed each other by the head and jabbed each other in the side with their swords… and they all fell together.
So from then on, that place was known in GibeOn as ‘The Place of the Plotters.’
As the result, a battle started that day, which was hard fought; and AbNer and the men of IsraEl lost to the servants of David.
Now, ZeruJah had three sons that were there; JoAb, AbiShai, and AshaEl… and AshaEl was very light on his feet… like a deer in the field.
Well, he chased AbNer without slowing or swerving.And when AbNer looked back and saw him, he shouted:
‘Is that really AshaEl?’
And he replied:
‘It’s me!’
Then AbNer shouted:
‘You should really turn aside and put on one of your servant’s armor.’
However, AshaEl didn’t want to slow down, because he was hot on the heels of AbNer.
Then AbNer said to AshaEl,
‘Turn back or I’ll have to kill you! And if I do that, how could I ever show my face to JoAb again?
What are you doing? Go back to your brother JoAb!’
However, AshaEl wasn’t willing to stop.
So AbNer threw his spear and hit him in the stomach, running him completely through, and he fell and died there under [AbNer].
Well, everyone went to the place where he fell and just stood there looking [at the body].
Then JoAb and AbiShai chased AbNer until the sun set, getting as far as the hill of AmManin in front of Gai on the road between GibeOn and the desert.
Meanwhile, the sons of BenJamin had assembled and were coming to help AbNer (they’d reached to the top of one of the hills).
So AbNer called to JoAb and said:
‘Do you really think that you can beat me with your broadsword… don’t you know that this will lead to your own bitter end?
Tell your people to stop chasing their brother!’
Then JoAb said:
‘As Jehovah lives, it’s good that you said this; for our people would have been chasing each other all night long!’
So JoAb blew his trumpet, and all his people withdrew and stopped chasing after IsraEl, and the battle ended.
Well, AbNer and his men left at sunset and traveled throughout the night, crossing the JorDan and returning all the way to their camp,since JoAb had stopped chasing AbNer.
Thereafter, [JoAb] gathered all his men to find out how many of David’s servants had been lost, and he found that they had only lost 19, plus AshaEl.
However, David’s men had killed 360 of the sons of BenJamin under AbNer.
Then he picked up AshaEl’s [body] and put it in the tomb in BethLehem where his father was buried.
And JoAb and his men also traveled all night long, reaching HebRon at dawn.
Well, the war between the house of David and the house of Saul lasted a long time and the house of David kept getting stronger while the house of Saul kept getting weaker.
In the meantime, David had sons born to him in HebRon.
His first-born was AmNon through AhiNoam the JezreElite;
The 2nd was DaluJah through AbiGail the CarMelite;
The 3rd was AbSalom through MaAcha the daughter of TholMi, the king of Gesir;
The 4th was Ornia through PhegGith;
The 5th was SabaTia through AbiTal;
The 6th was JetheraAm through AiGla.
These were all David’s women and all of his sons that were born in HebRon.
Well, during the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, AbNer became [more powerful] in IsraEl.
Now, Saul used to have a concubine named ResPha (the daughter of Jal). Then Saul’s son IshBosheth went to AbNer and asked him this:
‘Why are you [sleeping] with my father’s concubine?’
Well, this made AbNer furious with IshBosheth, and AbNer said:
‘How dare you to speak to me like a dog after the mercy I’ve shown to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends!
Since I never went over to the side of the house of David, why are you coming to me and complaining that I’ve been unjust over some woman today?
Now, as Jehovah swore in an oath to David; may God curse AbNer and add to it if I don’t do this:
I will now remove the kingship from the house of Saul and raise the throne of David to be over all of IsraEl and Judah from Dan to BeerSheba!’
Well, IshBosheth didn’t say anything more, because he was so frightened.
Then AbNer sent messengers to David right away (who was in ThaiLam at the time), with the message:
‘Make a treaty with me, because I’m on your side now, and I’m going to give the whole house of IsraEl to you.’
And David replied:
‘Yes, I will make a treaty with you!
However, there is one thing that I want to ask of you… I don’t want to see your face unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal with you when you come to me.’
Meanwhile, David also sent messengers to Saul’s son IshBosheth, telling him:
‘Give back my woman Michal, for whom I paid with the foreskins of 100 Philistines!’
As the result, IshBosheth sent and had her taken from her man PhaltiEl (the son of SelLe),who then followed her all the way to BarAkim.
But after AbNer warned him to go back, he turned around and went home.
Thereafter, AbNer spoke to the elders of IsraEl and said this:
‘Since you’ve been looking for David to rule over you a long time,you should do something now. For Jehovah has said concerning him:
I will deliver IsraEl from the hands of the Philistines and all their other enemies at the hands of David!’
Then AbNer also went and spoke to the people of the tribe of BenJamin (before he went to speak to David at HebRon), and everyone in the house of BenJamin and the rest of IsraEl was pleased with this idea.
It was then that AbNer went with 20 of his men to see David in HebRon… and David prepared a banquet for them.
So AbNer said this to David:
‘I will go and gather all IsraEl to my lord the king, and I will conclude a treaty with you for you to rule over whomever you may wish.’
Then David sent AbNer away in peace.
However, shortly thereafter, JoAb returned to David with his army after a battle, carrying many spoils of war.
Well, AbNer was no longer there with David in HebRon, since he’d been sent away in peace.
But when JoAb and his men heard that AbNer (the son of Ner) had come to David and that he’d been sent away in peace,JoAb came to the king and asked,
‘What have you done?
Look! AbNer actually came here and you sent him away in peace?
Don’t you know that AbNer just came here to deceive you? He just came to find out your plans!’
So, after JoAb left David, he sent messengers to AbNer (who was at the well of SeiRam), asking him to return…
But David didn’t know anything about this.
And when AbNer returned to HebRon, JoAb called to him as he arrived at the city gate, saying that he wanted to speak to him.
Well, it was a trap; for he stabbed him in the stomach and killed him (he did this to [avenge] the blood of his brother AshaEl).
Then when David heard about [what AbNer had done], he said:
‘My kingdom and I are innocent before Jehovah through the ages over the blood of AbNer, the son of Ner.
But may the guilt of this rest upon JoAb and the house of his father.
May the house of JoAb always suffer from gonorrhea and leprosy; may they walk on crutches; may they starve and be cut down in battle.
For it was JoAb and his brother AbiShai [that did this to] AbNer, because he had killed their brother AshaEl at the battle of GibeOn.’
Then David told JoAb and all of his men to rip their clothes, wrap themselves in sackcloth, and to mourn for AbNer!
And after that, David walked behind AbNer’s casket in his funeral procession.
For they buried him in a tomb in HebRon, where David screamed and cried, as did all the people.
The king mourned over AbNer, saying these words:
‘Should AbNer have died like NaBal?
For his hands and feet were not tied,
Nor like NaBal, was he led away…
He was cut down by an unrighteous man.’
So, all the people gathered to weep for him,and David invited them all to eat loaves of bread in a funeral meal that day.
Then David swore an oath, saying,
‘May God curse me and add more to it if I eat anything before the sun sets today.’
As the result, all the people were pleased by these things that the king had done before them.
And all IsraEl got to know that the king had nothing to do with killing AbNer (the son of Ner).
Then the king said to his servants:
‘Don’t you know that a great leader has fallen in IsraEl today?
I feel like one of his closest relatives and as someone that has stood in the presence of a king!
However these men, these sons of ZeruJah, are hard for me to bear.
May Jehovah repay the one that did this wicked thing with the evil that he deserves.’
Well, when Saul’s son IshBosheth heard that AbNer (the son of Ner) had been killed in HebRon, he and all the men in IsraEl just fell weak.
And at the time, there were two men that were leaders of the confederation of IshBosheth; one was BaAna and the other was RechAb.
They were both sons of RimMon the BeerOthite of the tribe of BenJamin (for BeerOth was considered part of the tribe of BenJamin).
These BeerOthites had fled to GetThaim, where [their families] live to this day.
Also, Saul’s son JoNathan had a 5-year-old son that was lame.
For when the message came from JezreEl about [the death] of Saul and JoNathan, his nurse picked him up and ran away… but then she dropped him, which damaged his legs.
His name was MephiBosheth.
Well, as the sons of RimMon the BeerOthite (RechAb and BaAna) were leaving, they went to the house of IshBosheth in the heat of the day during his noontime nap.
And because the doorman was out sifting wheat, they were able to slip in without being noticed…and there was IshBosheth in his bedroom asleep in his bed.
So they struck him, killed him, and cut off his head, then they traveled west all that day and night so as tobring IshBosheth’s head to David in HebRon.
Then they said to the king:
‘Look, here’s the head of Saul’s son IshBosheth… your enemy that would have killed you.
Jehovah has given him to our lord the king as punishment to the enemies of his seed.
For Saul and his seed have been your enemies down to this day.’
But David told RechAb and his brother BaAna:
‘As Jehovah (the One that has protected my life) lives;
The man who reported to me that Saul had died thought he was bringing me good news.
However, I had him taken away and killed in ZikLag, despite what he thought.
And now, you wicked people have killed a righteous man while he was in his house asleep in bed.
So, I will require his blood from you… I will wipe you out of this land!’
Well at that, David gave orders to his servants, and they killed them both…
They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies near the spring in HebRon, then they took the head of IshBosheth and placed it in the tomb of AbNer (the son of Ner) in HebRon.
Well thereafter, all the tribes of IsraEl came to David in HebRon, and they said to him:
‘Look, we are your own flesh and bones.
And although Saul used to be our king, you were the one that led the people of IsraEl in our [battles], so you must be the leader over IsraEl.’
Then all the elders of IsraEl came [and met with] the king in HebRon, and King David made a treaty with them there in HebRon, in the presence of Jehovah.
And thereafter, they anointed David to be the king over all IsraEl.
Well, David was 30 years old when he started his rule, and he reigned for 40 years.
He reigned over [the tribe of] Judah in HebRon for 7-1/2 years, and he reigned over all IsraEl and Judah from JeruSalem for 33 years.
Thereafter, David and all his men [marched on] JeruSalem, where the Jebusites were living at the time.
And the [Jebusites] said to him:
‘You’re not going to enter here, for the blind and the lame will oppose you!
Even they are saying,
David will never enter [this city].’
However, David took the citadel on Zion, and he made it his own city.
Then he told his men:
‘Everyone that cuts down a Jebusite should also use his dagger on the lame, the blind, and on anyone else that hates the person of David.
And thereafter, the people must say,
The blind and the lame will never enter the House of Jehovah!’
Well, David took up living there in the citadel, and the place became known as the City of David.
Then he built a city around his tower and palace.
And from that point on, David kept getting greater, because Jehovah the Almighty was with him.
Then HiRam (the king of Tyre) sent envoys to David, who brought along much wood from his cedar trees, as well as some stoneworkers that built a palace for David.
Now, David knew that it was Jehovah who had made him king over IsraEl, and that He was the One that was blessing [David’s] kingdom, because of His people IsraEl.
Well, after David moved from HebRon to JeruSalem, he took more wives and concubines, so he had even more sons and daughters.
These are the names of the children that were born to him in JeruSalem:
SamMous, SoBab, Nathan, Solomon,EbeAr, EliSoWe, NapPek, JePhies,EliSama, EliDae, EliPhalath, SamaE, JessiBath, YalaMaAn, YeBaAr, TheaEsous, EliPhalar, NaGed, NaPhek, JaNathan, LeAsamus, BaAlImath, and EliPhaAth.
However, when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed to be the king over IsraEl, they went looking for him.
And when David heard about this, he made it back to his citadeljust as the Philistines were forming for an attack in the Valley of the Titans.
So David went to Jehovah and asked,
‘Should I fight the Philistines, and if so, will You give them into my hands?’
And the Lord replied:
‘Go, for I will save you and give the Philistines into your hands!’
So David attacked them from the mountain passes, and he breached their lines, defeating the Philistines.
Then David said:
‘Since Jehovah cut through my enemies the Philistines like He cuts through water, we will name this place the High Breaches.’
Well at the time, the [Philistines] had left behind all [the images of] their gods.
So David and his men picked them up and carried them along.
But then the Philistines attacked again, coming to meet them in battle in the Valley of the Titans.
So David asked Jehovah once more, and the Lord replied:
‘Don’t confront them; Go around them to the other side of the Forest of Tears, and I will give them into your hands.
Then, when you hear the sound of them marching from the Forest of Tears, you must attack! For I will lead you in your battle with the Philistines.’
So David did just as the Lord told him, and he cut down the Philistines all the way from GibeOn to the land of GeZer.
Well, after [some 20 years], David gathered the young men of IsraEl (about 70,000 of them)and he and all his men, along with rulers from Judah, went to bring back the Chest of God that was used to call on the Name of Jehovah of Armies, which had the [covering of] cherubs.
So they went to the house of AmiNadab (which was on a hill) and picked up the Chest of Jehovah, and mounted it on a new wagon.
Then the sons of AmiNadab walked ahead of the wagon that carried the Chest.
Well, as AmiNadab’s sons were leading the wagon along,David and his men were dancing in front of Jehovah and playing musical instruments (they were playing appropriate lively tunes on lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and pipes).
And when they arrived at the threshing-floor of NaChon, the oxen [that were hauling the chest] bolted;
So, Oza stuck out his hand to grab the Chest of God in order to steady it.
But this enraged Jehovah, so God struck Oza and he fell dead next to the Chest of Jehovah… there in the presence of God.
Of course, David was very depressed over the fact that Jehovah had cut down Oza.
So he started calling that place ‘the Cutting Down of Oza,’ which is what it is still called to this day.
And on that day, David became afraid of Jehovah; for he asked:
‘How would it be possible for me to transport the Chest of God?’
So he decided not to move the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah into his city.
Rather, he turned around and carried it to the house of Obed-Edom the GitTite,and that’s where the Chest of Jehovah was kept for the next three months.
But as the result, Jehovah blest the household of Obed-Edom and everything that he owned.
Then when King David was told that that the house of Obed-Edom and all his things were being blest because of the Chest of God, David went and took the Chest of Jehovah from there and brought it into the city of David in a joyful [parade].
However, this time when the Chest of Jehovah was being transported, it was led by 7 companies of dancers, followed by the calf and the lambs that were to be sacrificed, and then by David, as [musicians] played music that was appropriate for the presence of Jehovah.
Well, David was wearing a fine robeas he and the whole house of IsraEl danced in front of the Chest of Jehovah, shouting and blowing trumpets.
But when the Chest reached the city of David, Michal (Saul’s daughter) happened to be watching from her window.
And when she saw King David dancing and playing music before Jehovah, in her heart she was disgusted.
Then they brought the Chest of Jehovah in and set it in its place in the middle of the Tent that David had made for it, and David sacrificed whole burnt offerings and peace offerings there before Jehovah.
He also blest the people in the name of Jehovah of Armies,and he distributed bread loaves, grilled meat, and pancakes among all the people of IsraEl, both the men and the women, some of whom had come from as far way as Dan and BeerSheba.
So after that, everyone went back home,and David returned to bless his own house.
But when he got there, Michal (the daughter of Saul) came out to meet David and she started shouting at him.
She asked,
‘So, how was the king of IsraEl glorified today as he danced naked in front of the daughters of his servants?
For you exposed yourself while you were dancing!’
And David replied:
‘When I’m in the presence of Jehovah, I’m going to dance.
May Jehovah, who chose me over your father and his house, be praised for allowing me to take the lead over His people IsraEl.
I will [always] strum and dance in His presence,and I will be uncovered again in front of the girls (before whom you said I dishonored myself) so that I can become even more useless in your eyes.’
Well, because she said this, Michal (the daughter of Saul) remained childless until the day that she died.
It was after Jehovah had conquered all [of David’s] enemies roundabout him, that one day, as the king was sitting in his palace,he said to the Prophet Nathan:
‘Look, here I am living in a palace of cedars, while the Chest of God is just sitting there in a tent.’
And Nathan said to the king:
‘Then, do whatever your heart moves you to do, because Jehovah is with you!’
But that night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, which said,
‘Go and speak to My servant David, and tell him that this is what Jehovah says:
You must not build a house for Me to dwell in,because I haven’t stayed in a house from the time that I led the sons of IsraEl out of Egypt until now.
Rather, I’ve been moving about in a tentin all the places where IsraEl has traveled.
‘Now, as you speak to him, ask him this:
Have I spoken to any of those whom I’ve assigned over My people, the tribes of IsraEl, and asked them to build a house of Cedars for Me?
Then tell my servant David that Jehovah the Almighty says this: I took you away from your sheep pens to be the leader over My people IsraEl,and wherever you went I’ve been with you.
I’ve destroyed all your enemies and I’ve made your name famous among all the great men of the earth.
And now I will establish a place for my people IsraEl… I will plant it in a place where they will camp by themselves, and where they won’t have to worry anymore.
It is a place where the sons of the unrighteousness won’t humble them as they did in ancient times,back when I put judges over My people IsraEl.
And it’s only then, after I provide you with rest from all your enemies, that I will show you how to build a House for Jehovah.
‘And after your days are finished and you’ve gone to sleep with your ancestors, I will raise up your seed after you – someone that has come from within you – and I will prepare his kingdom.
He’s the one that will build a House to My Name, and I will establish his throne through the ages…
I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me.
So, whenever he misbehaves, I will discipline him with the type of switch that men use, and spank him in the same way that the sons of men do [to their sons].
But I will never remove My mercy from him in the same way that I’ve removed My mercy from others.
Rather, his house and his kingdom will stand before Me through the age, and his throne will last through the ages.’
Well after that, Nathan went and spoke to David about all the words that he’d heard in the vision.
Then King David went in and sat down before Jehovah and asked,
‘Just who am I, O my Lord Jehovah, and what is my house that You’ve shown such love for me?
Though I was once very small before You, O my Lord Jehovah, You spoke about my house long ahead of time.
So now, what laws are you giving to me, O my Lord,and what should David say before You?
‘You know Your servant, O my Lord Jehovah,and You’ve treated Your servant as Your heart has directed…
You’ve brought about all these great things to let your servant know that he should glorify You, O my Lord Jehovah;
For there is no one else like You, and we’ve heard of no God other than You.
‘And what are Your people IsraEl? For, no other nation on the earth is being guided by their God.
However, now You have purchased a people to establish Your Name and to show Your greatness and grandeur.
You drove nations away in front of these people whom You purchased out of Egypt, and then You had them live in tents.
So, You have set aside IsraEl to be Your people through the ages…
And You, O Jehovah, have become their God.
‘And now, O my Lord Jehovah;
May the things that You said about Your servant and his house prove to be true through the ages, just as You said.
And may Your Name,Jehovah the Almighty God over IsraEl, be glorified through the ages.
For You have uncovered the ears of your servant and told me that I will build a House for You.
This is why Your servant’s heart has been moved to speak this prayer to You.
‘And now, O my Lord; You are The God!
So, the words that You said about the good things that You will do for Your servant will prove to be true!
Therefore, start blessing this house of Your servant, which will stand before You through the ages.
For You, O my Lord Jehovah, have spoken, and You’ve promised to bless the house of your servant through the ages.’
So after that, David attacked the Philistines and routed them, and he took back everything that [IsraEl] had lost to them.
David also attacked [and captured] MoAb, and he divided their army into two lines as they lay on the ground. Half were to be killed and the rest were to survive.
Then the MoAbites became David’s servants and they were required to pay him a tribute.
Next, David attacked HadraAzar (the son of RaAb) the king of Soba as he was marching toward the EuPhrates River.
There David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 of his cavalry, and 20,000 of his foot soldiers.
Then David had all the chariots destroyed, except for 100 that he kept for himself.
And when the Syrians came from Damascus to help HadraAzar (the king of Soba), David cut down 22,000 of their men.
Then David sent a detachment to Syria, where they garrisoned near Damascus, and the Syrians had to pay a tribute to David also.
So, Jehovah was with David wherever he went.
Well, David took the gold armlets that the sons of HadraAzar wore and brought them to JeruSalem.
However, these were eventually taken by SusAkim (possibly Amenemope) the king of Egypt, when he attacked JeruSalem during the reign of RehoBoam, the son of Solomon.
Then David attacked HadraAzar’s principal cities and he brought back huge amounts of brass, which was thereafter used by Solomon to create [the Temple’s] sacred Brass Sea, its columns, its bathing tubs, and all its utensils.
Well when the king of HaMath heard that David had conquered the armies of HadraAzar,he sent his son JedDouran to King David to sue for peace.
He also congratulated David for beating HadraAzar (since HadraAzar was his enemy), and he brought along many items of silver, gold, and brass,which King David dedicated to Jehovah, as he had done with all the silver and gold that he’d taken from the cities that he’d conquered
(Those of Idumea, MoAb, the sons of AmMon, the Philistines, the AmaLechites, and from the spoils of HadraAzar the son of RaAb, the king of Soba).
Well, after he did that, David became quite famous… and then on his return, he attacked the Idumeans in the Salt Valley, killing 18,000.
Then he put detachments throughout all of Idumea, and the Idumeans became the king’s servants.
Well, no matter where he went, Jehovah was with David,and he remained the ruler over all IsraEl;
For he was fair and just with his people.
[At the time], JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) was in charge of his army, JoShaphat (the son of AchiAd) was in charge of the records,ZaDok (the son of AhiTub) and AhiMelech (the son of AbiAthar) were the Priests, Sasa was the Scribe,BenaiJah (the son of JoDai) was David’s personal advisor, and the Cherethites, Phelethites, and David’s sons were the chiefs of his palace.
Then David asked if there was anyone left from the house of Saul to whom he should be showing [kindness] to because of JoNathan.
And at the time, he found that there was a servant from the house of Saul named Ziba, whom they brought to David.
So the king asked him:
‘Are you Ziba?’
And he replied:
‘I am your servant.’
And the king asked:
‘Is there anyone left from the house of Saul upon whom I should be showing the mercy of God?’
And Ziba replied:
‘There is still one of JoNathan’s sons… the one whose feet had been damaged.’
So the king asked:
‘Where is he?’
And Ziba replied:
‘Look! He’s in the house of MachIr, the son of AmiEl of LodaBar.’
So King David sent for him and brought him from the house of MachIr.
And when MephiBosheth (the son of JoNathan and the grandson of Saul) came to King David, he fell to his face, bowing to the ground before him.
Then David said:
‘MephiBosheth!’
And he replied:
‘Look… your servant!’
Then David said:
‘Don’t be afraid, because [the reason why I called you] is to show you mercy because of JoNathan your father.
I’m going to give you back all the fields of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.’
And MephiBosheth bowed low again and said:
‘Who am I, your servant, to find your favor? For I’m no better that a dying dog.’
Then the king called for Ziba (Saul’s servant) and told him:
‘I’m giving everything that belonged to Saul and his house to the son of your master.
So you, your sons, and your servants must work his land for him, and you are to bring the son of your lord loaves of bread to eat.
Also, MephiBosheth (the son of your lord) will always eat at my table.’
Now, Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.
And he said to the king:
‘Whatever my lord the king asks, his servant will do.’
And from that day on, MephiBosheth ate at the table of David as though he was one of the king’s sons.
Now, MephiBosheth had a small son named Micha, whom the whole of house of Ziba also served,and they all lived in JeruSalem and always ate at the table of the king.
However, MephiBosheth had been lame in both feet since his birth.
Then the king of the sons of AmMon died, and his son became the new king.
So David said:
‘I’ll do something nice for HanNon, the son of NaHash, because his father was so kind to me.’
Therefore, David sent his servants to the land of the sons of AmMon to comfort him over his father.
However, the governors of the sons of AmMon went to their lord and asked,
‘Is David really sending you comforters to glorify your father, or hasn’t he in fact sent them as spies to look at [our fortifications]?’
As the result, HanNon grabbed David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their uniforms to their hips, and then he sent them away.
Well, when this was reported to David, he sent men to meet those servants, because they had been so extremely dishonored.
And the king told them to stay in JeriCho until their beards grew back.
Meanwhile, when the sons of AmMon saw how David had been disgraced, they hired 20,000 Syrians from BaithRaAm, Soba, and RoOb, as well as 1,000 infantrymen from the king of AmaLech, and 12,000 men from IshTob.
And when David heard about this, he sent JoAb and all his best soldiers [to confront them];
For the sons of AmMon had gathered for war at their city gates… they had sent the Syrians from Soba, RoOb, and [men of] IshTob and MaAcha into the field to fight with them.
And when JoAb saw what he was facing, with armies on both sides, he took the younger men of IsraEl and deployed them opposite the Syrians,then he put the rest of his army into the hands of his brother AbiShai, who [set up battle lines] facing the sons of AmMon.
And he [told his brother]:
‘If Syria starts to beat me, you come to help me; and if the sons of AmMon start to beat you, I’ll come to help you.
However, we must act like men! For if we are strong for our people and the cities of our God, [we can trust that] Jehovah will do whatever He sees is best!’
Well, when JoAb and his men attacked the Syrians, they fled from before him.
And when the sons of AmMon saw the Syrians running, they turned and ran from AbiShai, back into their cities.
So thereafter, JoAb left the land of AmMon and he returned to JeruSalem.
However, after the Syrians had lost before IsraEl, they returned and gathered at the same place again.
But this time, HadraAzar sent for more Syrians from the other side of the river, stationing them in AiLam, and he put Sobak the general of his army to be over them.
And when this was reported to David, he gathered the whole army of IsraEl and they crossed the JorDan to march against AiLam.
There the Syrians set up battle lines against David, and the battle began…and the Syrians again fled from the IsraElites.
This time, David destroyed 700 of their chariots and 40,000 of their cavalry.
He also killed the general over their army, Sobak.
Then, when the servants of HadraAzar saw that they had lost to IsraEl, they surrendered and became their servants…
And the Syrians were afraid to come to the aid of the sons of AmMon after that.
Well, it was the time of year when the kings [traditionally] went out to battle, and David sent JoAb, his servants, and the entire army of IsraEl, and they destroyed the sons of AmMon.
Then they laid siege against RabBah. However, David had stayed at home in JeruSalem.
Then one evening, David got up from his bed and he walked up to the roof of the king’s palace.
From there he saw a very pretty woman that was bathing on her roof.
So David asked about the woman, saying:
‘Isn’t that BathSheba, the daughter of EliAb and the woman of UriAh the Hittite?’
And thereafter David sent messengers that brought her to him… he went to bed and [had sex] with her, then she went back home.
However, she had just been cleansed from her monthly period;so when she sent a message to David telling him that she was pregnant, David said,
‘It’s my baby.’
As the result, David sent [a message] to JoAb, saying,
‘Send UriAh the Hittite to me.’
And JoAb sent UriAh to him.
Well when UriAh arrived, David first asked how JoAb was doing, how the army was doing, and then about how the war was going.
And David said to UriAh:
‘Now, just go back home and wash your feet!’
So UriAh left the king’s palace, and the king had a gift sent to him.
However, UriAh bedded down next to the door to the king’s palace, along with his lord’s servants, and he didn’t go home.
Then when David was told that UriAh hadn’t gone home, he went and asked UriAh:
‘Didn’t you just return from some distance? Why don’t you go home?’
And UriAh replied:
‘Well, the [sacred] Chest and the armies of Judah and IsraEl are all staying in tents, and my lord JoAb and his men are also camped out in fields;
So, how could I go to my house to eat, drink, and go to bed with my woman… as you are living, how could I do such a thing?’
Then David told him:
‘Well, stay here for the rest of the [evening], and tomorrow I’ll send for you.’
So UriAh stayed in JeruSalem throughout that night.
And the next day,David called for him. Then he fed him and gave him so much to drink that he got him drunk.
Yet that evening, he again went to bed with the servants of his lord, and he didn’t return to his home.
So the next morning,
David wrote a letter to JoAb, which he asked UriAh to deliver.
It said,
‘Send UriAh into the toughest part of the fighting – right up to the city gate – and then leave him there so he will be cut down and killed.’
So when JoAb attacked the city, he put UriAh in a place where he knew that the hardest fighting would be done.
Then when the men of the city came out to fight with JoAb, many of David’s men died along with UriAh the Hittite.
And thereafter, JoAb sent a report to David with all the details of the battle. He also sent a private message to the king…
He said this to the messenger whom he sent:
‘When you’re describing the battle to the king;
If the king should get angry and tell you to ask me,
Why did you approach the city walls to fight them?
Didn’t you know that they would shoot down on you from the walls?
For, who struck AbiMelek, the son of JeroBaal and grandson of Ner?
Didn’t a woman drop a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, killing him there in ThamAsi?
Why did you attack the wall?
You must answer,
Well, your servant UriAh the Hittite also died.’
So JoAb’s messenger went to the king in JeruSalem and he told David everything that JoAb told him to say about the war.
And predictably, David was furious with JoAb, and he said to the messenger:
‘Why did he lead [the men] right up to the city to fight?
Didn’t he know that they would attack from the walls?
For, who struck AbiMelek, the son of JeroBaal?
Didn’t a woman toss a piece of millstone from the wall and kill him in ThamAsi?
Why did he attack the wall?’
And the messenger said to David:
‘Well, the men attacked us… they came out into the field to meet us, so we fought them there at their city gate.
Meanwhile, they were also shooting at us from the walls, and many of the king’s servants were killed…
Including your subject, UriAh the Hittite.’
So David said to the messenger,
‘Then tell JoAb not to feel bad about it, because the sword cuts both ways.
He should intensify the battle against the city, then tear it down and establish a garrison there.’
Well, when the wife of UriAh heard that her husband had been killed, she was deeply saddened.
Then, after her period of mourning, David sent for her and had her brought to his palace.
So he married her and she gave birth to his son.
However, this whole thing appeared to be wicked in the eyes of Jehovah.
As the result, Jehovah sent the Prophet Nathan to David, who went in and told him this story:
‘There were two men that lived in the same city; one was rich, and the other was poor.
Now, the rich man had huge flocks and herds,but the only thing that the poor man owned was a small female lamb that he had purchased.
He protected it and fed it, and it grew up with his children. It ate the same bread, drank from his cup, and slept inside of his robe; for it was just like a daughter to him.
Well, it so happened that a traveler came along who stopped in to see the rich man.
Then, because he didn’t want to take anything from his own flocks or herds to prepare [a meal] for a stranger, he took the lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the person that had come to visit.’
Well, when he heard this, David was outraged and he said:
‘As Jehovah lives, that man deserves to die!
He should also have to pay for the lamb with 7 of his own, because of this evil thing that he did.’
And Nathan said to David:
‘But, you are the man that did this!
So, Jehovah the God of IsraEl told me to say this to you:
I’m the One that anointed you to be the king over IsraEl, and I’m the One that saved you from the hands of Saul.
I’m also the One that gave you the house of your lord and I brought his women to your chest; and thereafter I gave you the houses of IsraEl and Judah…
And if you had remained faithful, I would have given you even more!
‘So, why have you treated the Word of Jehovah as worthless by doing this wicked thing before His eyes?
For you cut down UriAh the Hittite with the broadsword and took his woman as yours… when the sons of AmMon killed him, it was really you that killed him!
And because you did this, the broadsword will not leave your house through the ages.
For you treated Me with contempt by taking the wife of UriAh the Hittite as your woman.
‘And Jehovah also said this:
Look, I will cause evil things to awaken in your own house… I will take your women from before you and give them to your neighbor, then he will go to bed with them in the daylight.
Though you did it in secret, I will do this in the daylight and before all IsraEl!’
Well at that, David said to Nathan:
‘I have truly sinned against Jehovah!’
And Nathan said to David:
‘Well, Jehovah has forgiven your sin, so you’re not going to die.
However, by doing such an unrighteous thing, you’ve even made Jehovah’s enemies angry.
Therefore, the son that will be born to you will die.’
And at that, Nathan left David’s palace.
So as the result, Jehovah caused the child that was born to the woman of UriAh by David to be sickly and weak.
However, David [prayed to] God about the boy, and he fasted and slept on the ground.
And when the elders of his house came to lift him off the ground, he wouldn’t get up, nor would he eat with them.
Then after 7 days, the boy died… and David’s servants were afraid to tell him, for they said,
‘{Look!} When we spoke to him about the boy while [the child] was still alive, he didn’t listen to us.
So how can we now tell [David] that he’s dead, for he’ll surely do bad things to us!’
Well, David noticed that his servants had been whispering, and he suspected that the boy had died.
So he asked his servants:
‘Has the boy died?’
And they replied,
‘He has.’
Then David got up from the ground, took a bath, rubbed himself with oil, and changed his clothes. And thereafter, he went to the [Tent] of God and bowed before Him.
And when he got back home, he asked for some food to eat, which they brought to him, and which he ate.
So his servants asked:
‘Why have you acted this way concerning the boy?
For while he was still alive you fasted, cried, and wouldn’t sleep. But after he died, you got up and ate and drank something.’
And David replied:
‘I fasted and cried while the boy was still living, because I hoped that Jehovah would show mercy on me and allow the boy to live.
But now that he has died, why should I fast?
I won’t be able to go and see him again, nor can I carry him to me, because I can’t bring him back.’
Then David went to comfort his woman, BathSheba.
Well, he went to bed with her again, and she got pregnant and gave birth to a son whom she named Solomon… and Jehovah loved him.
So He sent for Nathan the Prophet, who renamed him JediDiAh (Beloved of Jehovah), following the Lord’s instructions.
Then JoAb went to war with RabBah of the sons of AmMon again, and he conquered that kingdom’s capital city.
So JoAb sent messengers to David to say,
‘I have fought against RabBah and subdued the City of Waters.
Therefore, gather your men and come to our camp so you can be the first to take it.
I don’t want to be the first to take the city, for I don’t wish to have it called by my name.’
As the result, David gathered his men and he went to RabBah and captured it.
Then he took their king’s crown from his head (which was made of gold and precious gems) and had it placed on his own head.
They also looted the city and brought back a tremendous amount of goods.
Then he took the [city’s] people away and put them to work as carpenters, farm laborers, iron smelters, blacksmiths, and brick makers… in fact, that’s what he did in all the cities of the sons of AmMon.
And thereafter, David and his men returned to JeruSalem.
Well, AbSalom (one of David’s sons) had a very pretty sister named Thamar, and AmNon (another son of David) was in love with her.
In fact, he was so smitten with her that he was sick.
Thamar (who was also his sister) was a virgin, and AmNon would have done anything to have her.
AmNon also had a friend named JoNadab (he was the son of SamaA, David’s brother), and JoNadab was a very wise man.
Then one day, JoNadab asked AmNon:
‘Why are you so puny every morning, O son of the king… tell me what’s wrong.’
And AmNon, replied:
‘It’s because of Thamar, my brother AbSalom’s sister… I love her.’
And JoNadab said to him,
‘Then do this: Go to bed and act like you’re sick.
And when your father comes to see you, tell him,
‘Send my sister Thamar to prepare my food before me and feed me, so I can see her and eat from her hands.’
So AmNon went to bed and pretended to be sick.
And when the king came to see him, AmNon said:
‘Send my sister Thamar to me and have her bake a couple of biscuits, then I’ll eat them from her hands’
Well, David sent for Thamar at her home, saying,
‘Go to the house of your brother AmNon and prepare some food for him.’
Therefore, Thamar went to the house of her brother AmNon.
And when she found him lying on a cot, she took some dough and mixed it in front of him to make some biscuits, then she fried themand took the frying pan and laid them before him.
However, he wouldn’t eat them.
So at that, AmNon [told his servants] to send everyone else away.
And AmNon said to Thamar:
‘Now, carry the food into my bedroom and I’ll eat it from your hands there.’
As the result, Thamar took the biscuits she had made and carried them into her brother AmNon’s bedroom.
And when she brought them to him, he grabbed her and said:
‘Now, come to bed with me, my sister!’
But she said to him:
‘No, my brother, don’t rape me; for such things aren’t done in IsraEl!
Don’t be so foolish,for I could never handle the scandal, and you’d be considered one of the fools in IsraEl.
Just speak to the king and ask him to let you [marry me]!’
However, AmNon wouldn’t listen to her.
He just overpowered her, shoved her onto his bed, and raped her.
Well, [after he was finished], AmNon’s love turned to hate.
In fact, his hatred was greater than the love that he once had for her. So he told her to get up and leave.
But she said:
‘No, O my brother!
For sending me away like this is even worse than the terrible thing that you just did to me!’
But AmNon wouldn’t listen to that.
So he called his head servant in and said to him:
‘Take her away from me, then throw her outside and lock the door!’
Well at the time, all she had on was a long-sleeved slip (for that’s what the virgin daughters of the king wore under their clothes).
Nevertheless, the servant led her outside and he locked the door behind her.
So, Thamar took ashes and put them on her head and she ripped the slip she was wearing, then she put her hands on her head and ran away screaming.
And later, her brother AbSalom asked her:
‘Has your brother AmNon been with you?
If so, my sister, don’t say anything, because he’s your brother… don’t put it into your heart to say anything about this!’
So from that time on, Thamar lived as a widow in the house of her brother AbSalom.
Well when King David heard what had happened, he was furious…
But he wasn’t angry with his son AmNon, since he was his firstborn,nor did he say anything bad or good to AbSalom about AmNon.
However, AbSalom detested AmNon because he’d raped his sister Thamar.
It was exactly 2 years later that [all the brothers] went out to shear sheep for AbSalom at BelAsor (near the land of Ephraim), because AbSalom had called for all the sons of the king to help him.
He’d gone before the king and said,
‘Look, your servant has to do some shearing. So, may the king and his servants come along with me.’
However, the king said to AbSalom:
‘No my son, we shouldn’t all go, for we’d just be a burden on you.’
So David refused (because he really didn’t want to go), but he blest him.
And AbSalom said:
‘Then, send my brother AmNon along with me.’
And the king asked:
‘Why should he go with you?’
But because AbSalom kept insisting, he sent along AmNon and all of his other sons to help him.
Well, when they got there, AbSalom prepared a banquet that was fit for a king.
Then he told his servants:
‘When AmNon starts feeling the wine, I want you to strike him down and kill him.
Don’t be afraid, because I’m the one who’s telling you to do this.
Just be strong and act like men!’
So AbSalom’s servants did just as they were told…
And after they did that, all the sons of the king mounted their mules and fled.
Meanwhile, as they were headed back, a report came to David that AbSalom had killed all of the king’s sons… that none of them had been spared.
So the king ripped his clothes and fell to the ground, and all his servants that were standing around him also ripped their clothes.
But then JoNadab (the son of ShimeAh, David’s brother) said:
‘They shouldn’t have told our lord that all of his sons were killed, for it was just AmNon.
He died alone at the instructions of AbSalom, because this is the same day thatAmNon had raped his sister Thamar.
May my lord the king not think in his heart that all of his sons have died, for it was just AmNon!’
Meanwhile, AbSalom had run away.
Well just then, [David’s] watchman happened to look out and he noticed many people coming along the road down the side of the mountain.
So he went and reported this to the king, saying,
‘I see men coming down the mountain along the road to OrOnen.’
And JoNadab said to the king:
‘Look, it’s your sons! They’re coming back, just as your servant said they would.’
Then, shortly after he had finished speaking, {Look!} the king’s sons came in, shouting and crying.
And the king and all his servants wailed and cried along with them.
Well at the time, AbSalom had run away and gone to stay with TholMi the son of EmiUd (the king of GedSur) in the land of HamAchad.
And because King David mourned over his son for a long time,AbSalom spent three years in GedSur.
But by then, the [wrath] of the king had abated and he was no longer chasing AbSalom, for he was no longer grieving over the death of AmNon.
Now, JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) knew that the king [still loved] AbSalom.
So he sent for a woman in Thecoe that was very wise, and he said to her:
‘I want you to dress in mourning clothes [and pretend] to be in mourning.
Don’t rub yourself with oil, for I want you to appear to be a woman that has been mourning over her dead for many days,’
So she went to the king and said the words that JoAb told her to say…
This ThecoEthite woman went in to the king, fell with her face to the ground bowing before him, and said:
‘Save me, oh king! Save me!’
And the king asked her:
‘What’s wrong?’
Then she said:
‘I’m now a widow, because my husband has just died.
However, your servant had two sons that started arguing with each other while they were out in the fields where there was no one to break it up.
Then the one hit the other and killed him.
So now, {Look} the whole family is against your servant, because they’re telling me to hand over my son so they can kill him for murdering his brother.
But if they do that, they’ll be taking away my only heir and they’ll extinguish the little spark [of hope] that remains for leaving my husband a name and property on the face of this land.’
So the king said to the woman:
‘Don’t worry; just go back home and I’ll handle this matter for you.’
Then the ThecoEthite woman said to the king:
‘O my lord the king; may this lawlessness be on me and on the house of my father, not on the king and on his throne.’
And the king said:
‘Who was the one that spoke to you?
Bring [your son] to me, and don’t let anyone touch him!’
Then the woman said:
‘May Jehovah your God remind the king not to allow them to take away my son so that our family line [may continue].’
And he said:
‘As Jehovah lives; not a hair of your son’s head will fall on the ground.’
Then the woman asked:
‘May your servant say one more thing to her lord the king?’
And he said,
‘Speak!’
Then the woman said:
‘Why have you made such a decision for the people of God?
For when you say such things, you’re finding yourself guilty, since the king hasn’t allowed the one whom he banished to return to him.
Each of us is dying the death, and like water that’s being poured on the ground, we’re not returned to each other after that.
Only God [has the right to] take a life, and only He has the means to drive someone away, if He wishes.
‘Now, as to the thing about which I came to speak to my lord the king; the people told your servant to speak to you, to see what you would do for your servant.
They said that you would rescue your servant from the hands of the man that is trying to take away my son and my inheritance from God.
And they also told me that the words of my lord the king would be as good as a sacrifice.
For my lord the king is like a messenger from God in that you listen to both the good and the bad. So, may Jehovah your God be with you.’
Well at that, the king said to the woman:
‘I want to ask you something… and I want you to tell me the truth!’
And the woman said:
‘Please speak, my lord the king!’
And the king asked:
‘Did JoAb put you up to this?’
And the woman replied:
‘As you are living, O my lord the king; doesn’t the king ever change his mind after he has made a decision?
Yes, JoAb is the one that put me up to this, and he put the words into my mouth.
But your servant JoAb did this just to bring the matter to a head.
For my lord the king has the wisdom of a messenger from God in that he understands everything on earth.’
And the king said to JoAb:
‘Look, I’m going to do what you’re asking.
So, go and bring back the young man AbSalom!’
Well at that, JoAb fell and bowed with his face to the ground.
Then he praised the king, saying:
‘Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, O my lord the king; for you have handled this matter for your servant.’
So then JoAb got up and went to GedSur, and he brought AbSalom back to JeruSalem.
However, the king had said:
‘Let him go back to his home… but I don’t want to see his face!’
As the result, AbSalom returned home, but he wasn’t allowed to see the face of the king.
Now, there wasn’t a man in all IsraEl that was more admired than AbSalom.
For from the sole of his feet to the top of his head, there wasn’t a blemish;
And when it came to cutting his hair, it took so long that it became bothersome, because whenever he cut it and set it aside, it weighed as much as two royal coins!
AbSalom had three sons and a daughter whose name was Themar.
She was a pretty woman, and she married Solomon’s son RehoBoam, to whom she gave birth to AbiJah.
Well, during the next 2 years that AbSalom stayed in JeruSalem, he never saw the face of the king.
But then he sent for JoAb, because he wanted to send him to the king. However, JoAb wouldn’t come to him.
So he sent for him a second time, but he just didn’t want to come.
As the result, AbSalom said to his servants:
‘You know that field of JoAb’s next to mine where he’s growing barley? Go and burn it!’
So AbSalom’s servants went and burned JoAb’s field.
Well at that, JoAb’s servants went to him ripping their clothes, and said:
‘The servants of AbSalom have burned your portion of the field!’
So JoAb got up and went to the house of AbSalom, and asked him:
‘Why did your servants burn my field?’
And AbSalom replied:
‘Look, I called for you and asked you to come here, because I wanted to send you to the king and ask,
Why did you bring me from GedSur, since things were good for me there?
However, {Look!} since then I haven’t seen the face of the king!
If [you consider me so] unrighteous, why don’t you just kill me?’
So JoAb went to the king and spoke to him.
Then he called for AbSalom, and he went in to the king and bowed before him, falling with his face to the ground before him, and the king kissed AbSalom.
But after that, AbSalom obtained some chariots and horsemen, and he recruited 50 men to run in front of him.
Then he would get up early each morning and station himself along the street by the city gate. And whenever he saw someone that was coming to try a case before the king, he would call out to him and ask,
‘What city are you coming from?’
And if he replied,
‘Your servant is from one of the tribes of IsraEl,’
he would say,
‘Look, you have a good case; however, no one from the king will listen to it.
Why doesn’t he appoint me to be the judge of the land and let me handle the disputes and cases? For I would give you justice!’
And whenever some man would come and bow before him, he would reach out and grab him, then kiss him.
Well, AbSalom was doing this to everyone from IsraEl that came to the king for a judgment, and as the result, he was winning the hearts of the men of IsraEl.
Then at the end of 4 years, AbSalom went to his father and said:
‘I’m going to HebRon to pay a vow that I made to Jehovah.
For, while I was in GedSur, Syria, I vowed to Jehovah that if He would return me to JeruSalem, I would be His servant.’
And the king said to him:
‘Go in peace.’
So he got up and went to HebRon.
Now, AbSalom had sent spies among all the tribes of IsraEl, who were told:
‘When you hear the sound of trumpets blowing, you must shout,
AbSalom is now reigning as king in HebRon!’
So after that, AbSalom left JeruSalem along with 200 men (who really didn’t suspect anything).
Then, while he was offering his sacrifices, AbSalom sent for AhiThophel the Gelamonite (David’s advisor) from his city of Gola.
And there he formed a strong confederation of quite a few people that started following AbSalom.
Well, when the report came to David that the hearts of the men of IsraEl had turned toward AbSalom,David said to all his servants in JeruSalem:
‘We must get up and run from here, for nothing can save us from AbSalom!
Let’s hurry and go, so he doesn’t overtake us and do bad things to us, then destroy the city with swords.’
And the king’s servants replied:
‘We’ll do whatever our lord the king says…
Look! We are your servants!’
So the king and his whole house just walked away… however, he left 10 of his concubines behind to guard the house.
Then the king and all his servants traveled on foot to a house that was very far away.
Well, while the king and his servants were on the way into the desert, they [met up with some] Cherethites and Phelethites that were waiting [for him] on the Mount of Olives.
So, along with all the people that came with [David], there were now 600 great men and warriors from the Cherethites, Phelethites, and Gethites, because 600 men had walked from Gath to join the king.
But the king asked ItTai (the Gethite):
‘Why are you traveling with us? You should return and stay with the [new] king!
Since you are foreigners that have just left your homes to join me,why are you [planning to] travel with us… are you moving away from your homes?’
And he replied:
‘I will go wherever you are going.’
[But David said]:
‘Go back, and take your brothers with you; for Jehovah will bring you kindness and truth!
But ItTai replied to the king:
‘As Jehovah lives, and as my lord the king lives;
No matter what happens to my lord… whether he lives or dies, I will be his servant.’
And the king said:
‘Then come with me!’
And ItTai the Gethite and all his servants (a huge number of them) traveled with the king.
Well, throughout the land, people were crying and wailing.
Then the king and all his people crossed the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi and traveled toward the edge of the desert.
{Look!} There they met up with ZaDok and all the Levites that were carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah from the [Sacred Tent].
Then they set the Chest of God down, and AbiAthar and all the people from the city [of JeruSalem] said that they were going to come with him.
But the king said to ZaDok:
‘Just take the Chest of God back to the city.
For if I should find favor in the eyes of Jehovah and He returns me, He will show it to me in all its glory once again.
But if He should say that He doesn’t want me; then look… here I am!
May He do to me whatever is good in His eyes.’
And the king told ZaDok the Priest:
‘Look! You, your son AhiMaAz, your other two sons, and JoNathan (the son of AbiAthar) should return to the city in peace.
For, though I’m now going to live like a soldier in the desert, I’ll wait there for you to send word to me.’
So ZaDok and AbiAthar returned the Chest of God to JeruSalem, and it stayed there.
Then David climbed the Mount of Olives barefoot and with his head covered, crying.
And all the people came with him with their heads covered and crying.
Well when David was told that AhiThophel had joined the confederation with AbSalom, he said:
‘O Jehovah, my God;
Confuse the counsel of AhiThophel!’
Then when David got to Ros, he bowed there before God.
And {Look} coming to meet him was HuShai, David’s best friend, ripping his clothes and piling dirt on his head.
But David said to him:
‘If you come with me, you’ll just be a burden to me.So, return to the city, and say this to AbSalom:
Since your brothers left me to follow your father, I’m your servant now, O king; so, please allow me to live.
Although I was once your father’s servant, I’m yours now.
And if you’ll do this for me, you will confuse the counsel of AhiThophel.
‘Look, there are the Priests, ZaDok and AbiAthar. Go back with them and report everything to them that you hear from the [palace] of the king.
And here are their two sons, AhiMaAz (ZaDok’s son) and JoNathan (AbiAthar’s son).
Use them to send back every word that you hear.’
So HuShai (David’s best friend) returned to the city, as AbSalom entered JeruSalem.
Well, after David had traveled a short distance from Ros, {Look!} Ziba (MephiBosheth’s servant) came to meet him with a pair of saddled burros, 200 loaves of bread, a bushel of raisins, 100 clusters of dried fruit, and a skin flask of wine.
So the king asked Ziba,
‘What is this for?’
And Ziba replied:
‘The animals are for the house of the king to ride, the bread and the dried fruit are for your servants to eat, and the wine is for those that get weak [as they travel] through the desert.’
Then the king asked:
‘So, where is your lord’s ([JoNathan’s]) son?’
And Ziba replied:
‘{Look!} He’s sitting in JeruSalem; for he said:
Today the kingdom of IsraEl will return to the house of my father.’
Then the king said:
‘{Look!} I am giving everything that MephiBosheth has, to you.’
And as he bowed [before David], Ziba said:
‘May I find favor in your eyes, O my lord the king.’
Well, when King David got to BaUrim, {Look!} a man that was related to the house of Saul (ShiMei, the son of Gera) came there cursingand throwing stones at David and all his servants.
Meanwhile, all the people (including the mighty ones) were walking on either side of the king.And ShiMei shouted (as he was cursing),
‘Get out of here you murderer… you criminal!
For Jehovah has finally brought all the blood of the house of Saul down on you for taking his place as the ruler, and He has handed your kingdom over to your son AbSalom.
So, now you’re getting some of your own badness for being a murderer!’
Well at that, AbiShai (the son of ZeruJah) said to the king:
‘Why does my lord the king put up with the cursing of this dead dog?
Allow me to go over there and remove his head.’
But the king said to AbiShai:
‘What does it matter to me and to you sons of ZeruJah?
Leave him alone and let him curse.
It was Jehovah who told him to curse David, so there’s no reason to ask him why he’s doing this.’
And then David said to AbiShai and his servants:
‘The son that came from my own belly now wants to kill me;
So, let the son of the BenJaminite curse, because Jehovah told him to do it.
May Jehovah see my humiliation and provide good things for me in place of [this man’s] curses today.’
So, David and all his men just kept traveling along, as ShiMei ran alongside them next to the mountain cursing and throwing stones and dirt.
And then finally, the king and all his people got tired and they stopped to rest.
Well, when AbSalom, AhiThophel, and all of his men of IsraEl arrived in JeruSalem,HuShai (David’s best friend) went to see to AbSalom and said,
‘Long live the king!’
But AbSalom asked HuShai:
‘Is this the way you’re treating your friend?
Why didn’t you go along with your buddy?’
Then HuShai said:
‘I’ll follow whomever Jehovah and His people (the men of IsraEl) have chosen… I’ll stick with him and stay with him.
For, who is it that I’ll be serving?
I’ll be serving [David’s] son! So, as I served your father is how I will serve you now.’
Well at that, AbSalom turned to to AhiThophel and asked what he thought they should do next.
And AhiThophel told AbSalom:
‘Your father left some concubines behind to guard his palace.
Why don’t you go to bed with them, so that all IsraEl will hear how you’ve disgraced your father… for, that will strengthen your hand with the people.’
As the result, they pitched a tent on the [palace] roof.
Then AbSalom took his father’s concubines to bed with him in front of all IsraEl.
And from that point on, AbSalom sought AhiThophel’s council on how he should go about asking things of God.
So as AhiThophel had once given council to David, he now gave council to AbSalom.
Then AhiThophel said to AbSalom:
‘I’ll choose 12,000 men and we’ll go after David tonight;for when I get there, he’ll be tired and weak.
We’ll catch him unaware and startle him, then his people will flee, and I can kill the king when there’s no one around.
And after I do that, I’ll carry all his people back to you the way a bride is brought before her husband.
So, after [we’ve taken] the life of the man for whom you’re searching, all the people will be at peace.’
Well, this sounded like a good idea to AbSalom and all the elders of IsraEl.
But AbSalom then said:
‘Call HuShai the Arachite… I want to hear what he has to say about this.’
So HuShai came to AbSalom, and AbSalom told him about [AhiThophel’s] plan. Then he asked:
‘Do you think we should do what [AhiThophel] is suggesting?
If not, speak up!’
And HuShai said to AbSalom:
‘This counsel that AhiThophel has given to you isn’t a good idea this time.
For you know your father and his men… they’re very brave and strong, and they’re as angry as a bear that has lost its cub in a field or a wild boar that has been cornered.
Also, your father is a warrior, so he would never sleep with his family.
Look! He’ll be hiding in the hills or somewhere else. So when the attack begins, he’ll hear it and say,
AbSalom’s people are attacking.
‘However, this mighty man that has the heart of a lion will just melt away once he realizess that he’s finished;
For all IsraEl knows how mighty your father and his men are.So, this is what I advise:
Gather all [the men of] IsraEl from Dan to BeerSheba, [and create an army] as large as the sands of the sea… and you should lead them.
Then when you catch up with [David] – no matter where he may be – you must camp all around him and [attack him] just as the dew is settling on the ground…
Don’t leave him or any of his men alive.
Or, if you should find him in a city, you must bring all IsraEl against that city, tear it down, and throw each of its stones into a riverbed.’
Well, AbSalom and all the men of IsraEl said:
‘The counsel of HuShai the Arachite is better than the counsel of AhiThophel.’
However, it was Jehovah that had caused the good counsel of AhiThophel to lose out, so that He could bring bad things to AbSalom.
Then after that, HuShai (the Arachite) sent word to ZaDok and AbiAthar (the Priests), telling them of the advice that AhiThophel had given to AbSalom and the elders of IsraEl.
And he said,
‘Send a message to David quickly, so that the king and his people aren’t caught off guard!’
It was while JoNathan and AhiMaAz had stopped at RogEl Springs that a young female servant arrived bringing the message [from HuShai], so they traveled on to carry the report to King David.
However, though they didn’t want to be seen entering the city,a young man had noticed them and he sent a report to AbSalom.
So, the two men ran to the house of someone [they knew] in BaUrim and hid in a cistern in his courtyard.
And though a woman came and took the cover off the cistern to allow the desert [winds] to cool the water, she didn’t notice them.
So when AbSalom’s men came to the house and asked her,
‘Where are AhiMaAz and JoNathan?’
She just said,
‘They went to get some water.’
Well, they looked around but they couldn’t find them, so the men returned to JeruSalem.
Then after they left, [AhiMaAz and JoNathan] climbed out of the cistern and went to carry the report to King David.
They said to him:
‘You must get up and quickly cross the river, for AhiThophel has [planned a trap] for you!’
Therefore, David and his people got up and crossed the JorDan before daylight, so that no one would know.
In the meantime, when AhiThophel realized that his counsel had been rejected, he saddled his burro and went back to his home…
Then he discharged his staff and hung himself.
And thereafter, they buried him in the tomb of his father.
Well, David had traveled all the way to ManaIm, as AbSalom and all his men crossed the JorDan [in pursuit].
Now, AbSalom had put AmaSa in charge of his army (in place of JoAb).
AmaSa was the son of JeTher, an IsraElite from JezreEl.
Then he went to see AbiGail, the daughter of JesSe and the sister of ZeruJah, who was the mother of JoAb, while AbSalom and the army of IsraEl had camped in the land of GileAd.
Meanwhile, after David had entered ManaIm, WesBi (the son of NaAs from RabBath, an AmMonite), MachIr (the son of AmiEl from LodaBar), and BarZilLai (the GileAdite from RogelLim)brought 10 cots and blankets, 10 pots, as well as some dishes, along with some wheat, barley, flour, toasted grain, beans, lentils,honey, butter, mutton, and cheese, and they gave it to David and his people to eat.
For they said:
‘They are starving, thirsty, and weak from traveling through the desert.’
It was then that David counted his men to see how many were with him, and he assigned generals and officers to be over them,as he readied them for battle.
He put 1/3 under the direction of JoAb, 1/3 under the direction of AbiShai the son of ZeruJah (JoAb’s brother), and 1/3 under the direction of ItTai the Gethite.
Then David said to his men,
‘From now on, I’ll be leading you.’
But they said:
‘You can’t come with us; for if [AbSalom’s people] kill half of us, we might lose you, and that would be like losing 10,000 men.
It’s really best for you to stay in the city and direct us from there.’
So the king said,
‘I’ll do whatever you wish.’
Thereafter, the king stood at the city gate as his army passed by in companies and divisions.
Now, the king had given orders to JoAb, AbiShai, and ItTai, saying,
‘I want you to spare the young man AbSalom for me!’
And everyone heard what the king had said to them about AbSalom.
Well from there, [David’s army] marched into a forest that was directly across from [the army of] IsraEl, and the battle started there in the Woods of Ephraim.
But the army of IsraEl didn’t fare well against the followers of David, for they lost 20,000 of their men,as the war raged on throughout the land…
And the thick forest killed as many men as were killed with swords that day.
But soon, David’s men caught up with AbSalom.
He had been riding his mule, and the mule had taken off into a dense thicket.
There, AbSolom’s head got caught in the branches of an oak tree, which left him hanging between the sky and the ground…
The mule just took off and left him hanging there.
Well, when one of the men saw what had happened, he went and told JoAb,
‘I’ve found AbSalom; he’s hanging in an oak tree!’
And JoAb said,
‘You saw this and you didn’t cut him to the ground?
I would have given you 10 large silver coins if you had done that.’
But the man told JoAb:
‘If you were to give me 1,000 large silver coins, I wouldn’t do that; for, I would never raise a hand against a son of the king.
And we all heard the king tell you (both AbiShai and ItTai) to guard the young man AbSalom for him.
So, it would have been wrong for me to kill him!
For the king would surely hear about it, and then you and I would find ourselves on opposite sides.’
But JoAb said:
‘Well, that’s what’s going to happen…
I’m not going to put up with this!’
So JoAb took three arrows and shot them into the chest of AbSalom as he was still alive, hanging there in the middle of the oak tree.
Then 10 of his young men took JoAb’s weapons and stabbed AbSalom [to make sure] that he was dead.
Thereafter, JoAb blew his battle horn to call his people back from their pursuit of IsraEl, because he wanted to spare the rest of the people.
Then JoAb took AbSalom’s body and threw it into a deep gulley in the forest, and he formed a huge pile of rocks over it as a monument, while the whole army of IsraEl was retreating to their tents.
Now, while AbSalom was still alive, he had built a monument to himself in the Valley of the Kings; for he said:
‘I have no sons to remind people of my name.’
So he named the monument after himself, calling it ‘The Hand of AbSalom,’ which is still there today.
Well, after all of this had happened, AhiMaAz (the son of ZaDok) decided to run and bring the good news to the king that Jehovah had passed judgment on his enemies.
But JoAb told him:
‘You shouldn’t bring this as good news today…
Save that for another day, for it isn’t good news that a son of the king has died.’
Then JoAb told HuShai:
‘You should go and tell the king what you’ve seen!’
And at that, HuShai bowed before JoAb and left.
However, AhiMaAz (the son of ZaDok) said to JoAb:
‘Let me run after HuShai!’
But JoAb asked:
‘Why do you want to do this, my son?
Come along, for there’s no good news that will be of any benefit to you if you go there.’
And AhiMaAz said,
‘But what if I run?’
Then JoAb said,
‘Okay, then run!’
So AhiMaAz ran along the road to KeChar, and he passed HuShai.
Well, David was sitting between the two city gates, as the watchman was on the roof of the gate next to the wall.
And when the watchman looked out and saw a man running toward them,he yelled and reported it to the king.
And the king asked,
‘Is he is alone… is he bringing good news?’
Then, as this one was approaching,the watchman saw another man running.
And he yelled out,
‘Look, there’s another man running by himself!’
And the king said:
‘Surely he’s bringing good news!’
Then the watchman said:
‘I see that the man running ahead is AhiMaAz, the son of ZaDok… so he must be bringing good news!’
And at that, AhiMaAz yelled to the king:
‘Peace!’ (as he bowed to the ground before the king).
Then he said:
‘Praise your God Jehovah, for he has closed the mouths of those that have raised their hands against my lord the king.’
So the king asked him:
‘Do we now have peace with the young man AbSalom?’
And AhiMaAz said:
‘Well I saw a large happy crowd standing around the king’s servant JoAb, so I came here.
However, I’m not sure of all that happened there.’
Then the king said:
‘Step aside and stand over there!’
So he stepped aside and stood nearby,as HuShai came and reported this to the king:
‘I have good news to announce to my lord the king. For today Jehovah has passed judgment upon all those that have opposed you!’
And the king asked HuShai:
‘So, how is the young man AbSalom?’
And he replied:
‘The young man has fared the same as all the enemies that have done evil things against my lord the king.’
Well at this, the king became very upset, so he went up into the room above the gate and wept.
He cried,
‘O my son AbSalom! O my son! O my son AbSalom!
Why couldn’t I have died instead of you, AbSalom?
O my son! O my son!’
So thereafter, a message was sent to JoAb that the king was crying and mourning over AbSalom,rather than celebrating a victory.
And as the result, his people went into mourning too, because they heard that the king was [so disturbed over the death of] his son…they just melted away into the city like men that were running from a battle.
Meanwhile, the king refused to show his face, for he kept crying and sobbing,
‘O my son AbSalom! AbSalom! O my son!’
Well finally, JoAb went into the king’s house, and said to him:
‘You’re disgracing all your servants that fought to save you today, as well as your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines;
For you’re showing that you love the one that hated you, and that you hate those that love you!
You’re giving the impression that your leaders and your servants are nothing, and that if AbSalom were alive today while all the rest of us were dead, it would be a better thing in your eyes!
Now, get up and go outside, then talk to your servants and tell them how you really feel!
For I swear by Jehovah that unless you go out there today, there won’t be a man standing with you tonight.
Realize that the evil you’re doing here is worse that all the other evil things that have happened to you since you were young.’
Well at that, the king went out and sat down at the [city] gate.
And then all the people started shouting,
‘Look, the king is sitting at the gate.’
So then, all his people gathered to him there.
Now, [AbSalom’s men], the army of IsraEl, had all retreated to their tents,and these tribes of IsraEl had started reasoning with each other.
They were saying,
‘King David was the one that rescued us from our enemies, and he saved us from the hands of the Philistines.
But then he had to flee the land and his kingdom, because he was running from AbSalom.
However, now that AbSalom (whom we anointed to be [our king]) has died in the battle, we should just quietly return to the king.’
So thereafter, all IsraEl then returned to the king.
Then King David sent for ZaDok and AbiAthar (the Priests), and he said:
‘Speak to the elders of Judah and ask them why they are the last ones to welcome their king back.’
Well, as the result, these words of the king were spread throughout all IsraEl.
For he had said,
‘My brothers; you are my own flesh and bones, so why are you the last ones to welcome the king back to his palace?
Are you now going to turn to AmaSa and say,
You are our flesh and bones?
No! May God curse me and add more to it if the one in charge of my armies is anyone other than JoAb.’
Well, this turned the hearts of all the men of Judah, and they sent a message to the king saying,
‘You and all your servants should return to us!’
So at that, the king traveled toward the JorDan, and all the men of Judah came to GilGal to welcome him and to accompany him across [the river].
ShiMei (the son of Gera, the son of the BenJaminite from BaUrim) hurried with his men of Judah to meet King David,and he brought along 1,000 men from BenJamin, as well as Ziba (the servant of the house of Saul) and his 15 sons and 20 servants.
They all went straight to the king at the JorDanto officially welcome him as he crossed the ford (in order to satisfy his family, and to do the right thing in his eyes).
Then ShiMei (the son of Gera) fell to his face before the king at the JorDan and said:
‘Please, my lord; forgive the lawless way that your servant acted when the king left JeruSalem… please put it out of your heart,for your servant knows that he has sinned!
Now look; I’ve come here before all IsraEl and the house of JoSeph today, to welcome back my lord the king.’
But AbiShai (the son of ZeruJah) asked:
‘Shouldn’t ShiMei be put to death for cursing the anointed of Jehovah?’
And David said:
‘Why are you sons of ZeruJah always coming to me with plots?
No man of IsraEl will be put to death today, for I still don’t know whether I’m even their ruler!’
Then the king said to ShiMei:
‘You won’t die,’
and he swore this in an oath to him.
Well thereafter, MephiBosheth (the son of JoNathan and grandson of Saul) came to welcome the king.
However, he hadn’t washed his feet, cut his nails, or trimmed his mustache, and his clothes hadn’t been washed since the day he left to ask the king for peace.
So when he came from JeruSalem to greet him, the king asked:
‘Why didn’t you come along with me, MephiBosheth?’
And MephiBosheth answered:
‘O my lord, O king; it was because my servant had misled me.
When I told him to saddle my burro and help me mount it (because your servant is lame) to go with the king,he wouldn’t do it.
However, my lord the king is as a messenger of God; so, do whatever is good in your eyes!
But, back when there was no one else left of the house of my father (other than those that deserved death from my lord the king), you allowed your servant to eat at your table.
So, what reason would I have to speak out against the king?’
And the king said to him:
‘Why are you still talking?
From now on, you must give your field to Ziba!’
And MephiBosheth said:
‘Yes, may he take everything, now that my lord the king is returning in peace to his palace.’
Then BarZilLai (the GileAdite) came to the king at the JorDan from RogelLim, to accompany him on his way back home.
BarZilLai was very old (80 years old), but he had fed the king while he was living in ManaIm, because he was very wealthy.
So the king said to BarZilLai:
‘Now, come to JeruSalem with me, and I will care for you in your old age.’
But BarZilLai said to the king:
‘How many years do you think I have left, so that I should travel with the king to JeruSalem?
Since I’m 80 years old today, how could I really appreciate what you’re doing?
Can I still enjoy the taste of the food and drink that you will offer me?
Or can I still enjoy the voices of men and women singing?
Why should I burden my lord the king?
So, your servant will just travel with the king for a short way to the JorDan… what greater reward or payment can you give me?
Let your servant stay here to die in my own city and to be buried with my father and mother.
But look; your servant’s son CamaAm will cross [the JorDan] with my lord the king… please do for him whatever you find good in your eyes.’
And the king said:
‘Then let CamaAm cross over with me, and I will do what is good in my eyes for him…
Whatever you ask of me, I will do for you.’
Well, as all the people were crossing the JorDan, the king also prepared to cross.
Then he kissed BarZilLai and blest him, and he returned to his people.
And as the king was crossing over toward GilGal, CamaAm crossed [the river] with him, along with all the people of Judah and half of the people of IsraEl.
But then men from IsraEl approached the king and asked him:
‘Why did you allow our brothers of Judah to steal you and help the king, his household, and his army to cross the JorDan?’
And the men from Judah shouted:
‘Because the king is our close relative!
Why are you so irritated about this?
Has the king given us any more food, or gifts, or brought us a tribute?’
Then at that, the men of IsraEl replied:
‘Since we have 10 [tribes] that serve the king, and since we’re the firstborn, how do you have [a greater claim] to David?
We even came here [to welcome him back] before you did;
So, why are you insulting us by not allowing us to be the first to escort the king?’
However, the men of Judah just shouted the men of IsraEl down.
Well, there was a man that was referred to as the Son of a Lawbreaker.
His name was SabeE, and he was the son of BoChori, a BenJaminite.
He then blew his horn and shouted:
‘David [doesn’t have any respect] for us, nor does this son of JesSe have an inheritance for us. Therefore, men of IsraEl; let’s all return to our tents!’
And at that, all the men of IsraEl that were following David turned and started following the son of BoChori.
However, the men of Judah stuck by their king [and followed him] from the JorDan to JeruSalem.
Well, when David arrived at his palace in JeruSalem, he then took the 10 concubines whom he had left to guard the house, and he had them put under guard.
He took care of them, but he never went to bed with them after that.
So they lived in custody as widows until the day that they died.
Thereafter, the king then said to AmaSa (the man that had served as the commander-in-chief of AbSalom’s army):
‘Call the army of Judah to assemble here in three days… and I want you to come back here!’
So AmaSa went and called [the army of] Judah, but he stayed away longer than David told him that he should,because David had told AmaSa that he was going to do something worse to the son of BoChori than had been done to AbSalom.
He told him to gather his servants and chase the man down before he could find a fortified city [where they couldn’t reach him].
So, JoAb’s men (the Cherethites, the Phelethites, and all the mightiest of his warriors) went to get AmaSa, and they’d also left JeruSalem to chase down the son of BoChori.
Well, when they reached Great Stone in GibeOn, they found AmaSa standing there before them.
So at that, JoAb (who was dressed in full uniform and carrying a sword in its sheath) drew his swordas he asked AmaSa:
‘Are you in good health, O brother?’
Then he grabbed AmaSa’s beard with his right hand as if to kiss him(for AmaSa didn’t notice the sword in JoAb’s other hand), and JoAb stuck the sword into his belly, pouring his guts out on the ground.
Then he stabbed him a second time, killing him.
Well after that, JoAb and his brother AbiShai got ready to chase after the son of BoChori.
And then one of JoAb’s servants stood up next to him and shouted to those who had been in AmaSa’s army:
‘Which of you are on JoAb’s side and which of you are for David? Let them follow JoAb!’
Well, AmaSa was lying there dead in the middle of the road covered in blood, so one of his men carried his body from the road into a field and covered it with a cape, to keep people from coming there and stopping to look at it.
And after he took the body out of the road, all the men of IsraEl went with JoAb to hunt down the son of BoChori.
Meanwhile, [the son of BoChori] had traveled throughout all the tribes of IsraEl on his way to Abel BethMacha.
And after he got there, JoAb formed to attack him in that city, building a ramp around its wall, because he planned to tear the walls down.
But a wise woman yelled from the wall:
‘Listen! Listen! Tell JoAb to come here, because I want to speak to him!’
So he got up close to her, and the woman asked,
‘Are you JoAb?’
And he said,
‘I am.’
Then she said,
‘Listen to what your servant has to say!’
And JoAb said,
‘I’m listening.’
So she said,
‘There’s an old saying that goes:
If you just choose to ask Abel,
All of your problems will be solved.
‘Now, I’m one of the peaceful ones that is in support of IsraEl;
However, you’re still planning to destroy our city… and a mother-city of IsraEl, at that.
So, why would you want to sink the inheritance of Jehovah?’
And JoAb replied:
‘Unless you people are kind and friendly with me, I’ll not only sink it, I’ll totally destroy it!
For, isn’t this the place where a man from the hills of Ephraim that is called The Son of BoChori is staying… this one that lifted his hand against King David?
Hand him over to me personally, and I’ll leave your city.’
And the woman said to JoAb:
‘Look! I’ll toss his head over the wall to you.’
So the woman went to her people and told everyone in the city of her wise plan.
Then they cut off the head of the son of BoChori and tossed it to JoAb.
And at that, JoAb blew his horn and all his men went back to their tents, as he returned to the king in JeruSalem.
Thereafter, [David once again put] JoAb in charge of all the armies of IsraEl.
Then he put BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) over the Cherethites and the Phelethites,and he put AdoniRam in charge of the tributes and JoSaphat (the son of AchiLuth) in charge of the records.
Susa was his scribe, ZaDok and AbiAthar were the Priests,and Iras (the son of JaRin) was David’s personal Priest.
Well, there came three consecutive years of famine during the days of David, so he asked Jehovah, and the Lord said:
‘This is happening because the house of Saul was guilty of shedding [innocent] blood when he killed the GibeOnites.’
So the king called the GibeOnites, and he said:
‘You GibeOnites [really] aren’t IsraElites, you’re just what remains of the Amorites.
However, although the sons of IsraEl swore an oath to your people, Saul attacked you in his zeal for the sons of IsraEl and Judah.’
Then David asked them:
‘So, what must I do for you… what must I do to [pay for our sins], and to get you to bless the inheritance of Jehovah?’
And the GibeOnites replied:
‘The problem can’t be paid for with silver or gold by Saul and his house, and none of [his family] remain anywhere in IsraEl whom we can put to death.’
So [David] again asked:
‘Then, what can I do for you?’
And they told the king:
‘[Saul] would have finished us off.
For he chased us down, tried to trick us, and he attempted to wipe us out.
Therefore, we would like to remove [any trace] of him, so that his ways won’t endure anywhere within the borders of IsraEl.
Please give us 7 of his descendants, and we will hang them in the sun before Jehovah, there in Saul’s town of GibeOn.’
Then the king promised:
‘I will give them to you.’
However, the king [had promised to] spare MephiBosheth (the son of JoNathan and the grandson of Saul), because of the oath that they had sworn before Jehovah…
The one between David and JoNathan (Saul’s son).
So the king took ErMoni and MephiBosheth, the two sons of ResPha (who was the daughter of Saul’s concubine AiAh), and the 5 sons of Michol (Saul’s daughter), whom she had born to EsdriEl (the son of BarZilLai the Moulathite),and handed them over to the GibeOnites, who hung them on the mountain in the sun before Jehovah.
And there they fell, all 7 of them together.
Well, this happened at the beginning of the barley harvest.
So ResPha (the daughter of AiAh) took sackcloth and made a bed for herself on a rock, [which she slept on] from the beginning of the barley harvest until water from God dripped from the sky…
She wouldn’t allow the flying creatures of the skies to rest there during the day, or the wild animals to rest there during the night.
Then, when all the things that ResPha (the daughter of Saul’s concubine AiAh) was doing were reported to David,he sent and had the bones of Saul and his son JoNathan taken from the sons of JabIsh GileAd (which they had stolen from the city square of BethSan where the Philistines put them after they’d killed Saul at GilBoa),and they gathered the bones of the men who’d been hung in the sun,and carried all their bones (those of Saul, JoNathan, and the men that were hung in the sun) to the land of BenJamin, where they were buried on the side of a hill, in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father.
They did exactly as the king told them; and after that, God started paying attention to the land once again.
Meanwhile, there was still a state of war between the Philistines and IsraEl, so David took his men and went to fight the Philistines.
However, by then David’s health had started to decline.
Meanwhile, JesBi (who was a descendant of Rapha) had a brass spear that weighed as much as 300 large silver coins, and he was wearing heavy armor when he decided to attack David.
But AbiShai (the son of ZeruJah) came to David’s aid and he struck down the Philistine, killing him.
And that’s when David’s men swore an oath to him saying:
‘You may never again come with us to a battle, so that the lamp of IsraEl won’t be extinguished.’
Well at the time, the war with the Philistines was still being fought at Gath, where SeboCha (the AstaTothite) eventually conquered the descendants of the giants.
They were also fighting the Philistines at Gob, which is where EleAnan (the son of AriOrgim the BethLehemite) killed GoliAth the GitTite, whose spear was as large as a weaving loom.
Then, as the battle raged on in Gath, a man from Madon that had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot (for a total of 24), the son of Rapha,came and shouted insults at IsraEl.
However, JoNathan (the son of ShimeAh, David’s brother) cut him down.
All of these men were descendants of the giants in Gath from the house of Rapha, but David and his servants had cut them all down.
Then, after the Lord had rescued David from the hands of Saul and all his enemies, he sang this song to Jehovah:
‘Jehovah’s my rock and my fortress…
He’s the One that comes to my rescue.
My God is a guard that’s before me;
So, upon Him, I will lean.
‘He is the One that defends me;
He’s the trumpet of my salvation…
My shield and refuge from the unrighteous.
‘You deserve all the praise, for You saved me;
Since I called to the Lord and was saved.
For, deadly battles had me surrounded,
And by lawless dry streams, I was upset.
Fear of death, had me enwrapped,
And I awaited the harshness of death.
‘But, in my pain, I called to Jehovah;
Yes, I yelled to my God,
And from His House, He listened to me…
My voice and my cries reached His ears.
‘Then the ground started to tremble,
And the skies were disturbed by His anger.
Smoke ascended, because of His rage;
And the fire from His mouth became so consuming
That even the coals burned away.
‘He leaned on the sky and it fell,
As darkness was under His feet.
He mounted a cherub upon its spread wings,
And was seen on the wings of the winds.
‘He concealed Himself in the gloom of His Tent,
And in the darkness of waters.
Then, He thickened the clouds in the sky,
As the brightness before Him lit fires.
‘He thundered from out of the sky…
He shouted down from His place in the heights.
Then He grabbed His arrows and shot them…
With flashes of lightning, He scared them away.
‘Then the things in the sea were exposed,
As were the foundations of the earth.
[God] sent His accusations among them…
The breath of the spirit of His rage.
‘From up above, He then grabbed me and took me…
He lifted me from those deep waters.
He rescued me from my enemies’ strength…
From those by whom I was hated.
‘He saw all the problems I faced,
And Jehovah became my foundation.
He provided a space and He saved me…
He chose to do good on my behalf.
‘Jehovah has rewarded all my righteous ways…
It’s the reward of undefiled hands.
For I’ve paid attention to His ways…
Before my God, I’ve showed deep respect.
‘I’ve kept His decisions before me,
And I’ve never turned from His Laws.
So I’ll stand before Him unblemished,
And away from the lawless, I’ll stay.
---
‘With the holy, You will always be holy;
And with the perfect, You will always be perfect;
The elected, You’ll treat as Your chosen,
And to the crooked, You’ll send crooked ways.
‘By You, the poor will be saved,
And You’ll humble the eyes of the proud.
By You, O Jehovah, my lamp will be lit…
My Lord sends me light in the darkness.
‘So in You, I will run lightly armed,
And by my God, I’ll pass over walls.
For, flawless are the ways of the Almighty,
And the sayings of Jah are very refined.
‘He’s the defender of all that obey Him;
And who is as strong as Jehovah?
For, who other than our God can create;
Since, He alone is the Almighty.
‘He strengthens me with His power,
And removes the flaws of my ways.
He sets my feet firm like a stag,
And into the heights, He then lifts me.
‘He teaches my hands to fight battles,
And to break brass bows with my arms.
He gives me a shield to protect me…
Because I obeyed Him, He made me strong.
He enlarges my footsteps beneath me,
And my trembling knees, He [makes firm].
‘So, I will pursue and remove,
And I’ll not return ‘til they’re gone.
I’ll crush them and then they won’t rise again…
They’ll fall [to the ground] under my feet.
‘You’ll strengthen me for great battles,
And bend those that rise from beneath me.
All my enemies, You’ve handed to me,
And You’ve broken the backs of all those that hate me.
‘They yelled, but [God] didn’t come to their aid;
For to them, He never would listen.
So I ground them to dust on the ground,
And made them fine like the mud in the streets.
‘You saved me when men came to fight me,
And appointed me head over nations.
So, people I didn’t know came to serve me…
Then they listened and did as I asked.
‘The sons of liars will reel,
And into confinement, they’ll stumble.
As Jehovah lives; may my Great Guard be praised…
May my God that guards me, be exaulted.
‘For, Jehovah is strong and sends vengeance…
He corrects the people that serve me.
From those that hate me, He lifts me away…
He lifts me high over those that oppose me.
‘From unrighteous men, You will save me,
And for this, to the nations, I’ll praise You.
‘O Jehovah;
I’ll strum tunes to Your Name,
For You saved Your king in great awesome ways…
You’ve shown mercy to Your anointed…
To David and his seed through the ages.’
And these were the last words of David.
David (the son of JesSe) was a trustworthy man whom the Lord had elevated to the position of the anointed of the God of Jacob.
He also wrote many of the beautiful psalms of IsraEl… such as:
‘Through me, spoke the Breath of Jehovah,
And His words were there on my tongue.
It was IsraEl’s God who guards us,
And who gave this parable to me.
‘I once asked this of a man:
How can I teach you to fear [God’s] anointed?
For it’s God who brings light in the morning…
The sun as it rises into the day,
And after its brightness, it then fades away.
‘He’s the One that sends us the rain
That causes tender shoots to sprout from the ground.
And He’s the One who made my house strong…
Who made it stand through the ages
Through the promise that He gave to me.
‘He’s the One that guarded and saved me,
So I’ll serve Jehovah and not break His Laws.
6 For, thorn-bushes couldn’t stand and oppose me;
And by the hands of men, they were taken away.
‘Though there were some that worked hard
Turning iron and wood into spears;
These things were then burned in the flames…
In their shame, they all were consumed.’
These are the names of the three mighty ones of David:
· JeBosthe the CanaAnite, who was the greatest of the 3.
He [was also known as] AdiNon the Asonite; for he was the one that unsheathed his broadsword and killed 800 men in one battle.
· EliYanan (AdiNin’s nephew).
He was with David in SeiRa when he berated the Philistines as they gathered for war against him.
It was then that this man of IsraEl went right up to themand kept killing Philistines until his hand got tired;
So he tied his sword to his hand [and kept fighting].
Jehovah gave him a great victory that day, and the only reason why the rest of the people had to return to [the field] was just to strip the dead.
· SamaiJa (the son of Asa the Arachite).
When the Philistines went to Theria and people there were picking lentils in a field, they all ran from the Philistines.
But he stood there like a stone monument in the middle of the field and protected it, cutting down the Philistines in a great victory.
It was these three (from among the 30 of the leaders) that went to David when he was at Kason in the cave of OdolLam, as the Philistines camped [against him] in the Valley of Rephaim.
Also, when David was in the citadel and the Philistines were in BethLehem,and David [got thirsty] and asked,
‘Who will go to the well that’s at the city gate in BethLehem to get me some water to drink?’
(although all the Philistines were assembled in BethLehem)…
It was these same three mighty ones who tore up the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well that was in BethLehem, and brought it to David.
However, he wouldn’t drink it and offered it to Jehovah instead.
For he said:
‘Please be kind to me, O Jehovah, for offering this.
How could I drink it after these men risked their blood and their lives to bring it to me?’
So he didn’t drink it. And it was these three mighty ones did these things.
Now, AbiShai (the brother of JoAb and the son of ZeruJah) was over the 3. And because he had killed 300 men, he was also considered to be with the 3.
He was never part of the group, but he was the most highly regarded, so he was put in charge over them.
Then there was BenaiJah, the son of JehoiAda.
He also did many marvelous things. For at KabeseEl, he struck down the two sons of AriEl the Moabite.
And he’s the one that went and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.
He also cut down a remarkable Egyptian man that carried a wooden spear that was as large as a ladder.
He went right up to him with a rod, grabbed the wooden spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his spear.
Yes, these are things that BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) did, and that’s why he was also considered among the mighty ones.
So, he was viewed one of the 3, but he was never part of their group though he was given more honor;
For David had appointed him [to be the head of his guards].
And these are the names of the mighty ones of King David:
· AshaEl, the brother of JoAb (who was also one of the 30).
· ElAnan (his uncle, the son of Dudi of BethLehem)
· SamAi the Arudite
· EliKa the Arodite
· Seles the KelOthite
· Iras (the son of EkKas the Thekoite)
· AbiEzer the AnathOthite (from the sons of the Asothites)
· ElLon the Awiite
· MoOr the NetoPhathite
· Ethi (the son of Riba of GabeOth, a BenJaminite)
· BenaiJah the Pharathenite
· Uri from NachaLiga
· GadabiEl (the son of the ArabOthite)
· AzMoth the BarSamite
· EliAsou the Salabonite, and his sons, Jaban and JoNathan
· SamNan the Arodite
· Acian (the son of Arai the SaraUrite)
· AlipPhaleth (the son the Asbitite and grandson of MaAchathi)
· EliAb (the son of AhiThophel the Gelonite)
· AsarAi the CarMelite
· PharAi the Erchite
· GaAl (the son of Nathan, from the armies of the GileAdites)
· ElYe the Ammanite
· GelorAi the BerOthite, who was the arms bearer for JoAb (the son of ZeruJah)
· Iras the Jethirite
· Gareb the Ethenite
· UriAh the Hittite.
In all, they numbered 37 [mighty men].
Well thereafter, the anger of Jehovah started to burn in IsraEl, because David was moved to say,
‘Go and take a census of IsraEl and Judah!’
Yes the king had said to JoAb (who was in charge of the army):
‘Go throughout all the tribes of IsraEl and Judah from Dan to BeerSheba, and count all the men, so I will know how many there are.’
But JoAb said to the king:
‘May Jehovah your God add to your people, and may you find that they have grown to be 100 times greater.
However, my Lord the king; why would you want to do such a thing?’
But the king refused to listen to JoAb and to those that were in charge of his army, so JoAb and his men left the presence of the king and went to take a census of the people of IsraEl.
They crossed the JorDan and camped to the right of AroEr in the ravine of Gad and EliEzer.
Then they went to GileAd and into the land of ThaBason (AdasSai).
And from there, they traveled to DaniDan and UDan, and they camped around Sidon.
Then they traveled to MapSar of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites and CanaAnites;
And finally, they went to the south of Judah, into BeerSheba.
So they traveled throughout the entire land, returning to JeruSalem at the end of 9 months and 20 days,and JoAb gave the numbers of the people to the king.
Altogether, he found that there were 800,000 men in the armies of IsraEl that carried the broadsword, plus 500,000 warriors from Judah.
Well, after the census was completed, David [became ashamed] of what he had done, and he said to Jehovah:
‘I have really sinned by doing this thing.
However, O Lord, please overlook this lawlessness on the part of your servant, for I was very foolish.’
But when David got up the next morning, [he found that] the Word of Jehovah had come to the Prophet Gad (the Seer), who was told,
‘Go and speak to David.
Tell him that this is what Jehovah said:
I am giving you your choice of three [penalties]. You must choose the one you prefer, and I will then bring it against you!’
So Gad went to David and told him:
‘Choose for yourself which of these is going to come upon you;
1. Three years of famine in our land
2. Three months when your enemies will chase you and you will run from them
3. Three days of death in your land.
Now, give me a reply for the One that sent me.’
And David said to Gad:
‘Those are all tough choices, but of the three, I choose to put myself into the hands of Jehovah, because He is very compassionate.
He will never allow me to fall into the hands of [my enemies].’
So David chose the death.
Now, it was the season of the wheat harvest when Jehovah sent death throughout IsraEl from the morning until dinnertime.
Devastation started among the people, killing 70,000 men from Dan to BeerSheba.
Then the messenger of God turned his hand toward JeruSalem… to destroy it.
However, [Jehovah then forgave] the evil that was done, and He said to the messenger that was destroying the people,
‘That’s enough!’
Well at the time, the messenger of Jehovah was at the threshing-floor of Orna the Jebusite.
And David said to Jehovah (when he saw the messenger striking the people):
‘Look… I was the one that did the wrong!
Yes, I’m the shepherd that sinned, and these are just the sheep… what have they done?
May Your hand come against me and the house of my father instead!’
Then Gad came to David that day and said to him:
‘Now, go and erect an Altar to Jehovah at the threshing-floor of Orna the Jebusite.’
So, following the instructions of the Prophet Gad, he did what the Lord told him to do.
And when Orna saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he bowed before the king with his face to the ground.
Then Orna asked,
‘Why is my lord the king coming to his servant?’
And David replied:
‘I’m here to buy your threshing-floor from you in order to build an Altar to Jehovah, so that He will stop destroying the people.’
And Orna said to David:
‘Then, take it and offer it to Jehovah, my lord the king… do whatever is good in your eyes.
Look, here are some oxen to sacrifice as whole burnt-offerings… and use the wooden [ox-cart] and its wheels to burn [the sacrifices]!’
So Orna offered it all to the king.
And he said:
‘May Jehovah your God bless you.’
But the king said to Orna:
‘No, I want to purchase it from you for a price;
Because, I won’t offer a whole burnt-offering to Jehovah my God free of charge.’
So, David bought the threshing floor and the oxen, paying for it with 50 large silver coins.
And there he built an Altar to Jehovah, where he sacrificed whole burnt offerings and peace offerings.
Then [later on], Solomon added to the size of the Altar, because it was small at first.
But [Jehovah’s favor] returned to the land, and He ended the devastation that He was bringing upon IsraEl.
King David had grown very old, and even when they wrapped him in [heavy] clothes he couldn’t get warm.
So his servants said:
‘Have them search for a young virgin girl that will wait on the king, treat him well, and lie with him… that will keep him warm.’
So they searched for a pretty young woman throughout the borders of IsraEl, and they found AbiSag the Somanite and brought her to the king.
The young woman was extremely beautiful, and she treated the king very well and served him; but, he never [had sex] with her.
Meanwhile,AdoniJah (the son of [David’s woman] AgGith) tried to elevate himself, saying,
‘I will be the king!’
So he prepared himself [by collecting] chariots and horses, and having 50 men run ahead of him.
Yet [David] never discouraged him or asked him why he was doing this.
AdoniJah was a very handsome man, to whom his mother had given birth after AbSalom.
And he went to meet with JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) and AbiAthar the Priest, who then they became his supporters.
However, neither the Priest SaDoc, nor BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda), nor the Prophet Nathan, nor Semei, nor Resi, nor any of David’s mighty men supported AdoniJah.
Then AdoniJah went to the Rock of ZoeLethi (near RogEl) to sacrifice sheep, calves, and lambs, and he called for [most of] his brothers, the king’s servants, and all the adult men of Judah…
But he didn’t invite the Prophet Nathan, BanaYas, any of the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
So, Nathan went to BathSheba (Solomon’s mother) and asked:
‘Have you heard?
AgGith’s son AdoniJah has started ruling. However, our lord David doesn’t know about it yet.
So, please allow me to offer you some council that will save your life and the life of your son Solomon.
Hurry and go to King David, then say to him:
O my lord the king;
Didn’t you swear to me (your handmaid) that my son Solomon would reign after you and sit on your throne? And if so, why is AdoniJah reigning?
Then, while you’re still there speaking to the king, I’ll come in after you and confirm what you’re saying.’
As the result, BathSheba went to see the king in his bedroom.
Well, the king was very old, and AbiSag (the Somanite) was there serving him.
Then BathSheba bowed low before the king and he asked her:
‘What do you want?’
And she replied:
‘My lord; Didn’t you swear to your handmaid by Jehovah your God, saying,
Your son Solomon will reign after me and sit on my throne?
But look! AdoniJah has now started to rule, though you, my lord the king, don’t know anything about this!
He has already sacrificed many calves, lambs, and sheep, and he has invited all of the king’s sons, as well as AbiAthar the Priest and JoAb (the commander-in-chief of your army) to come with him.
Of course, he didn’t invite your servant Solomon.
So now, O my lord the king; all IsraEl is watching and waiting for you to tell them who will sit on your throne after you.
And as it presently stands; after my lord the king goes to sleep with his fathers, my son Solomon and I will be [in great jeopardy].’
Then, {Look!} while she was still speaking to the king, the Prophet Nathan arrived, which was reported to the king with the words,
‘Look, the Prophet Nathan has arrived.’
So, Nathan went into the king’s presence and bowed to him with his face to the ground,then he said:
‘My lord; O king;
Did you say that AdoniJah will reign after you and sit on your throne?
For today he has gone to sacrifice many calves, lambs, and sheep, and he has invited all your sons, the chiefs of the army, and AbiAthar the Priest.
Look! They’re eating and drinking before him now, saying,
Long live King AdoniJah!
But he didn’t invite me (your servant), or the Priest SaDoc, or BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda), or your servant Solomon.
Has this matter been authorized by my lord the king, and have you failed to tell your servant who will succeed you on the throne?’
Then King David said:
‘Call BathSheba back in.’
So she came in and stood before the king.
Then the king swore [an oath to her], saying:
‘As Jehovah (who saved my life from all danger) lives,and as I swore to you by Jehovah the God of IsraEl, saying,
Your son Solomon will reign after me and sit on my throne after me,
I’m saying the same thing today.’
And at that, BathSheba bowed low with her face to the ground, and said:
‘May my lord King David live through the ages.’
Then King David said:
‘Call SaDoc the Priest, the Prophet Nathan, and BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) to me.’
So they came in and stood before the king,and the king said to them:
‘Take my servants with you and mount my son Solomon on my personal mule, then take him to GiOn.
There, SaDoc the Priest and the Prophet Nathan should anoint him to be the king over IsraEl.
Then you must blow the trumpets and shout,
Long live King Solomon!
For he will sit on my throne and be the ruler in place of me…
I’m giving the order that he will now be the leader over IsraEl and Judah!’
Then BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) said to the king:
‘May it be so! May Jehovah, the God of my lord the king, make it so!
And as Jehovah was with my lord the king, may He be with Solomon… may He raise his throne even higher than the throne of my lord King David.’
So SaDoc the Priest, Nathan the Prophet, BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda), and the Cherethites and Phelethites went and mounted Solomon on King David’s mule, and led him away to GiOn.
Then SaDoc took the horn of oil from the Sacred Tent, anointed Solomon with it, and blew the trumpets, as all the people started shouting,
‘[Long] live King Solomon!’
And thereafter, so many people came to him dancing and singing in joy that the ground literally shook with the sounds of their voices.
Well, when AdoniJah and his guests heard all the commotion, they stopped eating.
And when JoAb heard the trumpets being blown, he asked,
‘Why is the whole city in such an uproar?’
Then, while he was still speaking, {Look!} JoNathan (the son of AbiAthar the Priest) came in. And AdoniJah said:
‘Welcome!
Since you’re such a powerful man, you must be bringing good news!’
And JoNathan replied:
‘It’s true! For our lord King David has made Solomon the king!
He sent SaDoc the Priest, Nathan the Prophet, BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda), and the Cherethites and Phelethites, and they mounted him on the king’s mule;then they anointed him in GiOn.
So, the sounds that you’re hearing from the city are the sounds of rejoicing!
For Solomon is now seated on the throne of the kingdom,and the king’s servants are going in to praise our lord King David, saying,
May God make the name of Solomon even better than your name and his throne greater than your throne!
‘Right now, the king is bowing before [God] from his bed andsaying:
May Jehovah the God of IsraEl be praised, because today He has appointed one of my seed to sit on my throne while my eyes can still see it!’
Well at that, all the guests of AdoniJah were shocked… and then they just left.
And because AdoniJah was afraid of Solomon, he got up and walked out, then he went and grabbed hold of the horns on the Altar.
Thereafter, when it was reported to Solomon that AdoniJah was afraid of him and that he was holding onto the horns of the Altar and saying,
‘Let Solomon swear to me today that he won’t kill his servant with his sword,’
Solomon said:
‘If he’s an honorable man, not a single hair will fall to the ground; but if he’s evil, he will die.’
So King Solomon sent and had him brought back from the Altar.
Then [AdoniJah] bowed low before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him:
‘Now, just go back home!’
Well, the time for David’s death drew near, so he spoke to his son Solomon and said,
‘I’m going the way of all on the earth.Therefore, you must now be strong and prove that you’re a man.
Follow the instructions of Jehovah your God, walk in His ways, and follow the Commandments, rules and decisions that are written in the Law of Moses, so you’ll understand what you should do when it comes to all the things that I will tell you.
If you’ll do this, Jehovah will make the thing that He promised come true, when He said,
If your children will pay attention to the way that they should walk before Me wholeheartedly and in truth, there will never fail to be a man from you who sits on the throne of IsraEl.
‘Now, you know all the things that JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) did to me and to the two generals of the army of IsraEl… to AbNer (the son of Ner) and to AmaSa (the son of JeTher).
He murdered them and shed their blood as in war, although we were at peace… he wrapped his waist and the sandals on his feet in innocent blood.
So, deal with him as your wisdom directs, and don’t allow him to take his grey hair to the grave in peace.
‘However, I want you to deal kindly with the son of BarZelli the GileAdite…
He should eat at your table, because [BarZelli] came to my aid when I had to run from your brother AbSalom.
‘And {Look!} there is also Semei (the son of Gera – a BenJaminite of BaUrim) who is still among us.
He cursed me when he came down to the JorDan to meet me as I was returning to JeruSalem.
Back then, I swore to him by Jehovah that I wouldn’t use the sword to put him to death.However, he isn’t free of guilt.
Now, you’re a wise man, and you know what you must do to him… you must take his grey hair to the grave covered in blood.’
Then shortly thereafter, David went to sleep with his ancestors, and was entombed in the city of David.
David had reigned over IsraEl for 40 years… 7 years in HebRon and 33 years in JeruSalem.
But then Solomon came to sit upon the throne of his father David, and his kingdom became very great.
Well, [after David had died], AdoniJah (the son of AgGith) went to see BathSheba (Solomon’s mother).
He bowed before her, and then she asked:
‘Have you come in peace?’
And he replied:
‘Yes, in peace…for I have some business with you.’
So she said:
‘Then speak.’
And he said:
‘You know that the kingdom was mine, because all IsraEl turned to me as their king.
But the kingdom was taken away from me and it became my brother’s, because it was given to him by Jehovah.
So, I just want to ask one thing of you… and please don’t ignore me.’
Then BathSheba said:
‘Keep talking.’
And he said to her:
‘I beg you to speak to King Solomon, because he won’t ignore you.
Ask him to give AbiSag the Somanite to me, to be my woman.’
And BathSheba said:
‘Well, I’ll speak to the king for you.’
So BathSheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of AdoniJah.
Well, the king arose to meet her, then he kissed her and he sat down on his throne.
Thereafter, he had a throne placed there for the mother of the king, so she sat down at his right hand.
Then she said to him:
‘I would like to make one little request… and please don’t ignore me.’
So the king said:
‘Ask, my mother, and I won’t ignore you.’
And she said:
‘Please give AbiSag the Somanite to your brother AdoniJah as his woman.’
But King Solomon asked her:
‘Why are you asking me to give AbiSag to AdoniJah?
You could ask me to give him the kingdom also, because he’s my older brother… and his friends are the Priest AbiAthar and my commander-in-chief, JoAb (the son of ZeruJah).’
Then King Solomon swore an oath by Jehovah, saying:
‘May God curse me and add to it if AdoniJah hasn’t spoken these words against his own life.
For now, as Jehovah lives (the One who established me, set me on the throne of my father David, and made me a house just as the Lord had promised);
AdoniJah will die today!’
So King Solomon sent out BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) to kill him, and AdoniJah died that day.
Then the king said to AbiAthar the Priest:
‘You must quickly return to your farm in AnathOth, because you also deserve to die today.
However, I’m not going to kill you, because you carried Jehovah’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement before my father, and because you also shared in all the sufferings of my father.’
So Solomon removed AbiAthar as the Priest of Jehovah, which fulfilled the words that the Lord had spoken at Salem concerning the house of Eli.
And when the news of this reached JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) – because he had supported AdoniJah (not Solomon) – he ran to the Tent of Jehovah and grabbed hold of the horns on the Altar.
Well when Solomon was told that JoAb had fled to the Tent of Jehovah and he was hanging onto the horns of the Altar, he sent [a message] to JoAb, asking,
‘What’s wrong with you?
Why have you fled to the Altar?’
And JoAb replied:
‘I fled to Jehovah for refuge because I’m afraid of you!’
So Solomon told BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) to go and kill him, then bury him.
Well, when BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) reached JoAb at the Tent of Jehovah, he said to him:
‘The king had commanded that you to come away from there!’
But JoAb said:
‘I’m not coming… for I’d rather die right here!’
So then, BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) returned to the king and told him what JoAb said,and the king told him:
‘Then, go and do what he told you to do… kill him there, and then bury him!
That way, you’ll remove the blood that he shed for no reason from me and from the house of my father.
For, Jehovah has brought the blood of his unrighteousness down upon his own head, because he attacked two men that were more righteous and better than himself, killing them with his sword…
Though my father David was unaware that he would kill AbNer (the son of Ner) the commander-in-chief of IsraEl, and Amesa (the son of JeTher) the commander-in-chief of Judah.
Now, their blood is on his head and on the head of his seed through the ages.
But upon David, his seed, and his house and throne, may there be peace from Jehovah through the ages.
So BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) went back and killed him, and then he converted his house in the desert into his tomb.
Well thereafter, the king appointed BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) to be the commander-in-chief of his army, and his kingship became firm in JeruSalem.
As for SaDoc the Priest;
The king appointed him as the High Priest in place of AbiAthar.
So, Solomon (the son of David) started reigning over both IsraEl and Judah from JeruSalem, and Jehovah gave Solomon as much wisdom, understanding, and greatness of heart as there is sand on the seashores.
For the wisdom of Solomon was greater than that of all the ancient peoples, and it was far greater than the wise men of Egypt.
Then the king called for Semei and said this to him:
‘You may build yourself a house in JeruSalem and live there… however, you must not leave it!
For I want you to know that on the day you cross the Cedar (Kidron) Valley, you’re going to die and your blood will be on your own head.’
And Semei said to the king:
‘What you’ve said is good, O my lord the king… and that’s what your servant will do.’
Then the king made him swear an oath to this.
So Semei lived in JeruSalem for the next 3 years.But after the three years, two of his slaves ran away (to Anchus, the son of MaAcha, the king of Geth).
And when Semei was told that his slaves were in Geth,he saddled his burros and went to Anchus in Geth to bring his slaves back.
But when Solomon was told that Semei had left JeruSalem and gone to Geth to bring back his slaves,the king sent for Semei and said to him:
‘Didn’t you swear by Jehovah, and didn’t I warn you that if you left JeruSalem (whether to the right or to the left) you will surely die?
So, why haven’t you kept your oath to Jehovah and followed the instructions that I gave you?’
Then the king told Semei:
‘In your heart you know of all the bad things you’ve done, and of the bad things that you did to my father David.
So now, Jehovah is bringing your badness down upon your own head,while King Solomon will be blest and the throne of David will be established before Jehovah through the ages.’
Then Solomon commanded BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) to take him out and kill him.
Well, under Solomon, the kingdom was united.
Then Solomon contracted a marriage with PharaOh, the king of Egypt.
He took the daughter of PharaOh and brought her to the city of David.
He did this after he had completed building his palace, the Temple of Jehovah, and after building the wall around JeruSalem.
Now, before the Temple was built, the people had been burning incense [to Jehovah] in the high places.
And since Solomon loved Jehovah (and because he was following the orders of his father David), he also offered his sacrifices and burned incense there.
So Solomon then got up and went to offer sacrifices at GibeOn (since that was the highest place at the time).
There he had 1,000 whole burnt offerings placed on the Altar.
And then the Lord appeared to Solomon while he was sleeping that night, and said to him:
‘Solomon; Ask for whatever you wish for yourself.’
So Solomon replied:
‘You’ve shown great mercy to your servant, my father David, and he walked with You in truth, justice, and with a pure heart.
Then You guarded him and showed him great mercy by allowing his son to sit upon his throne, which has come true today.
And now, O Jehovah my God; though You have appointed Your servant in place of my father David, I’m still just a boy that doesn’t know when to enter or when to leave.
Yet Your servant [now rules] in the midst of this mighty [nation] that You’ve chosen, which has [so many people] that they can’t be counted.
Therefore, please give your servant a heart to listen so as to make [wise] decisions for Your people in justice, and to recognize the difference between what’s good and what’s bad.
For, who could possibly bear the weight of such judgments?
Well, this thing that Solomon asked of Jehovah was pleasing to Him,so He replied:
‘Because you have asked this thing from Me and you didn’t ask for a long life, or for wealth, or for the lives of your enemies, and all you asked for yourself is the understanding to judge righteously;{Look!} I have done what you asked.
{Look!} I’m giving you an intelligent and wise heart… there has never been anyone before you, nor will there ever be anyone that will arise after you that will be like you.
And I’m also giving you the things that you didn’t ask for… including wealth and glory; for there has never been a king like you.
And if you will do things My way and obey My Commandments and instructions as did your father David, I will also grant you a long life.’
Well, after Solomon awoke, he remembered the dream.
So he got up and returned to JeruSalem; and there he went and stood before the Altar that was in front of the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah in Zion.
Then he sacrificed whole burnt offerings and peace offerings, and he held a great banquet for himself and for all his servants.
It was sometime later that two women that were prostitutes came to stand before the king for a [judgment].
One of the women said,
‘Hear me, my lord!
This woman and I both live in the same house and we both gave birth to [sons] there.
It was three days after I gave birth that this woman also gave birth in the same place while no one else was around… there was just the two of us in the house.
Then this woman’s son died during the night when she rolled over on him.
So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my arms and put him to her breasts; then she took her son that had died and laid him at my breasts.
Well, when I got up in the morning to nurse my son, I saw the one that had died.
But I studied him, and then I realized that this wasn’t my son to whom I had given birth.’
But then the other woman shouted:
‘That isn’t true!
My son is the one that’s living and hers is the one that’s dead!’
Then the king said to her:
‘So you’re saying that the living son is yours, and the dead one is hers.
And she’s saying that isn’t true; hers is the living son and yours is the one that is dead.’
Then the king said,
‘Now, bring me a sword!’
And they brought him a sword.
Then he said,
‘Cut this living, nursing child in halves, and give half to this one and the other half to that one!’
Well, the real mother of the living son spoke to the king, because she was disturbed to the womb about what was going to happen to her son.
So she said:
‘Hear me, O lord!
Give the child to her… don’t kill him!’
But the other [woman] said:
‘May he be neither mine nor hers…
Cut him in two!’
Then the king said:
‘I’m giving the child to the woman that said,
Give it to her, don’t kill him,
because she’s his mother.’
Well, all IsraEl soon came to hear of this decision of the king, and they were in fear whenever they were in his presence;
For they knew that the intelligence of God was in him, and that justice would prevail.
Back when King Solomon was reigning in IsraEl,these are the men that were with him and that were in charge:
· AzariAh (the son of ZaDok) was the [High] Priest
· EliAm and AhiJah (the sons of Saba) were his scribes
· JehoShaphat (the son AchiLud) was the recorder
· BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) was the commander-in-chief of the army
· ZaDok and AbiAthar were the Priests
· AzariAh (the son of Nathan) directed his staff
· ZaboUth (the son of Nathan) was the king’s right-hand man
· AciSar was his manager
· EliAb (the son of Saph) was over his family
· AdoniRam (the son of AphDon) was in charge of the tributes.
So Solomon assigned 12 men over all IsraEl to handle matters for him and his house.
Then there were others that were assigned to [bring the things that Solomon required] for just 1 month each year, and these are their names:
· The son of Or was responsible in the mountains of Ephraim
· The son of DaKar was responsible in MachEmas, SalaBin, BethSamus, AiLon, and BethAnan
· The son of Esdi was responsible in ArabOth, SochOth, and all the land of Opher
· The son of AmiNadab (who was married to Solomon’s daughter) was responsible in all of NephthaDor and TephAth
· BaAna (the son of AchiLouth) was responsible in IthAnak, MegidDo, and over the whole house of San near SesaThan and below EsraE, from BethSan to SebelMaula, to MaEber and Lucam
· The son of Gaber from GileAd was over a piece of measured land around EreGaba (which is in BaShan) and which included 60 great walled cities that were [protected by] bronze bars
· AchiNadab (the son of SadDo) was responsible in MaAnaim
· AchimaAs (who was married to Solomon’s daughter BasEmath) was responsible in [the land of] NaphTali
· BaAnah (the son HushAi) was in charge of BaAlOth and [the land of] Asher
· JehoShaphat (the son ParuAh) was responsible in [the land of] IsSachar
· Shemei (the son of ElAh) was responsible in [the land of] BenJamin
· Gaber (the son AdAi) was responsible in the land of GileAd, [the land of] SeOn (the king of HeshBon), [the land of] Og (the king of BaShan), and [the land of] NaSeb (in the land of Judah).
Now, Judah and IsraEl had grown so large that [their people] were as the sands of the seas in number, and they all ate, drank, and rejoiced;
For Solomon was the ruler in all their kingdoms from the river in the land of the Philistines to the borders of Egypt.
They also brought Solomon many gifts, and they served him throughout all the days of his life.
These are the things that Solomon required at his table each day:
· 200 bushels of fine flour,
· 400 bushels of beaten flour,
· 10 choice calves,
· 20 grass-fed oxen,
· 100 sheep, as well as well-fed male and female antelope.
Solomon was also the ruler of all the land on the [east] side of the [JorDan], and there was peace throughout the whole country.
[So, during all the days of Solomon, the people] in Judah and IsraEl (from Dan to BeerSheba) harvested their own grapevines and [lived] under their own fig trees.
During his lifetime, Solomon had gathered some 40,000 breeding horses for his chariots and 12,000 more for his cavalry.
Those whom he put in charge brought the things that were required to the king’s table (each one in his own month) did just as they were told and they didn’t change a word.
They brought barley and hay for the horses, and they took the chariots wherever the king needed them and arranged for them to be.
Well, Jehovah gave intelligence and great wisdom to Solomon, and it kept growing in his heart like the sands of the seas.
Solomon’s intelligence grew greater than that of all the men of ancient times, including all the wise men of Egypt…
His understanding was greater than everyone, so he was wiser than GaitThan the Zarite, or AiNan, or ChalKal, or DarDa (the sons of Mal).
[During his lifetime], Solomon spoke 3,000 parables and he [wrote] 5,000 songs.
He spoke of the cedars of Lebanon, of the hyssop, and of [plants that grow] through walls.
He spoke about cattle, flying creatures, things that crawl, and about things that live in the water…and people from everywhere on the earth would come to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
Also, all their kings, when they heard of his wisdom, would bring him gifts.
Then HiRam, the king of Tyre sent his servants to anoint Solomon in place of his father David; for HiRam loved David throughout his whole life.
And Solomon sent [a message] to HiRam, saying,
‘You know that my father David was unable to build a [Temple] to the Name of my God Jehovah, because he was fighting the wars that were going on around him, until Jehovah finally put his enemies under the soles of his feet.
And now, my God Jehovah has provided rest for me all around [my land], for there are no more plotters or wicked people anywhere near me.
So now I’m talking about building a [Temple] to the Name of my God who once said to my father David:
Your son whom I will put on your throne after you will build a [Temple] to My Name.
‘Therefore, please have your men cut some timber for me from the trees in Lebanon, and I’ll pay whatever you ask for their wages.
{Look!} I’ll also send my servants to go with your servants; for no one understands timber cutting better than the Sidonians.’
Well, when HiRam received Solomon’s message, he was overjoyed and said:
‘May the God who gave David such an intelligent son to rule over this great people be praised today!’
So he sent [a message] to Solomon replying:
‘I’ve heard everything that you asked of me, and I will send all the pine and cedar lumber that you’ve requested.
My servants will cut it in Lebanon then carry it to the sea and haul it all on barges to wherever you tell me to drop it off… you can carry it on from there.
All I ask from you in return, is that you send me some loaves of bread for my house.’
So HiRam gave Solomon all the cedars and pines that he wanted,and Solomon sent HiRam 130,000 bushels of wheat and 120,000 gallons (450,000l) of beaten olive oil for his house.
In fact, he sent that amount to HiRam every year after that.
Well, Jehovah gave Solomon all the wisdom that he had asked for, and there was peace between HiRam and Solomon, for they’d concluded a treaty between themselves.
And the king sent him (as a tribute from all IsraEl) 30,000 men…
He would send 10,000 of them to Lebanon each month in rotation, and they would thereafter spend a month in Lebanon and 2 months at home.
AdoniRam was the person whom he’d put in charge of this tribute.
Meanwhile, Solomon had 70,000 laborers and 80,000 stonecutters [working] in the mountains.
And in addition to those whom Solomon placed in charge of his construction project, he had 3,600 supervisors on the job,whom the king had instructed to set huge, valuable stone blocks in place as the foundations for the building.
Also, the sons of Solomon and HiRam [were in charge of] assembling everything after all the blocks and timbers had been cut (which took three years).
It was 400 and [80] years after the sons of IsraEl had left Egypt (in the 4th year and 2nd month of King Solomon’s reign over IsraEl) that the Temple of Jehovah [started to be built].
It was 90 feet (27.4m) long, 30 feet (9.1m) wide, and 30 feet (9.1m) tall.
The Temple had a columned front entryway that was about 30 feet (9.1m) deep and it was as wide as the building.
There was also a window in the Temple that was hidden, because it leaned inward.
And there was an eve along [the top] of the wall that ran all the way around the building to the entryway.
He then built side [rooms] around the structure.
The room at the [top] was 7-1/2 feet (2.3m) wide, the one in the middle was 9 feet (2.75m) wide, and the one at the [bottom] was 10-1/2 feet (3.2m) wide.
He built the rooms around the Temple on the outside, but they were not attached to its walls.
The Temple was constructed from rough-chiseled stone; for the sound of hammers, axes, and other metal tools wasn’t to be heard during its construction.
There was a vestibule that was attached to the right side of bottom room of the building, which had a winding stairway in the middle that led up to the 3rd story.
Then, after the [exterior] was built, Solomon had the [interior walls] covered with cedar [panels].
He also built the interior chamber in the middle of the Temple, which stood 7-1/2 feet (2.3m) high, and it was held together with cedar beams.
Thereafter, Jehovah sent word to Solomon, saying,
‘Regarding this [Temple] that you’re building for Me;
If you will follow My instructions and decisions, and obey all My Commandments, the thing that I said to your father David will prove true…
I will camp in the midst of the sons of IsraEl, and I won’t abandon My people IsraEl.’
Well after that, Solomon went on to finish the Temple.
He paneled all its interior walls from its floors to its beams, with cedar.
It was vaulted with timbers on the inside, and the walls were ribbed with pine.
So inside, the measurement from the floor to the ceiling beams was 30 feet (9.1m).
And inside the entryway, he built the Holy of Holies.
However, the front of the Temple rose 60 feet (18.3m) high at the entrance.
Now, the interior cedar panels were all carved with decorations of gourds and spread leaves, and none of the stonework could be seen from the inside.
Also, in the entryway in the center of the Temple, a place was made to hold the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah.
The room was 30 feet (9.1m) long, 30 feet (9.1m) wide, and 30 feet (9.1m) tall, and it was totally enclosed and covered in gold.
Then he built an Altar in front of the Temple entrance and he covered it with gold.
In fact, by the time of its completion, the whole building was covered with gold.
He also made two wooden cherubs of cypress, which he placed on either side of the entrance.
These stood 15 feet (4.6m) tall,each of their wings were 7-1/2 feet (2.3m) long, and the distance from wing-tip to wing-tip was 15 feet (4.5m).Both of these cherubs were the same size.
He also had 17-foot cherubs built that were placed in the innermost part of the Temple.
They too had spread wings that touched each other and ran to the walls on either side of the building’s interior.
These cherubs were also covered in gold,and the walls around the Temple were engraved with cherubs and palms… both the innermost and outermost portions.
And he even covered the floors of the whole building with gold… both the innermost portions and the outermost portions.
The Temple’s front entrance was made of juniper wood, and there were 5 doorways.
Two of the doors were made of pines that were carved with cherubs and palms. The others were just panels that could be removed to enlarge the entrance.
And everything was covered with gold, including the engraved cherubs and palms.
The Temple vestibule had juniper doorposts and 4 columns.
Both of the doors were made of pine, and they were hinged into a bi-fold configuration.
They also had panels that were carved with cherubs and palm leaves, and then they were entirely covered in gold.
Thereafter, [Solomon] built the inner courtyard.
It had three rows of uncut stones that were surrounded by cedar posts.
So, it was in the 4th year [of his reign], during the month of Ziv, that the Temple foundation was laid.
And it was in the 11th year and the 8th month (Bul) that the Temple was finally completed per [Solomon’s] instructions and design.
So he took 7 years to complete it.
Then over the next 13 years, Solomon finished building his own house,which was also constructed of wood from the forests of Lebanon.
It was 150 feet (45.7m) long, 75 feet (22.8m) wide, 40 feet (12.2m) tall, and it had 4 rows of cedar columns that ran up to cedar rafters.
The whole building was decorated with latticework on the upper parts of the columns, and there were 45 columns in rows of fives and tens.
There were also three windows on each of three sides, to provide lighting,and the windows and doorways were 4-cornered, with arches over the three doorways.
The palace had a columned entryway that was 75 feet (22.8m) long and 40 feet (12.2m) wide, which had a porch in front with columns and thick beams.
This was where [Solomon’s] throne was located and where he did his judging.
There was a [special] columned porch for his judgment seat,and then there was a courtyard in front of the place where he sat that could be expanded whenever there was a need to do so.
He also built a house for the daughter of PharaOh whom he had taken as his woman, which looked a lot like his columned porch.
Everything was constructed of valuable stones that had been chiseled at intervals on the insides (from the foundations to the windows) and on the outsides, up to the great courtyard.
The foundation was constructed of valuable stones that were each 12 feet (3.65m) by 15 feet (4.6m) wide,and the roof was made of valuable stones of the same size, which were mounted over cedar beams.
In addition, there was also a large courtyard that was circled by three rows of uncut stones and a row of carved cedar posts.
It was built much like the courtyard and the columned porch at the Temple of Jehovah.
Solomon had called for HiRam at Tyre(who was the son of a widow from the tribe of NaphTali and his father was a Tyranian man);
For he was gifted when it came to working bronze (as well as at other crafts), and he was filled with knowledge on how to do all sorts of metalwork.
So he was brought to King Solomon, because he was able to do everything that needed to be done.
It was [HiRam] who smelted and cast the two columns for the Temple porch.
They were both 24 feet (7.3m) tall, 18 feet (5.5m) in circumference, and grooved to a depth of 4 fingers.
He also molded two bronze capitals for the tops of the columns that were each 7-1/2 feet (2.3m) tall.
Then he made bronze decorations for each capital,which consisted of rows of hanging pomegranates,and the top of each column was shaped like a lily.
Thereafter, he finished off the columns for the porch with a ridge that ran between the capitals.
It was 6 feet (1.8m) wideand it was covered with 200 rows of pomegranates.
He then erected these columns at the columned porch of the Temple, and he named one column JaKin, and the other BoAz.
He also topped [the rest of] the columns with [bronze] lilies.
And with that, he finally finished his work on the columns.
Next, he cast the [Sacred] Sea.
It was round and 15 feet (4.6m) wide from rim to rim.
It was 7-1/2 feet (2.3m) tall and about 45 feet (13.7m) in circumference.
The base beneath it was 15 feet (4.6m) wide, and it was made of 2 rows of supports that were cast in a foundry furnace.
The Sea itself was supported by 12 metal oxen, three of which faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east.
The Sea was then placed on top of them,and of course, all the posteriors faced inward.
The middle of the Sea was shaped like a palm, but its rim was like that of a cup, with lily buds around the top.
It had a capacity of about 1,100 gallons (4,100l).
Then [HiRam] made 10 bronze carts.
They were each 6 feet (1.8m) long, 6 feet (1.8m) wide, and 4-1/2 feet (1.4m) tall.
The carts were made of panels that were joined into framesthat were [engraved with] lions, oxen, and cherubs.
In fact, lions, oxen, and cherubs covered all parts of the carts, including their bases.
Each of the carts had 4 bronze wheels, and all their fastenings were made of brass.
Then, coming up from the base were 4 supports that held the washtubs, each of which were 20 inches (50cm) long.
[The tub supports] were round (two feet wide at the top), and they were covered with engravings.
However, the 4 supports were rectangular, not round.
There were bronze wheels mounted at the base of the supports, and the wheels each had spokes that were two feet long…
In fact, they looked like chariot wheels.
And all the spokes were joined to cast axels.
There were supports that stuck out at the corners of each of the cart’s bases as handles,and they were mounted along the top of each base.
They were 9 inches (23cm) around and stood high enough [to serve as] handholds.
All these connecting parts [were carved] with cherubs, lions, and palms that were standing next to each other on the front, on the inside, and all around.
He made all 10 carts exactly alike and to the same dimensions.
Then he made the 10 bronze washtubs.
They each held 230 gallons (870l) [of water], and they were 8 feet (2.4m) long. Each of the washtubs was then mounted on a cart.
5 were placed on the Temple’s right side, and the other 5 on its left side.
The [Sacred] Sea was placed to the right of the Temple, on its southeast corner.
Next, HiRam made the cooking pots, the tongs, and the bowls.
And soon he had completed making all the things for King Solomon at the Temple of Jehovah… the 2 columns, the twisted decorations that were put on the capitals of the 2 columns, the carvings for the tops of the columns,and the pomegranates (400 of which were used as decorations).
Two rows of [pomegranates] were put on each column, and the rest were used as decorationsfor the carts, the metal washtubs that were mounted on them, and their axels, rims, and spokes, as well as forthe Sea and its 12 oxen that supported it,and for the cooking pots, tongs, and bowls.
He [personally] made all these things for King Solomon and for the Temple of Jehovah.
Altogether, he [decorated] 48 columns for the palace of the king and for the Temple of Jehovah.
And everything that HiRam made for the king was entirely of bronze.
He did all his casting near the JorDan River, underground, in a place that was located between SokChoth and ZarEthan.
Solomon already had all the materials stored away, since he had received so much bronze.
Then Solomon went on to make the rest of the items for the Temple of Jehovah…
The gold Altar, the gold table for the showbread,the solid-gold lampstands that were placed at the entrance (5 on the right side and 5 on the left side), as well as their gold bowls, lamps, and oil funnels,plus the gold thresholds, fasteners, bowls, saucers, and incense pans.
The doorway to the innermost part of the Temple (the Holy of Holies) and the doors to the entrance of the Temple itself were covered with gold.
So, Solomon finally finished his ‘house’ for Jehovah.
Then he carried in all the holy things of David his father, as well as all of his own holy things, including much silver and gold, and other things for the treasury of the Temple of Jehovah.
Thereafter, King Solomon held a meeting of all the elders of IsraEl there on [Mount] Zion, to talk about bringing the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah out of the city of David (which was on Mount Zion).
This was in the month of Athanim (the 7th month), and because it was a holiday, all the elders of IsraEl were already there.
Then the Priests removed the Chestfrom the Tent of Proofs (along with all the holy items that were there),and the king and all IsraEl stood before the Chest and sacrificed multitudes of oxen and sheep.
Thereafter, the Priests carried the Chest and put it into its place inside the Holy of Holies (which was near the entrance of the Temple) under the wings of the cherubs(for the cherubs had open, spread wings that covered the Chest and the other holy things that were on its cover).
And the only parts that stuck out of the Holy [of Holies] were the sacred staves…
But even these couldn’t be seen from outside [the Temple].
Of course, there was nothing in the Chest except the two stone tablets of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah made with the sons of IsraEl after they had left the land of Egypt, and which were put there by Moses at the Dry Place (Horeb).
Well, as the Priests were coming out of the Holy Place, a mist then filled the whole building.
So the Priests were unable to stand and officiate before the mist, because the glory of Jehovah filled the whole Temple.
Then Solomon said:
‘O Jehovah; You spoke of camping in dimness.
And now I’ve built a [Temple] to Your Name, and I’ve prepared a Holy Place for You.
So, this is Your throne and a place for You to camp through the ages.’
Then he turned around, and all IsraEl started praising the king; for the whole gathering of IsraEl was standing there.
And [the king] said:
‘Praise Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, who spoke with His mouth about my father David, and that filled his hands, saying,
From the day that I led My people IsraEl out of Egypt, I had never chosen a city [for Myself] in one of the chiefdoms of IsraEl where a [Temple] would be built to My Name.
But now, I’ve chosen JeruSalem as the place to put My Name, and I’ve chosen David to lead My people IsraEl.
And that’s why the heart of my father David was moved to build a [Temple] to the Name of Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.
‘Then the Lord said to my father David:
Because your heart was moved to build a [Temple] to My Name, you’ve done a good thing, since it came from your heart!
However, you may not personally build the [Temple]… it will be built by a son that comes from you.
He will build the [Temple] to My Name.’
‘So Jehovah caused these things that He spoke of, to happen. I replaced my father David and sat down on the throne of IsraEl, just as Jehovah said;
And now I’ve built the [Temple] to the Name of the Lord God of IsraEl.
I’ve also created a place for the Chest that contains the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah made with our ancestors when He led them out of the land of Egypt.’
Then Solomon stood before the Altar of Jehovah, there in front of the whole gathering of IsraEl, and he raised his arms toward heaven,and said:
‘O Jehovah, God of IsraEl; there are no gods in the skies above or on the earth below that are like You.
For You have kept Your promise and shown mercy to Your servant… the one that has walked before You with his whole heart, Your servant David, my father.
You spoke to him with Your mouth, and with Your hands, You’ve fulfilled what [You promised to him].
And now, O Jehovah, God of IsraEl; Keep [the promise] that You made with my father David when You said,
There will continue to be a man that sits before Me on the throne of IsraEl for as long as your children continue to follow Me the same as you have followed Me.’
‘So now, O Jehovah, God of IsraEl;
May the words that You said to my father David prove to be true.
However, will You really live on the earth with men, when the heavens of the heavens can’t contain You?
Therefore, how can this [Temple] that I built to Your Name expect to do so?
‘Please listen to my prayer, O Jehovah, God of IsraEl… hear the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today!
May Your eyes watch over this [Temple] both day and night;
For it’s the place where You said that You would put Your Name.
‘Then from Your home in the heavens, please listen to the prayers that Your servants will pray in this place both day and night,and provide the things for which Your servant and all Your people IsraEl will ask when they pray here…
Answer them and provide!
And if they should sin against their neighbors by vowing an oath to curse them, and then they come and openly confess such a thing before Your Altar in this [Temple];
May You listen from the heavens and act… judge Your people IsraEl!
Declare the lawless one lawlessness and bring his [evil] ways down upon his own head; but, give justice to the righteous…
Treat the righteous with righteousness!
‘And when Your people IsraEl sin against You; may they fall before their enemies until they return and acknowledge Your Name, and then pray and beg before You in this [Temple].
Please listen to them from the heavens and forgive the sins of Your people IsraEl, and return them to this land that You gave to their ancestors.
‘And when You hold back the sky and don’t allow rain to fall because of their sins against You, and then they come to pray in this place and acknowledge Your Name and turn away from their sins after You’ve humbled them;
Please listen from the heavens and forgive the sins of Your servants… Your people IsraEl.
Show them a better way to act, and then provide rain for this land that You’ve given to Your people as their inheritance.
‘And if there should be a famine, a plague, a fire, an infestation of locusts, or a blight [on the crops], or if an enemy should come against one of our cities (no matter what the event or misery);
May all the prayers and supplications of every man be heard, so that You will come to know the pain in their hearts.
And whenever a man spreads out his arms in thisHouse that has been prepared for You; may You hear him from the heavens, forgive him, and act.
Give each man what he deserves according to the way that he behaves; for, only You can know what’s really in their hearts.
Yes, You alone know what’s in the hearts of all the sons of men.
So, they should fear You all the days of their lives that they spend on this land that You’ve given to our ancestors.
‘And as for the aliens that are not from Your people;
When they come to this place that has been prepared as Your Home to pray,please listen to them from the heavens and do everything that they ask, so that all the people on the earth will know Your Name and come to fear You…
Just as Your people IsraEl should know that Your Name has been called upon this [Temple] that I built.
‘And if Your people must go to war against their enemies (following Your directions), and if they pray in the Name of the Lord in this city that You’ve chosen and in this [Temple] that I’ve built to Your Name;
Please listen to their prayers and supplications from heaven and bring them justice.
‘And when they sin against You (for there is no man that doesn’t sin) and You hand them over to their enemies that thereafter carry them away as captives into a land that is nearby or far away;
And if, in the land where they are, they turn back and start begging for Your [help], saying,
We have sinned; We have done wrong; We have acted lawlessly;
And they turn back to You with their whole hearts and souls there in the land of their enemies that took them there, and pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their ancestors, to the city that You’ve chosen, and to the [Temple] that I built to Your Name;
Please listen from the heavens and from the home that has been prepared for You.
Forgive the wrongs that they did when they sinned against You, and for the wicked ways in which they’ve disregarded You, then give compassion to the ones that took them as captives so they will pity them.
For they are Your people and Your inheritance…
They’re the ones whom You led out of the land of Egypt and from the midst of that iron-foundry furnace.
‘May Your eyes and Your ears [always] be open to the cries of Your servants and to the pleas of Your people, IsraEl.
Please listen to them, no matter why they are calling to You;
Because, You have drawn them and set them apart for Yourself as an inheritance from among all the peoples of the earth, and You spoke to them through Your servant Moses when You led our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, O Lord Jehovah.’
Then Solomon said this concerning the Temple after he had completed its construction:
‘When He made the sun in the sky, Jehovah said this:
I will live in a dimly-lit place.
So, build a new [Temple] in which I can dwell… and make it beautiful for your own sakes!
Look! Isn’t this what’s written as a song in the scroll?’
And after Solomon finished his prayer and his requests to Jehovah, he stood up before the Altar of Jehovah (because he had been kneeling before it), then he raised his arms toward heavenand he blest the whole assembly of IsraEl in a loud voice, saying:
‘Praise Jehovah, for He has brought rest to His people IsraEl today, just as He promised among all the many things that He said.
For, not a word of the many things that He said through His servants has failed to come true.
‘May Jehovah our God be with us, as He has been with our ancestors.
May He not abandon us or turn from us.
May He move our hearts toward Him, so we will follow in all His ways and keep the Commandments and orders that He gave to our ancestors.
And may all the things that I’ve begged for here before Jehovah our God come true today.
May they be heard by Jehovah our God day and night, and may He always do the right thing for His servant and for His people IsraEl, day in and day out,so that all the people on the earth will come to know that Jehovah is The God, and that there is no other.
May our hearts become perfect to Jehovah our God, and may we follow His orders and keep His Commandments in holiness, as we are doing today.’
Then the king and all the sons of IsraEl offered sacrifices before Jehovah.
King Solomon offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep as a peace offering to Jehovah.
Then the king inaugurated the [Temple] of Jehovah before all the sons of IsraEl.
On that holy day, the king stood in the middle of the courtyard (in front of the Temple of Jehovah) and prepared whole burnt offerings as sacrifices.
He offered the fat of the peace offerings there, since the bronze Altar that was before Jehovah was just too small and it couldn’t handle all the whole burnt-offerings, gift offerings, and peace-offering sacrifices.
Thereafter, Solomon held a holiday feast that was attended by all in IsraEl.
It was a huge gathering, for people had come from as far away as HaMath and the [Nile] River to stand before Jehovah God at the [Temple] that [Solomon] had built.
They ate, drank, and rejoiced before Jehovah their God for 7 days.
Then on the 8th day, [Solomon] sent the people away, and they offered ages of blessings to the king as they left.
So they all returned to their [homes] rejoicing over all the good things that Jehovah had done for His servant David and for His people IsraEl.
Well, after Solomon had finished building the Temple of Jehovah, his own palace, and all the other things that he wanted to do;
The Lord appeared to him a second time (as He had appeared to him in GibeOn)and said to him:
‘I heard what you said in your prayer, and of the things that you asked and begged of Me.
So, I’ve now done everything that you asked for in your prayer… I’ve made this [Temple] (which you built to [honor] My Name) holy through the ages, and I will [always] watch over it and keep it in My heart.
And if you will continue to follow Me uprightly with holiness in your heart as did your father David, and do everything that I told him to do, following My orders and Commandments;
I will lift the throne of your kingdom over IsraEl through the ages, as I promised to your father.
For I told him:
There will always be a man [that is descended from you] to lead IsraEl.
‘However, if you or your descendants should turn away from Me and fail to keep My Commandments and orders that Moses set before you, and you then go and serve other gods and bow before them;
I will remove IsraEl from the land that I’ve given to them, and I will turn My face away from this [Temple] that I’ve made holy to My Name.
Then IsraEl will become extinct and a topic of discussion among all the people.
And everyone that passes this lofty [Temple] will be amazed and whistle, asking,
Why did Jehovah do such a thing to this land and to this [Temple]?
And they will be told,
Because they abandoned their God – the God of their ancestors, Jehovah – who led them out of the house of slavery in Egypt.
Then they took hold of alien gods, and bowed before them and served them…
This is why Jehovah brought all these bad things upon them.’
Well, this all took place some 20 years after Solomon had [started] construction of the two houses – the [Temple] of Jehovah and the [palace] of the king.
HiRam, the king of Tyre, had helped Solomon by providing the cedar and pine boards, [some of] the gold, and everything else [that Solomon had asked for].
So King Solomon gave HiRam 20 cities in the land of GaliLee.
But when HiRam traveled from Tyre to GaliLee to look at the cities that Solomon had given to him, he wasn’t pleased with them.And he asked:
‘What kind of cities have you given to your brother?’
So from then on, he just referred to them as ‘the border lands.’
Now, HiRam had sent Solomon 4-1/2 tons (4,000kg) of goldthat he’d plundered for the construction of the Temple of Jehovah, the king’s palace, the walls around JeruSalem (to fortify the city of David), as well as the cities of MegidDo and GeZer.
Also, after PharaOh, the king of Egypt, took GeZer (he burned it and killed all the CanaAnites that lived in the city), he then gave it to Solomon as a dowry for his daughter when he gave her to Solomon.
Thereafter, Solomon rebuilt GeZer,as well as Lower BethHoron, BaAlAth, and TadMor (which is in the desert).
He also built many other fortified cities, as well as forts for his chariots and cavalry;
And he had many other construction projects in JeruSalem, Lebanon, and throughout all the land that he ruled.
However, the Hittites, Amorites, Pherezites, CanaAnites, Hivites, Jebusites, and Gergesites (all those that weren’t sons of IsraEl)and their children remained in the land, because the sons of IsraEl weren’t able to wipe them out;
So, Solomon forced them to pay a tribute to him, which they’ve continued to do down to this day.
And many of these non-IsraElites served Solomon as soldiers and as lieutenants over his chariots and cavalry.
Also, many of them (some 550 of them) were put in charge over Solomon’s construction projects and they supervised the people that were doing the work.
The daughter of PharaOh didn’t actually live in the city of David, for she lived in a house that Solomon had built for her.
And thereafter, he built MilLo.
Well, three times each year, Solomon would sacrifice whole burnt offerings and peace offerings on the Altar that he’d built to Jehovah.
He also burned incense upon it there before Jehovah, until he had completed the Temple.
Then King Solomon built a ship at GeBer (which is next to the seaport of ElAth on the border of Edom),and HiRam sent some of his servants that were mariners and knew the sea, to do the rowing and as assistants to the servants of Solomon.
Then they [attacked] SopheRam and brought back gold to King Solomon – some 16 tons (14,500kg) of it.
Well, the Queen of SheBa had heard of Solomon’s fame and of the Name Jehovah;
So, she came to test him with problems.
When she came to JeruSalem, she brought a very large contingent [of servants], as well as camels that were carrying spices, a huge amount of gold, and many valuable gems.
Then she went to King Solomon and spoke to him about all the things that were in her heart.
And Solomon answered all her questions… he didn’t overlook a thing, but explained everything to her.
And when the Queen of SheBa saw how knowledgeable Solomon was and the palace that he had built,as well as all the food that he had, the ways that his servants were assigned, the jobs that his officials were given, how they were dressed, and all of his wine servers and the whole burnt offerings that he sacrificed at the Temple of Jehovah;
She was beside herself.
Then she said to King Solomon:
‘Everything that I’ve heard about you in my land and about your knowledge is true.
I had to come here, because I didn’t believe the things that I was being told.
However, I have found that it’s all beyond what was reported in my land!
Your wives and servants are blest to be able to stand before you all the time and listen to your wisdom.
And your God Jehovah (who chose you and put you on the throne of IsraEl) must love IsraEl and [plan to] watch over it through the ages, since He’s the One that set you as king over them and to righteously hear and judge their cases.’
Then she gave Solomon 1-1/2 tons (1,300kg) of gold, a huge amount of spices, and many precious gems.
Never before had anyone brought so many spices as those that the Queen of SheBa brought to King Solomon.
Thereafter, HiRam also sent a ship carrying gold from Ophir, as well as cut lumber and valuable stones.
The king then used this timber to fortify the Temple of Jehovah and the king’s palace, and to make stringed instruments and lutes for the musicians.
Never before had such wood been seen in the land (or anywhere else, for that matter).
Then King Solomon gave the Queen of SheBa everything that she asked for and desired… in addition to all the other gifts that King Solomon gave to her.
And thereafter, she returned to her land with all her servants.
Well, the weight of the gold that came to Solomon that year was about 32 tons (29,000kg)…which didn’t include the tributes that the people or the merchants brought, or that which was brought by kings on the other side of the JorDan or from the governors of the land.
Thereafter, King Solomon had 300 spears made from hammered gold, each of which was made from 600 gold coins.
And he also had 300 small shields made of hammered gold that was equal to the weight of three large gold coins.
Then the king had them all mounted in his Palace of the Forests of Lebanon.
The king also had a huge throne made from ivory that was plated with pure gold,which had 6 stairs that led up to the throne.
On the upper part of the throne there were calves on the backside and there were handrails on each side, with [carved] lions standing beside them…12 on both sides, next to the stairs.
There had never been anything like it in the kingdom before.
Also, all the [dishes, cups, and bowls] that were used by Solomon were completely made of gold, as were the bathtubs and vases in the Palace of the Forests of Lebanon.
Nothing there was made of silver, because it was too common in the days of Solomon.
In addition, Solomon owned a ship that sailed the sea from TarShish along with the ships of HiRam.
And once every three years, the ship would carry gold, silver, and cut gems to the king.
So Solomon became greater than all the other kings of the earth in both wealth and in intelligence;
And all the kings of the earth came to Solomon to hear the wisdom that Jehovah had put into his heart.
Each one brought gifts of silver, gold, clothing, balsam, spices, horses, and mules every year.
Solomon also obtained chariots and horsemen.
He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, which he kept in forts throughout the land and with himself in JeruSalem.
The king’s silver was as common as stones in JeruSalem, and his cedars were as common as trees in the plains.
Solomon bought his horses from Egypt and Kue, where the king’s merchants took items to trade.
He also bought chariots from Egypt, for which he paid 600 silver coins each, and 150 silver coins for each horse.
Then he sold them to the kings of the Hittites and Syrians… but they had to come to him in order to pick them up.
King Solomon was also very fond of women, so he took several foreigners as wives, such as the daughter of PharaOh, as well as some MoAbites, AmMonites, Idumeans, Sidonians, and Hittites…
Which Jehovah had forbidden the sons of IsraEl to do, for He said:
‘You must not [marry] them and they must not come to you, because they will turn your hearts to their idols.’
However, Solomon [was a slave] to love;
So before long, he had taken 700 [wives] as well as 300 concubines… and these foreign women changed his heart.
They quickly turned his heart to bowing before other gods, and his heart was no longer perfect toward his God Jehovah, as was the heart of his father David.
For Solomon started serving Astarte, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Melchom, the disgusting thing of the AmMonites.
So Solomon started doing evil things before Jehovah, and he no longer followed he Lord, as did his father David.
Then Solomon built high places to Camus (the idol of MoAb) and to Melchom (the idol of the sons of AmMon) on the mountain across from JeruSalem.
And there, all his foreign wives were burning incense and sacrificing to their idols.
Of course, this made Jehovah very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned from Jehovah the God of IsraEl, who had actually appeared before him twice,warning him not to serve other gods and to be careful to do everything that the Lord God had told him.
So, the Lord said to Solomon:
‘Because you’ve done these things and you haven’t followed My Commandments or the instructions that I gave to you;
I will take your kingdom from your hands and rip it in two, then I will give it to your servant.
However, I won’t do this during your lifetime [out of respect for] David your father. Rather, I will take it from the hands of your son.
I won’t take your whole kingdom; I’ll leave your son as chief over part of it because of My servant David and because of JeruSalem, the city that I’ve chosen.’
So, Jehovah sent an enemy against Solomon under Ader (who was from the seed of the kingdom of the Idumeans).
David had wiped out [many of] the Edomites, and when his General JoAb went to [their land] to bury his dead, he also cut down more of their men,because JoAb had stayed there for the next 6 months.
Yet, though JoAb had destroyed all the men there,Ader (who was just a small boy then) got away, along with many of his father’s servants, and they headed to Egypt.
Then, after the men of Media attacked Pharan, the [people there] also went with him as he was on his way to the PharaOh (the king of Egypt).
Well, when Ader went to PharaOh, he was given a house, food, and some land, because he was well liked by PharaOh.
He also gave him his sister-in-law as his woman (the older sister of [Queen] ThekeMina),and she gave birth to GaneBath, whom ThekeMina raised in her house as one of the sons of PharaOh.
But when word reached Ader in Egypt that David had gone to sleep with his ancestors and that JoAb (the commander of his army) had been killed, Ader said to PharaOh:
‘Please allow me to return to my country.’
And PharaOh asked him:
‘What have I failed to give you that you now wish to return to your country?’
To which Ader replied:
‘Not a single thing! But please send me away.’
Meanwhile, Jehovah had also raised another enemy against [Solomon]; Rezon (the son of EliAdah), who had run away from his master HadadEzer, the king of ZoBah.
He then gathered an army and became the ruler of a confederation that captured Damascus, where he settled in and started ruling as king,and where he (as the ruler of the land of Edom) remained an enemy to IsraEl during all the days of Solomon.
Then one of Solomon’s servants, JeroBoam (the son of NaBat the Ephrathite from SariRa), whose mother was a widow,rebelled against King Solomon.
This happened after King Solomon had built the Akra (high fort) and after he had completed the outer wall around the city of his father David.
Now, JeroBoam was a mighty man, and when Solomon noticed that this young man was someone who could get things done, he put him in charge of the tributes from the house of JoSeph.
But one day, as JeroBoam was coming from JeruSalem, he met the Prophet AhiJah (the Selonite), who stopped along the road to talk to him.
Well at the time, AhiJah was wearing a new cape and they were alone there in the plain.
Then AhiJah took off the cape that he was wearing and tore it into 12 pieces.
And he said to JeroBoam:
‘Take 10 of these pieces for yourself, because this is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl said:
{Look!} I’m ripping the kingdom from the hands of Solomon and giving 10 of its [tribes] to you.
However, two of the [tribes] will remain his because of My servant David and on account of JeruSalem, the city that I have chosen from among all the tribes of IsraEl.
[I’m doing this] because [Solomon] has abandoned Me and is now making offerings to Astarte, the disgusting thing of the Sidonians, to Camus, the idol of MoAb, and to Melchom, the loathsome thing of the sons of AmMon.
He is no longer walking in My ways or doing the right things before Me as did his father David.
I’m not going to remove the kingdom from him entirely, but I will oppose him throughout the rest of the days of his life.
It was only because of My servant David that I chose him.
But now, I’m going to take the kingdom from the hands of his son and give 10 of the [tribes] to you.
I will still give his son two [tribes], so that a descendant of My servant David will always stand before Me in JeruSalem, the city where I’ve chosen to put My Name.
‘Now, you may take and rule over whatever your soul desires, for you’ll be the king over IsraEl.
And if you’ll watch over all that I’m putting you in charge of;
If you’ll walk in My ways and always do the right things before Me; and if you’ll follow My orders and Commandments (as did My servant David); then I will build you a house that’s as sure as the one that I built for David.
I’m giving you IsraEl, and I will mistreat the seed of David because of these things [that Solomon is doing].
However, I won’t keep on doing this through the ages.’
Well after that, Solomon started looking for ways to kill JeroBoam…
But [JeroBoam] got up and ran away to Egypt (to SusAkim, the king of Egypt), and he stayed there until Solomon died.
{Look!} The rest of the words of Solomon – all the many things [that he said] and did in his wisdom – have been written about in the scrolls of the sayings of Solomon.
So, Solomon reigned over all IsraEl from JeruSalem for 40 years,and then he went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in the city of David his father.
And thereafter, his son RehoBoam started reigning in his place.
Well, King RehoBoam had gone to Sikima (because that’s where all IsraEl went to coronate him),and JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) heard about it.
At the time, he was still living in Egypt, where he settled after he had to run from Solomon.
But the people of IsraEl called for him, and JeroBoam came back to them.
For the people had spoken to King RehoBoam and told him:
‘Your father oppressed us and kept our necks in a yoke.
So now, lighten the load of our service to you.
For your father was a hard taskmaster and he kept us under a heavy load…
If you’ll do this, we’ll always serve you!’
And he replied:
‘Give me three days [to think about it]!’
So they left.
Then King RehoBoam went to the elders that used to stand before his father Solomon while he was alive, and he asked for their advice about what he should say to the people.
And they told him:
‘If you wish to serve [as king] over these people today, do as they ask, and they’ll always be your servants.’
However, he chose not to listen to the advice that the elders had given to him, and he took the advice of some young men with whom he’d been raised and whom he had selected to be his advisors.
For when he asked them what they advised him to say to those people that came to him and told him to lighten the neck-yoke that his father had put on them,these young men that had been raised with him said,
‘You should tell those people who said that your father put a heavy yoke on them and that you should lighten it,
My thinnest part is thicker than the hips of my father.
Therefore, as my father saddled you to a heavy yoke, I will add more weight to it.
And as my father disciplined you with whips, I will discipline you with scorpions!’
So when all IsraEl came before King RehoBoam on the 3rd day (for the king of IsraEl had told them, ‘Return to me on the 3rd day’),the king spoke harshly to them and chose not to follow the advice that the older men had given to him.
Rather, he told them what his young men had told him to say:
‘Though my father oppressed you with a neck yoke, I will now add to it.
And though my father disciplined you with whips, I will discipline you with scorpions!’
So the king just wouldn’t listen to the people, because Jehovah had moved his heart to allow that which He had said through the Prophet AhiJah the Selonite concerning JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) to come true.
And when all IsraEl knew that the king wasn’t listening to them, they gave him this reply:
‘What do we owe to David?
We have no inheritance in the son of JesSe. So, O IsraEl, run to you tents… now!
Let the house of David do its own grazing!’
And with that, all IsraEl went back home to their tents.
Therefore, RehoBoam only ruled over the sons of IsraEl that lived in the cities of Judah after that.
And when the king sent AdoniRam to collect the tribute from them, all IsraEl stoned him to death… even King RehoBoam had to get on his chariot and flee to JeruSalem.
So from that day on, IsraEl annulled its allegiance to the house of David.
And when [the people of] IsraEl heard that JeroBoam had returned from Egypt, they called for him to come to a meeting, where they gave him the rulership over IsraEl.
So they no longer followed the house of David after that… only the tribes of Judah and BenJamin continued to do so.
Well, after RehoBoam got back to JeruSalem, he held a meeting with the armies of Judah and the tribe of BenJamin – 120,000 young warriors – and he talked about going to war with the house of IsraEl so as to return them to the kingdom of RehoBoam, the son of Solomon.
However, Jehovah sent word to His servant ShemaiJah… He told him:
‘Speak to RehoBoam (the son of Solomon) the king of Judah, as well as to the houses of Judah, BenJamin, and the rest of the people, and tell them thatthis is what Jehovah has decreed:
You must not go to war against your brothers, the sons of IsraEl. Return to your homes, because I’m the One that caused these things to happen.’
So they paid attention to words of Jehovah, for they didn’t want to oppose what He said.
Thereafter, JeroBoam built Sikima in the hills of Ephraim and ruled from there, and then he built PenuEl.
But later, JeroBoam said this in his heart:
‘{Look!} I’m not going to return the kingdom to the house of David;
But if I let these people go to offer sacrifices at the [Temple] of Jehovah in JeruSalem, they will soon turn their hearts toward Jehovah and to RehoBoam the king of Judah, and then they’ll kill me.’
So the king held a meeting, and after that, he had two gold heifers made.
Then he said to the people:
‘I don’t want you going to JeruSalem anymore.
Look, here are your gods that led you out of the land of Egypt, O IsraEl!’
Then he put one [of the idols] in BethEl, and the other in Dan.
And because of this sin, the people started worshiping the [idol] that he put in Dan, and they no longer went to the Temple of Jehovah.
The king also had temples built on the hilltops, and he appointed priests from among those that weren’t of the sons of Levi.
Then JeroBoam appointed the 15th day of the 8th month as a holiday, the same as it had been in the land of Judah.
Thereafter, he went to BethEl, where he built an altar for [his people] to offer sacrifices to his heifers.
And it was there in BethEl that he appointed the priests to be in charge of the high places that he’d created.
And on the 15th day of the 8th month (which was the holiday that he’d created in his own heart for the sons of IsraEl), he went up to the altar that he’d created to offer some sacrifices.
Well at that, {Look!} a man of God came to BethEl from Judah with a message from Jehovah.
He climbed on top of the sacrificial altar thereand shouted these words of the Lord:
‘O altar, O altar; Hear what Jehovah has said.
{Look!} In the house of David, a son has been born,
Who’s been given the name, JosiAh.
Then on these high places, he’ll offer the priests
Who now lay the sacrifices upon it;
And upon these [same altars], he’ll burn up their bones.’
Then he performed a miracle. He said,
‘This is what Jehovah told me:
{Look!} The altar has now been torn down,
And all the fat upon it has spilled [on the ground]!’
Well, when King JeroBoam heard what the man of God said as he stood there on the altar in BethEl, he reached out toward the altar and shouted,
‘Seize him!’
But just as he said that, the hand that he stuck out started to wither, and he wasn’t able to draw it back…
And then the altar miraculously cracked and spilled all the fat that had been placed there, just as the man of God had told them that Jehovah said.
So King JeroBoam said to the man of God:
‘Go before the face of Jehovah your God and beg Him to return my hand to me!’
And the man of God [did speak before] the face of Jehovah, and the king’s hand did return to him, becoming the same as it was before.
Well after that, the king said to the man of God:
‘Come with me to my palace and dine with me, and I’ll give you a gift.’
But the man of God said to the king:
‘Even if you were to give me half of everything that’s [in] your palace, I wouldn’t go with you, nor would I eat food or drink water in this place.
For, this is what the Lord told me:
Don’t eat any bread or drink any water,
And don’t return by the way that you came.’
So when he left BethEl, he traveled toward home by another route.
Well and at the time, there was another prophet living in BethEl (an older man).
So when his sons came to him and told him everything that the man of God had done that day in BethEl and of the things that the king had said, the face of their father changed,and he asked them:
‘Which way did he go?’
So his sons pointed out the way that the man of God was traveling (toward Judah),and he said to his sons:
‘Saddle my burro for me!’
So they saddled his burro and he mounted it;
Then he went after the man of God and he found him sitting under an oak tree.
And he asked,
‘Are you the man of God who came from Judah?’
And he replied,
‘I am.’
So [the prophet] said:
‘Come with me and have something to eat.’
But [the man of God] replied,
‘There’s no way that I can come with you, nor may I eat bread or drink water in this place.
For Jehovah told me:
Don’t eat any bread, nor drink any water,
And don’t return by the way that you came.’
However, the other man replied:
‘But, I’m a prophet just like you, and a messenger [of God] came and gave me these words from Jehovah…
He said,
Take him back to your house and give him some food and water!’
(However, he was lying).
So [the man of God] went back with him and he ate bread and drank water there in [the prophet’s] house.
But, as they were sitting down at the table, the word of Jehovah came to the prophet that did the inviting,and he said to the man of God that had come from Judah:
‘This is what the Lord just told me:
Because you disobeyed the Lord’s instructions and you didn’t do as you were commanded by Jehovah your Godwhen you returned to eat bread and drink water in this place where He told you not to eat any bread or drink any water;
There’s no way that your body will be buried with your ancestors.’
And that’s what happened.
For, after he ate bread, drank water, and saddled his burro for the return,he was found by a lion and killed along the road.
Then his body just laid there in the road with the burro standing next to it, as the lion stood nearby.
Well, when some men came along and found the body starting to decay, they pushed it off the road… but then the lion returned to it.
Well thereafter, they went back and reported the matter in the city where the elderly prophet lived.
And when the prophet heard what had happened to the man of God along the road, he said:
‘This is what happens to those that rebel against the Word of Jehovah.
For it was the Lord that sent the lion… it attacked him and killed him, just as Jehovah foretold.’
Then he spoke to his sons and said,
‘Now, saddle my burro for me!’
So they saddled it,and he went and found the body that had been tossed alongside the road next to his burro…
And there was the lion standing by the body.
However, the lion hadn’t eaten the body of the man of God, nor had it attacked his burro.
So the prophet picked up the body, placed it on his own burro, and he carried it back to his city and buried himin his own tomb, as [the people] beat their chests over him, saying,
‘Woe, O brother!’
Then, after beating their chests over him, the prophet said this to his sons:
‘When I die, I want you to bury me in the tomb where we’ve put this man of God.
Put me next to his bones, so that my bones will be preserved along with his bones.
For Jehovah used him to speak against the altar in BethEl and against the temples on the hilltops in Samaria.’
Meanwhile, what [the man of God] had said to JeroBoam didn’t really turn him from his evil ways.
For he went and appointed any man that wanted the position to be a priest in the high places, and the posts were filled by all whom he chose.
This was the sin that eventually brought the house of JeroBoam to its ruin and extinction from the face of the earth.
Well, after some time, AbiJah (JeroBoam’s son) became ill.
So JeroBoam said to his woman:
‘Get up and make yourself up, so people won’t recognize you as my woman, then go to ShiLoh and look for AhiJah the Prophet, because he’s the one that first spoke to me about ruling over these people.
Carry along some bread for this man of God, and some small cakes for his children, as well as some raisins and a jar of honey.
Go to him and ask him to tell you what will happen to our child.’
So JeroBoam’s woman did as he said. She got up and went the house of AhiJah in ShiLoh.
Now, the man was too old to see well and [he had developed cataracts].
But Jehovah said to AhiJah:
‘{Look!} JeroBoam’s woman is coming to you to ask about her son, because he’s very ill.
This is what you should say to her … ’
Therefore, when she got there (although she couldn’t be recognized) and AhiJah heard the sound of her feet coming up to his door, he said:
‘Come on in, you woman of JeroBoam.
Why are you coming as a stranger?’
Then he said,
‘I have a harsh message for you.
Return to JeroBoam and tell him that this is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl has said:
I’m the One that elevated you from the midst of your people and appointed you over the sons of IsraEl…
Yes, I’m the One that tore the kingship from the house of David and gave it to you.
Yet you haven’t become like My servant David who kept My Commandments and followed me with his whole heart by doing what is right in My eyes.
Rather, you’ve acted wickedly in everything that’s before you, and you’ve gone and made other gods and molded images to anger Me… you’ve pushed Me aside!
And it’s because of this that {Look!} I will be bringing evil things upon the house of JeroBoam.
For I will destroy all those of JeroBoam that can urinate against a wall… those that are now living in IsraEl and those that are yet to come… they will all be treated like manure!
Then, those [that come from] JeroBoam that die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and the flying creatures of the sky will eat those that die in the fields.
Yes, this is what Jehovah has declared!
‘So now, get up and go back home! Then, as your feet are entering your city, your child will die.
However, [his body] will be put in a tomb and all IsraEl will mourn him.
He’s the only one of JeroBoam’s [children] that will be put in a tomb, because he’s the only one in the house of JeroBoam that [would have] said something good about Jehovah the God of IsraEl.
‘Also today – in fact, right now – Jehovah is raising a king for Himself over IsraEl that will cut down the house of JeroBoam.
Then Jehovah will strike IsraEl as someone that stirs water with a reed.
He will pluck IsraEl from the good land that He gave to their ancestors and toss them to the other side of the river because of all the sacred poles that they’ve erected to anger Jehovah!’
That’s how Jehovah actually showed His [dis]favor upon IsraEl because of the sins of JeroBoam.
For, not only had he sinned, but he also led IsraEl into sin.
Well after that, JeroBoam’s woman got up and returned to SariRa, and as she stepped onto the threshold of her house, her child died.
However they put [his body] in a tomb and all IsraEl mourned for him, just as Jehovah said they would through His servant AhiJah the Prophet.
Now, all the other things that JeroBoam did (the wars that he fought and the things that he said during his reign) are written about in the words of the scrolls of the lives of the kings of IsraEl.
JeroBoam reigned for 22 years, then he went to sleep with his ancestors, and his son NaDab started ruling in his place.
And at the time, RehoBoam (the son of Solomon) was reigning over Judah.
He was 41 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem (the city where Jehovah chose to put His Name for all the tribes of IsraEl) for 17 years.
His mother’s name was NaAma, and she was an AmMonite.
But, during this time, Judah was also acting wickedly before Jehovah and making Him jealous with all the things they were doing, just as their ancestors did when they sinned.
The [people] were building high places [of worship] for themselves and erecting monuments and sacred poles on every high hill and under every shade tree.
They got together throughout the land and started doing all the disgusting things that the nations which Jehovah had removed from before the sons of IsraEl were doing.
So, in the 5th year of the reign of RehoBoam, the king of Egypt attacked JeruSalemand took all the treasures in the Temple of Jehovah, as well as all the treasures in the king’s palace.
He took the gold spears that David had taken from the children of AdraZar the king of Suba, and carried them [from] JeruSalem.
He took everything!
He even took the gold shields that Solomon had made and he carried them all back to Egypt.
Well after that, King RehoBoam had some shields made of bronze to replace [the gold shields], and they were set in place by the captains of his bodyguards (those that guarded the king’s palace).
But one day, while the king was in the Temple of Jehovah, the bodyguards took them down and mounted them in their own barracks.
All the rest of the things that RehoBoam said and did are written about in the scrolls of the words and days of the kings of Judah.
And during the entire time, there was war between RehoBoam and JeroBoam.
Then RehoBoam went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in the tomb of his fathers in the city of David.
So his son AbiJah started ruling in place of him.
It was in the 18th year of the reign of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) that AbiJah (the son of RehoBoam) started ruling over Judah,but he only reigned in JeruSalem for three years.
His mother’s name was MaAcha, and she was the daughter of AbSalom.
For he followed in the sins that his father had committed before him, and his heart wasn’t perfect toward Jehovah his God, as was the heart of his grandfather David.
But, because of David, Jehovah God had allowed him to establish his line of [kings] in JeruSalem.
For David had done the right things before Jehovah and he didn’t turn away from all that he was told to do during his lifetime(except in the matter of UriAh the Hittite).
And the rest of the things that AbiJah said and did {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.
Now, there was always a state of war between AbiJah and JeroBoam.
But then, AbiJah went to sleep with his ancestors (in the 24th year of the reign of JeroBoam), and he was buried in the tomb of his fathers in the city of David.
After him, his son Asa started ruling as king over Judah.
That was in the 24th year of the reign of JeroBoam the king of IsraEl.
He then reigned in JeruSalem for 41 years.
The name of his mother was Ana, and she was also a daughter of AbSalom.
Now, Asa did what was right before Jehovah as his ancestor David had done.
For he removed all the mystic rites from the land and drove out all the bad practices that his fathers had established.
He also removed his mother Ana after she’d held a meeting in her field of sacred poles and tried to seize power.
Asa cut off her retreat and burned [her followers] in a fire next to the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi.
And though he failed to remove the high places of worship, the heart of Asa was perfect toward Jehovah all the days of his life.
For Asa returned the huge columns of silver and gold to the Temple of Jehovah, as well as its silver and gold utensils.
Then there was war between Asa and BaAsha (the king of IsraEl) that lasted as long as they both lived.
BaAsha had attacked Judah and built Rama in order to cut off Asa the king of Judah.
But then, Asa took all the silver and gold that he found in the treasury of the Temple of Jehovah and in the treasuries of the palace of the king (he entrusted them to his servants), and he sent all the treasure to BenHader (the son of TaberEma) the king of Syria in Damascus.
He said,
‘May there be a treaty between you and me as there was between your father and my father.
Look! I’m sending you gifts of silver and gold.
So now, end your treaty with BaAsha the king of IsraEl, then come and drive him away from me!’
As the result, BenHader sent his officials along with an army to King Asa, and they attacked Ain in Dan, AbelMa and the house of MaAcah, and all of ChenNereth in the land of NaphTali.
Then when BaAsha heard of it, he stopped building Rama and returned to TirZah.
Thereafter, King Asa gave instructions to the army of Judah to tear down every stone in Rama and all of its building timbers and to take it to the hills of BenJamin, where they thereafter built a high fortification and a lookout post.
{Look!} All the rest of the words and deeds of Asa and his kingdom, and the information about all the cities that he built, is written in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.
Then in his old age, he developed pain in his feet.
And thereafter Asa went to sleep with his ancestors and he was buried in the tomb of his fathers in the city of David.
So his son JehoShaphat started ruling in place of him.
Meanwhile, NaDab (the son of JeroBoam) had started ruling in IsraEl in the 2nd year of Asa (the king of Judah). He only reigned in IsraEl for 2 years,for he also acted wickedly before Jehovah and he followed in the steps of his father, committing the same sins and leading IsraEl into sin.
Then BaAsha (the son of AhiJah) laid siege against him [because of what he had done to] the house of BelaAn (the son of AhiJah), and he cut him down at the Philistine city of GabaThon… for NaBat and [the army of] IsraEl had been laying siege to GabaThon.
So, BaAsha killed him in the 3rd year of the reign of Asa (the son of AbiJah) the king of Judah, and thereafter, BaAsha became the ruler [of IsraEl].
Well, during BaAsha’s reign, he murdered the entire house of JeroBoam.
He didn’t leave anyone alive… he killed them all, just as Jehovah had said through His servant AhiJah the Selonite,because of JeroBoam’s part in leading IsraEl into sin and provoking the anger of Jehovah the God of IsraEl.
All the rest of the things that NaDab said and did {Look!} are written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Well, there was war between Asa and BaAsha (the king of IsraEl) for as long as they both lived.
It was in the 3rd year of the reign of Asa (the king of Judah) that BaAsha (the son of AhiJah) started ruling over IsraEl from TirZah.
He reigned for 24 years, and he also acted wickedly before Jehovah, for he followed in the footsteps of JeroBoam (the son NaBat) by sinning and leading IsraEl into sin.
Then Jehovah sent word to BaAsha by Jehu (the son of AnaNi), saying:
‘Though I elevated you to be over the land and gave you the leadership of My people IsraEl, you have still chosen to follow in ways of JeroBoam and to lead My people IsraEl into sin, provoking Me to anger with your foolishness.
So, {Look!} I’m arousing enemies against BaAsha and his house, and I’m going to do to your house as I did to the house of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat).
For when those of BaAsha die in the city, dogs will eat them; and when they die in the fields, they will be eaten by the flying creatures of the skies.’
Well, the rest of the things that BaAsha said and did, and the areas of his conquests {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then BaAsha went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in TirZah; and his son ElAh started reigning after him.
For Jehovah had sent a proclamation against BaAsha and his house through Jehu (the son of AnaNi) because of all the bad things that he was doing before Jehovah.
These things made Jehovah very angry;
So BaAsha’s house would soon become like the house of JeroBoam, whom he had slaughtered.
It was in the 28th year of the reign of Asa (the king of Judah), after ElAh (BaAsha’s son) had ruled IsraEl for 2 years in TirZah,that ElAh’s servants got together with ZimRi (the captain over half of his cavalry) and plotted a coup.
And it was while he was in TirZah, drinking and getting drunk in the house of Osa (the Mayor of TirZah),that ZimRi went in and stabbed him to death; and thereafter, he became the ruler [of IsraEl].
Then when he took over, he killed the entire house of BaAsha… he didn’t leave anyone that could urinate against a wall, including [BaAsha’s] friends and relatives.
So, ZimRi wiped out the whole house of BaAsha, just as Jehovah had foretold through the Prophet Jehu.
He did this because of all the sins of BaAsha and of his son ElAh, who had made Jehovah the God of IsraEl angry by leading IsraEl into sin with all their foolishness.
The rest of the things that ElAh said and did {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Well, ZimRi only ruled in TirZah for 7 days.
For at the time, the army of IsraEl was camped at the Philistine city of GabaThon.
And when the people in the camp heard how ZimRi had rebelled and killed their king, they appointed OmRi (the commander of the army of IsraEl) to be the king that day, there in the camp.
So OmRi ascended to the throne, and all IsraEl met with him at GabaThon;
Then they went and besieged TirZah.
Now, when ZimRi realized that his city was lost, he went inside the king’s palace and set it on fire, burning it down around him, killing himself.
This happened because of all the sins that ZimRi had committed.
For he had also acted wickedly before Jehovah and he followed in the ways of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat), committing the same sins and leading IsraEl into sin.
The rest of the story of ZimRi and of the people that supported him {Look!} has been written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Thereafter, the people of IsraEl became divided, for half of them started following TibNi (the son of GoNath), wanting him to be their king, while the other half followed OmRi.
However, the people that followed OmRi won out over the followers of TibNi (the son of GiNath).
Then TibNi died, leaving OmRi as the only remaining ruler.
This all happened in the 31st year of the reign of king Asa.
And thereafter, OmRi reigned over IsraEl for 12 years, 6 of which were from TirZah.
Then he acquired Mount SemerOn from Semer (who owned the mountain) for a 150 pounds (68kg) of silver.
And there he built [his city], which he named Semer (Samaria), after the man that had owned SemerOn.
Well, OmRi also acted wickedly before Jehovah.
In fact, he was worse than all those that had come before him.
He followed in the ways of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) and committed all of his sins by leading IsraEl into foolishness and sin, which made Jehovah the God of IsraEl very angry.
The rest of the things that OmRi said and did, and the areas of his rulership {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then OmRi went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in Samaria.
So his son Ahab started ruling after him.
Ahab (the son of OmRi) started his rule over IsraEl in the 38th year of Judah’s King Asa, and he reigned over IsraEl from Samaria for 22 years.
However, he also acted wickedly before Jehovah… even wickeder than all those that had come before him.
For the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) weren’t bad enough for him.
Then he took a woman, JezeBel (the daughter of IthoBaAl the king of the Sidonians), and he went and started serving BaAl, bowing before him.
He also erected an Altar to BaAl in the disgusting temple that he had built in Samaria,and he set up fields of sacred poles, doing everything that he could to anger Jehovah the God of IsraEl, and to bring about his own destruction.
He was much worse than all the other kings of IsraEl that had come before him.
It was during Ahab’s reign that AchiEl the BethElite rebuilt JeriCho with the loss of his first-born son AbiRon (for laying its foundation), and with the loss of his youngest son SegUb for erecting its gates, just as Jehovah had said through JoShua (the son of NaWeh).
Then the Prophet EliJah (the Tishbite from Tishbon of GileAd) went to Ahab and said:
‘As Jehovah the Almighty – the God of IsraEl before whom I stand – lives, there won’t be any dew or rain in the land for years, unless I call for it.’
And then Jehovah told EliJah:
‘Now, leave this place and head east!
Go and hide near the Cherith Wadi, where it empties into the JorDan.
There you will drink your water from the wadi, and I will send crows to feed you!’
So EliJah did what Jehovah said and he settled in by the Cherith Wadi near the JorDan.
There, crows brought him bread loaves in the morning and meat in the afternoon, and he drank water from the wadi.
However, before long the wadi also dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
So Jehovah told EliJah:
‘Now, get up and go to the Sidonian [city of] SarEpta…
{Look!} I’ve instructed a widow woman there to provide food for you.’
So he got up and went to SarEpta;
And as he neared the city gate, {Look!} he saw a widow woman collecting wood.
Then EliJah called out to her and said,
‘Please take a little water from your jar and give me something to drink!’
However, she just started carrying [her wood] inside.
So EliJah shouted at her again, saying:
‘May I please have a little bit of your bread to eat!’
Then the woman said:
‘As Jehovah your God lives; what good is a cake that must be baked in hot ashes?
All I have is just a handful of flour in a jar and a little bit of olive oil in a pitcher.
Look at this… I’ve just collected two sticks so I can go home and cook what is left for my children and myself…
Then we can eat it and die!’
But EliJah said:
‘Don’t get discouraged; just go on ahead and do what you said you’re going to do.
However, bake a small loaf and bring it to me first. And after that, you and your children may eat.
For, this is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl has said:
Her jar of flour will never fail,
Nor will her pitcher of oil
Until the day that Jehovah appointed
For rain to fall on the ground.’
So the woman went inside and did as EliJah told her… she fed him first, and then she and her children ate.
And thereafter, her jar of flour never became empty and her pitcher of olive oil never ran low… just as the Lord had told her through EliJah.
But later, the lady’s son became very ill, and he kept getting worse until he finally stopped breathing.
So she asked EliJah:
‘What have I done to you, O man of God, that you should be reminded of all my sins and kill my son?’
And EliJah said to the woman:
‘Bring your son to me.’
So she picked him up and held him to her breasts, and she carried him to [EliJah’s] bed in an upstairs room and laid him there.
Then EliJah yelled out and said:
‘O Jehovah;
Since You have seen how well this widow has treated me, why have You sent evil to kill her son?’
And after that, he breathed into the boy’s [mouth] three times as he called to Jehovah, saying:
‘O my God; Give back this boy’s life!’
And at that, the boy suddenly shouted aloud!
Then EliJah led him downstairs and gave him to his mother, and said:
‘See, your son is alive!’
And the woman said to EliJah:
‘Now I know that you’re a man of God and that the words of Jehovah that come from your mouth are all true.’
Then after three years, the Lord came to EliJah and said:
‘You must now go and speak to Ahab, for I’m going to allow rain to fall on his land once again!’
So EliJah went to appear before Ahab.
And by then, the famine had become very severe in Samaria.
Well at the time, Ahab had called for his Prime Minister AbDiu, who was a man that had great respect for Jehovah.
For, back when JezeBel had many of the Prophets of Jehovah killed, he was the one that gathered 100 of them and hid them in two caves in groups of fifties, and sent food and water to them.
Then Ahab said to AbDiu:
‘Come!
Let’s travel throughout the land and search all the streams and springs to see if we can find a pasture that has water where I can take my horses and mules, so they don’t die in their stalls!’
And at that, they parted company along the road, with Ahab going one way and AbDiu going the other.
So AbDiu was by himself when EliJah arrived.
And when AbDiu saw him, he ran and fell to his face and asked,
‘Are you my lord EliJah?
And EliJah said:
‘I am!
Now, go tell your master that EliJah is here.’
But AbDiu replied:
‘What has your servant done that you would hand me over to Ahab, for he will kill me!
As Jehovah your God lives; there isn’t a nation or kingdom where my master hasn’t searched for you.
And when they said you weren’t there, he burned the kingdoms and their cities when he couldn’t find you.
So you just want me to just go and tell my master that EliJah is here?
What if, after I leave you, Jehovah sends a wind that picks you up and carries you into an unknown land?
Then if I were to go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you here, he would kill me!
‘Now, your servant has feared Jehovah since his youth.
And perhaps you haven’t been told, my master, about what I did when JezeBel killed the Prophets of Jehovah…
I took 100 of them and hid them in caves in groups of fifties.
Thereafter, I fed them with bread loaves and provided them with water.
But now you say that I should just go and tell my master that EliJah is here?
He’ll kill me!’
And EliJah said:
‘As the Almighty Jehovah that stands before me lives; I will appear before him today.’
So AbDiu went to find Ahab and he reported what had happened.
Then Ahab ran to meet with EliJah,and when he saw him, he asked,
‘Are you finally going to [stop plaguing] IsraEl?’
And EliJah said:
‘No, I’m not going to [stop plaguing] IsraEl;
For you and the house of your fathers have left Jehovah your God and started following the BaAls.
But now, you must gather all IsraEl to Mount CarMel along with all the Prophets of BaAl (all 450 of them) and all the Prophets of the sacred poles (all 400 of them that eat at the table of JezeBel)!’
Therefore, Ahab sent word throughout all IsraEl to call those prophets to Mount CarMel.
[And when they got there] EliJah stood up in front of all the people and said:
‘How much longer are you going to be lame on both of your hams?
If Jehovah is God, then you should follow Him!
But if BaAl is God, he’s the one you should follow!’
Well at that, no one said a word.
Then EliJah said:
‘I’m the only Prophet of Jehovah that is left [in the land].
But here are 450 prophets of BaAl and 400 prophets of the sacred poles.
So now, have them bring two oxen to us, then let those men choose which one they want and cut it up, and put it on the Altar.
Also pile some wood there, but don’t light the fire.
I’ll do the same thing to the other ox, and I won’t light the fire either.
Then, they can call in the names of their gods, and I’ll call upon the Name of my God Jehovah, and whichever one is able to light the fire [will prove to be] the true God.’
And at that, all the people said:
‘What you’ve proposed is very good!’
So EliJah then turned to those prophets of shame and said:
‘Now, choose the calf you want and get it ready.
There are many of you, so you should all call on the names of your gods and have them light the fire!’
So they selected the calf and prepared it for offering, and they started calling on the name of BaAl from morning until noon saying,
‘Listen to us, O BaAl! Hear us!’
However, there was no reply, because there was no one that could really hear them.
So then they started dancing around the Altar that they’d made.
Well, by noon, EliJah (the Tishbite) had started making fun of them.
He was saying:
‘Keep on shouting!
Perhaps he’s just thinking about it, or maybe he’s off handling some business… or perhaps he’s sleeping and he hasn’t gotten up yet!’
But they kept on shouting and cutting themselves with knives and spears (which was their custom) until they were all running with blood…
They kept [acting like] prophets until midday.
But after their sacrifice had stayed there until noon without any reply,EliJah said to the people:
‘Now, come here to me!’
And all the people came to him.
Then EliJah rebuilt an old Altar that had been knocked down.
He took 12 stones (to represent the tribes of IsraEl), just as Jehovah told him to do.
For this was the very same place where the Lord had once told [Jacob],
‘IsraEl will be your Name.’
And these were the same stones that [Jacob himself had] erected in the Name of the Lord…
It was the same broken-down Altar of Jehovah that he rebuilt that day.
Then he dug a moat around it that was deep enough to hold two sacks of seeds, and he put wood on the Altar that he had erected.
He then cut up the whole burnt offering and placed it over the wood (he piled it all on the Altar), and said:
‘Now, bring 4 buckets of water and pour them over the offering and the wood!’
Then he told them to do it a second time, and they did it again.
And he said,
‘Now, do it a third time!’
And they did it a third time.
And thereafter, EliJah filled the moat around the Altar with water.
Then he shouted into the sky, saying,
‘O Jehovah, God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and IsraEl; hear me today and send fire so that all these people will know that You are Jehovah the God of IsraEl…
[Show them] that I’m Your servant and that the things I’m doing are Your works!
Hear me, O Jehovah;
Send fire, so these people will know that You are the Lord God, and so that the hearts of these people will turn back to You!’
Well at that, Jehovah sent fire that fell from the sky, and it consumed the whole burnt offering, the wood, the water in the moat, the stones… and even the dirt around [the Altar] was all licked up by the fire.
Then all the people fell to their faces and said,
‘Jehovah is truly God… The God!’
And EliJah said to the people:
‘Now, seize all the prophets of BaAl… don’t let any of them escape!’
So they grabbed them, and EliJah took them down to the Kishon Wadi and killed them all there.
Well after that, Ahab just headed back [home] to eat and drink.
And meanwhile, EliJah had walked up Mount CarMel, where he bowed to the ground with his face between his knees.
Then he said this to his servant:
‘Now, climb to the top of the mountain and look toward the sea!’
So his servant climbed to the mountaintop and looked toward the sea, and he said:
‘I don’t see anything.’
And EliJah said:
‘Then, turn around 7 times!’
So the servant turned around 7 times; and on the 7th time he said,
‘Look! I can see a cloud that’s as small as the sole of a man’s foot arising from the water in the sea, and it is saying,
Go to Ahab and tell him to get his chariot ready and hurry away, so that the rain doesn’t overtake him.’
Well all of a sudden, the sky got dark with clouds, the wind started to blow, and a tremendous rainstorm began.
Meanwhile, Ahab was on his way back to JezreEl (and he was crying).
Then the hand of Jehovah came over EliJah, so he tightened his belt and he ran to JezreEl ahead of Ahab.
Well, [when he got home], Ahab told his woman JezeBel (the one that had the Prophets killed with swords) about everything that EliJah did.
So JezeBel sent [a message] to EliJah that said:
‘May the gods curse me and add to it if by this time tomorrow your life won’t be the same as the lives [of those Prophets whom I had killed].’
Well, this frightened EliJah, so he got up and ran for his life.
And when he got to BeerSheba, he left his servant thereand traveled along the desert road for a day’s journey, where [he spent the night] under a broom bush.
That’s when he prayed for his life to end, saying:
‘It’s now fitting for You to take my life, O Jehovah, because I’m no better than my ancestors!’
And after that, he bedded down and went to sleep under that bush.
However, {Look!} someone then came and touched him and said,
‘Now, get up and eat!’
And when he looked around, he saw a loaf of oat bread that had been baked in ashes lying next to his head, along with a jar of water.
So EliJah got up and ate and drank, then he went back to sleep.
But the messenger of Jehovah returned a second time and touched him, saying,
‘Get up and eat!
You’ll need this for your long journey!’
So he got up and ate and drank again, and he gained enough strength from the food to last the whole trip of 40 days and 40 nights to the Dry Mountain (Horeb).
And when he got there, he went into a cave to rest.
But then, {Look!} Jehovah sent word to him.
He asked:
‘Why are you here, EliJah?’
And EliJah replied:
‘Because of my zeal… because I’m zealous for Jehovah the Almighty.
Yet, all the sons of IsraEl have abandoned You… they’ve cut down Your Altars and they’ve killed Your Prophets with swords;
So, now I’m the only one left, and they’re looking [to kill] me too!’
Then he was told:
‘Go outside and stand on the mountain before Jehovah.
There {Look!} the Lord will pass by you in a strong wind that will split the mountain and break its rocks.’
[So he went outside and stood] before Jehovah, and wind blew… but it wasn’t wind, it was Jehovah.
Then after the wind blew, the ground shook… but it wasn’t an earthquake, it was Jehovah.
And after the ground shook, there was fire… but it wasn’t fire, it was Jehovah.
And after the fire, there was a sound that came from a soft breeze, which was Jehovah.
Well after that, EliJah covered his face with a sheepskin and he went back inside the cave.
But then {Look!} a voice again asked:
‘Why are you here, EliJah?’
And EliJah once more replied:
‘Because of my zeal… because I’m zealous for Jehovah the Almighty.
Yet, the sons of IsraEl have abandoned Your Sacred Agreement with them…
They’ve demolished Your Altars and they’ve killed Your Prophets with swords, and now I’m the only one left and they’re looking [to kill] me too!’
Then The Lord said to him:
‘Continue on with your journey; and when you reach the desert road to Damascus, [I want you to] anoint HazaEl to be the king over Syria.
Also, anoint Jehu (the son of NaMesSi) to be the king over IsraEl, and anoint EliSha (the son of ShaPhat from AbelMaoOla) to replace you as [My] Prophet.
Thereafter, all those that are saved from the broadsword of HazaEl will be killed by Jehu, and all that are saved from the broadsword of Jehu will be killed by EliSha.
However, there are still 7,000 men in IsraEl that haven’t bent their knees to BaAl, and none of their mouths have spoken reverently of him.’
So then he went and found EliSha (the son of ShaPhat), who at the time was leading 12 teams of oxen that were pulling a plough.
He went up to him and placed his sheepskin over him.
Then EliSha left his oxen and ran after EliJah, and he said:
‘First let me kiss my father and mother goodbye… and then I’ll follow you!’
But [EliJah] told him:
‘Come on… I’ve already done that for you!’
So he went back and took the teams of oxen and sacrificed them.
He cooked them with the wood [of their yokes], and he gave [the meat] to his people, which they ate.
Then he got up and ran after EliJah and started serving him.
Well after that, BenHader (the king of Syria) gathered his whole army along with 32 [vassal] kings and all their horses and chariots, and they went to lay siege against Samaria…
They all went to Samaria to wage war against it.
Then he sent messengers into the city of Ahab (the king of IsraEl), who told him,
‘This is what BenHader says:
Your silver and your gold are all mine. Also, your wives, children, and all the good things that you have are mine.’
And the king of IsraEl replied:
‘Just as you have said, O my master, O king;
I and all that is mine is yours.’
Then BenHader sent his messengers again, that said:
‘I sent you the message telling you that you are to give your silver, gold, wives, and children to me.
So at this hour tomorrow, I will send my servants to you, and then they will search your palace and the homes of your servants and take anything that their eyes desire…
Whatever they put in their hands, they can take.’
So the king of IsraEl called all the elders of the land and said:
‘I want you to know of all the evil that this man intends to do.
For though I’ve offered him all my silver, gold, wives, sons, and daughters, he’s now asking for [everything else].’
And at that, the elders and all the people said:
‘Don’t listen to him… and don’t worry!’
So he replied to the messengers of BenHader:
‘Tell your master that I will give him all that he asked for at first, but I won’t be able to do this [other] thing that he’s asking.’
And his people carried that message back.
But BenHader said this:
‘May the gods curse me and add to it if the dirt of the foxes of Samaria and all its people is good enough for the feet of my soldiers.’
Then the king of IsraEl replied:
‘That’s enough!
May the hunchback not boast as though he were able to stand erect!’
Well, at the time that this message reached [BenHader], he and all the other kings were inside his tent drinking.
So he told his servants to go and build a siege mound around the city, which they did.
Then {Look!} a Prophet came to Ahab (the king of IsraEl) and told him,
‘This is what Jehovah has said:
You have now seen how large an army they have, but {Look!} today I’m giving them all into your hands…
And then you will know that I am Jehovah!’
So Ahab asked him,
‘Who will accomplish this?’
And he was told,
‘This is what Jehovah said:
It will happen at the hands of the young princes of this region.’
And Ahab asked,
‘Then, who will join them in this war?’
And he was told,
‘You will!’
So Ahab counted the sons of the rulers of his realm and found out that there were 230 of them.
Then he counted his troops and found that there were 7,000 of them… all mighty men.
So, he started his attack at noon.
Meanwhile, BenHader and the other kings (all 32 of them) that were his allies, were in SokChoth, and they were all drunk.
Then in the first wave, [Ahab] sent the young princes to attack.
And when BenHader (the king of Syria) received word that men were coming from Samaria,he said,
‘Whether they’re coming in peace or for war, let’s capture them alive!’
Well, the young princes then came out of the city (with the whole army following them),and each one cut down the soldier who faced him.
Thereafter, they did it again… each one cut down the soldier that came against him.
So, the Syrians turned and ran, and the IsraElites started chasing after them.
However, BenHader (the king of Syria) grabbed a cavalryman’s horse and got away.
But the king of IsraEl went and collected all their horses and chariots, which was a great calamity for Syria.
Then, [after the battle], the Prophet went to the king of IsraEl again and said:
‘Now, strengthen your forces and consider what you must do, for BenHader (the king of Syria) will attack you once again this year!’
And after that, the servants of the king of Syria went to him and told him this:
‘The God of IsraEl is a God of mountains, not a God of valleys, and that’s why they beat us.
However, if you go to war with them in the straight plains, you can beat them.
So, this is what you should do:
Send all the kings home and appoint governors to replace them.
Then you must replace the men that were killed, get more horses, build more chariots, and go back and fight them in the plains, and you will overpower them.’
Well, the king listened to them and went along with their proposal.
So, toward the end of the year, BenHader again gathered an army in Syria and marched them toward Apheka to war against IsraEl,and the sons of IsraEl gathered for war and went out to meet them.
Then, like two flocks of goats, IsraEl stood opposite them on the right, while Syria literally filled the land on the left.
Then the man of God went to the king of IsraEl once more and told him,
‘This is what Jehovah has said:
Because Syria says that Jehovah the God of IsraEl is a God of the mountains, not a God of the valleys, I’m going to give his huge army into your hands…
And then you will know that I am Jehovah.’
Well, both armies just sat there camped against each other for 7 days.
Then on the 7th day, the war started, and IsraEl cut down the Syrians… 100,000 foot soldiers in one day.
All the rest retreated to the city of Apheka.
But then its walls crumbled, killing 27,000 of the remaining men, and BenHader ran away and hid in a bedroom in the inner part of a house.
There he said to his servants:
‘I know that the kings of IsraEl are merciful.
So, dress yourselves in sackcloth and wrap your heads with ropes; then go to the king of IsraEl and see if he will allow us to live.’
So they wrapped sackcloth around their loins and wrapped ropes around their heads, and they went to the king of IsraEl and said,
‘Your servant BenHader says:
Please allow me to live!’
And [IsraEl’s king] asked,
‘Is my brother still alive?’
Then the men quickly got together and discussed what to say, and they replied:
‘Yes, BenHader your brother [is still alive].
And he said,
‘Well then, go get him.’
So BenHader was brought [to the king of IsraEl] on a chariot.
And he said,
‘I will return all the cities that my father took from your father, and you may name the streets that my father built in Damascus after yourself, the same as my father did in Samaria.’
And [the king of IsraEl said],
‘If you’ll sign a peace treaty with me, I’ll send you home.’
So they signed a treaty, and he was allowed to return home.
Well after that, a man that was one of the sons of the Prophets said to his neighbor (by [the inspiration] of Jehovah):
‘Strike me!’
But his neighbor wouldn’t knock him down.
So he said to him:
‘Because you didn’t listen to the voice of Jehovah; {look!} after you leave me, a lion will strike you down!’
And after he left him, a lion did in fact kill him.
So then, [the Prophet] went and found another man and said:
‘Strike me!’
And this time the man struck him and wounded him.
Then the Prophet went to see the king of IsraEl, and on the way, he wrapped a cloth around his eyes.
And when he got to the king, he shouted this at him:
‘Your servant was in the army and we were in a battle.
Then {Look!} someone brought a prisoner to me and told me to guard him, and he told me that if he got away, I would either have to pay with my life or I’d have to pay him 60 pounds (27kg) of silver.
But when I turned, the prisoner was just gone!’
And the king of IsraEl said to him:
‘{Look!} You were responsible, so you’ll have to pay!’
And that’s when the man removed the cloth from over his eyes, and the king recognized him as one of the Prophets.
Then the Prophet said to him,
‘This is what Jehovah has declared:
Because you allowed a man that escaped from you to live, your life will be required for his life, and your people’s lives must be paid for his people’s lives!’
Well at that, the king of IsraEl left dumbfounded and shaking, and he went back home to Samaria.
Then there came the matter of the vineyard of NabOth the JezreElite. His vineyard was located near the threshing floor of Ahab (the king of Samaria).And Ahab had spoken to NabOth and asked him to trade vineyards with him, because [NabOth’s vineyard] was close to his palace, and he wanted it as a vegetable garden.
He said,
‘I’ll give you another very-good vineyard for it; or if you prefer, we can discuss terms and I’ll buy if from you, because I need it for a vegetable garden.’
But NabOth replied:
‘No, I could never give it to you, because this is the inheritance that my God gave to my ancestors.’
Well, this matter bothered Ahab so much that he just went to bed, covered his face, and refused to eat.
So his woman JezeBel went to him and asked,
‘Why is your spirit so disturbed, and why are you refusing to eat?’
And he said,
‘I spoke to NabOth (the JezreElite) and asked him to sell me his vineyard…
I offered to trade him another good one for it, but he said that he doesn’t want to give me the inheritance of his ancestors.’
Then his woman JezeBel said:
‘Aren’t you the king of IsraEl?
Get up, eat, and start acting like yourself.
I’ll give you the vineyard of NabOth the JezreElite!’
So she wrote a letter and [forged] Ahab’s name to it, put his seal on it, and then she sent it to the elders and free men that lived near NabOth.
In it, she wrote:
‘I want you to declare a fast, and I want NabOth to be in charge over the people!’
Then she assigned two sons of convicted criminals to work with him, who were to accuse him of blaspheming God and the king, and then take him out to be stoned to death.
And that’s what happened.
The men that lived in his city (the elders and free men to whom JezeBel sent the letter)called for a fast, and they appointed NabOth to be in charge.
Then the two men that were sons of convicts and that sat right across from him, accused him of blaspheming God and the king, and they led him out of the city to be stoned to death.
So they sent a message to JezeBel that said:
‘NabOth has been stoned and now he’s dead.’
Then when JezeBel got the message, she said to Ahab:
‘Now, get up and take the vineyard that NabOth (the JezreElite) refused to sell you, because NabOth is dead!’
So when Ahab heard that NabOth had died, he went and claimed the field as his own inheritance.
Thereafter, the Lord spoke to EliJah (the Tishbite) and said,
‘Get up and go to Samaria to meet with Ahab (the king of IsraEl).
{Look!} You’ll find him in the vineyard of NabOth, where he has gone to claim it as his own inheritance.
Speak to him and tell him that Jehovah said this:
Because you had to murder someone to inherit this field; everywhere that the pigs and dogs licked the blood of NabOth, they will also lick up your blood, and whores will bathe in your blood!’
So EliJah went to Ahab, and Ahab said to him:
‘O my enemy, I see that you’ve found me!’
And EliJah replied:
‘Yes, I’ve found you, because you’ve acted foolishly and sold yourself into wickedness before Jehovah.
So, this is what He told me to say:
{Look!} I’m bringing all sorts of bad things upon you.
I will destroy Ahab and burn away everything that comes after him… all those that can urinate against a wall and all those that serve him that still remain in IsraEl.
Then I’ll make your house like that of JeroBoam the son of NaBat and as that of BaAsha’s son AhiJah, because of the ways that you’ve provoked Me to anger and led IsraEl into sin.’
Then [EliJah] told JezeBel,
‘Jehovah also said this:
Dogs will eat your [body] around the walls of JezreEl.
Also, those of [the house of] Ahab that die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those that die in the fields will be eaten by the flying creatures of the skies.
For, Ahab acted very foolishly when he sold himself into these wicked deeds before Jehovah through the perversions of his woman, JezeBel.
All of his actions in this have been disgusting… he’s even started worshiping the disgusting thing of the Amorites that Jehovah drove away from before the sons of IsraEl!’
Well, after [EliJah] said these things, Ahab became very repentant before Jehovah…
He started crying and ripping his clothes; then he tied sackcloth around his body and fasted, and he kept on wearing the sackcloth from the day that NabOth the JezreElite was killed.
So Jehovah spoke to EliJah the Tishbite and said:
‘I see that Ahab is repentant; therefore, I’m not going to bring the evil upon him during his lifetime.
However, I will bring it upon his son and upon his house.’
As the result, there was no more war between IsraEl and Syria during the next three years.
But in the 3rd year,JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) went to visit the king of IsraEl.
[And it so happened that at the time], the king of IsraEl had been talking to his servants about RamOth GileAd, for it really belonged to him and he had yet to take it back from Syria.
So the king of IsraEl asked JehoShaphat:
‘Will you join us in our war for RamOth GileAd?’
And JehoShaphat replied:
‘You and I and your people and mine are the same race, so my horses are your horses.
However, why don’t you go and ask [Jehovah about this] today?
You should definitely ask Him first!’
Well, the king of IsraEl gathered all his prophets (about 400 of them), and the king asked them:
‘Should I go to war against RamOth GileAd, or should I wait?’
And their reply was:
‘Go, and the Lord will give it into the hands of the king!’
But then JehoShaphat asked the king of IsraEl:
‘Don’t you have any Prophets of Jehovah?
We should go to them to ask Jehovah about this matter.’
And the king of IsraEl said to JehoShaphat:
‘Well, there’s still one man of Jehovah whom we can ask; however, I detest him because he never tells me good things, just bad things.
His name is MicaJah the son of JemBlaAh.’
So JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) said to him:
‘We should really hear what he has to say.’
Therefore, the king of IsraEl called his primary eunuch and told him:
‘Quickly, bring MicaJah (the son of JemBlaAh) to me.’
So then the king of IsraEl and JehoShaphat the king of Judah both sat down on their thrones, and all the prophets came in and started prophesying before them.
ZedekiAh (the son of HanaAn) actually made himself some iron horns, and he said,
‘This is what the Lord says:
With these you will gore the Syrians until you finish them off!’
And all the other prophets agreed, saying,
Go to war for RamOth GileAd and you will be blest, for [God] will hand the king of Syria over to you.’
Meanwhile, the messenger that was sent to call for MicaJah finally found him, and he said to him:
‘{Look!} All the prophets are telling the king good things, so you must go there and do the same!’
But MicaJah replied:
‘As Jehovah lives; I’ll say whatever He tells me to say.’
However, when he went before the king and the king asked,
‘Should I go to war for RamOth GileAd, or should I wait?’,
MicaJah told him,
‘Go, and Jehovah will bless the hands of the king!’
But the king said to him:
‘How often do I have to ask you to promise to speak the truth to me when you’re speaking in the Name of Jehovah?’
And MicaJah replied,
‘Well, [what I said really] isn’t true;
For I saw all IsraEl scattered in the mountains like a flock with no shepherd.
Then the Lord said to me:
When these people no longer have a lord, they should return to their homes in peace!’
Well at that, the king of IsraEl turned to JehoShaphat and said:
‘Didn’t I tell you that this one would only prophesy bad things?’
And MicaJah said to him:
‘That isn’t true! For, all I do is listen to the words of Jehovah… and that’s what I’ve done!
I saw Jehovah the God of IsraEl sitting on His throne and the whole army of the heavens was standing around Him on His right and on His left.
Then Jehovah asked,
Who will fool Ahab the king of IsraEl and make him go to war for RamOth GileAd?
And one said this and another said that;
But then a spirit came and stood before Jehovah and said,
I will deceive him!
‘So Jehovah asked him:
How will you do that?
‘And he replied:
I’ll go and become a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.
‘And God said:
You will surely deceive him, so go on and do it!
‘Therefore, {Look!} Jehovah has put a lying spirit into the mouths of all your prophets, and He has really foretold bad things for you.’
Well at that, ZedekiAh (the son of HanaAn) came up to MicaJah and hit him in the mouth, then he asked,
‘So, what kind of spirit has Jehovah prophesied for you?’
And MicaJah replied:
‘{Look!} You’ll know [the answer] when you have to run and hide in the inner chamber of a storeroom!’
Then the king of IsraEl told his servants to take MicaJah to AmMon (who was the mayor of the city) and to his son JehoAsh,who should keep him under guard.
He told them to say,
‘Don’t give him anything to eat other than bread and water until after I have returned in peace!’
But MicaJah said,
‘Since you won’t be returning in peace, the Lord told me to say this to you:
Listen all you people;
The king of IsraEl [will go to war], and JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) will go with him.’
Well at that, the king of IsraEl turned to JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) and said:
‘Let me disguise myself in the battle, and I want you to put on my clothes.’
So the king of IsraEl put on [JehoShaphat’s] clothes, and they went to the battle.
Meanwhile, the king of Syria had given these instructions to the 32 men that were in charge of his chariots.
He said:
‘Don’t attack his foot soldiers or his generals… go catch the king of IsraEl by himself.’
So when those that were in charge of the chariots saw the king of Judah [wearing the king of IsraEl’s clothes], they shouted,
‘That looks like the king of IsraEl!’
Then they circled and prepared to attack him.
However, JehoShaphat shouted,and when the men in charge realized that it wasn’t the king of IsraEl, they turned away.
But thereafter, a skilled bowman recognized the king of IsraEl and shot him in the chest between his lungs.
And [the king] said to his chariot driver:
‘Turn around and take me away from the battle, because I’ve been hit.’
Well, this turned the tide of the battle, and the king sat in his chariot across from the fighting for the rest of the day, as blood poured all over the chariot.
Then he died later that evening.
Well, as the blood started running from the chariot toward the enemy camp,a messenger went throughout IsraEl’s camp after sundown, shouting:
‘Everyone should go back to his city and land,because the king is dead!’
So, everyone returned to Samaria, and they carried the king back and buried him in a tomb in Samaria.
However, when they started washing the blood off the chariot in the Spring of Samaria, pigs and dogs came and licked up his blood, and whores bathed in the bloody water, just as Jehovah had said.
Well, {Look!} the rest of the things that Ahab said and did, as well as [a description] of the house of ivory that he had built and of all the cities he created, have been written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
So after Ahab went to sleep with his ancestors, his son AhaziJah started ruling in his place.
Well, JehoShaphat (the son of Asa) had started his rule over Judah in the 4th year of Ahab the king of IsraEl.
He was 35 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem for 25 years.
His mother’s name was Azuba, and she was the daughter of SalAi.
He had followed in the path of his father Asa unswervingly, doing what was upright in the eyes of Jehovah.
However, he never tore down the high places where the people burned incense and offered sacrifices.
But during his reign, he was at peace with the king of IsraEl.
The rest of the things that JehoShaphat said, as well as the area of his rulership, was written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.
And during his reign, he completed everything that had been started or neglected during the reign of his father Asa.
Meanwhile, there was no king reigning in Idumea.
King JehoShaphat also had a Tharsis-style ship made in order to go to Ophir and bring back gold.
But it never [reached Ophir], because it was wrecked at GeBer.
So King AhaziJah of IsraEl said to JehoShaphat:
‘Your servants can travel there with my servants.’
But JehoShaphat didn’t want to do that.
Finally, JehoShaphat went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in the tomb of his fathers in the city of his ancestor David.
So, his son JehoRam started to rule.
It was in the 17th year of the reign of JehoShaphat the king of Judah that AhaziJah (Ahab’s son) had started ruling over IsraEl from Samaria.
However, he only ruled for 2 years,because he also acted wickedly before Jehovah, following in the steps of his father Ahab, his mother JezeBel, and of JeroBoam the son of NaBat (who was the first one that led IsraEl into sin)…
For he served the BaAls, bowing before them, and this angered Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.
It so happened that [King] AhaziAh fell through the latticework on the roof of [his palace] in Samaria and he was badly injured.
So he sent for messengers and told them to go ask BaAl, the Fly God of EkRon if he was going to survive… and they went to ask him.
Meanwhile,a messenger of Jehovah went and spoke to EliJah (the Tishbite) and told him to go and meet with the messengers of AhaziAh the king of Samaria to ask,
‘Is it because there’s no God in IsraEl that you’re so anxiously going to see BaAl the Fly God of EkRon?
You know that isn’t true!
So, go back and tell AhaziAh that he’s not going to get out of the bed that he’s lying in, because he’s going to die!’
Well, that’s what EliJah did.
So the messengers returned to [the king], and when he asked them why they had come back so soon,they said,
‘Because a man came to meet us, and he told us to return to the king who sent us and tell him that Jehovah asked,
Why are you so anxiously going to see BaAl, the Fly God of EkRon? Is it because there is no God in IsraEl?
There’s no need to do that, because he won’t be getting out of the bed he’s lying in, since he’s going to die!’
Then, after they reported what EliJah said, the king asked:
‘What did the man look like that came to meet you and said those things?’
And they told him:
‘He had a lot of hair and he wore a large leather belt around his waist.’
Then [the king] said:
‘Ah, it’s EliJah the Tishbite!’
So he sent a contingent of 50 men to get EliJah, and when they found him, he happened to be sitting at the very top of a mountain.
Then the lieutenant in charge of the 50 men said to him:
‘O man of God;
The king has called for you, so come down from there!’
But EliJah replied to the leader of the group:
‘If I am a man of God, I can bring fire down from the sky to consume you and your 50 men.’
And at that, fire came out of the sky, which destroyed him and all 50 of his men.
So thereafter, the king sent another contingent of 50 men. And when they got [to EliJah], the lieutenant over the group said:
‘O man of God;
The king says that you should come down from there… right now!’
But EliJah replied:
‘If I am a man of God, fire will come down from the sky and consume you and your 50 men.’
Then fire again came out of the sky and destroyed him and his 50 men.
So the king sent a 3rd contingent of 50 men.
But this time, when they got to him, the lieutenant over the 50 got down on his knees before EliJah and begged him, saying:
‘O man of God; Please value my life and the lives of your servants, these 50 men that are standing before you.
For {Look!} fire came down from the sky and destroyed the previous two groups of 50 men and their leaders.
But, please value the lives of your servants that are standing here before you!’
Then a messenger from Jehovah spoke to EliJah and said:
‘Get down and go with him… but, don’t be afraid of them.’
So EliJah climbed down and went with them to see the king.
Then he told the king:
‘Jehovah has asked why you sent your messengers to get a reply from BaAl, the Fly God of EkRon.
He says that won’t be necessary, because you won’t be getting out of the bed that you’re in, since you’re going to die!’
And at that he died, just as Jehovah had said through EliJah.
Well, {Look!} all the rest of the many things that AhaziAh said and did have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then Jehovah planned to take EliJah into the sky in a great shaking.
And at the time, EliJah and EliSha had just left GilGal together.
So EliJah said to EliSha:
‘Wait here, because Jehovah is sending me on to BethEl.’
But EliSha asked:
‘As Jehovah lives and as you live; Should I just I abandon you?’
So they traveled on to BethEl together.[And when they got to] BethEl, the Sons of the Prophets came to EliSha and said to him:
‘Did you know that Jehovah is going to take your master and lift him over your head today?’
And he replied,
‘Yes, I know… but let’s not talk about it!’
Then EliJah told him:
‘Now, you should just wait here, for Jehovah is sending me to the JorDan River.’
And EliSha [again] said:
‘As Jehovah lives and as you live; am I to abandon you?’
So they both traveled on.
Well, 50 of the Sons of the Prophets were standing some distance away next to the JorDan, as both men walked up to the river.
Then EliJah took off his sheepskin cape, folded it in half, and he struck the water with it, and [the river] parted before them… so they both crossed it on dry land.
And as they were crossing, EliJah said to EliSha:
‘Tell me what I can do for you before I’m taken away from you.’
So EliSha told him:
‘Please bestow a double portion of your Spirit upon me.’
And EliJah told him:
‘That’s a difficult request.
If you see me being taken up from you, you’ll receive it. But if you don’t, it won’t happen.’
Then, as they were crossing the river walking along and talking, {Look!} a chariot of fire with horses of fire rode up between them, and carried EliJah into the sky with a great shaking.
And when EliSha saw this, he yelled out,
‘O father, O father… the chariot of IsraEl and his horseman!’
But, EliJah quickly passed out of sight.
Then [EliSha] ripped his own clothes in half,and he picked up EliJah’s sheepskin cape that had fallen on top of him, and he raised it high as he walked back to the bank of the river.
And after that, he took EliJah’s sheepskin cape that had fallen upon him and struck the water with it… but it didn’t part.
So he cried out,
‘Where is the God of EliJah now?’
Then he struck the water again, and this time [the river] ripped apart on either side of him.
So thereafter, EliSha was able to finish crossing the river.
Well, when the Sons of the Prophets that had come from JeriCho saw him standing on their side of the river, they said:
‘The Breath of EliJah surely now rests upon EliSha.’
So they came to greet him, bowing to the ground before him.
Then they said to him:
‘{Look!} We have 50 men [who are filled with God’s] power.
Allow us to send them to search for your master; for the Breath of Jehovah may have tossed him into the JorDan or onto 1 of the mountains or hills!’
And EliSha said,
‘No, don’t send them.’
But they kept insisting until he [became exasperated] and said,
‘Okay, then send them!’
Therefore, they sent the 50 men that searched for him for three days, but they couldn’t find him.
And when they returned to where EliSha was staying in JeriCho, he said to them,
‘Didn’t I tell you not to go?’
Well meanwhile, the men of [JeriCho] had come to EliSha and said:
‘{Look!} As you can see, O master; this city is in a good location.
However, the water is bad and nothing wants to grow here.’
And EliSha said:
‘Bring me a new water jar filled with salt.’
So they went and brought [the jar of salt] to him.
And EliSha went to the place where they got their water and threw the salt into it, and said,
‘This is what Jehovah has proclaimed:
I’ve made the water good, so it will no longer cause death or destruction.’
And the water there has in fact remained good to this day, just as EliSha said.
Well after that, EliSha left [JeriCho] and traveled back toward BethEl.
But on the way, some young boys that were following him from the city started making fun of him by shouting,
‘Go into the sky O bald man… go up into the sky!’
And when he saw this, he turned around and cursed them in the name of the Lord.
Then {Look!} two bears came out of the woods and tore all 42 of the children to pieces.
Well thereafter, he traveled on to Mount CarMel, and then on to Samaria.
In the 18th year of JehoShaphat the king of Judah, JehoRam (the son of Ahab) started his reign in IsraEl, and he reigned for 12 years.
He also acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah, but he wasn’t as bad as his father or mother,for he removed the columns of BaAl that his father had erected.
However, he still hung onto and practiced the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) who had led IsraEl into sin.
Now, King Mesha of MoAb was a shepherd, and he’d sent 100,000 lambs and 100,000 wooly rams to [Ahab] the king of IsraEl, as a good-will gesture.
But after Ahab died, the king of MoAb ended his alliance with the kings of IsraEl.
So King JehoRam went from Samaria and took a census [of the army] of IsraEl,then he sent a message to JehoShaphat the king of Judah, telling him,
‘The king of MoAb has annulled his alliance with me. So, will you join me in a war against MoAb?’
And he replied:
‘I will… since you and I are very much alike, and your people and my people [are related];
My horses are your horses!
Which road do you want me to take?
And JehoRam replied:
‘[Join me] on the road to the desert of Edom.’
So the king of IsraEl, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom went on a march against the king of MoAb that lasted 7 days.
However, because they were marching in circles, they finally ran out of water and they no longer had enough for both their animals and their troops.
Then the king of IsraEl said:
‘Did Jehovah call us three kings and send us here just to hand us over to MoAb?’
And JehoShaphat asked:
‘Did you bring along a Prophet of Jehovah?
We should be asking him!’
And one of the servants of the king of IsraEl said:
‘We can go to EliSha (the son of ShaPhat)… the one that used to wash the hands of EliJah.’
Then JehoShaphat asked:
‘Does he have the words of Jehovah?’
So thereafter, the king of IsraEl, the king of Judah (JehoShaphat), and the king of Edom went to see him.
And EliSha asked the king of IsraEl:
‘Why have you come here… why don’t you go to the prophets of your father and mother?’
But the king of IsraEl asked him:
‘Has Jehovah called all three of us kings here just to hand us over to MoAb?’
And EliSha said:
‘As Jehovah the God of armies (before whom I stand) lives;
Were it not for the fact that JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) is welcome here, I would never have bothered to see you.
But now, bring me my harp.’
Well, as he strummed his harp, the hand of Jehovah came over himand he said,
‘This is the word of Jehovah:
‘Dig cistern after cistern in the wadi,
For, though the wind blows, it won’t rain,
But the wadi will still fill with water
For you, your men, and your animals.
‘And because this is not a light matter
In the eyes of Jehovah;
I will give MoAb into your hands.
‘But, you must destroy their fortified cities
And cut down all their good trees.
Then, stop up their wells and their springs,
And cover their land up with rocks.’
Well, the next morning, just after they had offered sacrifices, {Look!} there was water running down the road to Edom, which covered the land.
Meanwhile, when the MoAbites heard that the three kings were coming to war against them, people started yelling all over the land and strapping on their [swords], then they all gathered for war along their borders.
But when they got up early the next morning and gazed at the sun rising over the water, it appeared to be fiery red… like blood!
So they said,
‘That’s blood from a battle!
Those kings have clearly fought among themselves, and now they’re the spoils of MoAb!’
So the MoAbites then advanced toward the camp of IsraEl.
[However, they were surprised] when IsraEl came out and attacked them.
So they ran away, and IsraEl thereafter entered their land and destroyed MoAb,demolishing all their cities.
And after that, each man picked up rocks and threw them over the good land, covering the ground with rocks, and they stopped up all the springs and wells.
They also cut down all the good trees and broke the walls of the cities into rocks, then they surrounded the cities and pelted them with the rocks.
Well, when the king of MoAb realized that all was lost, he took 700 of his best men and tried to cut through the [lines of] the king of Edom, but he was unsuccessful.
Then he [went back] and took his firstborn son (the one that was to be his successor) and sacrificed him as a whole burnt offering on his [city] wall.
And since he had offered his repentance to IsraEl in such a great way, they left his land and just went back home.
Then a woman of one of the Sons of the Prophets called for EliSha and then she said to him:
‘My husband (your servant) has died, and you know that your servant was [a person] that feared Jehovah.
However, the moneylender just came to take my two sons as his slaves.’
And EliSha said:
‘Then, tell me what I can do for you…
Is there anything that you own with which [you can pay for their release]?
And she replied:
‘I don’t have a single thing in my house other than some olive oil that’s used for anointing.’
And he said:
‘Then, go around to your neighbors and see how many empty jars you can get from them.
After that, go back home and lock yourself and your sons inside, and fill each of the jars with [the olive oil], one at a time.’
So she went home and did as he told her.
She gathered her sons and locked the doors, and then she started filling the jars.
Well, as she filled them, she kept saying to her sons:
‘Now, bring me another jar!’
However, they finally told her,
‘There aren’t any more jars’…
and at that, the flow of olive oil ended.
So she went and reported what had happened to EliSha, the man of God.
And EliSha said:
‘Now, go and sell the olive oil, and that will pay your interest. Then you and your sons can use whatever you don’t sell.’
Well, one day, as EliSha was passing through Soman, a wealthy woman that lived there insisted that he come in for a meal.
And thereafter, whenever he was passing by, he would stop there to eat.
So the woman said to her husband:
‘{Look!} I know that this is a holy man of God that is always stopping here.
Why don’t we make a small room for him upstairs? We can put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lampstand there, and whenever he comes to visit, he can spend the night here.’
And one day when he was in the area, he stopped in and went to his upstairs room, where he went to bed.
Then later, he told his servant GeHazi:
‘Call the Somanite woman and ask to speak to her. Tell her:
{Look!} You have surprised us with [the good thing you’ve done for us].
So, what can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you with the king or with his generals?’
But she replied:
‘No, I live among friends and I have a happy life.’
So he asked GeHazi:
‘What [nice thing] do you think we can do for her?’
And GeHazi replied:
‘Well, she has no son, and her husband is very old.’
So EliSha said,
‘Then call her!’
So he called to her, and she came up and stood by the door,and he said to her:
‘At this time next year, at about the same hour, you will be holding a living son.’
But she said:
‘Oh no, my lord; you shouldn’t disappoint your female servant like this!’
However, the woman did get pregnant and give birth to a living son on the same day and hour the following year, just as EliSha had told her.
Well, after the boy grew up;
One day he went out to where his father was harvesting,and he said to him:
‘Oh, my head! My head hurts!’
So the father told his servant:
‘Carry him to his mother;’
and he carried him [home] to his mother, who put him to sleep on her knees.
However, sometime around noon, he died.
Then she carried him upstairs and laid him on the bed of the man of God.
And after she locked the door, she called for her husbandand told him:
‘Send one of the servants with me and a burro, because I’m going to run and find the man of God and bring him back.’
Well, he asked,
‘Why do you have to go to him today?
It’s not a New Moon or a Sabbath.’
But she just said,
‘Peace!’
Then she saddled her burro and told her servant:
‘You lead… Go!
Don’t wait for me to mount the burro… as I said, Go!
Search throughout Mount CarMel and find the man of God!’
So they went to the mountain and found the man of God.
Well when EliSha saw her coming, he said to GeHazi (his servant):
‘Isn’t that the Somanite woman?If so, run to meet her and say,
May you, your husband, and the boy have peace!’
Then as she [approached GeHazi], she also said,
‘Peace!’
Well at that, she went up to EliSha on the mountain and grabbed hold of his feet. However, GeHazi tried to push her away.
But EliSha said,
‘Leave her alone, because there’s a lot of pain in her life.
I don’t know what it is yet, because Jehovah has concealed it from me.’
Then she said to him,
‘I didn’t ask for a son from my lord, and I told you not to mislead me…’
And EliSha said to GeHazi:
‘Tighten your belt, then take my walking stick and go!
If you see any man along the way, don’t stop to bless him… or if a man should bless you, don’t answer him.
Go and place my walking stick against the face of the boy.’
But the boy’s mother said to EliSha:
‘As Jehovah lives and as your body is living; are we going to leave you behind?’
So EliSha got up and went with her,as GeHazi traveled ahead.
Well [when GeHazi got there], he placed the walking stick against the boy’s face…
But there was no sound and he couldn’t hear anything.
So he went back to EliSha and said,
‘The boy didn’t get up!’
Then EliSha went into the house and {Look!} he found the dead boy lying on his bed.
So he went inside the room, locked the door behind him, and he prayed to Jehovah.
Then he got down on top of the boy, mouth-to-mouth, eye-to-eye, and hand-to-hand, and he just laid there warming his flesh.
Then he got up and he walked all around the house, and thereafter, he went back upstairs and leaned against the boy 7 times…
And suddenly the boy opened his eyes!
So EliSha yelled out to GeHazi,
‘Call the Somanite woman!’
Well, he called her and she went upstairs; and EliSha said,
‘Here’s your son!’
So she went in, fell down upon EliSha’s feet, and bowed to the ground before him.
Then she took her son [back downstairs].
Well after that, EliSha traveled to GilGal, because there was a famine in the land.
There the Sons of the Prophets sat down before him, and EliSha told his servant:
‘Go get the large cooking pot and boil up some stew for the Sons of the Prophets.’
So his servant went out into the fields to collect some vegetables.
There he found a vine growing that had some wild gourds.
So he picked enough to fill his coat, and then he also threw them into the stew pot (but they didn’t know anything about it).
However, afterward, when he poured out the stew for the men and they started eating it, they yelled,
‘O man of God… there’s poison in this.’
And they weren’t willing to eat it.
However, EliSha told his servant:
‘Just take some flour and add it to the pot.’
Then he told GeHazi to pour some more for them to eat.
Well, there wasn’t anything wrong with the food in the pot after that.
And later, a man from BethSariSha came to him carrying the first fruits of his harvest for the man of God… 20 barley loaves and [several] clusters of dried figs.
And he said:
‘Give this to these people and let them eat it.’
But [EliSha] said to his servant:
‘Why should I feed those things to just 100 men?
Give it to the [rest] of the people [of the city] and let them eat it, for Jehovah told me:
They will eat it and then they will have leftovers!’
And for a fact; after everyone ate it, there were leftovers, just as Jehovah had said.
There was a man named NaAman who was the commander-in-chief of the army of Syria. He was highly valued by his lord and everyone admired him.
Jehovah had also used him to save Syria; for, he was a very strong and mighty man.
However, this man had contracted leprosy.
Meanwhile, the Syrians had gone into IsraEl lightly armed, and they captured a young girl there, who was given to NaAman’s woman as a servant.
And it was she that suggested to her lady:
‘My master should go to see the Prophet of God that is in Samaria, for he will cure him of his leprosy.’
As the result, [NaAman’s woman] went in to [her husband] while he was [with the king] and told him what she’d heard the girl from the land of IsraEl say.
And the king of Syria said to NaAman:
‘Then go there, and I’ll send along a letter for the king of IsraEl.’
So thereafter, NaAman went [to Samaria] carrying along 700 pounds (320kg) of silver, 6,000 gold coins, 10 suits of clothes,and a letter to the king of IsraEl, which said:
‘Along with this letter, {Look!} I am sending my servant NaAman to you and I’m asking that you cure him of his leprosy.’
Well when the king of IsraEl read the letter, he ripped his clothes and said:
‘Am I God who can bring death to one and life to another that he would send me a man to be cured of his leprosy?
How do I know that this really isn’t just an excuse to attack me?’
However, when EliSha heard about the king of IsraEl ripping his clothes, he sent [a message] to the king that said:
‘Why did you tear your clothes?
Allow NaAman to come to me, so he will know that there is a Prophet in IsraEl!’
And thereafter, NaAman went to him riding his horse-drawn chariot, stopping in front of the door of EliSha’s house.
Then EliSha sent a messenger outside to him that told him:
‘You should go and bathe yourself in the JorDan River 7 times, and your flesh will be cleansed.’
Well, NaAman was outraged!
He said:
‘They told me that this man would come out and stand before me, then call on the Name of his God and put his hand on the leprosy and cure it!
Aren’t the Abana and Phaphar Rivers of Damascus superior to the JorDan and all the waters of IsraEl?
If I want to wash myself, I can go bathe in them!’
So he left in a huff.
But later, his servant spoke to him and gave him some great advice.
He said:
‘Shouldn’t you do what the Prophet said?
All he told you to do was to bathe and be cleansed!’
So then NaAman went down to the JorDan and dipped himself in the water 7 times, just as EliSha had said… and he was cleansed!
In fact, his skin became like that of a young boy.
So he returned to EliSha with his entire contingent of guards, then he stood before him and said:
‘{Look!} Now I know for sure that there’s no God in all the earth other than just in IsraEl!
Please accept these blessings from your servant!’
But EliSha said:
‘As [Jehovah, the God] that I stand before lives; how could I accept such things?’
Well, [NaAman] kept insisting, but EliSha kept resisting.
Then NaAman said:
‘At least, let your servant give you this team of mules, and you can give me some of your red earth in return… then I’ll quit insisting.
For your servant promises that he won’t present whole burnt offerings or sacrifices to any gods other than to Jehovah alone, because of what this God has done.
However, may Jehovah deal kindly with your servant when I have to enter the temple of RemMan with my master.
Because, when he goes there, he has to hold onto my hand when he kneels before RemMan… so I must bend down also.
May Jehovah deal kindly with your servant in this matter.’
And EliSha told NaAman:
‘Yes, go in peace.’
So he left and headed toward the land of DebRatha.
But after that, GeHazi (EliSha’s servant) said to himself,
‘{Look!} NaAman was saved, yet my master wouldn’t accept any of the things that he brought.
As Jehovah lives, I’m going to run after him and accept anything that he’s willing to give!’
So then, GeHazi ran after NaAman, and when NaAman saw him running behind, he stopped his chariot and waited for him.
And [after he caught up], GeHazi said:
‘Peace!
My master has sent me and he told me to say,
{Look!} two young men just came to me from the Sons of the Prophets in the hills of Ephraim.
So, please let me have 70 pounds (32kg) of silver and two suits of clothes to give to them.’
And NaAman said:
‘Here, take 140 pounds (63.5kg) of silver!’
So GeHazi took the silver in two pouches, as well as two suits of clothes, and he handed them to his servants that carried the things on ahead of him.
And when they got to a shady spot he sent them on, as he took it all for himself and carried it back home.
Well later, when he went to see his master, EliSha asked him:
‘Where did you come from, GeHazi?’
And GeHazi replied:
‘Oh, your servant was just traveling here and there.’
And EliSha said to him:
‘Wasn’t my heart traveling with you when the man stopped his chariot to wait for you?
So, now you’ve taken the silver and the clothing, and you’re planning to buy gardens, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, and male and female servants.
However, the leprosy of NaAman will stick to you and to your seed through the ages.’
Then, as he was leaving, his face became as white as snow with leprosy.
Later, the Sons of the Prophets went to EliSha and said,
‘Look, this place near you (where we’re living) is getting too small for us.
So we’re going to the JorDan, and each man is going to carry along a timber that we can use to build a place for us there.’
And EliSha said,
‘Then go!’
But one of them said,
‘We want you to come with us.’
And he agreed to go.
So he traveled with them, and when they got to the JorDan, they started cutting trees.
Then {Look!} when one of them was setting a rafter in place, an iron tool fell into the river. And he yelled,
‘O Lord!’
But it was gone.
Well, the man of God came to him and asked,
‘Where did it fall?’
And he showed him the place.
Then EliSha picked up a piece of wood and threw it into the spot, and the iron tool floated to the surface.
And he said,
‘Now, pick it up yourself.’
So he reached out and grabbed the tool.
Well at the time, the king of Syria was at war with IsraEl.
So he consulted with his servants and selected a certain concealed place to set up his camp.
Then EliSha sent [a message] to the king of IsraEl, saying,
‘Be careful not to get to close to (such and such) a place, because the Syrians are hiding there.’
So the king of IsraEl went to the place that EliSha had warned him about, but he was spotted watching the place not once, but twice!
And when word of this reached the king of Syria, he was very upset.
So he called his servants and said to them:
‘Is anyone going to tell me who it is that betrayed me to the king of IsraEl?’
And his servants said:
‘No one, our lord, O king; for it is EliSha the Prophet of IsraEl that tells the king of IsraEl the things that you say in your closet and in your bedroom.’
Then the king said:
‘Go find him and bring him to me!’
Therefore, they went, and before long they reported back to the king, saying,
‘{Look!} He’s in Dothan.’
As the result, the king sent horses and chariots there that night, along with many soldiers that surrounded the city.
And when the servant that had been assigned to EliSha got up early in the morning and went outside, {Look!} he saw the army surrounding the city with all their horses and chariots.
So he went back inside and said:
‘O master, what should we do?’
But EliSha told him:
‘Don’t be afraid, for there are many more with us than there are with them.’
Then EliSha prayed and said:
‘O Jehovah, open wide the eyes of this servant.’
So, Jehovah opened his eyes wide, and he saw {Look!} that the mountain was filled with horses and chariots of fire that were surrounding EliSha.
And when they came to get him, EliSha asked this of Jehovah:
‘Now, strike this nation so they can’t see!’
And suddenly they were all struck [mentally] blind, just as EliSha had asked.
So then, EliSha shouted at them:
‘This is the wrong city… you took the wrong road!
Follow me and I’ll lead you to the man you’re searching for.’
Well from there, he led them to Samaria,and when they got there, EliSha prayed:
‘O Jehovah; now open their eyes and let them see!’
So at that, Jehovah opened their eyes wide, and they realized that {Look!} they were right in the middle of Samaria.
And when the king of IsraEl saw them, he asked EliSha:
‘Shall I cut them down, O father?’
But he told him that he shouldn’t do that, for he said:
‘Unless you’ve captured and beaten them with your swords and bows, you shouldn’t cut them down.
Rather, set some food and water before them so they can eat and drink, then let them return to their lord.’
As the result, the king laid a great feast before them, which they ate and drank, and then he sent them back to their lord.
However, the Syrians continued to send their armies into the land of IsraEl after that.
Then one day, BenHader the king of Syria gathered all of his troops and laid siege to Samaria,which brought a great famine to the city.
{Look!} At the time, a burro’s head came to be worth 50 silver coins, and a pint of dove droppings was worth 5 silver coins.
Well when the king of IsraEl was walking along the city wall one day, a woman yelled to him, saying:
‘Save us, O lord our king!’
And he replied:
‘What can I save you from… the threshing floor or the wine vat?
Only Jehovah can save you!’
Then the king asked her:
‘What’s wrong with you?’
And she replied:
‘A woman came and said to me,
Give me your son so we can both eat him today and tomorrow!
So I gave her my son, and we boiled him and ate him.
Then the next day, I told her to give me her son to eat, but she took him and hid him.’
Well when the king of IsraEl heard what the woman said, he started ripping his clothes.
Then he traveled around the wall and he noticed that his people were wearing sackcloth as their underwear.
And he prayed:
‘Curse me O God and add to it if I leave EliSha’s head on his [shoulders] today.’
At the time, EliSha was at his home and all the elders were sitting around him.
So the king sent a man to get EliSha; but before the messenger got there, EliSha said this to the elders:
‘Did you know that the king has sent an executioner to cut off my head today?
When he gets here, I want you to lock the door and not let him in; for the feet of his lord will be following close behind him.’
And it was while he was still speaking to them {Look!} that the messenger arrived, who shouted at [EliSha]:
‘{Look!} Since all this evil has come from Jehovah, is there any reason for us to keep on waiting for Jehovah to do something?’
And EliSha replied:
‘Listen to the word of Jehovah; for this is what He said:
At this same time tomorrow, a scoop of fine flour will sell for a copper coin, and two scoops of barley will sell for a copper coin inside the gates of Samaria.’
But this envoy (who was the one to whom the king gave his hand and leaned on) said to EliSha:
‘{Look!} Are you saying that Jehovah will make it all pour from the sky?
It will never happen!’
And EliSha said:
‘Look!
You will see it with your own eyes… however, you won’t eat any of it.’
Well that evening, there were 4 lepers who were standing outside the city gate.
And one said to the other,
‘Why are we just waiting here to die?
If we go into the city, there’s a famine and we’ll just starve to death there.
However, if we go into the camp of the Syrians… though they could kill us, they might also allow us to live.’
So they got up during the night and snuck into the camp of the Syrians.
But when they reached the camp, {Look!} they found no one there.For Jehovah had created the sounds of horses, chariots, and a huge army, and all the people in the camp thought the king of IsraEl had hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to come and attack them.
So they all got up and just ran away in the darkness, abandoning their tents, their horses, and their burros, as they ran for their lives.
Well at that, the lepers went into the camp and entered one of the tents, and they ate and drank whatever they found there.
They also took some silver, gold, and clothing.
Then they went into another tent and took all that was there, and they hid everything.
But then, one said to the other:
‘Let’s do the right thing today, because this is good news!
We could just say nothing and wait until morning as we take more of these things; but let’s go and announce what has happened to the house of the king!’
So they went up to the city gate and yelled:
‘We entered the Syrian camp because {Look!} we couldn’t hear anything, and we found that no one is there!
All we can find is their horses and burros, which are still tied, and their tents.
And everything has been left just as it was.’
Well, the gatekeepers ran and announced this to the house of the king.
Then the king got out of bed and said to his servants:
‘Let me tell you what the Syrians are doing; they know that we’re starving, so they’ve left their camp and they’re hiding in the fields.
They think that we’ll leave the city, then they can rush in and attack us… and after that, they can just walk into our city.’
But one of his servants said:
‘Well, let’s go and take 5 of the horses that they’ve left behind, and then let us send out some of the sick and dying…
And we can watch to see what happens.’
So then the king of IsraEl sent out two of his men on horses to look for the king of Syria.
He said to them:
‘Go search for him!’
Well, they traveled as far as the JorDan and {Look!} all they found was clothing and other things that the Syrians had dropped as they fled.
And after the messengers returned and reported this to the king,the people went out and tore the camp of Syria to shreds.–
So, just as EliSha had told the king at the same time on the previous day, two scoops of barley actually sold for a copper coin, and a scoop of fine flour sold for a copper coin inside the gates of Samaria.
And the envoy who had said to EliSha,
‘{Look!} Will Jehovah make it pour from the sky? It will never happen,’
and to whom EliSha had said,
‘{Look!} You’ll see it with your eyes, but you won’t eat any of it’…
Well, that’s what happened to him, for the king had put him in charge of opening the city gate, and the people trampled him to death as they rushed out.
Thereafter, EliSha went and spoke to the woman whose son he had brought back to life.
He said to her:
‘You should get up and take everyone in your house to wherever you wish to go, for Jehovah has called for a famine on the land that will last for 7 years.’
As the result, the woman got up and did as EliSha told her.
She took everyone in her home and went to live in the land of the Philistines for 7 years.
Then at the end of 7 years, the woman left the land of the Philistines and returned to her city.
And when she got back, she went before the king to complain about the [loss] of her house and her fields.
Well when she arrived, the king happened to be speaking to GeHazi (the servant of EliSha, the man of God). And [the king] had just asked him to describe all the great things that EliSha had done.
So it was as he was describing how EliSha had brought the woman’s dead son back to life after he had died that the woman arrived to complain to the king about the [loss] of her house and fields.
And GeHazi said:
‘O my lord the king; Here’s the woman whose son EliSha brought back to life!’
So the king asked the woman, and she told him about all that had happened.
Then the king said to one of his eunuchs:
‘Return everything to her, including all the crops that have grown in her fields from the time she left the land until now.’
Then sometime later, EliSha went to see BenHader (the king of Syria) in Damascus, who was very ill.
And when they announced to him,
‘The man of God is here,’
The king said to HazaEl:
‘Bring along a gift and go meet with the man of God.
Tell him to go before Jehovah quickly and ask if I will survive this illness.’
So HazaEl went to meet with him, and he brought along many fine gifts from Damascus that were carried on 40 camels.
Then he went in and stood in the presence of EliSha, and said,
‘Your son, BenHader (the king of Syria), has sent me to you to ask,
Will I survive this illness?’
And EliSha said to him:
‘Go and tell him that he will live…
However, Jehovah has shown me that he will die.’
Well thereafter, [HazaEl] brought the gifts in and set them before [EliSha] (but EliSha just let them sit there and rot, to shame him).
Then the man of God started crying.
So HazaEl asked:
‘Why is my master crying?’
And [EliSha] replied:
‘Because, I can see all the many bad things that you’re going to do to the sons of IsraEl.
For you will burn their forts, you will kill their best men with broadswords, you will destroy their little children, and you will cut open their pregnant women.’
But HazaEl asked:
‘Do you think of your servant as a dead dog that I would do such a thing?’
And EliSha said:
‘Jehovah has shown me that you will become the ruler over Syria.’
Well after [HazaEl] left EliSha and returned to his master, [King BenHader] asked him:
‘What did EliSha tell you?’
And he replied:
‘He told me that you will live.’
But the next day, [the king] took a cloth and dipped it in water and put it over his face, and he died.
So, HazaEl started reigning in place of him.
It was in the 5th year of the reign of JehoRam (the son of Ahab) the king of IsraEl that JehoRam (the son of JehoShaphat) the king of Judah started to reign over Judah.
He was 32 years old when he became king, and he reigned from JeruSalem for 8 years.
However, he followed in the ways of the kings of IsraEl and the house of Ahab, because Ahab’s daughter was his woman. So he acted very wickedly before Jehovah.
However, Jehovah didn’t want [to harm] Judah because of His promise to His servant David that He would allow him and his descendants to be the lamplight throughout the rest of the days.
Then the Edomites rebelled against Judah and set up their own king.
So, JehoRam took his chariots and went to ZaIr to attack Edom.
But then the Edomites surrounded JehoRam and his generals, so JehoRam’s army all ran back to their tents.
And because of this, Edom hasn’t been ruled by Judah down to this day.
And thereafter, LibNah broke away from the rule [of Judah].
The rest of the things that JehoRam said and did have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of Judah.
And when JehoRam went to sleep with his ancestors, they buried him in the tomb of his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David.
Then his son AhaziAh started ruling in place of him.
It was in the 12th year of JehoRam (the son of Ahab) the king of IsraEl that AhaziAh (the son of JehoRam) started to rule.
He was 22 years old when he started his reign in JeruSalem, which only lasted 1 year.
His mother’s name was AthaliAh, and she was the daughter of OmRi, the king of IsraEl, who was related to the house of Ahab.
So he also followed in the ways of the house of Ahab and he acted wickedly before Jehovah.
But thereafter, AhaziAh joined King JehoRam (the son of Ahab) in a war against HazaEl (the king of Syria) and against the Philistines at RamOth GileAd…
And the Syrians wounded JehoRam there.
So he went to JezReEl to have the wounds that he’d received in his war with HazaEl at RamOth treated medically, and AhaziAh (the son of JehoRam) the king of Judah went to see this son of Ahab in JezReEl, because he was very ill.
Well at that, the Prophet EliSha called one of the Sons of the Prophets in and said to him:
‘Wrap your loins and take this flask of oil to RamOth GileAd.
Go to see Jehu, the son of JehoShaphat the son of NaMesSi, and you must elevate him over his brothers.
Take him into the bin of a storage shed then pour this flask of oil over his head, and tell him that Jehovah said this:
I have anointed you to be the king over IsraEl.
Thereafter, open the door and run… don’t wait around!’
So the young Prophet went to RamOth GileAd,and as he entered the place, he found that {Look!} all the army generals had assembled there.
Then he said to Jehu:
‘May I have a word with you, commander?’
And Jehu asked,
‘To which of us do you wish to speak?’
And he replied,
‘To you, general.’
So [Jehu] got up and they both went outside.
Then [the Prophet] poured the oil over his head and said,
‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl has said:
I have anointed you to be the king over the people of Jehovah… those in IsraEl.
Now, you must wipe the house of your lord Ahab away from before My face and avenge the blood of My servants the Prophets as well as the blood of all the servants of [Jehovah that were killed] by JezeBel.
Kill all of them in IsraEl that can urinate against a wall, including their slaves and freemen.
Then I’ll make the house of Ahab like the house of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat), the same as I gave [the kingship] to the house of BaAsha the son of AhiJah.
And thereafter, JezeBel will be eaten by dogs in JezReEl, because no one will bury her.’
Then he opened the door and ran away.
So Jehu went to speak to the servants of his lord, and they said to him:
‘Peace!
Why have you come to us in such a rage?’
And he said to them:
‘You know who that man was and the kind of things that he says!’
And they said:
‘Well, it would be wrong if you don’t tell us what has happened!’
And Jehu said to them:
‘So-and-so spoke to me and told me that Jehovah said,
I have anointed you to be the king over IsraEl.’
Well when they heard that, they each took off their [official] robes and laid them on the steps beneath Jehu.
Then they got the trumpeters and had them blow the horns and proclaim,
‘Jehu now reigns!’
And after that, Jehu (the son of JehoShaphat and grandson of NaMesSi) gathered his forces to attack King JehoRam.
Until that time, the army of IsraEl had been protecting JehoRam from HazaEl (the king of Syria).
But when King JehoRam went to JezReEl for treatment of the wounds that he had received during his war with the Syrians, Jehu said [to his men]:
‘If you’re with me, don’t let anyone leave this city to carry a report to JezReEl.’
And at that, Jehu got up and rode on to JezReEl.
Meanwhile, JehoRam (the king of IsraEl) was being attended to in JezReEl, because he’d been shot by bowmen at RamAmin (in the land of RamOth) during his campaign against HazaEl, the king of Syria… for he was a very powerful, mighty man.
And at the time, AhaziAh (the king of Judah) had gone there to visit JehoRam.
Well when the watchman climbed to the top of the lookout tower in JezReEl, he saw the cloud of dust that was raised by Jehu’s chariot, and he shouted:
‘I see a cloud of dust!’
And JehoRam said:
‘Send out a horseman to see if he’s coming in peace!’
So they sent out a horseman to meet Jehu, who said,
‘The king wants to know if you’re coming in peace.’
And Jehu replied:
‘What does he know about peace?
Now, follow behind me!’
Well when the watchman reported that the messenger wasn’t coming back,he sent out a second horseman that rode up to Jehu and said:
‘The king wants to know if you’re coming in peace!’
And Jehu again said:
‘What does he know about peace?
Get behind and follow me!’
Well when the watchman reported that this messenger wasn’t returning either, he sent out a 3rd horseman to ask if he was coming in peace.
And Jehu said to him:
‘What does he know about peace?
Get behind me and follow along!’
So the watchman reported back:
‘This messenger isn’t returning either, and I can tell by the frenzied way he’s riding that the [man that is coming] is General Jehu, the son of NaMesSi.’
Then JehoRam said:
‘Team up my chariots!’
So they teamed up the chariots and they (JehoRam the king of IsraEl and AhaziAh the king of Judah) rode out to meet him in their chariots.
And when they got to Jehu, he happened to be in the same field [that used to belong to] NabOth the JezReElite.
Then the king shouted:
‘Have you come in peace, Jehu?’
And Jehu replied:
‘What do you know of peace?
Isn’t [our land] still under the spell of your mother JezeBel?’
Well when he said that, JehoRam wheeled his chariot to flee, and he shouted to AhaziAh,
‘There’s treachery here, AhaziAh!’
But then Jehu took his bow and shot JehoRam in the middle of his chest, hitting him in the heart, and he fell to his knees.
And Jehu turned to BadEkar (his aid) and said:
‘Now, take his body and throw it into the field of NabOth the JezReElite.
For we both remember, back when we rode for his father Ahab, how Jehovah had said to him:
Look! Wasn’t it just yesterday that I saw the blood of NabOth and his sons?
And then Jehovah said:
I will pay him back [for his sins] in this very field.
So now, throw his body into that field, just as Jehovah foretold!’
Well when AhaziAh (the king of Judah) saw what was happening, he took off along the road to BethHagan.
But Jehu chased after him shouting,
‘Him too!’
And then he shot him as his chariot was headed up to Mount Gai (at JeblaAm).
However, AhaziAh kept riding on to MegidDo, where he finally died.
Then his servants put his body in the chariot and carried it back to JeruSalem, where he was buried in his tomb in the city of David.
AhaziAh had started his reign over Judah during the 11th year of the reign of JehoRam the king of IsraEl.
Thereafter, Jehu rode back to JezReEl.
And when JezeBel heard [that he was coming], she made up her face and decorated her head, and she sat down to watch what would happen from her window.
Then when Jehu entered the city, she said:
‘Have you, like OmRi who also murdered his lord, come in peace?’
And when he looked up and saw her at her window, he asked:
‘Who is that?
Come down here to me!’
Then, when two of her eunuchs bent over to look out the window,Jehu shouted to them:
‘Throw her down!’
So they threw her out [of the window], and her blood splattered all over the wall and the horses…
And thereafter, the horses trampled her body.
Well after that, Jehu entered [her palace], where he ate and drank.
And he said:
‘Now, go find the body of that cursed woman and bury it, because she’s the daughter of a king.’
However when they went to bury her, all they could find was her skull, the soles of her feet, and the palms of her hands.
And when they returned to tell Jehu what they had found, he said,
‘This is what Jehovah foretold would happen through EliJah the Tishbite. For He said,
Dogs will eat the flesh of JezeBel in JezReEl,and her rotting flesh will become manure on the ground in JezReEl, so that no one can ever say that JezeBel lies here.’
Ahab also had 70 sons that lived in Samaria.
So Jehu thereafter wrote a letter and sent it to the governors and elders, and to the women that had raised Ahab’s sons in Samaria.
The letter said:
‘I know that the sons of your lord are living among you with their chariots, horses, weapons, and fortified cities.
So when you receive this letter,I want you to do a search among the sons of your lord to find a good upright man and then put him on the throne of his father.
After that, I will go to war against all of his sons.’
Well, this frightened them, for they said,
‘{Look!} The two kings weren’t able to stand against him, so how can we oppose him?’
As the result, they sent a reply to Jehu from the family heads, the city leaders, its elders, and those who’d raised Ahab’s sons, which said:
‘We’re your servants now and we’ll do whatever you say, but we we won’t choose a man to rule over us.
Just do whatever you find to be good in your eyes.’
So thereafter, he sent them a second letter that said:
‘If you’re with me and you wish to do whatever I say, you must bring the heads of the sons of your lord to me here in JezReEl at this same time tomorrow…
All 70 of them!’
Well, [Ahab’s sons] were all big men, because the people of the cities used to provide a lot of food for them.
But when the people received this letter, they killed all 70 of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu in JezReEl.
Then when the messenger arrived saying,
‘I’ve brought the heads of the sons of the king,’
Jehu told him to place the heads in two piles by the city gate and leave them there until the next morning.’
Then the next morning, Jehu went out and stood at the city gatehouse and said to the people:
‘{Look!} You’ve proven yourselves righteous; for though I plotted against my lord and killed him…
Who is it that killed all of them?
{Look!} Now, everything that Jehovah said through EliJah concerning what would happen to the house of Ahab has come true.
For it was Jehovah who did everything that He said He would do through His servant EliJah.’
And thereafter, Jehu struck down everyone that was left of the house of Ahab in JezReEl, as well as all his mighty men, advisors, and priests…
He wiped out every trace of him.
From there, he went to Samaria.
And as he was traveling along the road near BethAkad-of-the-Shepherds,Jehu met up with the brothers of AhaziAh (the king of Judah).
And when he asked,
‘Who are you?’
They replied,
‘We’re the brothers of AhaziAh, and we’ve come in peace to visit the sons of the king, as well as the sons of the woman that is in charge.’
So he shouted:
‘Seize them!’
And he had all 42 of them executed at BethAkad…
He left none of them alive.
And from there, he went and found JoNadab (the son of ReChab), who was on his way to meet him.
Then Jehu blest him and asked,
‘Is your heart with my heart as my heart is with yours?’
And JoNadab replied:
‘It is.’
And Jehu said:
‘Well if it is, then give me your hand!’
So Jehu stuck out his hand and lifted JoNadab onto his chariot,and he said:
‘Come with me and see my zeal for Jehovah of Armies!’
Then from there, they rode in the chariotto Samaria, where they killed all that were left of the house of Ahab…
He wiped them all out, just as Jehovah had prophesied through EliJah.
Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them:
‘Though Ahab served BaAl a little, Jehu will serve him in a great way.
So, find all the prophets of BaAl and all his servants and priests, and send them to me!
Don’t overlook a single man, because we’re going to offer a great sacrifice to BaAl…
Anyone that doesn’t show up will be killed.’
(This was just a trick on Jehu’s part, so that he could destroy all the servants of BaAl).
Then Jehu sent messengers out to tell them all to prepare the sacrifices for BaAl.
For Jehu sent a proclamation throughout IsraEl that said,
‘All the servants, priests, and prophets of BaAl must attend this.
No one may be left behind, for we’re going to offer a great sacrifice to BaAl…
And anyone that misses it won’t be allowed to live!’
So all the servants of BaAl (all his priests and prophets) came, and everyone was there in the temple of BaAl… it was filled to capacity and people were jammed together head-to-head.
Then Jehu told the person that was in charge of the temple wardrobe to bring out the official robes for all the servants of BaAl to wear, and he brought them out.
Then Jehu and JoNadab (the son of ReChab) said to the servants of BaAl that had assembled:
‘Now, look around and make sure that there are no servants of Jehovah here… we only want the servants of BaAl!’
And thereafter, the people all went inside to offer the sacrifices and the whole burnt offerings.
Meanwhile, Jehu had ordered 80 men to stand outside, and he told them:
‘Don’t leave anyone alive here; for if you do, I will demand your lives for theirs.’
And as the [BaAl worshipers] were presenting the offerings, Jehu told the guards and soldiers:
‘Now, kill them all… don’t let a man get away!’
So they killed them all with swords and threw their bodies outside.
Then the soldiers and guards traveled throughout this city of the temple of BaAl,and they dragged out all the images of BaAl and burned them.
Then they tore down the temple of BaAl and turned it into a public latrine, which is what it’s still used for today.
So Jehu removed BaAl from IsraEl.
However, he still followed in the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) who led IsraEl into sin.
For he bowed before the golden heifers in BethEl and in Dan.
Nevertheless, Jehovah said this to Jehu:
‘Because of the many good and righteous things that you did before My eyes, and because of the things that you did to the house of Ahab (which was what My heart desired), your sons will sit on the throne of IsraEl through the 4th generation.’
Unfortunately, however, Jehu didn’t follow the Laws of Jehovah (the God of IsraEl) with his whole heart.
And because he didn’t remove the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat),Jehovah once again started cutting IsraEl down.
For HazaEl attacked all the borders of IsraElfrom the JorDan to the sunrise (all the land of GileAd of the sons of Gad, ReuBen, and of ManasSeh) from AroEr to the Arnon Wadi, and from GileAd to BaShan.
All the rest of the things that Jehu said and did, and the area of his rulership and alliances, {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then Jehu went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in Samaria.
Thereafter, his son JehoAhaz became king in his place.
But Jehu had reigned over IsraEl from Samaria for 28 years.
Well when AhaziAh’s mother AthaliAh heard that her son was dead, she had all the [heirs to the throne] killed.
However, JehoSheba (the daughter of King JehoRam and the sister of AhaziAh) took her nephew JehoAsh and hid him away, as the other sons of the king were being slaughtered.
She hid him and his nurse in a storage closet for beds, so that AthaliAh couldn’t find him and kill him.
Then she kept him hidden in the Temple of Jehovah for 6 years.
So thereafter, AthaliAh ruled the land.
But after 7 years, JehoiAda (the Priest) took the commanders that were in charge of patrolmen and couriers, and brought them into the Temple of Jehovah.
Then he had them make an agreement with Jehovah and bound them with an oath in His presence… and that’s when JehoiAda showed the son of the king to them.
He told them,
‘This is what you must do:
On the Sabbath, 1/3 of you must take control of the city gates, 1/3 must take control of the gate that leads to the road, and 1/3 must take control of the gate to the king’s guardhouse.
Then everyone must [protect our king].
Two of you must go to the Temple of Jehovah on the Sabbath to guard the king,and the rest must gather there and kill anyone that comes [to attack] him…
He must be protected wherever he goes!’
Well, the commanders did just as JehoiAda had instructed them.
For on the next Sabbath, each one gathered his men. And as the people were coming and going, they all went inside to JehoiAda the Priest.
Then the Priest gave the commanders the spears and shields of King David that were kept in the Temple of Jehovah,and they formed a contingent of armed bodyguards that stayed at the Temple extension to the right of the Altar, so as to form a protective circle around the [young prince].
Then they took the son of the king outside and placed the royal turban on him, gave him [the royal scepter], poured the anointing oil [over his head], and made him the king, as everyone clapped their hands and shouted,
‘Long live the king!’
However, when AthaliAh heard the sound of people running, she too went to the Temple of Jehovah, and that’s when she saw him standing at the columns acting as king.
All the singers and trumpeters were there, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing their trumpets.
So AthaliAh started ripping her clothes and she shouted,
‘Conspiracy! Conspiracy!’
But JehoiAda (the Priest) told the commanders and their lieutenants to take her outside and then kill her with their swords (because he didn’t want her to die there inside the Temple of Jehovah).
So they grabbed her and dragged her along the road that leads to the stables next to the king’s palace and killed her there.
Thereafter, JehoiAda proclaimed an agreement between Jehovah, the king, and his people, that they would be the people of Jehovah from then on.
Then all the people of the land went to the temple of BaAl and tore it down.
They smashed its images and altars into fine pieces, and they killed Mathan (the priest of BaAl) right in front of his altar.
And after that, the Priest appointed men to serve as overseers within the Temple of Jehovah.
Then he took the military commanders and their troops of patrolmen and couriers, along with all the people in the land, and they led the king from the Temple of Jehovah, through the gate of the royal bodyguards, and into the palace of the kings.
There they seated him on the throne,as all the people of the land started rejoicing.
And from then on, the city was once again at peace.
Well, JehoAsh was just a 7-year-old boy when he started his reign (which was during the 7th year of the reign of Jehu), and he ruled in JeruSalem for 40 years.
His mother’s name was SabiJah and she was from BeerSheba.
JehoAsh did what was upright before Jehovah throughout his entire life, for he had been well trained by the Priest JehoiAda.
However, he still allowed the people to offer sacrifices and burn incense in the high places.
JehoAsh told the Priests that they could keep all the money [that was donated at the Temple] and that they could sell anything of value that was brought to the Temple of Jehovah.
However, he also told them that they (in return) would have to make any repairs to the Temple.
But by the 23rd year to JehoAsh’s rule, the Priests hadn’t made any repairs on the Temple at all.
So he called JehoiAda and all the other Priests and asked them why they hadn’t made the repairs.
Then he said them:
‘From now on, you may not keep any of the money or anything that you collect from the things that you sell.
Rather, you must use it all to repair the Temple.’
And the Priests agreed that they would no longer accept money from the people, and that they would no longer be in charge of the Temple repairs.
So JehoiAda the Priest thereafter built a chest, bored a hole in its top, and he placed it by the Altar of the Temple of Jehovah.
Then Priests were assigned to stand next to the doorway, so as to guard all the money that was brought to Jehovah’s Temple.
And after a while, quite a bit of money had accumulated in the chest at the Temple of Jehovah;
So the Scribe and the High Priest carried it to the king, and after they closed the doors, they counted the money.
Then they put most of the money for the repairs into the hands of those that were in charge of the workers at the Temple of Jehovah(the woodcutters, carpenters, construction workers, fabricators, quarry workers, and stonemasons), so they could do the needed work…
They told them to spend whatever was needed to complete the project.
However, they weren’t authorized to spend it for doors, or for items of silver, gold, nails, bowls, or trumpets,because those that were doing the work were expected to contribute such things themselves.
Well, all the repairs were finally made to the Temple of Jehovah, and no one was asked to account for it.
They just paid out whatever was required, and those that were doing the work were trusted [to do the right thing].
And thereafter, any money that was brought to the Temple as a sin offering or a trespass offering once again became the property of the Priests.
Meanwhile, HazaEl (the king of Syria) had attacked the city of Gath and was the first one to capture it…
And after that, he turned his attention toward JeruSalem.
So, JehoAsh (the king of Judah) gathered all the holy things of his ancestors (those of JehoShaphat, JehoRam, and AhaziAh) as well as his own holy things and all the gold that was in the treasury of the Temple of Jehovah and in the king’s palace, and he then sent it to HazaEl, the king of Syria, so he would leave JeruSalem alone.
Well, all the rest of the things that JehoAsh said and did {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of Judah.
Then, two of JehoAsh’s servants rebelled against him and attacked him at the house of MalLo in GaAla.
JeziChar (the son of JemuAth) and JezebUth (the son of Somer) were the ones that cut him down and killed him.
So he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, and his son AmaziAh started ruling after him.
Meanwhile, it was in the 23rd year of JehoAsh (the son of AhaziAh) the king of Judah that JehoAhaz (Jehu’s son) started reigning in Samaria, and he ruled there for 17 years.
However, he acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah, because he continued in the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) who first led IsraEl into sin.
So this provoked Jehovah’s rage against IsraEl, and he put them into the hands of HazaEl (the king of Syria) and his son BenHader during that portion of the reign of JehoAhaz.
However, JehoAhaz then went before the face of [Jehovah to beg for help], and Jehovah listened to him, because He had seen how badly the king of Syria was oppressing the people of IsraEl.
So thereafter, Jehovah freed IsraEl from bondage to Syria, and the sons of IsraEl could [once again] sit in their tents in peace as they had in the past.
However, they continued in the sins of the house of JeroBoam, and they once again set up sacred poles in Samaria.
Meanwhile, JehoAhaz wasn’t left with much of an army.
All he had was 50 cavalrymen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 infantry, because the king of Syria had considered them as dirt to be trampled on.
All the rest of the things that JehoAhaz said and did, and the area of his rulership, are written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then JehoAhaz went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in Samaria, and his son JehoAsh started ruling in place of him.
This happened in the 37th year of the reign of JehoAsh the king of Judah;
And thereafter, JehoAsh (the son of JehoAhaz) ruled IsraEl from Samaria for the next 16 years.
However, he also acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah, because he didn’t remove the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat), who had first led IsraEl into sin.
All the rest of the things that JehoAsh said and did, and the stories of his conquests with AmaziAh (the king of Judah) have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then JehoAsh went to sleep with his ancestors, and JeroBoam succeeded him on the throne.
So they buried him in a tomb in Samaria with the sons of IsraEl.
Well, EliSha got very sick and was about to die, so JehoAsh (the king of IsraEl) went to see him and cried in his face, saying,
‘O father, O father… the chariot of IsraEl and his horseman.’
Then EliSha said to him:
‘Go get your bow and some arrows.’
So he got his bow and some arrows,and EliSha told him:
‘Now, lift the bow!’
And JehoAsh raised his bow.
Then EliSha placed his hands on the hands of the king and said,
‘Now, open the window that faces east!’
And he opened it.
Then EliSha said,
‘Now shoot!’
And he shot. Then EliSha said,
‘This is the arrow of the salvation of Jehovah and the arrow of deliverance from Syria.
For you will keep attacking Syria at Aphek until you have won!’
And then EliSha told him:
‘Now, pick up the bow again!’
So he picked it up.
Then he said to the king of IsraEl:
‘Shoot into the ground!’
So the king shot three arrows into the ground… and then he stopped,which upset the man of God and made him angry, for he said:
‘If you would have struck the ground 5 or 6 times, you would have attacked Syria and finished them off.
But now you will have to fight and conquer them three times!’
Well shortly thereafter, EliSha died, and they buried him in a tomb.
Then the next year, the land was invaded by armed bands of MoAbites.
And it was during a funeral procession that {Look!} the people saw one of these armed bands of MoAbites coming.
So they simply threw the body of the dead man into the tomb of EliSha, and when it touched EliSha’s bones, the man came back to life and stood up on his feet!
Meanwhile, throughout the reign of JehoAhaz, HazaEl kept on squeezing IsraEl.
However, Jehovah showed mercy on IsraEl…
He pitied them and watched over them because of the promises that He’d made to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, and He didn’t allow them to be destroyed or to be torn from before His face.
Then HazaEl (the king of Syria) died, and his son BenHader started reigning in his place.
And that’s when JehoAsh (the son of JehoAhaz) recovered his cities from the hands of BenHader the son of HazaEl, who had taken them from the hands of his father JehoAhaz in the war.
However, JehoAsh had to attack him three times before he finally returned the cities to IsraEl.
It was in the 2nd year of JehoAsh (the son of JehoAhaz) the king of IsraEl that AmaziAh (the son of JehoAsh) the king of Judah started his reign.
At the time, he was 25 years old, and he reigned in JeruSalem for 29 years.
His mother’s name was JoAdeEn, and she was from JeruSalem.
And though AmaziAh proved to be an upright man in the eyes of Jehovah, he wasn’t as righteous as his ancestor David.
He did all the [good] things that his father JehoAsh had done, but he never removed the high places where the people offered sacrifices and burned incense.
And after he’d become strong in his kingdom, he had all those servants that had murdered his father executed…
But he didn’t have their sons killed, because of the Law that Jehovah gave to Moses that said,
‘Fathers shouldn’t be put to death [for the sins] of their sons, and the sons shouldn’t be put to death [for the sins] of their fathers.
Rather, each one should die for his own sins.’
Thereafter, AmaziAh attacked the Edomites at GeMela, killing 10,000 of them, and he captured The Rock (Petra) in the war, renaming it JokTheEl (Conquered by God), which is what it is still called today.
Then he sent messengers to JehoAsh (the son of JehoAhaz and grandson of Jehu) the king of IsraEl, saying,
‘I want you to come here and meet me face-to-face!’
So JehoAsh (the king of IsraEl) replied to AmaziAh (the king of Judah):
‘A thorn bush in Lebanon once sent a message to one of the cedars of Lebanon saying,
Give your daughter to my son to be his woman!
But then the wild animals in the fields of Lebanon went and trampled the thorn bush.
So, now that you’ve beaten the Idumeans (which has encouraged your heart), it would be best for you to just sit back in your palace and revel in your glory.
For if you’re planning to do evil things, you will fall… and Judah will fall with you.’
Well, AmaziAh refused to listen, so JehoAsh (the king of IsraEl) went and faced the king of Judah at BethSamus,and Judah then lost this battle to IsraEl…
So all their soldiers ran back to their tents.
JehoAsh (the king of IsraEl) also captured AmaziAh (the son of JehoAsh and grandson of AhaziAh) the king of Judah, and then he marched into JeruSalem and tore down almost 700 feet (213m) of its wall from the gate of Ephraim all the way to the corner.
He also carried off all the gold and silver utensils that he found in the Temple of Jehovah, everything in the kings’ treasury and palace, and all the sons of [AmaziAh’s] allies, bringing them all back to Samaria.
The rest of the things that JehoAsh said and did, as well as his area of rulership and the wars that he fought with AmaziAh (the king of Judah) have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then JehoAsh went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in Samaria with the kings of IsraEl.
So his son JeroBoam started reigning after him.
AmaziAh (the king of Judah) lived 15 years after the death of JehoAsh (the son of JehoAhaz) the king of IsraEl.
And all the rest of the things that AmaziAh said and did have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of Judah.
For, conspirators had plotted a rebellion against AmaziAh in JeruSalem, so he fled to LachIsh.
But they chased him down and killed him there in LachIsh.
Then they put his body on a horse and buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in JeruSalem, the city of David.
Well, after AmaziAh died, all the people of Judah chose his son AzariAh (UzZiah) to be their king (who was only 16-years-old at the time).
He was the one that built ElAth after [AmaziAh] had gone to sleep with his ancestors.
Meanwhile, JeroBoam (the son of JehoAsh) was reigning in IsraEl.
His reign from Samaria lasted 41 years, starting from the 15th year of AmaziAh (the son of JehoAsh) the king of Judah.
He too acted wickedly before Jehovah, because he didn’t remove the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) who led IsraEl into sin.
However, he moved the boundary of IsraEl from the entrance of HaMath to the [Dead] Sea, just as Jehovah the God of IsraEl said would happen through His servant Jonah the Prophet (the son of AmaThi).
But Jehovah noticed the bitter humiliation of IsraEl; for, because no one would help them, they were becoming disorganized and abandoned, so they were becoming fewer
Well, the rest of the things that JeroBoam said and did (including his conquests and wars) and the story of how he returned Damascus and HaMath to Judah in IsraEl, have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then JeroBoam went to sleep with his ancestors the kings of IsraEl, and his son ZechariAh started ruling in his place.
It was in the 27th year of the reign of JeroBoam (the king of IsraEl) that AzariAh (the son of AmaziAh) the king of Judah started his reign.
He was 16 years old at the time, and he reigned in JeruSalem for 52 years.
His mother’s name was Je CheliJah, and she was from JeruSalem.
And like his father AmaziAh, AzariAh did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah.
However, he too failed to remove the high places where the people sacrificed and burned incense.
So Jehovah touched the king and gave him leprosy until the day he died, and he had to stay inside his own house.
As the result, JoTham (the king’s son) was put in charge of the palace family and staff, and he served as judge for the people of the land.
All the rest of the things that AzariAh said and did have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of Judah.
Then AzariAh went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in the tomb with his ancestors in the city of David.
So his son JoTham started ruling in his place.
It was in the 38th year of the reign of AzariAh (the king of Judah) that ZechariAh (the son of JeroBoam) the king of IsraEl started his reign in Samaria, which only lasted 6 months.
He was very wicked in the eyes of Jehovah, for he did all the things that his ancestors had done… in addition to the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) who led IsraEl into sin.
Then ShalLum (the son of JaBish through KeblaAm) had him murdered, and he became the new king.
All the rest of the things that ZechariAh said and did have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of Judah.
And as Jehovah had told Jehu when He said that his sons would sit on the throne of IsraEl to the 4th generation; it came to be so.
Then ShalLum (the son of JaBish) started his reign in the 39th year of the reign of AzariAh (the king of Judah), but he only ruled in Samaria for 1 month,because that’s when MenaHem (the son of GadDi, from TharSila) marched on Samaria and killed him.
All the rest of the words of ShalLum and the stories of his plots {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then MenaHem attacked TiphSah and its surrounding cities and killed everyone there, because they wouldn’t open their gates to him… he killed them all and ripped open all the pregnant women.
So in the 39th year of the reign of AzariAh (the king of Judah), MenaHem (the son of GadDi) became the king of IsraEl in Samaria, where he ruled for 10 years.
He too acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah, because he didn’t remove the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) who led IsraEl into sin.
It was during his reign that Pul, the king of Assyria, came against the land.
Then MenaHem gave him 3-1/2 tons (3,200kg) of silver to satisfy him.
MenaHem sent the silver from IsraEl, and he had it delivered by mighty men that each carried 50 large silver coins to Assyria.
And as the result, the king of Assyria didn’t post any garrisons in his land.
Well, the rest of the things that MenaHem said and did {Look!} have been written in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
Then MenaHem went to sleep with his ancestors, and his son PekahJah started ruling in place of him.
So it was in the 15th year of AzariAh (the king of Judah) that PekahJah (the son of MenaHem) started his reign over IsraEl from Samaria.
However, he only reigned for 2 years,because he also acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah by not removing the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) who first led IsraEl into sin.
So his royal proclaimer PekAh (the son of RomeliAh) attacked PekahJah right in front of the royal palace with the help of ArGob, AriJa, and 50 GileAdites.
And after they killed him, PekAh became the king.
Well, the rest of the things that PekahJah said and did {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
So, it was in the 52nd year of the reign of AzariAh (the king of Judah) that PekAh (the son of RomeliAh) started his reign over IsraEl from Samaria, which lasted 20 years.
But he also acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah by not removing the sins of JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) who first led IsraEl into sin.
It was during the reign of PekAh (the king of IsraEl) that Tiglath Pileser (the king of Assyria) captured Ain, Abel-BethMaAcha, AniOch, Kenez, Hazor, GileAd, GaliLee, and the whole land of NaphTali, relocating all the people to Assyria.
Then HosheA (the son of ElAh) rebelled against PekAh (the son of RomeliAh), and he attacked him and killed him.
So in the 20th year of the reign of JoTham (the son of AzariAh), HosheA began his rule.
All the rest of the things that PekAh said and did {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of IsraEl.
It was in the 2nd year of the reign of PekAh (the son of RomeliAh) the king of IsraEl that JoTham (the son of AzariAh) became the king of Judah.
He was 25 years old at the time, and he reigned in JeruSalem for 16 years.
The name of his mother was JeroUsa, and she was the daughter of ZaDok.
He did what was upright in the eyes of Jehovah, as did his father AzariAh.
However, he didn’t remove the high places where the people offered sacrifices and burned incense.
But he was the one that rebuilt the upper gate to the Temple of Jehovah.
All the rest of the things that JoTham said and did have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of Judah.
However, back in those days, Jehovah started sending RasSon (the king of Syria) and PekAh (the son of RomeliAh) against Judah.
Then JoTham went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in a tomb along with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David.
And thereafter, his son Ahaz started ruling in place of him.
So in the 17th year of PekAh (the son of RomeliAh), Ahaz (the son of JoTham) became the king of Judah.
He was 20 years old at the time, and he reigned in JeruSalem for 16 years.
However, he didn’t do what was upright in the eyes of Jehovah his God or trust in Him, as did his ancestor David.
Rather, he followed in the paths of the kings of IsraEl by offering up his own son in a fire in the same disgusting way as did the nations that God had driven away from the sons of IsraEl.
He also offered sacrifices and burned incense in the high places, on the hills, and under every tree in the woods.
Thereafter, RasSon (the king of Syria) and PekAh (the son of RomeliAh) the king of IsraEl came against JeruSalem to war against Ahaz, but they were unsuccessful.
However, RaAson (the king of Syria) went to ElAth and drove all the Judeans out of that city.
Then the Idumeans moved into it, and that’s where they still live to this day.
But because of this, Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser (the king of Assyria) to say,
‘I am the servant of you and your son.
So, please come and save me from the kings of Syria and IsraEl that have come to fight against me!’
Then Ahaz took all the silver and gold that he found in the treasuries of the Temple of Jehovah and in the king’s palace, and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria.
So the king of Assyria listened to him and attacked Damascus…
He captured it, killed King RaAsson, and then he repopulated the city.
So after that, King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet with Tiglath Pileser (the king of Assyria), and when he saw the altar in Damascus, he examined its dimensions and its construction, and he sent a drawing of the altar to UriAh the Priest.
As the result, UriAh built a similar Altar, following the instructions that were sent to him from Damascus by King Ahaz.
And when the king saw this [new] Altar, he climbed up on it and burned incense there, then he had whole burnt offerings (including his own offerings and a drink offering) sacrificed there, and he had the blood of the peace offerings poured out upon it.
This Altar was made of brass and it was placed before [the presence of] Jehovah;
For [Ahaz] had the Altar moved forward and put right in front of the Temple of Jehovah, between the Temple and the [old] Altar, which still stood on its north side.
And after that, he gave instructions to UriAh the Priest, saying,
‘I want a great sacrifice offered on this Altar early tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening.
I will bring my whole burnt offerings and other sacrifices, and then the people should also bring their sacrifices and drink offerings.
I want you to offer the blood of the whole burnt offerings and other sacrifices there… pour them over the brass Altar for me in the morning.’
Therefore, UriAh the Priest did exactly as King Ahaz told him.
Then King Ahaz had the bases for the washbasins and the Sacred Sea (the oxen) disassembled, and the brass Sea was lowered onto a new base that was made of stone.
He also built a foundation for the Sabbath Seat inside the Temple of Jehovah, and he had the outside of the king’s entrance relocated so that it wouldn’t face the king of Assyria.
All the rest of the things that Ahaz said and did have been written about in the scrolls that tell of the days of the kings of Judah.
Then Ahaz went to sleep with his ancestors and he was buried in a tomb in the city of David.
Thereafter, his son HezekiAh began ruling in place of him.
It was in the 12th year of the reign of Ahaz (the king of Judah) that HosheA (the son of ElAh) started reigning over IsraEl from Samaria, and he ruled there for 9 years.
He also acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah…
However, he wasn’t as bad as the kings that came before him.
Then ShalamaNasar (the king of Assyria) came against HosheA and made him his vassal, forcing him to send many tributes.
However, the king of Assyria soon became [very unhappy] with HosheA, because he’d sent messengers to Segor (Shabaka?) the king of Egypt, and he failed to send any tributes to him (the king of Assyria) that year;
So he had him tied, shackled, and thrown into prison.
And thereafter, the king of Assyria marched through IsraEl and laid siege to Samaria for three years(this happened in the 9th year of HosheA’s reign.)
Then the king of Assyria captured Samaria and moved all the people of IsraEl into Assyria – to Halae in Habor (next to the Gozan River), and into the mountains of the Medes.
Of course, all of this happened because the sons of IsraEl had sinned against Jehovah their God that had brought them out of the land of Egypt and from under the hand of PharaOh (the king of Egypt), and they started fearing other gods.
They’d also started following in the ways of the nations that Jehovah had removed from in front of them…
And their kings were doing the same things.
There were so many things that the sons of IsraEl did to cover over the words of Jehovah and to not do any of the things that their God had told them;
For they [built altars] for themselves in high places near every town… from their guard towers to their walled cities.
They also erected stone monuments and groves of sacred poles on every high hill and under every tree in the woods.
Then they burned incense on the high places in the same ways that the nations whom Jehovah had moved far away from them had been doing, and they formed alliances and [worshiped] carved images, so as to provoke Jehovah to rage.
So, they started serving the very idols that Jehovah had warned them against!
Meanwhile, Jehovah had sent warnings to IsraEl and Judah through His Prophets (the Seers), who told them:
‘Turn from your wicked ways and obey My Commandments, My instructions, and all the Laws that I gave to your ancestors, which I sent through the hands of My servants the Prophets!’
But they just wouldn’t listen to Him, and they made themselves even more stubborn than the stubbornness of their ancestors.
He warned them time and again, but they just wouldn’t do any of the things that He said.
Rather, they did foolish, silly things, and they followed in the paths of the nations around them… the very things that Jehovah had warned them against when He said,
‘These are the things that you must not do.’
They also abandoned the Commandments of Jehovah their God, and they made the two heifers for themselves of cast metal, as well as the groves of sacred poles.
Then they bowed before all the powerful things in the skies and they started serving the BaAls.
In addition, they offered their sons and daughters in fires and they went to fortunetellers to learn the future, thereby selling themselves into wickedness in the eyes of Jehovah and provoking Him to anger.
As the result, He became so enraged with IsraEl that He removed them from before His face…
He didn’t leave any of them behind, other than the tribe of Judah.
However, even Judah didn’t follow the Commandments of Jehovah their God.
Rather, they followed in the ways of IsraEl and did the same bad things, pushing Jehovah away!
So Jehovah became enraged with all the seed of IsraEl and He just shook them off, handing them over to be ripped to pieces and thrown away from before His face.
For IsraEl had rebelled against the house of David and made JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) their king, and JeroBoam led IsraEl away from following Jehovah and into a great sin.
So from then on, the sons of IsraEl followed JeroBoam in all the sins that he committed, and they never changed their ways until Jehovah removed them from before His face…
Just as He said He would do through all of His servants the Prophets.
Thereafter, IsraEl was resettled into the land of Assyria, where they still live today.
Then the king of Assyria took all the people from HoUtha, Aia, HaMath, and SePharaim (cities around Babylon), and settled them in the cities of Samaria, in place of the sons of IsraEl.
So it was these people that inherited Samaria and started living in its cities.
Well, from the very beginning, these [new] people didn’t fear Jehovah either, so He sent lions among them to kill them off.
As the result, they [sent messengers] to the king of Assyria who told him:
‘Because the nations that you resettled and relocated in the cities of Samaria don’t understand the God of that land, He is sending lions against them that are killing them off for their lack of an understanding of Him.’
So the king of Assyria said:
‘Then, let’s take some of the IsraElites back to the land and have them start living there once again, so they can show the people [how to please] the God of their land.’
As the result, they brought one of the Priests from Samaria and returned him to BethEl, so he could teach the people there to fear Jehovah.
Meanwhile, all these nations had also started taking their gods and putting them in the temples on the high places that the Samaritans had once built in each of their cities.
Then the people who came from Babylon built SukCoth-BenOth, the people from Cuth built NerGal, the people from HaMath built AsiMath,and the Hivites built EblaZer and TarTak.
At the time, the [people of] SePharaim had even started burning their sons in fires to their gods AdraMelek and AneMelek.
So although they had started fearing Jehovah, they kept the images of their gods in the temples that they built on the high places in Samaria, close to the cities where each nation lived.
And though they feared Jehovah, they still appointed their own priests to serve at the temples of the high places.
And though they feared Jehovah, they still served the gods of the countries from which they came…
And they’re still following that same form of worship today.
So although they feared Jehovah, they didn’t follow the instructions, Laws, or Commandments that He gave to the sons of Jacob (to whom He gave the name IsraEl).
For when Jehovah made a Sacred Agreement [with IsraEl], He told them:
‘You must not fear other gods… don’t bow to them, serve them, or offer sacrifices to them!
You may only serve Jehovah, the God that led you out of the land of Egypt with His great strength and outstretched arm.
You must fear, bow before, and sacrifice to Him alone,and you must follow His decisions, rules, Laws, and the Commandments that He wrote down for you.
You must obey these things for as long as you live, and you must not serve other gods,or forget the Sacred Agreement that He made with you.
You must not fear other gods…you should only fear your God Jehovah, for He alone will rescue you from all your enemies.
So, don’t pay attention to anything that [the other nations] are doing!’
However, though those nations [that lived in Samaria] feared Jehovah, they also served things that they carved for themselves…
As did their sons and grandsons, and which they’re still doing today.
It was in the 3rd year of the reign of HosheA (the son of ElAh) the king of IsraEl that HezekiAh (the son of Ahaz) the king of Judah started his reign.
He was 25 years old when he started to rule, and he reigned for 29 years in JeruSalem.
His mother’s name was Abou, and she was the daughter of ZachariAh.
HezekiAh did what was upright in the eyes of Jehovah… every bit as much as did his ancestor David;
For he removed the high places of worship and all the monuments.
He also destroyed the groves of sacred poles and the brass snake that Moses had made, because the people of IsraEl had started burning incense to it back in those days.
So he called it, The Consumer.
HezekiAh placed his hope in Jehovah the God of IsraEl, and among the kings of Judah, there were none others like him… not those that lived before him or those that came after him.
He stuck to Jehovah and never stopped following Him, and he obeyed all the Commandments of Moses.
So, Jehovah was with him in everything that he did, and he became very wise.
He also annulled Judah’s allegiance to the king of Assyria and refused to serve him.
Then he attacked the Philistines in Gaza and throughout their borders, from their guard towers to their walled cities.
It was in the 4th year of the reign of King HezekiAh, which was the 7th year of HoSheA the son of ElAh the king of IsraEl, that SalamaNasar (the king of Assyria) came against Samaria and laid siege to it.
It took him three years, but in the 6th year of HezekiAh and in the 9th year of HoSheA (the king of IsraEl), he conquered Samaria.
Then he relocated all the people of IsraEl to Assyria (in Halae of Habor on the Gozan River, and in the mountains of the Medes),[which happened] because they wouldn’t listen to the voice of their God Jehovah.
For they had violated the Sacred Agreement that He made through His servant Moses, and they just refused to listen and do as they were told.
Then in the 14th year of King HezekiAh, SenNacherIb (the king of Assyria) came against the walled cities of Judah and captured them.
So, HezekiAh (the king of Judah) sent messengers to the king of Assyria (who was at LachIsh at the time), saying:
‘I have sinned!
Please turn away from me!
Whatever you tell me to do, I will do!’
Then HezekiAh (the king of Judah) sent a tribute to the king of Assyria consisting of 10 tons (9,000kg) of silver and a ton of gold…
He sent him all the silver that he could find in the Temple of Jehovah and in the treasuries of the king’s palace.
He even cut off the Temple doors and their supports, which were covered with gold, and gave them to the king of Assyria.
But the king of Assyria sent Tharthan, Raphis, and RapSakes from LachIsh (along with a huge army) to King HezekiAh at JeruSalem.
And when they got to JeruSalem, they stood outside by the aqueduct to the upper pool along the road to the field where [women] washed clothes,and they yelled for HezekiAh.
Well, HezekiAh’s right-hand man EliAkim (the son of HelkiAh), SomNas the Scribe, and JehoAsh (the son of ShaPhat) the record-keeper, came out.
And RapSakes said,
‘Tell HezekiAh that the great king of Assyria says this:
What is this thing that you’re putting your trust in?For with your lips, you’ve spoken of your power to go to war.
So, who is it that you were trusting in when you annulled your allegiance to me?
{Look!} Are you leaning on that broken stalk of reeds called Egypt?
Who would [be foolish enough] to lean on them, for they will puncture your hand and go right through it!
Isn’t that what PharaOh (the king of Egypt) does to all those that rely on him?
‘Or if you should say to me that you’re relying on your God Jehovah;
Aren’t you the one that removed His high places of worship and His altars, and that told the people of Judah and JeruSalem to bow before the Altar in JeruSalem?
‘Now, come and ally yourself with my master the king of Assyria and I’ll give you 2,000 horses upon which you can mount yourself and your cavalry.
But if you turn your back on even the least of my lord’s servants, you’ll have to trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen thereafter.
‘And do you really think that we came here to destroy this place without [the blessings of Jehovah]?
It was Jehovah that told me to attack this land and destroy it!’
Then EliAkim (the son of HelkiAh), SomNas, and JehoAsh said to RapSakes:
‘Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, because we can also understand that.
Don’t speak to us in the Judean language, because all the people that are on the walls can hear what you’re saying.’
And RapSakes replied:
‘Do you think that my lord sent me here just to speak to you and to your lord?
I’ve come here to speak to the people that are sitting on the walls… those that will have to eat their own poop and drink their own pee along with you.’
Then RapSakes stood up and shouted as loud as he could in the Judean language:
‘Listen to the words of the great king of Assyria!
My king says,
Don’t trust in HezekiAh, because there’s no way that he’s going to save you from my hands!
And don’t listen to HezekiAh when he tells you to put your trust in Jehovah… that He will rescue you and never give you into the hands of the king of Assyria.
No, don’t listen to HezekiAh, because this is what the king of Assyria [has promised]:
If you will praise me and come out to me, you will all drink [wine] from your own grapevines, eat figs from your own trees, and drink water from your own wells.
For I will come and take you to a land that’s like yours… a land of grain, wine, bread, vineyards, olive oil and honey, where you can live and not have to die!
‘So, don’t listen to HezekiAh, because he’s fooling you when he says that Jehovah will rescue you.
Which of the gods of the rest of the nations have saved [their people] from the hands of the king of Assyria?
Yes, where are the gods of HaMath and ArPhad, and where are the gods of SepharVaim, Ana, and Aba?
They weren’t able to rescue Samaria from my hands!
So, since none of the gods of any of the lands have been able to save their countries from my hands, how can Jehovah rescue JeruSalem from my hands?’
Well at that, everything got very quiet and no one said a word in reply, because the king had commanded that no one should give an answer.
Then EliAkim (the son of HelkiAh) the king’s right-hand man, SomNas the scribe, and JehoAsh (the son of ShaPhat) the recorder, returned to HezekiAh and they started ripping their clothes as they told him all the things that RapSakes had said.
Well, as King HezekiAh listened to this, he tore off his clothes and dressed himself in sackcloth; then he went to the Temple of Jehovah.
He also had his right-hand-man EliAkim, SomNas the scribe, and the elders among the Priests put on sackcloth, and he sent them to see the Prophet IsaiAh (the son of Amos)with the message:
‘HezekiAh [wants us to tell you that] today is a day of oppression, scolding, and rage, for sons who don’t have the power to give birth are now having birth pangs.
So if your God Jehovah has heard all the things that RapSakes (this man that was sent by his lord the king of Assyria) said to berate the living God and to blaspheme Him – if He has heard all that was said – then pray to your God on behalf of the few of us that remain [in JeruSalem].’
So the servants of King HezekiAh went to IsaiAh,and IsaiAh said this to them:
‘Go back and tell your lord that this is what Jehovah said:
Don’t be afraid of the words that you heard and the blasphemies of the servants of the king of Assyria.
For {Look!} I will just blow [My] Breath, and [the king of Assyria] will receive a message and return to his own land.
Thereafter, I will cut him down with a sword in his own country!’
Meanwhile, when RapSakes returned to the king of Assyria, he found that he was no longer at LachIsh, for he’d gone to wage war against LobNa,because he’d heard that TharHaka (the king of the Ethiopians) had declared that he was coming to fight him.
But when [the king of Assyria] got back [to LachIsh], he sent messengers to HezekiAh to tell him this:
‘Don’t allow the God that you’re relying on to encourage you… [don’t believe Him] if He says that JeruSalem won’t be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.
{Look!} Since you’ve heard of all the things that the king of Assyria has done and of all the lands that he has destroyed, how can you believe that you’ll be saved?
Have any of the gods of the nations that were destroyed by me or by my ancestors been able to save them… such as those in Gozan, Harran, Raphis, the sons of Edem, or the people of ThaEsthen?
Yes, where are the kings of HaMath and ArPhad, and where is the king of SepharVaim, or [the kings] of Ana and Aba?’
Well, after HezekiAh took the letter from the hands of the messengers and read it, he went to the Temple of Jehovah and unrolled it there before Jehovah.
Then he prayed:
‘O Jehovah the God of IsraEl, the One that is resting on cherubs;
You alone are the God of all the kingdoms of the earth and the One that made the skies and the lands.
So, O Jehovah; turn Your ears to me and listen! O Jehovah; open Your eyes and Look… [read] the words that SenNacherIb sent to berate the living God.
For it was really You, O Jehovah, who allowed the kings of Assyria to destroy all those nations,and You’re the One that had their gods thrown into the fires, since they really aren’t gods, they’re just things that men made with their hands out of wood and stone, which will soon just rot away.
So now, O Jehovah our God;
Please save us from his hands, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that You – Jehovah – are the only [true] God.’
And thereafter, IsaiAh (the son of Amos) sent a message to HezekiAh that said,
‘Jehovah the God of armies and the God of IsraEl told me that He heard what you said to Him in your prayer concerning SenNacherIb (the king of Assyria).
And Jehovah spoke these words against him:
The daughters of JeruSalem will be shaking their heads at you that would treat the virgin daughters of Zion with contempt and sneer at them.
For who is it that you berated and who is it that you have blasphemed…
Yes, against whom have you raised your voice and put yourself higher in your own eyes?
You did this against the Holy One of IsraEl…
You sent your messengers to berate Jehovah!
‘Then you dared to say:
I have ridden my chariot to the tops of the mountains of the the borders of Lebanon, and I have cut down their great cedars (their best ones), then I rode among the forests of CarMel.
There I cooled myself and drank from their alien waters, as I destroyed all the moats around their city walls with the soles of my feet.
Then I reshaped and moved things… in my pride I took all those combative peoples away from their fortified cities.
Yes, by my own hand I made the peoples that lived there weak.
Then I shocked and disgraced them, and they became like grass in the fields… like green hay or like young shoots that grow on roofs, which are easily trampled by the people that walk on them.’
‘[However, Jehovah has said this to you]:
‘I know when you sit down,
I know where you are going,
And I know of your rage against Me!
So it’s because of your rage against Me that the things you’ve been doing have reached My ears.
Therefore, I’m now going to put My hooks in your nose and My bit between your lips, then I’m going to turn you around and send you back by the same way that you came!
[And after that, IsaiAh told HezekiAh],
‘This will be your sign:
This year you must eat the things that grow on their own and everything that grows on its own next year also.
But in the 3rd year, you will again sow seeds, harvest, and plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Then [Jehovah] will add those that have been taken away to those of the house of Judah that have been left here like roots beneath the ground, and they too will produce fruitage.
For a remnant will come out of JeruSalem,
And a savior will come from Mount Zion
Through the zeal of Jehovah of armies.
‘So, this is Jehovah’s reply to the king of Assyria:
You won’t enter this city,
says Jehovah…
You won’t even shoot an arrow here!
So, no one will have to lift a shield, because you won’t be pouring any dirt to build a siege mound around this city.
And thereafter, you will return by the same way that you came,
says Jehovah.
No, you won’t enter this city,for I will put a shield around it and save it because of Myself and because of My servant David!’
And that’s what happened.
During the night, a messenger of Jehovah came and destroyed the camp of the Assyrians, killing 185,000 of their men.
So when [the people of JeruSalem] got up the next morning, {Look!} all [they found] was dead bodies.
And after that, SenNacherIb (the king of Assyria) did in fact go back to his home in Nineveh.
Then one day, while he was bowing in the temple of his god MeserAk, his sons AdraMelek and SarAsar killed him with swords and fled to the land of Ararat.
Then his son AsorDan started ruling in place of him.
Well later, HezekiAh [developed an infection] and became sick to the point of dying.
So the Prophet IsaiAh (the son of Amos) went to see him and said,
‘Jehovah says that you should [settle your affairs], because you won’t live, you’re going to die!’
And at that, HezekiAh turned his face to the wall and made a vow to Jehovah, saying:
‘O Jehovah; Remember that I walked before You in truth with a heart that’s full of good, and I always did what is right in Your eyes.’
Then he broke down and cried.
Meanwhile, as IsaiAh was still walking out through the courtyard, these words of Jehovah came to him:
‘Return to HezekiAh (the one that is leading My people) and say,
I’ve heard your prayer and I’ve seen your tears. So, {Look!} I will heal you on the 3rd day… and then you must go to the Temple of Jehovah.
I will add 15 more years to your life, and I will bring you and this city out from under the hands of the king of Assyria because of Myself and because of My servant David.’
Then IsaiAh told him:
‘Have them take a cluster of dried figs and wrap it around the sore, and you will be healed!’
But HezekiAh asked him:
‘What is the sign that Jehovah will heal me and that I will be able to go to the Temple on the 3rd day?’
And IsaiAh said,
‘This is the sign that Jehovah will do the things that He said:
The shadow on your stairway will go up 10 stairs, then go back down 10 stairs.’
And HezekiAh said,
‘It’s nothing unusual for a shadow to go up 10 stairs, but it never goes back down 10 stairs!’
But then the Prophet IsaiAh called out to Jehovah, and the shadow went back down 10 stairs.
Well at the time, Maradak Baladan (the son of Baladan) the king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to HezekiAh, because he heard that he was sick,and this made HezekiAh very happy.
So he showed [the messengers] everything in his palace.
He showed them all his good things… his spices, silver, gold, perfumes, oils, weapons, and everything that he had in his treasury.
In fact, there wasn’t anything in his house that he failed to show them.
Then when the Prophet IsaiAh came to HezekiAh, he asked,
‘Who were those men and why did they come to you?’
And HezekiAh replied:
‘They came from far away… all the way from Babylon!’
Then IsaiAh asked:
‘What did they see in your palace?’
And he said:
‘They saw everything that’s here.
I showed them everything in my house and in my treasury.’
Then IsaiAh said:
‘Listen to the words of Jehovah!
{Look} The days are coming,
says Jehovah,
When all the things in your palace and all the treasures that your ancestors have stored away until now will be taken to Babylon…
None of these things that Jehovah spoke about will be left.
Also, the sons that you sire and those that descend from you will be taken as eunuchs to serve in the palace of the king of Babylon.’
And HezekiAh said to IsaiAh:
‘The words of Jehovah are good…
But may there be peace during my lifetime!’
Well, the rest of the things that HezekiAh said and did, as well as the area of his rulership, the wells that he dug, and about the water duct that he built to bring water into the city {Look!} have been recorded in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.
Then HezekiAh went to sleep with his ancestors and he was buried in a tomb in the city of David.
So after him, his son ManasSeh started ruling.
ManasSeh was just 12 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled from JeruSalem for 55 years.
His mother’s name was OpSiba.
However, ManasSeh acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah, for he returned to the disgusting practices of the nations that Jehovah had removed from before the sons of IsraEl.
He went and rebuilt the high places of worship that his father HezekiAh had torn down, he rebuilt the altar to BaAl, he built groves of sacred poles like those that were built by Ahab the king of IsraEl, and he bowed before and served the powerful objects in the skies.
He also built an altar inside the Temple of Jehovah, for he said:
‘Because I did this, my name will be remembered in JeruSalem.’
In addition, he built an altar to all the powerful things in the skies inside two of the courtyards of the Temple of Jehovah,and he thereafter sacrificed two of his own sons in fire.
He even brought many fortunetellers, diviners, and seers into the land, setting aside sacred precincts for them.
All of this was very wicked in the eyes of Jehovah, and it made Him very angry.
Thereafter, [ManasSeh] put carvings of sacred poles right inside the Temple…
In that very place where Jehovah had said to David and his son Solomon:
‘This is the House in JeruSalem that I chose out of all the rest of the tribes of IsraEl as the place to put My Name through the ages.
So, I will never shake the feet of IsraEl off this land that I gave to their ancestors for as long as they do everything that I told them to do and they follow the Commandments that I gave to them through My servant Moses.’
However, the people just wouldn’t listen;
For ManasSeh had misled them into doing things that were even wickeder in the eyes of Jehovah than was done by those nations that the Lord had once removed from before the sons of IsraEl.
As the result, Jehovah spoke to them through His servants the Prophets and said:
‘I’m not going to allow ManasSeh the king of Judah to continue doing these disgusting things, for they are even worse than what the Amorites used to do in front of Me.
He has led Judah into sin with his idols,and this cannot continue!’
Then Jehovah the God of IsraEl said this:
‘{Look!} I’m going to bring so much evil upon JeruSalem and Judah that everyone will hear about it with both of their ears.
I’m going to stretch the measuring line out over JeruSalem the same as I once did over Samaria and when I brought all the weight of the house of Ahab down upon it.
I will wipe away JeruSalem like someone wipes out an alabaster jar… I’ll wipe it clean and then turn it over on its face.
I’ll wipe away every trace of My inheritance and hand them over to their enemies, who will ravage and plunder themfor doing so many wicked things before My eyes, since they’ve been provoking Me to anger from the time that I led their ancestors out of Egypt down to this very day.
And now ManasSeh has shed the blood of so many innocent [people] that it has filled JeruSalem from mouth to mouth…
And this is in addition to all the rest of his sins and the ways that he’s led Judah into sin by acting wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah.’
Well, the rest of the things that ManasSeh said and did (including all of his sins) are written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.
Then ManasSeh went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in the garden next to his house (the Garden of Oza).
And after that, his son Amon started ruling in his place.
Amon was 22 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled from JeruSalem for just 2 years.
His mother’s name was MesolLam (she was the daughter of Arus from JeTeba).
Like his father ManasSeh, he also acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah,for he continued to do the same things that his father did.
He served and bowed before the same idols that his father served,and he abandoned Jehovah the God of his ancestors.
He certainly didn’t walk in the paths of the Lord.
But then Amon’s servants plotted a coup against him, and they murdered the king in his palace.
However, the people of the land took those who had plotted against King Amon and had them put to death, then they appointed Amon’s son JosiAh to rule in his place.
Well, the rest of the things that Amon said and did {Look!} have been written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.
He was also buried in his own tomb in the Garden of Oza.
Then JosiAh started his reign.
JosiAh was only 8 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled for 31 years in JeruSalem.
His mother’s name was JediYa, and she was the daughter of EdeYa of BasorOth.
JosiAh actually did what was upright in the eyes of Jehovah, for he followed in the paths of his ancestor David and he didn’t swerve to the right or to the left.
It was during the 8th month of the 18th year of King JosiAh’s reign that the king sent for ShaPhan (the son of EseliJah and grandson of MesolLam), who was the scribe at the Temple of Jehovah.
Then he told him:
‘Go to HelkiAh the great High Priest and have him set aside the money from the treasury that the people have been bringing to the Temple,then give it to the men that are assigned to work on the Temple of Jehovah!’
So they gave the money to the men that were working on the Temple of Jehovah, and they used it to repair its walls.
The money was given to the craftsmen, laborers, and stonemasons, who used it to buy wood and stones to fortify its walls,and no one required an accounting, for they were just trusted to do the right thing.
But then HelkiAh (the High Priest) went to ShaPhan the scribe and reported:
‘We’ve found a scroll of the Law in the Temple of Jehovah!’
So HelkiAh gave the scroll to ShaPhan and he read it,then he carried it to King JosiAh.
Well, the first thing that the king spoke to ShaPhan about when he went before him, was that he wanted him to set aside more silver from the Temple of Jehovah, so it could be given to the servants that were appointed to do the repairs.
And after that, ShaPhan (the scribe) said to the king:
‘HelkiAh the Priest also gave me this scroll,’
Which he then read to the king.
Well when the king heard the Law that was written on the scroll, he started ripping his clothes.
And then the king gave these instructions to HelkiAh the Priest, AchiKan (the son of ShaPhan), AchObor (the son of MichaJah), ShaPhan the scribe, and to AsaJah (the king’s personal representative):
‘Go and search for Jehovah on behalf of myself and all of my people in the land of Judah, because, according to the things that are written in this scroll that you found, the anger of Jehovah is surely blazing against us, since we haven’t been paying attention to any of His instructions or doing any of the things that were written about us here!’
So, HelkiAh the Priest, AchiCam, AchObor, ShaPhan, and AsiAh went to the Prophetess HuldAh (the [wife] of SelLem, who was the son of Thekou and grandson of Aras the keeper of the robes) who lived in Masena near JeruSalem, and they spoke to her about it.
Then she told them this:
‘The Lord God of IsraEl says that you should speak to the man that sent you to meand tell him that this is what Jehovah said:
{Look!} I’m bringing bad things against this place and upon all those that live here… yes, everything that’s written in the scroll that the king of Judah read.
For they have abandoned Me and have started offering incense to other gods…
They’re making Me so angry with those things they’ve made with their hands that My rage is blazing against this place, and now it won’t be extinguished.
‘Also, tell the king of Judah (the one that sent you to inquire of Jehovah) that these are the words that you heard from the Lord God of IsraEl:
Because you are so tenderhearted and you felt ashamed when you heard the things that I said about this place and about those that live here (that they deserve to be cursed and extinguished), and you’ve ripped your clothes and cried before Me;
I’ve heard you.Therefore, none of these things will happen to you.
Rather, {Look!} I will add you to your ancestors and you will be buried in your own tomb in peace, so you won’t have to see all the bad things that I’m going to bring against this place with your eyes.’
And with that, they returned to the king and told him what was said.
Thereafter, the king sent for all the elders of Judah and JeruSalem and had them brought to him.
Then the king went to the Temple of Jehovah with the men of Judah and JeruSalem (the Priests, the Prophets, and all the people, both the small and the great), and he read all the words of the scroll of the Sacred Agreement that had been found there.
And as the king was standing next to one of the columns, he promised Jehovah that they would all return to Him and obey His Commandments, proclamations, and Laws with their whole hearts and souls, and that they would reestablish His Sacred Agreement that was written about in the scroll.
And thereafter, he made all the people that were there affirm that they also agreed with his promise.
Next, the king had the High Priest HelkiAh, as well as all the other lesser priests and those that guarded the doors, go into the Temple of Jehovah and drag out all the objects for BaAl worship, the things for the groves of sacred poles, and the objects of worship of the things in the skies.
Then he burned it all outside of JeruSalem in the Cedar (Kidron) Valley, and he had the ashes carried off to BethEl.
Following that, he had all the idolatrous priests (those that had been appointed by the kings of Judah and that burned incense in the high places around the cities of Judah and JeruSalem, as well as those that burned incense to BaAl, or to the sun and the moon, or to the Zodiac and the mighty things in the sky) [killed and] incinerated.
And he had the carvings of the groves of sacred poles carted out of the Temple of Jehovah and out of JeruSalem to the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi, where he had them burned and ground into dust, which was thereafter scattered among the tombs in the graveyards.
Following that, he had the rooms in the Temple of Jehovah where male prostitutes were kept and where women wove robes for the worship of the sacred poles, demolished.
Then he brought back all the Priests from the cities of Judah (from GabaA all the way to BeerSheba), and they went up to the high places where [the people] had burned incense, and they desecrated [those places].
He also demolished the high place that was located next to the entrance of the gate of JoShua (who was the city’s mayor), which was to the left of the city’s main gate.
Thereafter, [the king] forbade the Priests that had served at the high places to ever be allowed to approach the Altar of Jehovah in JeruSalem or to ever again share in eating the fermentation-free bread among their brothers.
Next he defiled Topheth, which is the place [of worship] in the valley of the sons of Hinnom where people took their sons and daughters to be burned in a fire before [the image of] Moloch.
And he incinerated the horses that the kings of Judah had offered to the sun, which were kept inside the Temple compound near the Temple entrance in the treasury room of Nathan MelEch.
He also burned the Chariot of the Sun,the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz (which had been built by the kings of Judah), and he demolished the altars that had been built for ManasSeh inside two of the Temple courtyards.
Then he had the dust and ashes thrown into the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi.
The king also had the temple that stood in front of JeruSalem (on the right side of Mount MosOath) that King Solomon had built to Astarte (the disgusting thing of the Sidonians), to Chemosh (the disgusting thing of MoAb), and to Moloch (the disgusting thing of the sons of AmMon) desecrated.
He also broke up all the monuments and the groves of sacred poles, and he had the areas where they once stood covered with dead men’s bones.
After that, he went to the high altar in BethEl that JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) built to lead IsraEl into sin, and he had it torn down, its stones crushed into fine dust, and its grove of sacred poles incinerated.
And when JosiAh noticed the tombs where the people of that city were buried, he had the bones taken from the tombs and burned on [JeroBoam’s] altar so as to defile it, as the [prophecy] of Jehovah that the man of God spoke on the holiday that JeroBoam had called for when he built the altar, was finally fulfilled.
For back then, the man of God had looked toward this very graveyard and asked,
‘What are these tall rocks that I see?’
And when the men of the city [heard] the man of God (who had come from Judah) foretell that all these things would happen to the altar in BethEl, they said:
‘Leave him alone, and may no man ever move his bones!’
So his bones were thereafter placed with the bones of the Prophets of Samaria.
Well after that, [the king] went throughout the cities of Samaria, and he had all the temples on the high places that the kings of IsraEl had built to provoke Jehovah to anger, torn down.
JosiAh removed them all, along with all the things that were built for worship in BethEl.
And thereafter, he sacrificed all the priests of the high places on their own altars, and he incinerated their bones upon them.
Then he went back to JeruSalem,and he told all the people that they would have to observe the Passover of their God Jehovah, just as it had been written about in the scroll of His Sacred Agreement.
For the Passover really hadn’t been celebrated there since the time of the Judges (not during the time of any of the previous kings of Judah).
So it was in the 18th year of King JosiAh’s reign that the Passover to Jehovah was once again celebrated in JeruSalem.
Then King JosiAh had all the witches, fortunetellers, objects for providing omens, idols, and all the other disgusting things and practices that were taking place in the land of Judah and JeruSalem removed, so that the words of the Law that was written in the scroll that HelkiAh the Priest had found in the Temple of Jehovah could be followed once again.
Never before had there been any king like him that had turned toward Jehovah and to the Law of Moses with so much of his whole heart, strength, and soul.
And after him, no one like him ever arose again.
However, none of this turned Jehovah from His rage and great anger against Judah over the things that ManasSeh had done.
For Jehovah had said:
‘I will indeed remove Judah from before My face the same as I removed IsraEl.
I will throw this city of JeruSalem that I chose away, along with the Temple where I said that I would put My Name.’
Well, the rest of the things that JosiAh said and did have been written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.
However after that, PharaOh Necho (the king of Egypt) attacked the king of Assyria at the EuPhrates River, and JosiAh joined in the war against him.
So when Necho saw him at MegidDo, he killed him.
Then [the king’s] servants brought his dead body back from MegidDo to JeruSalem, and they buried him in his tomb in the city of David.
Then the people of the land anointed JehoAhaz (JosiAh’s son), and he started reigning in place of his father.
JehoAhaz was 23 years old when he started his reign, and he only ruled in JeruSalem for three months.
The name of his mother was AmiTal, and she was the daughter of JeremiAh of LobNa.
For thereafter, he followed in the paths of his ancestors and acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah.
Then PharaOh Necho attacked him at DebLatha (in the land of HaMath) and removed him from [his throne] in JeruSalem, and he required the whole land to pay him a tribute of 4 tons (3,600kg) of silver and 4 tons (3,600kg) of gold.
Then he put EliAkim (another son of JosiAh) on [the throne] of Judah in place of his father, changing his name to JehoiAkim, and he had JehoAhaz carried off to Egypt where he eventually died.
So thereafter, JehoiAkim had to tax all the people of the land (which was assessed by how much they each owned) so as to pay what the PharaOh had required, and he sent all the silver and gold to PharaOh Necho.
JehoiAkim was 25 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled from JeruSalem for 11 years.
His mother’s name was JelDaph, and she was the daughter of PhadaEl of RoUma.
But he also acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah, and he did all the bad things that his ancestors had done.
It was during the time of JehoiAkim that Nebu Chadnezzar became the king of Babylon, and JehoiAkim became his vassal for three years…
But then he annulled his allegiance.
So, during that time, Jehovah sent armed bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, MoAbites, and AmMonites against him and the land of Judah until they actually overran the land, just as Jehovah had foretold would happen through His servants the Prophets,because of His rage against Judah.
As the result, He decided to remove them from in front of His face for the sins of ManasSeh and for all the [bad] things that he didwhen he [killed] so many innocent [people] and filled JeruSalem with innocent blood, over which he refused to repent.
Now, the rest of the things that JehoiAkim said and did have been written about in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.
For then he went to sleep with his ancestors, and his son JehoiAchin started ruling in place of him.
Well thereafter, the king of Egypt no longer came into his land, because the king of Babylon had claimed all the land from the EuPhrates to the [Nile]…
Everything that had once belonged to the king of Egypt.
JehoiAchin was only 18 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled from JeruSalem for just three months.
His mother’s name was NesTha, and she was the daughter of ElLaNathan of JeruSalem.
But JehoiAchin followed in the ways of his father and acted wickedly in the eyes of Jehovah.
So thereafter, NebuChadnezzar the king of Babylon came and laid siege to JeruSalem…NebuChadnezzar [himself] came to the city when his army attacked it.
Then JehoiAchin (the king of Judah) surrendered to the king of Babylon, along with his mother, servants, governors, and eunuchs.
So the king of Babylon [took him captive] during the 8th year of his (NebuChadnezzar’s) reign,and he took all the treasures that were in the Temple of Jehovah and in the king’s palace, including all the things that Solomon (the king of IsraEl) had covered with gold inside the Temple of Jehovah.
He had it all cut off and removed, just as Jehovah said would happen.
Thereafter, he took all the governors and all the important people from JeruSalem and carried them into captivity (some 10,000 people), including all the contractors and their workers.
So, all that was left in the land was just the poor people.
He carried off JehoiAchin, his mother, his wives, his eunuchs, and all the great people of the land.
He took them all from JeruSalem and resettled them in [the Kingdom of] Babylon.
He also carried off 7,000 of [Judah’s] greatest men, 1,000 contractors and their craftsmen, and 1,000 of the best soldiers, and he took them all to Babylon.
Then the king of Babylon appointed MatThaniAh (JehoiAchim’s son) to be [the king of Judah], and he renamed him ZedekiAh.
Well, ZedekiAh was 21 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem for 11 years.
His mother was AmiTal (the daughter of JeremiAh).
And like his father JehoiAchin, he also acted wickedly before Jehovah.
So, Jehovah’s rage continued against JeruSalem and Judah until He pushed them away from in front of His face.
For then ZedekiAh also annulled his allegiance to the king of Babylon.
It was in the 9th year of his reign (on the 10th day of the 10th month) that NebuChadnezzar (the king of Babylon) came against JeruSalem with his whole army.
He camped outside of the city and built a siege mound around it.
So the city remained cut off until the 11th year and 9th month of the reign of ZedekiAh.
For by then, famine was raging throughout the city, and none of the people there had any bread.
And that’s when its walls were finally breached.
Well, when that happened, [the king] and his men slipped away during the night along a road that ran between the walls of the gate to the king’s garden.
Then the Chaldeans (who were all around the city) chased after them along the desert road,catching up with the king in the desert near JeriCho, where his men had deserted him.
So they captured the king and carried him back to the king of Babylon (who was in DebLatha at the time), where he was put on trial.
Then the king of Babylon had ZedekiAh’s sons slaughtered before his eyes, and he was blinded and carried off to Babylon in chains.
It was in the 5th month, on the 7th day of the month, in the 19th year of the reign of NebuChadnezzar (the king of Babylon) that NabuZarDan (the king of Babylon’s chief body guard) came to JeruSalem.
He then burned the Temple of Jehovah, the king’s palace, and all the houses in JeruSalem…
He burned everything,and he had his soldiers tear down JeruSalem’s walls.
The only people he left behind were those that had sided with the king of Babylon.
And thereafter, NabuZarDan (the chief guard) removed his troops,leaving behind just the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers.
The Chaldeans thereafter broke up the brass columns in the Temple of Jehovah, as well as the basins and the Sacred Sea, and carried all the brass back to Babylon.
They also took all the cooking pots, the shovels, the bowls, the incense pans, and everything else in the Temple that was made of brass,as well as the gold and silver censers and bowls.
Well, with the two columns, the Sacred Sea, and the bases that Solomon had made for the Temple of Jehovah, no one could estimate the weight of all the brass that they took;
For each column stood 30 feet (9.1m) tall, and the brass caps for each column stood 5 feet (153cm) tall.
There was also the latticework, the brass pomegranates that were all around each of the caps, and the 100 of brass pomegranates that were around the latticework on each column.
The chief bodyguard also took the High Priest SaraiJah and his son ZephaniAh (who was in charge of [Temple] collections).
In addition, he carried off all the eunuchs that were in charge of the troops, 5 of the king’s advisors, the secretary of the army (who handled recruiting), and 60 other people that he found in the city.
NabuZarDan (the chief guard) then took them to the king of Babylon (who was in DebLatha),who had them all killed in DebLatha (which is in the land of HaMath).
Then he removed all the people of Judah and resettled them [away from] their own land.
Thereafter, NebuChadnezzar (the king of Babylon) appointed GedaliAh (the son of AchiKam and grandson of ShaPhan) to rule over all those that were still left in the land of Judah.
And when all the army generals and their men heard that the king of Babylon had put GedaliAh in charge, IshmaEl (the son of NathaniAh), JoAnan (the son of Kareth), SariAh (the son of ThanaMath the NetoPhathite), and JezoniJah (the son of the Mahathite) and their men went to GedaliAh in MizPah.
There he swore an oath to them and their men, saying:
‘You don’t have to be afraid when the Chaldeans leave, for if you’ll just settle yourselves in the land and serve the king of Babylon, all will go well for you.’
But in the 7th month, IshmaEl (the son of NathaniJah and grandson of EliSama), who was related to the kings, took 10 men and murdered GedaliAh along with all the Judeans and Chaldeans that were with him in MizPah.
So, all the people (the small and the great) and the army generals got up and fled to Egypt, because they were afraid of what the Chaldeans would do to them.
It was in the 37th year after JehoiAchin (the king of Judah) had been carried away (on the 7th day of the 12th month), that Ebil Marodach became the king of Babylon.
And during the 1st year of his reign, he released JehoiAchin (the king of Judah) from prisonand said good things about him.
Then he put him on a throne that was higher than those of all the other kings that were in Babylon.
He also gave him new clothes to wear and allowed him to eat [at his table] for the rest of his life…
So he thereafter feasted in the palace of the king everyday [until he died].
Adam, Seth, Enosh,Kainan, MaHalaleEl, JaRed,Enoch, MethuSelah, Lamech,Noah.
Noah’s sons were Shem, Ham, and JaPheth.
JaPheth’s sons were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, EliSha, Tubal, MeShech, and Thiras.
Gomer’s sons were AshKenaz, RiPhath, and TogarMah.
Javan’s sons were EliSha, Tharsis, KitTim, and Rodanim.
Ham’s sons were Kush, Mesraim, Put, and CanaAn.
Kush’s sons were Saba, HaviLah, SaBatha, RegMa, and SebethAha.
RegMa’s sons were SheBa and DeDan.
It was Kush who fathered NimRod, who became a giant on the earth.
Shem’s descendants were ElAm, AsSur, and ArphaxAd.
[SheLah’s son was] Heber, [whose son was] Peleg, [whose son was] Ragau,[whose son was] Seruk, [whose son was] NaHor, [whose son was] Terah.
AbraHam’s sons wereIsaAc and IshMaEl.
These are the genealogies:
The firstborn of IshMaEl was NabayOth, then Kedar, NabDeEl, MabSam,MasMa, IdoUma, MasSe, Adad, ThaIman,JetTur, Naphes, and Kedma.
They were the sons of IshMaEl.
The sons of KeTurAh (AbraHam’s concubine) were ZemBram, JexAn, MidiAn, MeDan, Sobak, and Soe.
The sons of JexAn were DeDan and SheBa.
The sons of MidiAn were GaiPhar, Opher, Enok, AviDa, and ElLada.
These were the sons of KeTurAh.
AbraHam fathered IsaAc, and IsaAc’s sons were Jacob and Esau.
Esau’s sons were EliPhaz, RagouEl, JeSous, JegLam, and Koreh.
The sons of EliPhaz were ThaiMan, Omar, ZepPhoue, GoOtham, and Kanez; and through ThamNa, he had a son named Amalec.
The sons of RagouEl were NaCheth, ZaRe, SamMah, and Mazeh.
The sons of SeEir were LoTan, Soubal, SebeGon, Ana, DeSon, Asar, and Disan.
LoTan’s sons were ChorRei and Imam. LoTan also had a sister named ThamNa.
Soubal’s sons were AlouAm, ManaAth, Oubal, SapPhei, and Onam.
SebeGon’s sons were Aia and Ana.
Ana’s son was DeSon, and DeSon’s sons were Amadan, EseBan, JeThran, and CharRan.
Asar’s sons were BalaAn, ZaAn, and JoKan. DeSon’s sons were Uz and Aran.
These are the kings that ruled in Edom before there were any kings in IsraEl:
First, there was Balak (the son of BeOr), [who ruled from] DenNaba.
When he died, Jobab (the son of ZaRa) started reigning from BozRah.
After Jobab died, Asom (who was from the land of the Temanites) became the king.
Then after Asom died, Adad (the son of BarAd) started to rule – he’s the one that captured MidiAn in the plains of MoAb – and the name of his city was GetThaim.
Then Adad died and SebLa from MasekKah became the king.
After SebLa died, Saul from RobOth by the River became the king.
Then Saul died and BelaEnNor (the son of AchObor) became the king.
And when BelaEnNor died, Adad (the son of BarAd) started ruling after him.
The name of his city was PhoGor.
These were the Governors of Edom:
Governor ThamNa, Governor GolaDa, Governor JeTher,Governor EliBamah, Governor ElAs, Governor PhiNon,Governor Kenez, Governor ThaIman, Governor MabSar,Governor MagediEl, and Governor ZaphoIn.
These were the Governors of Edom.
These are the names of the sons and Lords of IsraEl: ReuBen, SimeOn, Levi, Judah, IsSachar, ZebuLun,Dan, JoSeph, BenJamin, NaphTali, Gad, and Asher.
The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, and SeLom.
All three were born to him through the daughter of Shua the CanaAnite.
Er was his firstborn, but he proved to be wicked before Jehovah, so He killed him.
Then through his daughter-in-law Tamar, he fathered Perez and Zerah.
So, all 5 were the sons of Judah.
The sons of Perez were HezRon and JemouEl.
The sons of Zerah were ZamBri, AiThan, HeMan, KalChal, and Darad… 5 sons.
The son of CharMi was Achar, who brought trouble on IsraEl by breaking the agreement [with God] and was then destroyed.
The son of AiThan was AzariJah.
The sons of HezRon that were born to him through JaRameEl were Aram and ChelubAi.
Then Aram fathered AmiNadab, and AmiNadab fathered NahShon, who became the head of the house of Judah.
NahShon fathered SalMon, SalMon fathered BoAz,BoAz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered JesSe.
JesSe’s sons were EliAb (the firstborn), AmiNadab (the 2nd), SamaAh (the 3rd),NathaniEl (the 4th), ZadDai (the 5th),Asom (the 6th), and David (the 7th).
Their sisters were ZeruJah and AbiGail.
The three sons of ZeruJah were AbiShai, JoAb, and AsahEl.
AbiGail gave birth to AmaSa (whose father was JoThor the IshMaElite)and Caleb (the son of HezRon).
He then took Azouba (the daughter of JeriOth) as his woman, and these are her sons:
JaSar, Soubab, and Orna.
Then Azouba died and Caleb married EphRath, who gave birth to Or.
Or then fathered Ouri, and Ouri fathered BeseleEl.
It was after this that Lord HezRon [had sex with] the daughter of MachIr (who was the father of GileAd);
Then he married her when he was 65 years old and she gave birth to SegUb.
Then SegUb fathered JaIr, who [ruled over] 23 cities in GileAd.
Then GedSur and Aram took JaIr’s villages (including KaNath – some 60 villages all together), which belonged to the sons of MachIr, the father of GileAd.
It was after HezRon died that Lord Caleb moved to EphRatha.
HezRon’s woman was AbiJah, and she gave birth to AsChod, who became the father of ThekoE.
These are the sons of JaRameEl (HezRon’s firstborn):
His firstborn was Ram, then BaAna, and then Aran and his brother Asom.
But JaRameEl also had another woman whose name was Atara, and she was the mother of Ozom.
These were the sons of Ram:
His firstborn was JaRameEl, then MaAs, JaMin, and Akor.
Ozom’s sons were SamAi and JaDae.
The sons of SamAi were NaDab and AbiShur.
Then AbiShur married AbiHail and she gave birth to AchAbar and ModDi.
The sons of NaDab were Seled and AphaIn.
Then Lord Seled died without any children,but [his brother] AphaIn fathered IshEmiEl, who fathered SoSan, and SoSan fathered AadAi.
The sons of AadAi were AchiSamas, JeTher, and JoNathan.
Then Lord JeTher died without having any children.
But the sons of JoNathan were PhalEd and Ozam.
These were all descendants of JaRameEl.
Now, no sons were born to SoSan, just daughters.
But SoSan was given an Egyptian slave named JochEl,and he gave his daughter [to this slave] as his woman, then she gave birth to Ethi.
Thereafter, Ethi fathered Nathan, Nathan fathered Zabed,Zabed fathered AphamEl, AphamEl fathered Obed,Obed fathered JeOu, JeOu fathered AzariJah,AzariJah fathered HelLes, HelLes fathered EliaAsa,EliaAsa fathered SosomAi, SosomAi fathered SaloUm,SaloUm fathered JechemiJah, JechemiJah fathered EliShama, and EliShama fathered IshMaEl.
The firstborn son of Caleb (JaRameEl’s brother) was MariSha, who fathered Ziph and HebRon.
HebRon’s sons were KorAh, ThaPhous, Rekom, and SamaAh.
SamaAh fathered RaEm, and he fathered JekLan.
JekLan then fathered SamAi,and SamAi’s son was MaOn, who founded BethZur.
Caleb’s concubine GaiPha gave birth to ArRan, Mosa, and GezoWe.
The sons of Caleb’s concubine AdDai were Ragem, JoAtham, Sogar, Phalek, GaiPha, and SagaE.
And his sons through his concubine Mocha were Saber, ThaRam,and SagaE, who fathered MarMena, MachaMena, and GaiBaAh.
Caleb also had a daughter named Ash Chah.
These were the descendants of Caleb.
The sons of Or were:
EphRatha (his firstborn), SoBal (who founded KiriAth JaiRim),and Arim (who founded BethGedor).
These are the sons of SoBal (the founder of KiriAth JaiRim, AraAh, AiSi, AmManith,OumasPhae, and the city of JaIr):
AiThalim, MiphiThim, EsamaThim, and EmaSaraim.
They were the ones that fathered the SaraThaeans and the sons of EsthaAm.
Salma’s [descendants] founded BethLehem, as well as the NetoPhathites, AtarOth of the house of JoAb, half of the houses of MaLathi and EsAri,the families of the scribes that live in JaBish, the TharGathiIm, the SamathiIm, the Sochathim (the KinaEans), those that come from MeSema, and he was the father of the house of RechAb.
These are the sons of David that were born to him in HebRon:
The firstborn was AmNon, whose mother was AchinaAm the JezreElite.
The 2nd was DaniEl, the son of AbiGail the CarMelite.
The 3rd was AbSalom, the son of Mocha, who was the daughter of TholMai the king of GedsoUr.
The 4th was AdoniJah, the son of HagGith.
The 5th was ShaphatiYa.
These sons were born to him in HebRon, where he reigned for 7 years and 6 months.
After that, he reigned in JeruSalem for 33 years,and 4 sons were born to him there through BathSheba (the daughter of AmiEl).
They were KamaAh, SoBab, Nathan, and Solomon.
There was also Ebar, EliSha, EliPhaleth,NagAi and NaPhek, HeAphie,EliSama, EliAda, and EliPhala…
9 sons that were born to David,in addition to the sons of his concubines and his sister, Tamar.
The descendants of Solomon were RehoBoam, then his son AbiJah, then his son Asa, then his son JehoShaphat, then his sonJehoRam, then his son AhaziJah, then his son JehoAsh, then his sonAmaziJah, then his son AzariJah, then his son JoTham, then his sonAhaz, then his son HezekiJah, then his son ManasSeh, then his sonAmon, then his son JosiAh.
The sons of JosiAh were JoHanan (his firstborn); the 2nd was JehoiAkim; the 3rd was ZedekiAh; and the 4th was ShalLum.
The sons of JehoiAkim were JeconiJah and ZedekiAh.
Then the sons of JeconiJah were Asir, ShalathiEl,MelchiRam, PhadiJah, SaneSar, JeKemYa, OsamAth, and NabadYas.
The sons of ShalathiEl were ZerubBabel and ShiMei.
The sons of ZerubBabel were MosolLam, HananiJah, and their sister SalomEth.
He also had 5 more sons:
AsoUbe, Ool, BarachiAh, AsadiJah, and AsoBed.
The descendants of HananiJah were PhaletTiJah, his son JesiJah, his son Raphal, his son Orna, his son AbDiJah; his son ShecheniJah,and his son ShemaiJah.
ShemaiJah had 6 sons, HatTush, Igal, BeriJah, NeaJah, and ShaPhat.
NeaJah had 3 sons:
EliOnai, HezekiJah, and EzriKam.
EliOnai had 7 sons:
OdolJa, EliAsEbon, PhadaJa, AkoUb, JoHanan, DalaiJa, and Hanan.
The sons of Judah were Perez, HezRon, Carmi, Or, Soubal,and his son Rada.
Soubal fathered Jeth, and Jeth fathered AchiMai and LaAd.
These are genealogies of SaraThi:
The sons of AiTam were JezreEl, JesMan, and IdBash.
Their sister’s name was EselebBon.
PhanouEl was the father of Gedor, and Azer was the father of Osan.
The firstborn son of Or was EphRatha, who was the founder of BethLehem.
And AsoUr (whose father was ThekoE) had two women, Aoda and ThoAda.
Aoda gave birth to OchaiJa, Ephal, ThaIman, and HaAsther (those were all her sons),and the sons of ThoAda were Serek, SaAr, and EthNan.
Kos fathered Enob and SabaTha.
They’re related to the brother of ReChab, the son of JaRin.
JaBez was the most honorable among all his brothers, and his mother named him JaBez, because she said:
‘I have given birth in pain (heb. JaBez).’
And it was JaBez that called on the God of IsraEl, saying:
‘O please bless me, expand my borders, and may Your hand be with me… teach me Your wisdom so I don’t [make a fool] of myself.’
And God gave him everything that he asked for.
Caleb (the father of AsCha) fathered MachIr, who became the father of AshSathon.
Then AshSathon fathered BathRaiAn, BesSee, and Thana, who was the founder of the city of NaHash and a relative of Eselom the Kenezite, who lived in Repha.
The sons of Kenez were GothoniEl and SaraJa.
GothoniEl’s sons were AthAthand ManAthi (who fathered GoPhera).
SaraJa fathered JoAb, who was the father of the Harashim, who were craftsmen.
The descendants of Caleb (the son of JePhonNe) were Era, ElAh, and NoOm;
And the son of ElAh was Kenez.
The sons of GeseEl were Ziph, Zepha, ThephiJa, and EseraEl.
The sons of EseraEl were JeTher, Morad, Apher, and JaMon.
JeTher was the father of MaRon, SemAi, and MaReth… who was the father of EsthaIMon.
Then his Judean woman gave birth to JaRed the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Socho, and JechoutiEl the father of ZaNoe.
These are the sons of BethThouiJah (the daughter of PharaOh) that was taken by Marod,and the sons of his woman Hodia, the sister of Nahum ([who was also] the father of KeiLa the GarMite and EsthaIMon the Nochathite):
Simon, AmNon, Rena (whose sons were HanNan and ThiLon), and Ishi, whose descendants were ZoHath and the ZoHathites.
The son of SeLom (Judah’s son) was Er.
He became the father of LeChab and LaAda, who was the father of MariSha, as well as to all the descendants of the families of EphraDabak, the house of Esoba,JoAkim, the men of ChozEba, JoAs, and ShaPhat (who lived in MoAb and returned [with Moabite women named] AbeDerin and Athoukiim).
This [family] became the potters who live in Ataim and GadeRa;
And since they were supporters of the king, they became very powerful in these cities.
The sons of SimeOn were NamouEl, JaMin, JaRib, ZaRe, Saul,and Salem, whose son was MabaSam.
His son was MasMa; his son wasAmJaRameElouEl; his son was SaboUd; his son was ZakChour; and his son was ShiMei.
ShiMei had 16 sons and 3 daughters.
And since there were so few daughters, their families didn’t grow as large in Judah as did those of their brothers.
The families [of ShiMei] lived in BeerSheba, Sama, MoLada, EserSouAl,BalaAh, BoAsom, ThoUlad,BathOuEl, Erma, ZikLag,BethMariMoth, EmiSouseOsin, and BethBarouseOrim, where they lived until the reign of King David.
They also owned AiTan, En, RemMon, ThokKan, and AiSan (5 cities),as well as the land all around these cities all the way to BaAl.
They owned it all, and it was distributed among the families ofMosoBab, Amalek, JosiJah, the sons of AmasiJah,JoEl (the son of AsAbiJah; the son of SaraiJa; the son of AsiEl),EliOnai, JakAba, JasouJah, AsaiJah, JediEl, IsMaEl, BenaiJah,ZoUza (the son of SaphAi; the son of Alon; the son of JediJah; the son of SemRi; the son of SamiJah).
These were the names of the rulers of their generations and the heads of their families (which grew in great numbers).
Their land ran from GeraRa to east of Gai, because they needed a lot of pasture for all their animals.
This land had good pasture, and it was large enough for all their animals.
It was also a peaceful, restful land… it was where the sons of Ham had lived previously.
But it was during the reign of HezekiAh (the king of Judah) that an edict was passed and they attacked the houses there (as well as all the Minaeans whom they found there), and they’ve been wiped out until this day.
So, [the family of Judah] moved in and claimed the pastures for their animals.
Also, 500 of the descendants of SimeOn moved there, near Mount SeIr.
They were led by PhalaEtiJah, NoAdiJah, RaphiJah, and OziEl, who were the sons of JesSie.
They killed the rest of the AmaLechites who lived there, and they still live in that land to this day.
These are the sons of ReuBen, the firstborn of IsraEl.
Although he was the firstborn; because he climbed onto the marriage-bed of his father, [his father] gave the blessing to his son JoSeph (the son of IsraEl).
So, the rights of the firstborn aren’t traced through [ReuBen’s] family line.
Also, since Judah was the most powerful among his brothers, a leader came from him, though the blessing [of the firstborn] went to JoSeph.
The sons of ReuBen (the firstborn of IsraEl) were Enoch, PalLu, AsRom, and Charmi.
The son of JoEl was ShiMei, and his son was BenaiJah. GoUg was [also] the son of ShiMei,and his son was Micha, whose son was Recha, whose son was JoEl,whose son was BeEl.
BeEl was relocated by Tiglath Pileser (the king of Assyria), and he’s the leader of the ReuBenites.
These are the genealogies of BeEl’s brothers and countrymen who were also resettled [by Tiglath-Pileser]:
The first was JoEl, then ZachariJah,Balek, his son AzoUz, his son Sama, his son JoEl (who lived in AroEr, Nebo, and BelMasSon).
This family [was relocated] to the east and lived along the edge of the desert near the EuPhrates River.
But, back in the land of GileAd, they had owned many cattle.
And during the time of Saul, they were known to attack and kill travelers from their tents that were located to the east of GileAd.
The territory of the sons of Gad bordered theirs, which ran from the land of BaShan to SelCha.
JoEl was his firstborn, then ShaPham and JaNin (who was the scribe in BaShan).
The 7 heads of their family lines were MichaEl, MosolLam, SebeE, JoReE, JoAchan, ZouE, and Heber.
They were the sons of AbiChiJah, who was the son of Ouri, who was the son of JaRoAh, who was the son of GileAd, who was the son of MichaEl, who was the son of JeSai, who was the son of JedDai, who was the son of ZabouCham,who was the son of AbDiEl, who was the son of GoUni, the head of the house of those family lines.
They lived in the towns all around GileAd in the land of BaShan and in places all the way to the end of ShaRon.
However, they were relocated in the days of JoTham the king of Judah and JeroBoam the king of IsraEl.
The sons of ReuBen, Gad, and the half-tribe of ManasSeh [had taken their land] with their army of trained swordsmen and bowmen…
44,760 men, who were fully prepared for battle.
They went to war with the Hagareans, Itoureans, NaphiSeans, and NaDabeans,and beat them.
The Hagareans were all given into their hands, along with their tents, because, during the battle they called out to God – putting their hope in Him – and He listened to them.
So they captured all their belongings… 5,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 burros, and the lives of 100,000 men.
That many were killed, because God was fighting the war.
So, they lived in their land until they were relocated.
The large half-tribe of ManasSeh lived in the land that ran from BaShan, to BaAl HerMon, to SenIr, to Mount HerMon, and into Lebanon.
Here are the heads of their family lines:
Opher, Sei, EliEl, JeremiJah, OdouJah, and JediEl.
They were all great, mighty, and famous men… the heads of their family lines.
However, they annulled their allegiance with the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves with the gods of the peoples of the land that God had removed from before them.
So, the God of IsraEl caused the spirit of Pul, the king of Assyria (who was also known as Tiglath-Pileser), to become enraged with them.
So, he sent 50,000 men and they relocated [the tribes of] ReuBen, Gad, and the half-tribe of ManasSeh.
He moved them to Chalak and Mabor along the Gozan River, where they still are today.
The sons of Levi were GedSon, KoHath, and MeraRi.
KoHath’s sons were AmBram, IsSaAr, HebRon, and OziEl.
AmBram’s sons were Aaron, Moses, and their sister MiriAm.
Aaron’s sons were NaDab, AbiHu, EliEzer, and IthaMar.
EliEzer fathered PhiNehas, PhiNehas fathered AbiSou;
AbiSou fathered BokAi; BokAi fathered Ozi;
Ozi fathered ZariJah; ZariJah fathered MariOth;
MariOth fathered AmariJah; AmariJah fathered AhiTub;
AhiTub fathered ZaDok; ZaDok fathered AchimaAs;
AchimaAs fathered AzarYan; AzarYan fathered JoHanan;
JoHanan fathered AzariJah (who was the Priest in the Temple that Solomon built in JeruSalem);
AzariJah fathered AmariJah; AmariJah fathered AhiTub;
AhiTub fathered ZaDok;
ZaDok fathered SelLum;
SelLum fathered HelkiJah;
HelkiJah fathered AzariJah;
AzariJah fathered SaraiJah;
SaraiJah fathered JoSadak;
And JoSadak was carried off when Judah and JeruSalem were relocated to Babylon by NebuChadnezzar.
The sons of Levi were GedSon, KoHath, and MeraRi.
The names of the sons of GedSon were LoBeni and ShiMei.
The sons of KoHath were AmBram, IsSaAr, HebRon, and OziEl.
And the sons of MeraRi were MoOli and OmoUsi.
These are the descendants of Levi by their families:
GedSon’s son was LoBeni; his son was Jeth; his son was SamMa; his sonwas JoAb; his son was AdDo; his son was ZaRa; and his son was JethRi.
The descendants of KoHath were AmiNadab; his son Kor; his son Aser; his sonElKana; his son AbiSaph, his son Aser; his sonThaAth; his son OureEl; and his son OziJa.
The sons of ElKana were AmaSi, AchimOth,and SoUphi.
[SoUphi’s] son was NaAth; his sonwas EliAb; his son was JereAm; his son was ElKana; and his son was SamuEl.
These are the sons of SamuEl:
His firstborn was JoEl and his 2nd was AbiJah.
The sons of MeraRi were MoOli and LoBeni.
His son was ShiMei; his son was OziJah; his sonwas SamaAh; his son was AgGiJah; and his son was AsaiJah.
These are the ones whom David put in charge of the chorus that sang at the Temple of Jehovah when the [Sacred] Chest was brought there.
They were also the ones that officiated at the Tent of Proofs until Solomon built the Temple of Jehovah in JeruSalem, and they each handled their own assigned duties.
And these are the ones that served there and their [assistants]:
From the sons of KoHath there was HeMan, who was the lead singer.
He was the son of JoEl, who was the son of SamuEl,who was the son of ElKana, who was the son of JerEbam, who was the son of EliEl, who was the son of Thou,who was the son of SoUph, who was the son of ElKana, who was the son of MaAth, who was the son of AmaThi,who was the son of ElKana, who was the son of JoEl, who was the son of AzariJa, who was the son of SaphaniJah,who was the son of ThaAth, who was the son of Aser, who was the son of AbiAsaph, who was the son of KorAh,who was the son of IsaAr, who was the son of KoHath, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of IsraEl.
His assistant was Asaph, (who stood on his right) who was the son of BarachiJah, who was the son of SamaAh,the son of MichaEl, the son of BaAsiJah, the son of MelchiJah,the son of Athani, the son of ZarAi, the son of AdAi,the son of Ethan, the son of ZemMa, the son of ShiMei,the son of JeEth, the son of GerShon, the son of Levi.
The assistant of MeraRi (the one who stood on his left) was Ethan, who was the son of Kisa, the son of AbDi, the son of MaOch,the son of AsEbi,the son of AmasiJah, the son of HelkiJah, the son of AmasiJah, the son of Bani, the son of Semer,the son of MoOli, the son of MoUsi, the son of MeraRi, the son of Levi.
And these were their brothers that were assigned responsibilities over the Tent and the Temple of God by Levite family lines:
There was Aaron and his sons that offered whole burnt offerings on the Altar and burned incense on the incense Altar, working inside the Holy of Holies to atone for [the sins] of IsraEl, just as God’s servant Moses had instructed them.
These are the sons of Aaron:
EliEzer, his son PhiNehas, his son AbiSou, his sonBokAi, his son Ozi, his son ZaraiJah, his sonMariOth, his son AmariJah, his son AhiTub, his sonZaDok, and his son AchimaAs.
These are the places where the sons of Aaron that descended from KoHath lived, by towns and borders, which were assigned by a lottery:
They were given towns in the land of Judah that surrounded HebRon.
However, the cities themselves and their fields were given to Caleb (the son of JePhonNe).
The sons of Aaron were also given the refuge cities of HebRon, LobNa and its outskirts, SelNa and its outskirts, EsThamo and its outskirts,JeThar and its outskirts, DabIr and its outskirts,Asan and its outskirts, and BasaMus and its outskirts.
Then in the tribe of BenJamin there was GabaE and its outskirts, GalemEth and its outskirts, and AnathOth and its outskirts.
These 13 cities were assigned to their families.
The rest of the family of KoHath was assigned 10 cities in the half-tribe of ManasSeh by lottery,and the descendants of GedSon were assigned 13 cities in the tribes of IsSachar, Asher, NaphTali, and ManasSeh (in BaShan).
The descendants of MeraRi were assigned 12 cities (by lottery) in the tribes of ReuBen, Gad, and ZebuLun.
In addition, the sons of IsraEl gave cities along their borders to the rest of the Levites.
They assigned them by lottery in the tribes of the sons of Judah, SimeOn, and BenJamin.
The descendants of KoHath were given cities and refuge cities along the borders of Ephraim,in and around SheChem, in the hills of Ephraim, in and around GaZer,in and around JekmaAn, in and around BethOron,in and around AiLon, and in and around GethRemMon.
The half-tribe of ManasSeh gave Anar and its outskirts as well as JemblaAn and its outskirts to the rest of the descendants of KoHath.
They also gave Golan in BaShan and its outskirts and AstarOth and its outskirts to the rest of the descendants of GedSon.
The tribe of IsSachar gave them KaDesh and its outskirts, DaBor and its outskirts,RamOth and its surrounding towns, and AiNan and its outskirts.
The tribe of Asher gave them MaAsal and its outskirts, AbDon and its outskirts,Akak and its outskirts, and RoOb and its outskirts.
The tribe of NaphTali gave them KaDesh in GaliLee and its outskirts, HamOth and its outskirts, and KiriAth JaiRim and its outskirts.
The tribe of ZebuLun gave RemMon and its outskirts and ThalLia and its outskirts to the remaining descendants of MeraRi.
On the other side of the JorDan, from JeriCho to the east of the JorDan, the tribe of ReuBen gave them Bosor (in the desert) and its outskirts, Jasa and its outskirts,KadMoth and its outskirts, and MaEphla and its outskirts.
The tribe of Gad gave them RamOth GileAd and its outskirts, MaAnaim and its outskirts,HeshBon and its outskirts, and JaZer and its outskirts.
The 4 sons of IsSachar were Thola, Phua, JasoUb, and SomBran.
The sons of Thola were Ozi, RaphiJah, JeriEl, JaMai, JeBasam, and SamuEl, who were each rulers of their houses and family lines.
Thola’s descendants were renowned for their greatness and strength through their generations.
And during the time of David, their [army] was numbered at 22,600.
The 5 sons of Ozi were JezRaiJah, MichaEl, AbDiOu, JoEl, and JesiJah, who were all rulers.
Each generation, as well as their houses and families, were renowned warriors.
For [they were once] numbered at 36,000, because they had many women and many sons.
In fact, there were 87,000 mighty men listed in the genealogy of their family line.
The 3 sons of BenJamin were Bale, BachIr, and JaDiEl.
Bale’s 5 sons were AsEbon, Ozi, OziEl, JeriMoth, and Ouri, who were all the rulers of their houses and family lines.
They were also mighty warriors, for in their genealogy there are 22,034 listed.
The sons of BachIr were ZemirAh, JoAs, EliEzer, ElioEnai, AmariJah, JeriMoth, AbiJah, AnathOth, and ElMemeth.
According to their genealogies, these were the rulers of their houses and family lines, among whom 20,200 are listed as mighty warriors.
The son of JadiEl was BalaAn, and his sons were JaOus, BenJamin, AOth, ChenaAnah, ZaiThan, Tharsi, and AchiSaAr.
All these sons of JadiEl were rulers of their families, and 17,200 are listed as mighty warriors.
They include Saphin, Aphin, and the sons of RaOm… especially his son Aer.
The sons of NaphTali through BalaA were JasiEl, Goni, IsSaEr, and SalLour.
The sons of ManasSeh were AseriEl (who was born through ManasSeh’s Syrian concubine) and MachIr, who was the father of GileAd.
MachIr took women [for GileAd] from among the Amphin and Mamphin, who were sisters.
One was named MoOcha, and the second was SalpaAd.
Now, SalpaAd only had daughters,but MoOcha provided MachIr [a male heir] named Perez, and another that was named Soros.
His sons were OuLam and Rokom;and OuLam had a son named Badan.
These were all the descendants of GileAd (the son of MachIr and grandson of ManasSeh).
[GileAd] also had sisters.
The one named MalechEth gave birth to IsAdek, AbiEzer, and MaEla.
And the sons of SemiRa were JaAim, SheChem, Lachim, and AniAn.
The sons of Ephraim were SothAla, BarAd, ThaAth, EliaAda, NomeE,Zabed, and SothEle.
Then he had two sons named Azer and EliaAd, who were killed by the men of Gath (the natives of the land) because they tried to take their cattle.
So, Ephraim (their father) mourned for them a very long time, and their brothers came to comfort him.
Then he [had sex with] his woman and she got pregnant and gave birth to a son whom he named BarAga (Son of Trouble), because of the bad things that had happened to his houseand to those that were left.
Then he built Upper and Lower BethOron, Ozan, and SeEra.
[Thereafter, he had a son] named Raphe, who had sons named Saraph and ThaleEs.
ThaleEs had a son named ThaEn, who had a sonnamed LaDan.
His son was AmiOud; his son was EliSamAi; his sonwas NoUm; and his son was JesOue.
They lived in and owned BethEl and its surrounding villages, the villages east of NoAran and to the west of GaZer, as well as SheChem and its villages and all the villages up to Mount An.
The borders of the sons of ManasSeh included BethSaAn and its villages, ThaAnak and its villages, MegidDo and its villages, and Dor and its villages.
These are the places where the descendants of JoSeph through ManasSeh lived.
The sons of Asher were JemNa, SouYa, IsoWi, and BeriJah… and SoRe was their sister.
The sons of BeriJah were Chaber and MelchiEl, who was the father of BerZaith.
Chaber was the father of JaPhlet, Samer, Chotham, and their sister Sola.
JaPhlet’s sons were Phasek, BamaEl, and Asith.
Samer’s sons were Achir, Rouga, Oba, and Aram.
The sons of his brother ([who was also known as] Bane ElAm) were SoPha, YamNa, SelLes, and Amal.
The sons of SoPha were SoWeh, ArnaPhar, SoUda, BarIn, ImRan,Basar, JeoUd, SemMa, SaliSa, JethRan, and BeEra.
The sons of JethRan were JePhina, PhasPha, and Ara.
The sons of Oba were Orek, AniEl, and RasJa.
These were all descendants of Asher, and they were each rulers of their family lines.
They were the best of their kind; strong, mighty men that were leaders and rulers, and whose line of descent can be traced through war records… all 26,000 of them.
BenJamin fathered Baleh (his firstborn), then AsBel (his 2nd), Ara (his 3rd),Noa (his 4th), and RaPheh (his 5th).
The sons of Baleh were Adir, Gera, AbiHud,AbiShua, NoAma, AchiJah,Gera, SephouPham, and OuRam.
These are the sons of Ehud that were the family heads that lived in GabeE, but were relocated to ManaHath:
NaAman, AchiA, Gera, JeglaAm (who fathered Aza and AhiHud),and SaArin (who fathered children in the plains of MoAb after he sent his women Osin and BaAda away).
Through his woman Ada, he fathered Jobab, SebJa, Misa, MelCham,JoAs, SekiJah, and Marma.
These were his sons and the heads of their families.
But through Osin, he fathered AbiTol and AlphaAl.
AlphaAl’s sons were Obed, MisaAl, SemMer (who built Ono, Lod, and their surrounding villages),BeriJah, and Sama.
These were the family heads of the people that lived in AiLam and who drove out the people that lived in Gath.
They were related to SoSel, JeriMoth,ZabadiJa, Ored, Eder,MichaEl, JesPha, and Joda (who were the sons of BeriJah),and to ZabadJa, MosoLam, Azaki, Abar,IsAlmari, JezliAs, and Jobab (the sons of ElPhaAl),and to JaKim, ZachRi, ZabDi,EliOnai, SalaThi, EliEl,AdaiJah, BaraiJah, and SamarAth (who were the sons of ShiMei),and to JesPhan, Obed, EleEl,AbDon, ZechRi, Hanan,HananiJah, Ambri, AiLam, AnathOth,JephadiJah, and PhanouEl (who were the sons of SoSek),and to SamSari, SaAriJah, GotholiJa,JarasiJah, EriJah, and ZechRi (who were the sons of JeroHam).
These are the heads of their families and their generations… the chiefs that lived in JeruSalem.
The woman of JeEl (who was the founder of [the city of] GibeOn) was MaAcha.
His firstborn son was AbaDon, then SoUr, Kish, BaAl, Ner, NaDab,GedoUr, ZakChoUr,and MakelOth (who was the father of SamaiJah).
They all lived around their families in JeruSalem.
Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered JoNathan, MelchiShua, AmiNadab, and AsaBal.
JoNathan’s son was MeriBaAl, MeriBaAl’s son was Mi Chah,and MiChah’s sons were PhiThon, MelAk, TharAk, and Ahaz.
Ahaz fathered JaDa, and JaDa fathered SalaiMath, AsMoth, and ZamBri. ZamBri fathered MaiSa,and MaiSa fathered BaAna and RaphaiJah. His son was ElAsa, and his son was EsEl.
EsEl had 6 sons:
EzriKam (his firstborn), IsMaEl, SaraiJah, AbDiA, Hanan, and Asa… these were all the sons of EsEl.
And the sons of EsEl’s brother EshEck were Ulam (his firstborn), Jas (his 2nd), and EliPhalet (his 3rd).
These were the strong and mighty bowmen of AiLam who produced 150 sons.
And these were all the sons of BenJamin.
IsraEl can trace its genealogy because {Look!} it’s all written in the scrolls of the kings of IsraEl.
However, [the people of] Judah were among those that were resettled in Babylon because they sinned by breaking their Sacred Agreement [with God].
But in the land that they owned prior to that, as well as in the cities of IsraEl, there were the Priests and Levites that were in charge of everything.
In JeruSalem there were mostly Judeans, along with some sons of BenJamin and some of the descendants of Ephraim and ManasSeh.
There was also UthAi the son of SamMiHud, who was the son of OmRi, the son of BuNi, the son of Perez, the son of Judah.
ShiLoh and his firstborn son AsaiJah and his family lived in JeruSalem too,as did JeEl (the son of ZaRa) and 690 of that family line.
Among the descendants of BenJamin there was Salo, who was the son of MosolLam, the son of HoDaviJah, the son of SanaAn andJebNa, who was the son of JeroBoam and Elo.
There were also the sons of Ozi (who was the son of MachIr and MosolLam, the son of SaphatJa, the son of RagouEl, the son of JemNai)and several generations of their relatives, numbering 956 in all.
All the men were the heads of their family lines and houses.
Then there were the Priests, JehoiAda, JoArim, JaChin,and AzariJah (who was the son of HelkiJah, the son of MosSolLam, the son of ZaDok, the son of MaraiOth, the son of AhiTub), who was the leader in the Temple of God.
Then there was AdaiJa (the son of JeroAm, the son of PhasChor, the son of MelchiJah) and MaAsaJa (the son AdiEl, the son of EziRa, the son of MosolLam, the son of MaselMoth, the son of EmMer)and their families.
There were 1,760 strong and mighty men that were the heads of their family lines and houses, and that worked at and oversaw everything in the Temple of God.
Among the Levites there was SamaiJah (the son of Asob, the son of EzriKam, the son of AsAbiJah) from the family line of MeraRi.
And there was BakBakar, Ares, GalaAl, and MatThaniJah, who were the sons of Micha (the son of ZechRi, the son of Asaph),and ObadiJah (the son of SamiJah, the son of GalaAl, the son of IdiThoun) and BarachiJah (the son of OsSa, the son of ElKana), who lived in the courtyards of the NetoPhathites.
Then there were the gatekeepers:
Salom, AkoUm, TelMon, and AiMan, and their families.
Salom was in chargeof everything to the eastern King’s Gate.
The gatekeepers for the camps of the sons of Levi wereSalom (the son of KorAh, the son of AbiAsaph, the son of SoRe) and his brothers of the paternal houses of the Korites.
They were in charge of the work and administration of the watches for guarding the Sacred Tent, because their ancestors were once in charge of the entire camp of Jehovah, and they served as the guards to its entrances.
Back then, PhineHas (the son of EliEzer) stood as their leader before Jehovah,and ZachariJah (the son of MasaLami) was in charge of guarding the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.
Altogether, those that were chosen as gatekeepers to stand at the entrances were numbered at 212.
The records of their genealogies and properties were all counted and established by the trusted offices of David and the Seer SamuEl.
Now, it was their sons that were in charge of the doors and that kept watch at the Temple of Jehovah and the house of the Tent.
These gatekeepers were stationed as the four winds… in the east, west, north, and south.
And their brothers had to leave their homes in shifts every 7 weeks and spend 7 days there.
There were 4 mighty men that were in charge of the gatekeepers.
They were Levites, and they were over everything, including the treasury of the Temple of God. For this reason, they lived close to the Temple.
Their watch responsibility was to use the keys both morning and evening to unlock and lock the Temple doors.
They were also responsible for the things that were used in the services.
They had to count everything when it was taken out and when it was returned.
Also, some of them were over the equipment and holy things, such as the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the aromatics.
In addition, some of the Priests’ sons were perfumers [who mixed] the fragrant [oils and incense].
The Levite MatTathiJah was the firstborn of Salom the Korite.
He was entrusted with the work that had to do with the sacrifices of the pan of the High Priest.
BenaiJah the KoHathite was selected from among his brothers to be in charge of the loaves of showbread, which had to be prepared for each Sabbath.
When it came to the singers;
The heads of the Levite families were in charge at the central place of worship.
They worked on a daily rotation basis all day and all night long to get everything done.
So, through the generations, the heads of the families of Levites lived in JeruSalem.
The founder of GibeOn (JeEl) lived in the town of GibeOn.
His woman’s name was MaAcha.
His firstborn son was AbaDon, then SoUr, then Kish, then BaAl, then Ner, then NaDab,then GedoUr and his brothers ZakChour and MakelOth.
MakelOth fathered SamaAh, and he and his family lived together in JeruSalem.
Ner fathered Kish, then Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered JoNathan, MelchiShua, AmiNadab, and AsBal.
The son of JoNathan was MeriBaAl, and MeriBaAl fathered MicAh.
The sons of MicAh were PhiThon, MelchiEl, Tharach,and Ahaz, who fathered JaDa. JaDa then fathered GaleMeth, AzMoth, and ZamBri. ZamBri fathered Masa,and Masa fathered BaAna and RaphaJah, whose son was ElAsa, and his son was EsEl.
EsEl had 6 sons:
EzriKam (his firstborn), then IshMaEl, SaraiJah, AbdJah, Hanan, and Asa.
These were the sons of EsEl.
Back then, the Philistines were fighting a war against IsraEl and the army of IsraEl was losing, so they turned and ran from the Philistines at Mount GilBoa.
Then the Philistines started chasing Saul and his sons, and they caught and killed Saul’s sons JoNathan, AmiNadab, and MelchiShua.
And thereafter, they pressed on in the battle to reach Saul.
Then their archers found him and shot him, leaving him in great pain.
As the result, Saul said to the aid that was carrying his weapons:
‘Unsheathe your broadsword and stab me with it so these uncircumcised don’t come here and make sport of me!’
But his aid didn’t want to do that because he was afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.
And when the man that was carrying his weapons saw that Saul had killed himself, he too fell on his sword and died.
So, Saul and his three sons all died that day, and that was the end of his house.
Then, when the men of IsraEl that had run into the valley heard that Saul and his sons had been killed, they all just ran back to their homes.
So the Philistines then came and lived among them.
Well, on the day following the battle when the Philistines came to loot the bodies, they found Saul and his sons dead on Mount GilBoa.
So, they stripped his body and carried his head and weapons back into the land of the Philistines, where it was joyfully paraded before the temples of their idols and their people.
Then they put his weapons in the temple of their god and they carried his head and put it into the temple of Dagon.
But when the men of JabIsh GileAd heard what the Philistines had done to Saul and his sons, and to IsraEl,all their great warriors went and took the body of Saul and his sons and brought them back to JaBish.
Then they took their bones and placed them in a tomb that was located under an oak tree in JaBish, whereupon they fasted for the next 7 days.
So, Saul was killed because of the lawless ways in which he had acted against his God.
For he had gone against the instructions of Jehovah and he didn’t do what he was told.
Saul also went to a fortuneteller to speak to the Prophet SamuEl;
So, because he failed to ask Jehovah, he was killed and his kingdom was handed over to David, the son of JesSe.
Then all the men of [the army of] IsraEl came to David at HebRon and said,
‘Look! We’re your own flesh and bones.
Though Saul used to be our king, you were the one that led the armies of IsraEl, and your God Jehovah said to you,
You will take care of My people IsraEl and you will be their leader.’
And after that, all the elders of IsraEl came to him at HebRon and made an agreement with King David before Jehovah, and they anointed him to be the king over IsraEl, just as Jehovah had said through the Prophet SamuEl.
Then King David and [the whole army of] IsraEl marched on JeruSalem (which was called Jebus).
And the Jebusites that lived there said to David:
‘You won’t come in here.’
However, he was the first to capture the citadel on Zion, so it became known as the city of David.
Back then, David had said:
‘Whoever is the first to beat the Jebusites will become my commander-in-chief and the general [over my army].’
And the one who did that was JoAb (the son of ZeruJah);
So, he was appointed to be the commander-in-chief.
Thereafter, David stayed there and took up residence in the citadel, and he started calling it his city;
For he had built a siege-wall around the entire city and captured it.
And from that point on, David kept getting greater and more famous, because Jehovah the Almighty was with him.
These are the leaders and the mighty ones that were with David and that became great along with him when he ruled over all IsraEl, because they were the ones that made him the king over all IsraEl, just as Jehovah had said:
Counted among the mighty ones of David was JeseBaAl (the son of AchaMani), who was the first of the 30, because he once used his broadsword to kill 300 men all by himself.
And with him was EliEzer (the son of DodAi the AchoChite).
He was one [of David’s] three greatest men,for he was with David at PhasoDomin when the Philistines had gathered for war in a field full of barley.
And when [the rest of the army] turned and ran from the Philistines,he stood there alone in the middle of the field and saved them by killing [all of] the Philistines… for Jehovah used him to bring a great victory.
He was also one of the three (from among the 30 generals) who went to David when he was at The Rock at the Cave of OdolLam, which was right in the midst of the camp of the Philistines, there in the valley of the giants.David was in the citadel and all the Philistines were in BethLehemwhen David asked,
‘Who will bring me a drink of water from the well at the entrance to BethLehem?’
And it was these three men that attacked the Philistines, drew water from the well at the entrance to BethLehem, and brought it to David.
But then, David refused to drink it. Rather, he offered it to Jehovah, saying,
‘It was because of Your kindness to me, O God, that they have done this thing.
So, shall I now drink the blood of these men… something for which [they offered] their lives?
Why, they risked their lives to bring it to me, so I don’t want to drink it.’
Yes, it was these three mighty men that did these things.
There was also AbiShai, the brother of JoAb.
He was one of those three generals, and he had unsheathed his broadsword and killed 300 men all by himself.
In fact, he was the most famous of the 3and he was also the most honored, so he became their leader.
Then there was the mighty man BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda).
He was the one who accomplished many great things at KaBasaEl, for it was there that he killed the two lion-like soldiers of MoAb;
It was there that he went down into a pit and killed a lion there on a snowy day;
And he also killed the remarkable Egyptian man that stood more than 7 feet (2.13m) tall and carried a spear that was as large as a weaving loom… BenaiJah went and grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hands and killed him with it.
These are the types of things that BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) did, and that’s why his name is listed among the three mighty ones.
But though he was considered the greatest among the 30, he wasn’t one of the three [generals], because David had put him in charge of his family.
Also counted among the powerful mighty ones were AsahEl (JoAb’s other brother), EliHanan (the son of DoDoe) the BethLehemite,SamMoth the Arorite, HelLes the Phelonite,Ora (the son of EkKish) the Thekoite, AbiEzer the AnathOthite,SoboChai the Asothite, Eli the Achonite,MoorAi the NetoPhathite, ChoLod (the son of NoOza) the NetoPhathite,AiRi (the son of RebiE) from the hills of BenJamin, BenaiJah the PhaRathonite,Ouri from Nachali-GaAs, AbiEl the Arabethite,AzBon the Baromite, EliAba the SaLobonite,BenAsam the Gizonite, JoNathan (the son of Sola) the Ararite,Achim (the son of Achar) the Ararite, ElPhat (the son of ThuroPhar)the Mechorathite, AhiJah the PhelLonite,EseRe the Charmadite, NaArai (the son of AzobAi),JoEl (Nathan’s brother), MeBaAl (the son of Agari),SelLek the AmMonite, Nachor the BerOthite (who carried the weapons for JoAb, the son of ZeruJah),Ira the Jethrite, Gareb the Jethrite,UriJah the Hittite, Sabet (the son of AchaJa),and AdiNa (the son of SaIZa), the head of the ReuBenites.
And with the 30 wereHanan (the son of MoOcha), JoShaphat the Mathnite,OziJa the AstarOthite, SamMa and JeiEl (the sons of HoTham) the Ararites,JediEl (the son of Sameri), JoZae and his brother (the ThosSaites),EliEl the Maoite, JaRibi, JosiJa and his son ElLam, JethAma the Moabite,DaliEl, Obed, and JesSiEl the Mesobite.
These are the men that came to David at ZikLag as part of his band to [protect him from] Saul (the son of Kish).
They are among the mighty ones that helped in his battles…bowmen that could shoot with both their right and left hands, and that slung rocks and shot with their bows at the followers of the BenJaminite Saul:
There was AhiEzer (their leader), JoAsh (the son of Asma) the Gabathite, JoEl and JoPhalet (the sons of AsMoth), BarachiJah, Jehu the AnathOthite,and SamaYas the GibeOnite… they were the mightiest among the 30 and they were the leaders.
Then there was JeremiJah, JeziEl, JoHanan, JoZabath the Gederathite,EliOzi, JarimoUth, BaAlJah, SamariAi, SaphatiJah the Haruphite,ElKana, JesiJah, OzriEl, JoZara, SoboKam, and the KoritesJoEla and ZabadJa (the sons of JeroHam), and the sons of Gedor.
These men came to David from the tribe of Gad when he was in the desert.
They were great mighty men that all stood in battle lines dressed for war carrying shields and spears with faces like lions.
They also moved as quickly as light does on the mountains:
There was Azer (who was their leader), AbDiJah (who was second in command), EliAb (the 3rd),MasMana (the 4th), JeremiJah (the 5th),Jethi (the 6th), EliAb (the 7th),JoHanan (the 8th), EliAzer (the 9th),JeremiJah (the 10th), and MachaBanai (the 11th).
These were all from the tribe of Gad, and they were all generals over the army… some over hundreds and 1 over 1,000.
They all crossed the JorDan during the 1st month when it was at its highest level and drove away all the people that lived in the valleys from the east to the west.
Some also came from the tribes of BenJamin and Judah to help David.
And when David came to meet them, he said to them:
‘If you’ve come to me in peace, may we share the same heart.
But if you’ve come to hand me over to my enemies; may the God of your fathers discipline you.’
Well at that, [God’s] Breath came over AmasAi (the leader of the 30), and he said:
‘Go on, O David, son of JesSe…
For you and your people, may there be peace!
Yes, may there be peace for you and your helpers,
And on your God, who is sending you aid.’
So David welcomed him and appointed him as a general in his army.
Men from the tribe of ManasSeh also joined with David back when the Philistines attacked Saul.
David didn’t join with the Philistines, because the Philistine generals said,
‘He’ll just go back over to to his lord, Saul.’
So they sent him away, and David returned to ZikLag… and that’s when some from the tribe of ManasSeh joined him.
There was EdNah, JoZabath, RodiEl, MichaEl, JosaBeth, Eliu, and Selathi… generals over thousands from ManasSeh.
They and their troops fought alongside David, and they were all strong, mighty men and leaders of their armies.
They came and fought for David every day like a great force from God.
And these are the names of the military generals that came to David in HebRon to fight Saul for his kingdom (following the words of Jehovah):
From the tribe of Judah there were 6,800 men, all bearing shields and spears, and ready for battle.
From the tribe of SimeOn there were 7,100 mighty men that were ready for battle.
From the tribe of Levi there were 4,600.
And when JehoiAda (the head of the family line of Aaron) came to meet with him, he brought along 3,700 more men.
Then there was ZaDok, who was a strong and mighty young man.
He brought along 22 leaders from his father’s household.
And from the tribe of BenJamin (Saul’s tribe) there were 3,000 men;
Yet, most of them were guards in the house of Saul.
And from the tribe of Ephraim there were 20,800 strong, mighty, and famous men of their houses and family lines.
And from the half-tribe of ManasSeh there were 18,000, all of whom had sworn to make David the king.
And from the tribe of IsSachar came 200 men with their [armies] that understood the times and knew what IsraEl should do.
And from [the tribe of] ZebuLon came 50,000 men all dressed for war and carrying their weapons to help David (but not very wholeheartedly).
And from [the tribe of] NaphTali came 1,000 leaders with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.
And from [the tribe of] Dan came 28,800 men all ready for war.
And from [the tribe of] Asher came 40,600 to help in the war.
And from the other side of the JorDan (from the tribes of ReuBen, Gad, and the half-tribe of ManasSeh) came 120,000, all carrying their weapons of war.
All these men were warriors that were dressed and ready for battle, but peaceful in heart.
They came to HebRon to make David the king over all IsraEl.
And the rest of IsraEl was of the same heart when it came to making David their king.
Then they all stayed with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers were providing for them.
Those of IsSachar, ZebuLun, and NaphTali that lived nearby loaded up their camels, burros, mules, and oxen, and brought them huge quantities of food…
Flour, dried figs, raisins, wine, olive oil, veal, and lamb, because everyone in IsraEl was very happy.
Well after that, David met with his generals, lieutenants, and all the leaders.
Then he went before the entire gathering of IsraEl and said:
‘If you approve, and if our God Jehovah blesses the effort, we should send [a letter] to all our brothers that are left throughout the land of IsraEl, and to the Priests and Levites in their cities, and invite them all to gather with us here.
And after that, we will bring the [Sacred] Chest of our God to us, for no one has gone before it since the days of Saul.’
Well, the entire gathering agreed to this, for in the eyes of the people it seemed to be the right thing to do.
So David called all IsraEl from the borders of Egypt to the land of HamAth to gather there, and he had the Chest of God transported from the town of JaiRim.
And from there, all IsraEl traveled up to the city of David in Judah to lead [a procession before] the Chest of Jehovah God…
The one with the cherubs sitting on top that was used to call on His Name.
So they then placed the Chest of God on a new wagon and carried it from the house of AmiNadab. Oza and his brothers walked in front of the wagon,as David and all IsraEl sang and danced before God with all their might…
There were singers, stringed instruments, woodwinds, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
But, as they were carrying [the Chest] up to a threshing floor, Oza stuck out his hand to steady the Chest (because one of the oxen [pulling the wagon] had bolted),and the Lord became enraged with Oza for doing this.
So He struck him down for touching the Chest; and he died there before God.
Well, David was so upset over Jehovah cutting Oza down that he named the place,
‘The Severance of Oza,’
which is what it is still called today.
And from that day on, David became afraid of The God; for he asked:
‘Then, how can I carry the Chest of God to me?’
So David didn’t go back to carry the Chest of God to himself into the city of David.
Rather, he left it in the house of ObedEdom the GitTite,where it remained for the next three months.
And during this time, God blessed ObedEdom and his entire household.
After that, HiRam (the king of Tyre) sent emissaries to David, along with cedar wood, tradesmen, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.
David knew that Jehovah had prepared him to be the king over IsraEl, and that He would make his kingdom become more important because of His people, IsraEl.
Then after David moved to JeruSalem, he started taking more women and he had many more sons and daughters.
These are their names:
Those that were born in JeruSalem were SamaAh, SoBab, Nathan, Solomon,IbaAr, EliSae, EliPalet,NaGeth, NaPhag, JaPhie,EliShama, BaAlJada, and EliPhalet.
Well, when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king over all IsraEl, their [entire army] came looking for him, and David went out to face them.
So the Philistines assembled for battle in the Valley of the Giants.
Therefore, David went before God and asked,
‘Should I go and fight the Philistines; and if so, will You give them into my hands?’
And Jehovah replied:
‘Go, and I will give them into your hands!’
So he marched to BaAl PharaSin and attacked them there.
Then after [the battle], David said:
‘God used my hand to cut through my enemies like cutting through water.’
So he named that place,
‘The Severance of PharaSin.’
For the Philistines just ran away, leaving [the images] of their gods lying there, and David [told his men to] burn them in a fire.
Then [David] marched after the Philistines and found them in the Valley of the Giants.
So, David once again asked God what he should do, and [this time] God replied:
‘Don’t go after them! Turn away and wait for them near the pear trees.
Then when you hear the sound of rumbling from the tops of the pear trees, attack them, for [that will be the sound of] God going ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines.’
So David did exactly as God told him, and he thereafter kept on attacking the Philistine camps all the way from GibeOn to GeZer.
And very soon, the name of David became known throughout the land; for Jehovah had put the fear of him upon all the surrounding nations.
Well after that, he did quite a bit of building in the city of David.
He also prepared a place for the Chest of God there, and he had a Tent built for it.
Then David said,
‘No one is to handle the Chest of God other than the Levites, because Jehovah has chosen them for that purpose… to carry it and to officiate before Him through the ages.’
So David then gathered all IsraEl to JeruSalem, and he arranged for the Chest of Jehovah to be carried and put into the place that he had built for it.
And thereafter, he collected the descendants of Aaron and the Levites.
OuriEl was the leader from the line of KoHath, and there were 120 with him.
AsaiJa was the leader from the line of MeraRi, and there were 220 with him.
JoEl was the leader of the line of GerShon, and there were 130 with him.
Shemei was the leader of the line of EliSaphan, and there were 200 with him.
EliEl was the leader of the line of HebRon, and there were 80 with him.
AmiNadab was the leader of the line of OziEl, and there were 112 with him.
So David called the Priests (ZaDok and AbiAthar) and the Levites (OuriEl, AsaiJah, JoEl, Shemei, EliEl, and AmiNadab)and said to them:
‘Since you are the heads of the families of the Levites, you must now purify yourselves and your brothers so you can carry the Chest of the God of IsraEl to the place that I’ve prepared for it.
The first time you tried to do this you weren’t ready, and that’s why The God came among us and cut through us…
For we didn’t ask Him exactly how we should do it.’
Then the Priests and the Levites purified themselves so they could carry the Chest of the God of IsraElexactly as God had instructed them through Moses and in the way that Moses wrote it should be done, using the staves to bear it.
David also instructed the heads of the Levites to assign singers and musicians from among their brothers to play stringed instruments, woodwinds, and cymbals so as to make loud and happy music.
Then the Levites appointed HeMan (the son of JoEl) from among his family, and Asaph (the son BarachiJah) from the line of MeraRi, as well as his [friend] Ethan (the son of KishaJah).
They met with them and also appointed others that were to be under them… ZachariJah, OziEl, SemiRamOth, JeiEl, EliOhel, EliAb, BenaiJah, MaAseJah, MatTathiJah, EliPhaliJah, MakeniJah, and ObedEdom.
They appointed JeiEl and OziAs to be in charge [of the Sacred Chest],and HeMan, Asaph, and Ethan to be in charge of the singers.
Those that were put in charge of the brass cymbals (to make sure that the music was loud) wereZachariJah, OziEl, SemiRamOth, JeiEl, Oni, EliAb, MasaiJah, and BenaiJah.
And those that were put in charge of the stringed instruments and the many types of woodwinds (so the music would be loud enough) were AlamOth,MatTathiJah, EliPhaliJah, MakeniJah, ObedEdom, JeiEl, and OziJah.
Then ChoNeniJah (the head of the Levites) was made the chief conductor of all the music, because he could orchestrate everything.
BarachiJah and ElKana were assigned to [carry] the [front end of the Sacred] Chest;
SobniJah, JoShaphat, NathaniEl, AmasiJah, ZachariJah, BaniJah, and EliEzer (the Priests) were assigned to blow the trumpets ahead of it;
And ObedEdom and JeiJah were [to carry] the back end.
Of course, David, the governors of IsraEl, and his generals were to lead the joyful parade as the Chest of God’s Sacred Agreement was carried from the house of ObedEdom.
And to be sure that God would empower them to carry the Chest of Jehovah, the [Priests] first sacrificed 7 calves and 7 rams.
So David [led the parade] dressed in fine linen, followed by the Levites who would bear the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah, followed by the singers, and then ChoneniJah, who led the musicians.
David was wrapped in a fine linen cape,and all IsraEl walked ahead of the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah cheering, blowing ram’s horns and trumpets, loudly beating on cymbals, and playing stringed instruments and harps.
Well, as the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah was entering the city of David, Michal (the daughter of Saul) was leaning over and watching from her window;
And when she saw King David dancing and acting like a child, she inwardly felt contempt for him.
So they carried the Chest of God and placed it in the middle of the tent that David had made for it.
Then they offered whole burnt offerings and a salvation offering before God.
And after David completed these offerings, he blest the people in the name of the Lord.
Then he gave every man and woman of IsraEl a freshly-baked loaf of bread and some honey bread.
Thereafter, he stood before the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah and he ordered the Levites to shout aloud and acknowledge and praise Jehovah the God of IsraEl.
Then Asaph (the orchestra conductor) and those under him (ZachariJah, JeiEl, SemiRamOth, MatTathiJah, EliAb, BenaiJah, ObedEdom, and JeiEl) led the stringed instruments and woodwinds while Asaph had them beat on the cymbals,and BenaiJah and OziEl (the Priests) blew the trumpets continuously before the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of God.
So, that was the day when David arranged for Asaph and his brothers to start praising Jehovah.
[For they shouted]:
‘Give praise to Jehovah!
Call on Him by His Name!
Tell the people of the things He has done!
Yes, sing praises to Him!
‘Describe all the wonders the Lord has performed…
Give praise to His Holy Name!
Make your hearts glad… seek His favor;
Seek the Lord and be strong!
‘Always search for His face!
Remember the wonderful things He has done…
The miracles and decisions that have come from His mouth,
O seed of IsraEl, His servants…
You sons of Jacob, His chosen.
‘He is Jehovah, our God!
His judgments have filled the whole earth!
Through the ages, remember His Sacred Agreement,
And the words that He had instructed
For thousands of generations to follow…
The things that He said to AbraHam,
And the oath that He spoke to IsaAc.
‘Then He established His Sacred Agreement
Through the ages with Jacob,
And He gave these orders to IsraEl:
I’ll give you CanaAn’s land as measured ground
To be your inheritance [through the ages].
Yet, at the time, they were few,
And [the nation] was growing much smaller.
‘But first, they had to travel on foot
As they passed from nation to nation…
Passing kingdoms of many foreign peoples.
But, He wouldn’t allow them to beat them,
And He disciplined their kings with these words:
You may not touch My anointed,
Nor may you be wicked to My Prophets!
‘So, may the whole earth sing to Jehovah
And proclaim His salvation each day!
Tell all the nations of His glory,
And all their peoples of His wonders!
‘For, Jehovah is great and worthy of praise…
He’s more to be feared than all other gods;
For the gods of the nations are just idols,
While the skies were made by Jehovah!
‘Stand before His face and give praise to His strength!
Boast of His Holy Place!
Give praise to Jehovah, you families of nations…
Praise the Lord’s glory and strength!
‘Glorify the Name of the Lord…
Before His Face, carry gifts.
In His courtyard, bow low to Jehovah!
‘Before His face, be in fear,
All you that live on the earth!
May our land become stronger before Him,
And may it never be shaken!
‘You heavens be glad, and earth cry in joy!
May all nations admit that Jehovah’s their king!
‘May the seas, and the sun, and the trees in the fields,
And all else, tremble before Him.
For, even the forests and trees in the fields
Find joy before the face of the Lord,
Who is the judge of the earth!
‘Acknowledge that Jehovah is good,
And His mercy lasts through the ages.
O God; Deliver and save us…
From the nations, please rescue and save us!
‘Give praise to His Holy Name…
Boast of the blessings He brings!
Praise Jehovah, IsraEl’s God,
Down through the age of the ages.’
Then all the people shouted, ‘Amen!’
And they started praising Jehovah.
So they left the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah there;
And thereafter, Asaph and his brothers served before the Chest continually, each day,along with ObedEdom and his family;
For ObedEdom (the son of IdiThoun) and Osa were the gatekeepers.
ZaDok the Priest and his fellow Priests [set up camp] in front of the Tent of Jehovah, which was located on the High Place of GibeOn.
And there they offered whole burnt offerings on the Altar to Jehovah continually, morning and evening, just as it was written in the Law of Jehovah and as it was given to the sons of IsraEl by the hand of Moses, God’s servant.
Those that assisted [the Priests] were HeMan, IdiThoun, and many others that were chosen by name to praise Jehovah through the ages for His mercy.
There were also the trumpeters, the cymbal players, and all the rest of the musicians that could play their instruments loudly in the songs [of praise] to God.
Then the sons of IdiThoun took their positions at the gates, as all the people returned to their homes,and David went back home to bless his family.
Then one day, as David was in his palace, he said to the Prophet Nathan:
‘Look; here I am living in a palace of cedars, while the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah is sitting under a tent of leather skins.’
And Nathan said to David:
‘Then do whatever is in your heart, because God is with you!’
But that night, the Word of Jehovah came to Nathan, saying,
‘Go and tell My servant David that this is what Jehovah has said:
You may not build a House for Me to stay in,for I haven’t stayed in a House from the day that I started leading IsraEl until now.
Rather, I’ve stayed in a tent protected by the covering.
So, in all the places that I’ve gone with IsraEl, did I ever ask any tribe of IsraEl or those whom I put in charge of taking care of My people why they didn’t build Me a House of cedars?
‘Therefore, tell My servant David that Jehovah the Almighty said this:
I took you out of the pastures where you followed the flocks to lead My people IsraEl, and I was with you wherever you went.
I destroyed all your enemies from before you, and I’ve made your name one of the greatest on the earth.
I’ve also made a place for My people IsraEl and I’ve planted them there.
So, though they must camp [separate from the nations], they will have nothing to fear, since no unrighteous person will humble them as has happened in the past.
For from the days that I first arranged for the Judges [to lead] My people IsraEl, I’ve been humbling all their enemies so that My [nation] would continue to grow.
‘However, a House will [eventually] be built for Jehovah;
But that will happen after you’ve lived a full life and gone to sleep with your ancestors.
For I will raise a seed after you that will come from your belly, and I will prepare his kingdom.
He will build a House for Me, and I’ll make his throne last through the ages.
I will be a father to him and he’ll be a son to Me, so My mercy will never be removed from him as I have removed it from those that preceded you.
I will entrust My House to him and to his kingdom through the ages, and his name will be [remembered] through the ages.’
Well, Nathan relayed everything in that vision and told David all that was said.
Then King David went and sat before Jehovah and said this:
‘Who am I, O Lord God…
What is [so good about] my house that You’ve shown so much love for me through this age?
‘Yet now, though it seemed as though this matter was unimportant to You, O God, You have spoken about this House that your servant [has long wanted to build] for You.
And in a vision that was given to a man, You actually looked upon me and lifted me high, O Jehovah God.
So now, how should I proceed to glorify You?
For Your servant knows thatYou will do whatever is in Your heart, and it is all magnificent!
‘O Jehovah;
There is no other like You, and there’s no god other than You… none that we’ve ever heard of.
And there’s no other nation like Your people IsraEl anywhere else on the earth that has been guided by You, O God… a people whom You’ve ransomed for Yourself.
For You’ve given Your people a great name and driven all the others away from before those whom You ransomed out of the nation of Egypt,and You’ve appointed IsraEl to be Your people exclusively through the ages.
Then You, O Jehovah, became their God.
‘And now, O Jehovah;
Concerning what You’ve said to Your servant about this House…
May the words that You said prove trustworthy through the ages,and may Your Name be trusted and magnified through the ages, O Jehovah the Almighty the God of IsraEl.
For You are the God of IsraEl and of the house of Your servant David, who is now standing here before You.
‘O Jehovah; You are my God!
And now that You’ve opened the ears of Your servant when it comes to building this House; this is why I saw the need to come and pray before Your face.
For Jehovah; You are Him… You are The God!
And now You’ve spoken about these good things to Your servant,and You’ve started blessing the house of your servant.
So, may it all continue to stand in this same way before You through the ages.
For You, O Jehovah, have blest us, and You’ve promised us Your blessings through the ages!’
Well after that, David went and attacked the Philistines and drove them away, capturing Gath and all its surrounding villages.
Then he attacked MoAb and made them serve him and pay a tribute.
David also attacked HadraAzar the king of Souba at HamAth as he was marching toward the EuPhrates.
There he captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horses, and 20,000 of their infantrymen.
And after that, David had all the chariots destroyed except for 100 of them.
And when the Syrians came from Damascus to help HadraAzar, David attacked them and killed 22,000 of their men.
Then he left a garrison in Syria near Damascus, so Syria had to serve David and bring tributes to him.
For Jehovah watched over David no matter where he went.
Then David took the golden collars and other items of gold that were worn by the servants of HadraAzar and had it all carried back to JeruSalem.
He also went to MataBeth (which was one of HadraAzar’s capital cities) and he brought back a tremendous amount of brass, which Solomon later used to make the Sacred Sea, the brass columns, and many other sacred utensils.
Well when Thoa the king of HamAth heard that David had beaten the army of HadraAzar (the king of Souba),he sent his son AdouRam to King David to enquire of his welfare and to congratulate him on winning his war against HadraAzar and killing him, because Thoa had been at war with HadraAzar.
Then David took all the gold, silver, and brass items that he captured from the nations of Idumea, MoAb, the AmMonites, the Philistines, and the AmaLechites, and set them aside as holy to Jehovah.
For, AbiShai (the son of ZeruJah) had attacked the Idumeans in the Salt Valley, where he killed 18,000 of their men.
Then he placed a garrison in the Valley, and the Idumeans also became David’s servants.
Well, Jehovah watched over David no matter where he went;
So David reigned over all IsraEl, and he served as a righteous judge over his people.
At the time, JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) was the commanding general of his army, JoShaphat (the son of AchiLoud) was the recorder,ZaDok (the son of AhiTub) and AhiMelech (the son of AbiAthar) were the Priests, SoUsa was the scribe,BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) was in charge of the Cherethites and Phelethites, and David’s sons served as his second-in-command.
In time, NaHash the king of the sons of AmMon died and his son Hanan became the king in his place.
So David asked:
‘What sort of kind thing can I do for Hanan the son of NaHash, for his father was very kind toward me?’
And thereafter, David sent messengers to comfort him after the death of his father.
But when the servants of David arrived in the land of the AmMonites and they went to Hanan to comfort him, the AmMonite governors said to [Hanan]:
‘Isn’t David really glorifying your father over you by sending these comforters?
And don’t you think that he might be really sending them to look at your city and to spy in our land?’
Well, as the result, Hanan had the servants of David arrested, then he had [their beards] shaved and their clothes cut off halfway to the waist before he sent them away.
Then when the report of what Hanan had done to his men reached David, he sent people to meet them because they had been so disgraced;
And the king told them to stay in JeriCho and not to return until their beards grew back.
Meanwhile, because the sons of AmMon realized that they had disgraced David’s emissaries, Hanan and his people sent 35 tons (32,000kg) of silver to MesoPotamia and to [King] MoOcha in Syria to hire an army along with chariots and cavalry.
So King MoOcha brought his army that included 32,000 chariots, and they camped next to MaiDaba.
Also, the AmMonites gathered an army from their own cities as they prepared for war [with IsraEl].
And when David heard about this, he told JoAb to gather his entire army to go and fight them.
Well, [the plan was that] the sons of AmMon would fight IsraEl from their city gates, while the kings set up camp out in the fields.
So when JoAb saw that they were preparing to attack him from both sides, he gathered all the young men in his army to attack the Syrians [in the fields],while he put the rest of the army into the hands of his brother AbiShai, who was to attack the sons of AmMon [at the city gates].
He told [his brother]:
‘If the Syrians start to win, you come and help me; but if the AmMonites start to win, I’ll come to help you.
Let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God, and we’ll trust that Jehovah will do whatever He finds good in His eyes.’
So then, JoAb attacked the Syrians and they fled from before him.
And when the AmMonites saw the Syrians retreating, they turned and ran from AbiShai (JoAb’s brother), fleeing back into their city.
Then JoAb returned to JeruSalem.
But when the Syrians saw that IsraEl had left the field of battle, they sent messengers to the Syrians that had camped on the other side of the river, and SoPha (the commander-in-chief of the army of HadraAzar) marched back.
And when this was reported to David, he again gathered the whole army of IsraEl and they crossed the JorDan to set up battle lines once more.
So the Syrians came and faced David, and the battle began.
Well, Syria once again turned and ran from IsraEl, for David’s [men] had killed 40,000 of their infantry, they captured 7,000 of their chariots, and they killed SoPha, the commander-in-chief of their army.
So when the servants of HadraAzar saw that they had lost the battle to IsraEl, they signed a treaty with David and started serving him.
And thereafter, the Syrians never again came to help the sons of AmMon.
Well after that, during the time of year when the kings traditionally went to war, JoAb led the entire army [of IsraEl] against the cities of AmMon, starting first by laying siege against RabBah.
Meanwhile, David had stayed behind in JeruSalem while JoAb was leading the attack on RabBah.
And as [JoAb] was destroying the city,David [went there and] took the gold crown from the head of MolChom their king.
It weighed 60 pounds (27.2kg) and it was covered with precious stones; so David took it and put it on.
Then he looted the city and brought back a huge amount of treasures.
He also took the people and had them sawed in half with iron saws and threshing machines (that’s what David did to all the sons of AmMon).
Then David returned to JeruSalem with his army.
However, there was still a war being fought with the Philistines in GaZer.
And it was there that SoboChai cut down OuSathi the Raphite (who was from the family of giants) and dishonored him.
And as the war with the Philistines raged on, ElHanan (the son of JaIr) killed LachMi (the brother of GoliAth the GitTite) whose wooden spear was as large as the rod of a weaving loom.
They also had a huge man there that had 24 fingers and toes (6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot), who was a descendant of the giants.
And when he came forward and slandered IsraEl, JoNathan (the son of David’s brother SamaAh) attacked him and killed him.
These men were all sons of Rapha of Gath, and though all 4 were giants, they all fell by the hand of David and his servants.
Well, the Slanderer came to IsraEl and [he] urged David to count his people.
So King David said to JoAb and his generals:
‘Go and take a census of IsraEl from BeerSheba to Dan, then bring [the numbers] to me, so I’ll know how many men I have [in my army].’
And JoAb said:
‘May Jehovah multiply His people 100 times.
But the eyes of my lord the king can see all of his servants; so, why do you want to do this, my lord?
Be careful that you don’t bring a sin upon IsraEl!’
However, the king just wouldn’t listen to JoAb.
So, JoAb traveled throughout all IsraEl, and then he returned to JeruSalem and gave the numbers of the people to David…
There were 1,100,000 men that could carry the sword.
And among the sons of Judah there was an additional 470,000.
However, he didn’t count [the tribes of] Levi and BenJamin as being among them, because the king told JoAb not to do so.
Well, doing this was wicked [in the eyes of] God, so He struck IsraEl.
Then David said to God:
‘I [was guilty of] a great sin when I did this thing!
So, please forgive the evil of Your servant, for I’m the one that did this foolish thing.’
Then the Lord spoke to David’s Seer Gad, saying:
‘Go speak to David and tell him that this is what Jehovah has said:
I will give you a choice of three punishments.
Choose which you prefer, and I’ll bring it upon you.’
So Gad went to David and told him,
‘This is what Jehovah has said:
Choose for yourselffrom these 3:
· Three years of famine
· Three months of destruction and fleeing from your enemies
· Three days of death in the land, when the messenger of the Lord will go among all the inheritance of IsraEl and destroy.
Now, give me an answer for the One that sent me… which do you choose?’
And David told Gad:
‘Those are three very tough choices, so I’ll leave it in the hands of Jehovah, for He is exceptionally compassionate.
I don’t want to leave myself in the hands of men.’
So the Lord sent death throughout all IsraEl, and 70,000 of their males died.
Then God sent His messenger to JeruSalem to wipe it out also.
But, as he was destroying it, the Lord saw what was happening and felt sorry for the evil.
So He said to the messenger that was doing the destroying,
‘That’s enough; stay your hand!’
Well, at the time, the messenger of Jehovah was standing at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
And when David looked up and saw the messenger of Jehovah standing in that place between the sky and the ground with an unsheathed broadsword in his hand that was stretched out over JeruSalem, he fell to the ground and he had the elders put on sackcloth and cover their faces.
So then David called out to God, saying:
‘Wasn’t I the one that told them to count the people?
Yes, I’m the one that sinned and who told them to do this bad thing!
What did these sheep do, O Jehovah God?
Please bring Your hand and Your destruction against me and the house of my father instead, not against Your people, O Lord.’
Then the messenger of Jehovah said to Gad:
‘Tell David that he must build an Altar to Jehovah there at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.’
So David thereafter went and did what Gad had told him in the Name of the Lord.
But when Ornan turned and saw the king and 4 of his sons coming to see him, he tried to hide (for he’d been threshing wheat at the time).
But when David got there, Ornan came down from the threshing floor and bowed with his face to the ground before him.
And David said:
‘I want to buy your threshing floor, because I wish to build an Altar to Jehovah upon it.
Tell me how much you want for it, since this will bring an end to the calamity that has been plaguing the people.’
And Ornan said to David:
‘Just take it… and may my lord the king do whatever he thinks is best!
{Look!} Here are some calves to sacrifice as whole burnt offerings, as well as some wood and some grain.
I’m giving it all to you!’
But David told him:
‘No, I want to pay you whatever it’s worth.
There’s no way that I would take what’s yours for Jehovah and then sacrifice whole burnt offerings for myself without paying you.’
So David paid Ornan 600 weighed gold coins for his place,then he built an Altar to Jehovah and sacrificed whole burnt offerings and a deliverance offering, as he stood there calling out to Jehovah.
Well, Jehovah listened to him from the heavens as he was standing there by the fire with the whole burnt offerings on the Altar.
So the Lord spoke to the messenger, who then put his broadsword back into its sheath.
And David recognized that Jehovah had listened to him there at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, where he had offered the sacrifices.
Well, at the time, the Tent of Jehovah that Moses had made was out in the desert, as was the Altar for sacrificing whole burnt offerings…
It was located on the High Place in GibeOn.
But David wouldn’t go there right away to seek the face of God, because he didn’t want to turn away too quickly from the broadsword that was being held by Jehovah’s messenger.
Then David said:
‘This is where the Temple of Jehovah our God [will be built] and where the Altar for the whole burnt offerings of IsraEl will be located.’
And David said:
‘Gather all the foreigners in the land of IsraEl and use them as quarry workers to cut, and work stones to build the Temple of Jehovah.’
And thereafter, he prepared many other things for the project, such as the nails, the doorways, the gates, and the hinges.
He also collected a huge amount of brass… so much that its weight couldn’t be calculated,and there was unnumbered amounts of cedar lumber, which the Sidonians and the people of Tyre had brought to David.
Then David said:
‘My son Solomon is still a young boy, but he will erect this great Temple of Jehovah, which will thereafter be renowned for its glory throughout the whole earth… and I will prepare for it.’
So David did prepare for it by [collecting] many things before he died.
Then David called his son Solomon and told him that he would have to build the Temple to Jehovah the God of IsraEl.
David said to Solomon:
‘My child; it has been in my heart to build a [Temple] to the Name of Jehovah God.
But, the Word of the Lord came to me and said,
You’ve spilled a lot of blood and fought many great wars, so you may not build a Temple to My Name because of all the blood that you’ve spilled on the ground before Me.
Yet, look!
A son has been born to you that is a man of peace, and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about.
The name that has been given to him is Solomon (Peace); so, I will give him peace and rest, and I will appoint him [as king] over IsraEl when his time comes.
He’s the one that will build a [Temple] to My Name; he will be My son; I will be a father to him; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom in IsraEl through the ages.
‘Now, my son;
May Jehovah be with you and bless you, for you will build a Temple to your God Jehovah, just as He said you would.
May He give you wisdom, understanding, and make you strong over IsraEl.
And may you preserve and keep the Laws of Jehovah your God;
For if you carefully obey the instructions and decisions that Jehovah gave to IsraEl through Moses, He will bless you.
So you must act like a man and be strong… don’t be weak or afraid!
‘Now, {Look!} in my own poor way, I’ve made preparations for the Temple of Jehovah. I’ve collected hundreds of tons of gold, thousands of tons of silver, and so much brass that nobody can estimate its weight.
I’ve also collected the wood and the stone, and you must add to all of this.
So may Jehovah be with you, and may you finish [this project].
You’ll have to assemble the huge number of craftsmen that will be needed…
The stone workers, carpenters, and all the wise menwho know how to work the gold, silver, brass, and iron.
But if you’ll stand tall and act, Jehovah will be with you!’
Then David instructed all the governors of IsraEl to assist his son Solomon.
He said,
‘Isn’t Jehovah with you, and hasn’t He provided you with peace roundabout?
Hasn’t He put all those that live here into your hands so that the entire land is now subject to Jehovah and to His people?
Therefore, you must search for Jehovah your God with your whole hearts and souls, and then you must come here and build a Holy Place to Jehovah your God where the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah must be placed among all the rest of the holy things of God.
Yes, you must build a Temple to the Name of Jehovah!’
Well, after David had grown old and lived a full life, his son Solomon took his place as [the king] over IsraEl.
But then, David assembled all the rulers of IsraEl, as well as the Priests and the Levites,and he took a census of all the Levites that were more than 30 years old… and he found that there were 38,000 qualified men.
So he assigned 24,000 of them to be in charge of the Temple of Jehovah, 6,000 of them to be scribes and judges,4,000 [to be] gatekeepers, and 4,000 were anointed to praise Jehovah with the sacred musical instruments that had been made specifically for that purpose.
So at that time, David divided the Levites by family groups, and he worked out their daily rotations.
Levi’s sons were GerShon, KoHath, and MeraRi.
In the family of GerShon, there was Edan and ShiMei.
The three sons (and rulers of) of Edan were JeiEl, ZeThan, and JoEl.
The three sons of ShiMei were SalomIth, JeiEl, and Dan, who had been the rulers of the families of LaAdan.
The four sons of ShiMei were Jeth, Ziza, JoAs, and BeriJah.Jeth was the firstborn and Ziza was 2nd. But JoAs and BeriJah didn’t have any sons, so the whole house and family received the same assignments.
The four sons of KoHath were AmBram, IsaAr, HebRon, and OziEl.
The sons of AmBram were Aaron and Moses.
Then Aaron and his sons were set aside to [serve in] the Holy of Holies, to burn incense before Jehovah, and to officiate and use the power of His Name through the rest of that age.
Of course, Moses was the man of God, and his sons were assigned among the tribe of Levi.
Moses’ sons were GerSam and EliEzer.
GerSam’s son SoubaEl was the firstborn,and EliEzer’s son RabiJah was his firstborn.
EliEzer didn’t have any other sons, but the family line of RabiJah became very large.
The son of IsaAr was SalomOth (the firstborn).
The sons of HebRon were JeriJa (the firstborn), AmadiJa (the 2nd), JeziEl (the 3rd), and JekemiJah (the 4th).
The sons of OziEl were Micha (the firstborn) and JesShiah (the 2nd).
The sons of MeraRi were MoOli and MoUsi. MoOli’s sons were EliEzer and Kish.
EliEzer died without any sons (just daughters), but the sons of Kish married them.
The three sons of MoUsi were MoOli, Eder, and JariMoth.
These were the names of the rulers among the descendants of Levi by houses and family lines that were more than 20 years old and that served at the Temple of Jehovah.
Then David said:
‘Since Jehovah the God of IsraEl has provided rest for His people and He is now camping in JeruSalem through the ages,the Levites won’t have to carry the Sacred Tent or any of its things anymore.’
And the last order that David [gave] was to count the sons of Levi that were 20 years old and older;
For he had appointed them to [assist the descendants] of Aaron as they served in the Temple of Jehovah.
They were to be in charge of the courtyards and the place of worship, as well as to handle the cleansing of the holy things and the maintenance of the Temple of God.
They were also to be in charge of the place settings, and for mixing and measuring the fine flour for the bread loaves [that were to be used in] the sacrifice offerings, which included the fermentation-free bread and the fried cakes.
And every morning and every evening, they were to praise and acknowledge Jehovah.
In addition, they were also to prepare all the whole burnt offerings to Jehovah on the Sabbaths, on the New Moons, and on the holidays (as they were instructed); so, their job was to always stand before Jehovah.
They were also to stand guard by watches over the Meeting Tent, over the Holy Place, and to be in charge of their brothers the sons of Aaron, as they did their jobs at the Temple of Jehovah.
These are the [Priestly] divisions of the sons of Aaron: NaDab, AbiHu, EliEzer, and IthaMar.
Since NaDab and AbiHu died in front of their father and they had no sons, the official Priests were Aaron’s sons EliEzer and IthaMar.
So David made a similar division.
He appointed ZaDok (who was a descendant of EliEzer) and AhiMelech (who was a descendant of IthaMar) to be the heads over their houses and families for their duties [inside the Temple].
But David found that among the descendants of EliEzer there were many more leaders and powerful men than there were among the descendants of IthaMar, so he appointed 16 descendants of EliEzer as leaders of their houses and families, and he only appointed 8 from the descendants of IthaMar.
Thereafter, he assigned each of their responsibilities in the Temple of God by lottery,and SamaiJah, the son of NathaniEl (the scribe from the tribe of Levi) recorded the results for the king, the governors, the [High] Priest ZaDok, AhiMelech (the son of AbiAthar), the heads of families, and for the family heads of the Priests and Levites.
In the lottery for the [assignments of the] families of EliEzer and IthaMar,the 1st group chosen was that of JehoArim.
JediJah was the 2nd,
Charib was the 3rd,
SeOrim was the 4th,
MelciJah was the 5th,
MeiJamin was the 6th,
Kos was the 7th,
AbiJah was the 8th,
JeShua was the 9th,
She cheniJah was the 10th,
EliAbi was the 11th,
JaKim was the 12th,
Opha was the 13th,
JesBaAl was the 14th,
BelGa was the 15th,
EmMer was the 16th,
Hezir was the 17th,
ApheSe was the 18th,
PhetaiJah was the 19th,
EzekiEl was the 20th,
Achim was the 21st,
GamoUl was the 22nd,
DalaiJah was the 23rd,
and MaAsiJah was the 24th.
So, this is the way that their duties were assigned and the order in which they were to enter the Temple of Jehovah, as the responsibilities were set out by their ancestor Aaron and as they were given to him by Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.
These are the names of the rest of Levi’s descendants:
Among the descendants of AmBram there was SobaEl and his son JediJah.
From the descendants of RaAbiJah there was his firstborn, JesiJah.
From the descendants of IsaAri there was SalomOth and his son, Jath.
From the descendants of JediOu there was AmadiJah, JaziEl, and JekMoAm.
From the descendants of OziEl there was Micha and his son Samer.
Micha’s brother was IsiJa, and his son was ZachariJah.
The sons of MeraRi were MoOli, MoUsi, and through BonNi, OziJa.
So, OziJa was also one of MeraRi’s sons, and his sons were IsoAm, SakChour, and Abai.
MoOli’s only son was EliEzer,his son was Kish, and his son was JaRameEl.
The sons of MoUsi were MoOli, Eder, and JariMoth.
These were the sons of the Levites by the houses of their families.
King David also assigned some of the sons of Asaph, HeMan, and IdiThoun to be the heads of the orchestra that was to praise [God] with woodwinds, stringed instruments, and cymbals.
And these are the numbers of the musicians that were working in their bands:
The sons of Asaph were Sak Chour, JoSeph, NathaniJah, and EraEl.
These sons of Asaph worked under Asaph, who was a Prophet, and he reported directly to the king.
Under IdiThoun were his 6 sons, GodoliJah, SoUri, IseAs, ShiMei, AsAbiJah, and MatTathiJah.
They all played the woodwinds to praise and acknowledge Jehovah.
Under HeMan were his sons BoukiJah, MathaniJah, OziEl, SoubaEl, JeriMoth, HananiJah, Hanan, EliAtha, GodolLathi, RomethiEzer, JesBasaka, MalLithi, OthEri, and MeAzOth(these were all the sons of HeMan).
They played music to the king about the Word of God with horns.
God had given HeMan 14 sons and 3 daughters, and they all (including their father) sang in the Temple to the music of the cymbals, stringed instruments, and woodwinds during the services, and they all reported directly to the king (along with Asaph, IdiThoun, and HeMan).
In addition, many others in their families were taught to sing to Jehovah; so altogether, there were 288 in the chorus.
Then they threw lots for themselves to choose the daily rotations of singers… from the unknown to the famous and from the novices to the experts.
The 1st lot fell to Asaph (the son of JoSeph, who was also called GedaliJah) and his sons.
The 2nd fell to EneiJa and 12 among his family members.
The 3rd fell to ZakChour and 12 among his family members.
The 4th fell to JesRi and 12 among his family members.
The 5th fell to NathaniJah and 12 among his family members.
The 6th fell to BoUkiJah and 12 among his family members.
The 7th fell to IshEriEl and 12 among his family members.
The 8th fell to JosiJah and 12 among his family members.
The 9th fell to MathaniJah and 12 among his family members.
The 10th fell to SemeiJah and 12 among his family members.
The 11th fell to AsriEl and 12 among his family members.
The 12th fell to AsabiJah and 12 among his family members.
The 13th fell to SoubaEl and 12 among his family members.
The 14th fell to MatTathiJah and 12 among his family members.
The 15th fell to JeriMoth and 12 among his family members.
The 16th fell to HananiJah and 12 among his family members.
The 17th fell to JesBasaka and 12 among his family members.
The 18th fell to HananiJah and 12 among his family members.
The 19th fell to MalLithi and 12 among his family members.
The 20th fell to EliAthah and 12 among his family members.
The 21st fell to OthEri and 12 among his family members.
The 22nd fell to GodolLathi and 12 among his family members.
The 23rd fell to MeAzOth and 12 among his family members.
And the 24th fell to RometThiEzer and 12 among his family members.
Their brothers from the sons of Aaron also threw lots for themselves before the king, as did ZaDok and AhiMelech (who were the heads of the families of the Priests and the Levites), as well as the family heads and the younger ones.
These are the groups of the gatekeepers:
From the family of KorAh there was MoselLemiJa and his sons who descended through Asaph.
Under MoselLemiJa there was ZachariJah (his firstborn), JadiEl (the 2nd), ZabadiJa (the 3rd), JethNouEl (the 4th),JoLam (the 5th), JoNathan (the 6th), EliOnai (the 7th), and ObedEdom (the 8th).
ObedEdom’s sons were SamaiJah (the firstborn), JoZabath (the 2nd), JoAth (the 3rd), Sachar (the 4th), NathaniEl (the 5th),AmiEl (the 6th), IsSachar (the 7th), and PheLathi (the 8th) – for God had blessed him.
Then there was SamaiJah’s son RoshAi, who was the firstborn of the house of his father (they were all mighty men).
SamaiJah’s sons were OthNi, RaphaEl, Obed, EliZabath, and AchiOud (they were the most powerful).
Then there was EliOu, SabachiJah, and IshBakom.
These were the descendants of ObedEdom and their ancestor MoselLemiJa.
They all became great in their positions (all 62 of them),and 18 of them became extremely powerful.
Then there was Osa (from the line of MeraRi), whose sons guarded the [Temple].
Although he wasn’t the firstborn, his father appointed him head of the 2nd division of gate guards.
HelkiJah was second under him, then TabliJah (the 3rd), and ZachariJah (the 4th).
There were 13 sons in the family of Osa,and it was from among them that the heads of the divisions of gate guards descended.
They were all rulers and important men that handled the daily rotations of their families as they served in the Temple of Jehovah.
Thereafter, they all (from the least to the most important) threw lots by houses and families at the gatehouse.
And the lot for the gates toward the east fell to SelemiJah and ZachariJah.
Then MelchiJah threw the lots for the family of JoAs, and they received the north gate.
When the 2nd lot was thrown, ObedEdom received the south gate, which was next to the collection boxes.
[And the Family of] Osa received the west gate.
Their job was to watch over the road that led into the Temple.
6 Levites were assigned to guard the east gate each day, and 4 were to be in charge of the north gate.
Two shifts of two men each watched the south gate (by the collection boxes),and there were also 4 posted at the west gate, who worked in two shifts of two guards each and kept an eye on the road.
These were all the divisions of the gatekeepers from the family of KorAh and MeraRi.
The Levites and their families that received the responsibility of being over the treasury in the Temple of Jehovah and watching over the holy thingswere the family of LaDan (who was of the line of GerShon).
JeiEl was the head of this family group.
JeiEl’s sons were Zethom and JoEl.
They and their families were in charge of the treasury at the Temple of Jehovah,as were AmBram, IsaAr, HebRon, and OziEl.
SoubaEl (a descendant of Moses through GerSam) was [the chief of] the treasury.
The sons of his brother EliEzer were RabiJah, JosiJah, JoRam, ZechRi, and SalomOth.
SalomOth and his family [kept watch over] the treasures that were inside of the Holy Place… the things that King David had set aside as holy, which had been brought there by the generals, lieutenants, and family heads.
They were the things that they brought in from the cities that they had captured, so, construction of the Temple of Jehovah God could begin soon thereafter.
These men were also in charge of all the holy things that had been dedicated by the Prophet SamuEl, by Saul (the son of Kish), by AbNer (the son of Ner), and by JoAb (the son of ZeruJah).
All of these holy things were put into the hands of SalomOth and his family.
ChoNeniJah and his family (descendants of IsaAr) were assigned to work outside [of the Temple] as scribes and judges over IsraEl.
AsabiJah and his family (descendants of HebRon) – all 1,700 of them – were important people, for they watched over IsraEl on the other side of the JorDan up to its western border, where they served as representatives of Jehovah and of the king.
JoriJah was the leader of the Hebronites and all the generations of their families.
It was in the 40th year of David’s reign that all the powerful men were counted at JaZer [in the land of] GileAd.
There were 2,700 family heads; and (following Jehovah’s instructions) King David put them over the tribes of ReuBen, Gad, and the half-tribe of ManasSeh.
Now, these are the sons of IsraEl by rank that were the heads of their families and who served as generals or lieutenants in the army each month, every month of the year, as it was recorded by the scribes that officially served the king and wrote all his declarations:
In the 1st division there were 24,000.
The general over this division was IshBoaz (the son of ZabDiEl).
His division included 24,000from the line of Perez.
He was in charge of all the army officers during the 1st month.
The general in charge of the division during the 2nd month was DoDai (the son of Ehok), and under him was MakelLoth.
There were 24,000 in his division.
The general in charge during the 3rd month was BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda, the High Priest).
In his division there were 24,000.
BenaiJah was the greatest of [David’s] 30 men, and he was in charge of the 30.
The man that served under him was his son Zabad.
In charge during the 4th month was AsaHel, JoAb’s brother, and his son ZabadiJah.
There were 24,000 in his division.
The general in charge during the 5th month was SamaOth the JezreElite, and there were 24,000 in his division.
The general in charge during the 6th month was OdouJah (the son of EkKes) the Thekoite, and there were 24,000 in his division.
The general in charge of the 7th month was HelLes of PalLu, from the tribe of Ephraim, and there were 24,000 in his division.
The general in charge during the 8th month was SoboChai the Ousathite from ZarAi, and there were 24,000 in his division.
The general in charge during the 9th month was AbiEzer from AnathOth, of the tribe of BenJamin, and there were 24,000 in his division.
The general in charge during the 10th month was MeEra from NetoPhathi of ZarAi, and there were 24,000 in his division.
The general in charge during the 11th month was BenaiJah from PharaThon of the tribe of Ephraim, and there were 24,000 in his division.
The general in charge during the 12th month was CholdiJah from NetoPhathi of GoThoniEl, and there were 24,000 in his division.
These were the leaders of each of the tribes of IsraEl:
[In charge of the tribe of] ReuBen was EliEzer (the son of ZechRi)
[In charge of the tribe of] SimeOn was SaphatiAs (the son of MaAcha)
[In charge of the tribe of] Levi was AsabiJah (the son of KamouEl)
[In charge of the line of] Aaron was ZaDok
[In charge of the tribe of] Judah was EliJah (the brother of David)
[In charge of the tribe of] IsSachar was Ambri (the son of MichaEl)
[In charge of the tribe of] ZebuLun was SamaiJah (the son of AbDiOu)
[In charge of the tribe of] NaphTali was JeriMoth (the son of OziEl)
[In charge of the tribe of] Ephraim was Ose (the son of OziOu)
[In charge of the tribe of] half-tribe of ManasSeh was JoEl (the son of PhadiJah)
[In charge of] the half-tribe of ManasSeh in the land of GileAd was JaDai (the son of ZadiJah)
[In charge of the tribe of] BenJamin was JasiEl (the son of AbNer)
[In charge of the tribe of] Dan was AzariEl (the son of IroAb).
These were all the patriarchs of the tribes of IsraEl.
Now, David never counted the men that were under 20 years old, because Jehovah said that He would cause IsraEl to grow like the stars in the sky.
And though JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) did start to take a census of the people, he didn’t complete it because this brought [God’s] anger against IsraEl.
So the number was never written in the scroll of the words of the days of King David.
The man that was in charge of the king’s storehouses was AsMoth (the son of OdiEl).
The man that was over the storehouses in the countryside, towns, estates, and fortresses was JoNathan (the son of OziOu).
The man that was in charge of the farming was EzRai (the son of CheloUb).
The man that was in charge of the fields was ShiMei of RaEl.
The man in charge of the wineries in the fields was ZabDi (the son of SephNi).
The man that was in charge of the olive groves and mulberry trees (in the plains) was BailHanan the Gedorite.
The man that was in charge of the olive storehouse was JoAs.
The man that was in charge of the cattle that grazed in ShaRon was SatRai the ShaRonite.
The man that was in charge of the cattle in the valleys was Shophat (the son of AdLi).
The man that was in charge of the camels was AbiJah the IshMaElite.
The man that was in charge of the burros was JadiJah of MeraThon.
The man that was in charge of the sheep was JaZiz the Agarite.
These were the superintendents over the personal possessions of King David.
JoNathan (David’s uncle) was his advisor, because he was a very discerning man and a scribe.
JeEl (the son of AchaMani) [watched over] the king’s sons.
AhiTophel was also one of the king’s councilors.
HushAi was David’s best friend.
After AhiTophel came JehoiAda (the son of BenaiJah), then AbiAthar, and then JoAb (the king’s commander-in-chief).
Well, David had called for an assembly of all the governors of IsraEl, the chief justices of the tribes, the king’s servants, the army generals and lieutenants, the treasury department, those in charge of the king’s property, his sons, his eunuchs, and the most outstanding warriors in JeruSalem.
Then King David stood in the midst of the assembly and said:
‘Hear me, my brothers and my people;
It came into my heart to build a House of rest for the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah and as a footstool for the feet of our [God, Jehovah].
Therefore, I have prepared the things that will be needed to build it.
But God said,
You may not build a Temple to Me that carries My Name, because you’re a man of war and you’ve spilled [too much] blood.
Yet, Jehovah the God of IsraEl chose me from all the house of my father to be the king over IsraEl through the age, and He has given the kingship to Judah and to the house of my father.
From among all of his sons, God chose me, because He wanted me to be the king over IsraEl.
And from among all of my sons (and Jehovah has given me many of them), He has chosen my son Solomon and seated him on the throne of His kingdom over IsraEl.
For God said to me:
Your son Solomon will build My Temple and My courtyard, because I have taken him to be My son, and I will be his Father.
I will establish his kingdom through the ages, as long as he faithfully obeys My Commandments and instructions as he is doing today.
‘And now, before this entire assembly of Jehovah and within the hearing of our God, I say [to Solomon]:
Guard and seek all the Commandments of Jehovah our God, so that you will inherit a good land, which your sons can thereafter inherit with you through the ages!
‘So, Solomon my son;
Know the God of your fathers!
You must serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing soul, for Jehovah regularly checks the hearts and He knows every thought!
If you search for Him, you can always find Him…
But if you leave Him, He will leave you in the end.
‘Now, look!
Jehovah has chosen you to build a House as His most holy place.
Therefore, you must be strong and act!’
Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surrounding buildings, its treasury, its upper rooms, the inner storehouses, and the place where the [sacrifices were to be offered] for the forgiveness of sins.
He had the plans all laid out in his mind for how the courtyards of the Temple of Jehovah were to be assembled, as well as the places of worship, the storehouses around the Temple, the storehouses for the holy things, and the sleeping quarters.
He had even planned the daily rotations of the Priests and Levites, the assignments of work at the Temple of Jehovah, the management of the storehouses, and how the sacred things were to be handled.
Then he weighed out all the gold and silverfor the lamp stands, and he contributed money that had been weighed to make the lamps.
Thereafter, he did the same thing for the tables and place settings (because each of the tables were to be made of gold and silver),the meat hooks, the drinking bowls, and the gold bowls.
He also specified the weight of the gold and silver for the wash basin.
[Then he provided] pure gold for the incense Altar, clearly specifying how much each item should weigh, and he showed him the plans for the chariot of the cherubs (the ones with the opened, spread wings that were to cover the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah).
By the hand of Jehovah, David had written everything down for Solomon so that he would clearly understand how the plans were to be carried out.
Then David said to Solomon:
‘Now you must be strong and act like a man!
Don’t be afraid or terrified, because my God Jehovah will be with you.
He won’t push you away and He will never abandon you, as long as you finish all the work of building the Temple of Jehovah.
Look! Here are the plans for the Temple, for His Most Holy, for His treasury, for the upper rooms, for the inner storehouses, and for the place where [the sacrifices are to be offered] for forgiveness of sins at the Temple of Jehovah.
‘And look!
Here are the daily rotations of the Priests and Levites for their services at the Temple of Jehovah, and for the people that are to help you.
They are all eager, wise, and skilled at all sorts of crafts, as are their supervisors, and they’re all ready to follow your instructions.’
Then King David said to the assembly:
‘My son Solomon, whom Jehovah has taken for Himself, is still young and inexperienced, and he has a great work to do.
However, this isn’t going to be accomplished by a man, but by Jehovah our God.
‘Now, I’ve done everything in my power to prepare for the Temple of my God.
[I’ve accumulated] all the gold for the things of gold, all the silver for the things of silver, all the brass for the things of brass, all the iron for the things of iron, all the wood for the things of wood, and all the stones for the things of stone.
There is onyx, precious gems, all types of costly colored stones, and large amounts of white marble.
And yet; because I have favored myself by [preparing for] a Temple for my God, I’ve obtained even more gold and silver.
And look… I’m now giving it all it to the Temple of my God!
For in addition to what I’ve prepared for the Holy Temple,here is another 10 tons (9,000kg) of gold from Ophir and 20 tons (18,000kg) of pure silver with which to overlay the walls of the Templeand to make things of gold and silver…
Whatever the craftsmen can do with it!
‘Now, if anyone else is eager to contribute gold to make things of gold, and silver to make things of silver, may he fill his hands for Jehovah today.’
Well, the heads of families, the governors of the sons of IsraEl, the generals, the lieutenants, and the king’s supervisors and managers were eager to contribute to building the Temple of Jehovah.
So he collected 30 tons (27,000kg) of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 60 tons (54,000kg) of silver, 600 tons (540,000kg) of brass, and 3,000 tons (2,700,000kg) of iron.
They contributed whatever gemstones they had to JeiEl the GerShonite, to put into the storehouses for the Temple of Jehovah.
Well, everyone there was very happy, because they had all shown such eagerness, and their hearts had been so filled with their zeal for Jehovah.
And because King David was so very happy,he then praised Jehovah before the assembly, saying:
‘O Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, our Father through ages of ages; may You truly be praised.
For to You, O Jehovah, belongs the greatness, the power, the boasting, the victories, the recognition, and the strength;
For You are the One that made everything in the skies above and on the ground below.
Yet, You are our Lord, and the kings of all the nations are in fear before Your face,for from You comes all the wealth and the glory.
You’re the Ruler over everything, O Jehovah…
You are above all others!
For in Your hand there is every type of strength and control, and in Your hand [is the power] to create all fame and mightiness.
‘And now, O Jehovah;
We acknowledge You and we praise the Name of which You boast.
But, who am I, and who are my people, that we have felt such eagerness to [contribute] these things?
For it is all really Yours, and all we are doing is giving Your things back to You.
We’re just visitors before You, as were our ancestors… for [our lives] are like shadows on the ground that are just passing by.
‘O Jehovah our God;
All of these things that I’ve prepared so as to build a Temple to Your Holy Name have come from Your own hands, because everything belongs to You.
And I know, O Jehovah, that You are the One that examines hearts and that You love justice.
So, it is with a pure heart that I’ve been eager to do all these things…
And now I’ve also seen gladness and eagerness for You among Your people!
‘O Jehovah, the God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and IsraEl… the God of our fathers;
Keep this feeling in the minds and hearts of Your people through the ages, and make their hearts straight toward You!
Also, give my son Solomon a good heart and make him obey Your Commandments, instructions, and orders, so that he may take the lead in finishing Your Temple.’
Then David said to the entire assembly:
‘Praise Jehovah our God!’
And after that, everyone there praised Jehovah the God of their ancestors, as they bent their knees to bow low before Jehovah and before their king.
Thereafter, David offered sacrifices to Jehovah.
And then on the next day, he sacrificed 1,000 calves, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs as whole burnt offerings, along with drink offerings; and thereafter, [he offered] many more sacrifices on behalf of IsraEl.
So, everyone joyfully ate and drank there before Jehovah that day, and they held a second coronation for David’s son Solomon, anointing him as their king before Jehovah and before ZaDok the [High] Priest.
Well thereafter, Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king in place of his father David, and everyone thought highly of him. For all IsraEl –the governors, the mighty ones, and all the sons of his father (King David) – submitted to him.
And Jehovah made Solomon great before all IsraEl, giving him greater glory than any king that had ever existed before him.
Well, David (the son of JesSe) had ruled IsraEl for40 years… 7 years in HebRon and 33 years in JeruSalem.
But after he was old and had lived a long and good life filled with wealth and glory, [he died]… and his son Solomon took his place.
The rest of the words of King David, from the beginning to the end, were written by the Seer SamuEl, by the Prophet Nathan, and by the Seer Gad…
The things about his kingship, the area of his rule, the events of those times, and the things that happened to him and to IsraEl, as well as to all the other nations that lived in the land.
Well, Solomon (the son of David) grew stronger in his kingdom because his God Jehovah was with him and made him great.
Then, after Solomon had spoken to all the generals, lieutenants, judges, governors of IsraEl, and family heads,he and the entire assembly went to the high place in GibeOn where God’s Tent of Proofs that Moses (the servant of Jehovah) had made in the desert was kept.
But at the time, the Chest of God wasn’t there, because David had it carried from the city of KiriAth JaiRim [and put in] a tent that he’d made for it in JeruSalem.
However, the bronze Altar that BeSeleEl (the son of UriAh and grandson of Or) had made was still there in front of the Tent of Jehovah, and that’s why Solomon and the assembly went there.
There Solomon offered 1,000 whole burnt offerings as sacrifices to Jehovah on the bronze Altar before the Tent of the Proofs.
And that night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him:
‘Ask for whatever you wish and I will give it to you.’
So Solomon said to God:
‘You have been extremely kind to my father David, and now You’ve made me the king in his place.
Therefore, O my God Jehovah;
May You prove true to Your Name by doing all the things that You [promised] to my father David.
‘And since You’ve made me the king over a people that are as many as the dust on the ground;
Please give me the wisdom and understanding [that I’ll need] to stand before these people that will come before me.
For, who can possibly judge so many people?’
And God said to Solomon:
‘Because this is the desire of your heart, and because you didn’t ask for wealth, possessions, glory, the lives of your enemies, or for a long life, but for the wisdom and understanding to judge My people over whom I have appointed you king;
I will be giving you the wisdom and understanding.
However, I will also give you wealth, possessions, and glory…
I’m giving you more than any of the kings that came before you or any that will come after you will ever know.’
So then, Solomon left The Tent of Proofs in the place of worship in GibeOn, and he returned to JeruSalem to begin his reign over IsraEl.
Thereafter, Solomon started collecting chariots and horsemen;
And [in time] he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, which he stationed in cities that [he built] to hold the chariots, and he kept many of the men with him in JeruSalem.
Well, during that time, the king made silver and gold as common as stones in JeruSalem, and the cedar wood in Judah as common as mulberry trees in the plains.
Solomon also brought horses from Egypt, which he paid for with the [money] that the merchants made in their trading.
They would travel to Egypt and buy a chariot for 600 silver coins and a horse for 150 silver coins, and then he would resell them to the kings of the Hittites and Syrians.
It was then that Solomon gave the word to start building the Temple to the Name of Jehovah, as well as a palace for his own kingship.
So he brought together 70,000 laborers, 80,000 quarry workers to work in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.
Then Solomon sent a message to King HiRam of Tyre, saying:
‘I know what you did for my father David by sending cedars to build a palace for himself.
But look; I (his son) am now building a Temple to the Name of my God Jehovah as a Holy Place for Him.
It’s a place to burn incense before Him through the ages and a place for Him to stay where we can sacrifice whole burnt offerings in the mornings, in the evenings, and on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and on the Lord’s holidays.
I am doing this for all of IsraEl.
‘Now, the Temple that I am to build will be great, because our God Jehovah is greater than all other gods.
But, who is great enough to build a House for Him, since the skies and the heavens above them can’t bear His glory?
So, who am I to build such a Temple since [I’m not even qualified] to burn incense before Him?
However, what I’m asking of you is to send me a wise man that knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as with blue [thread], purple [yarn], and scarlet cloth.
[I must have such a man to take the lead] over those wise ones that are with me in Judah and JeruSalem, to do the carving and to make the things that have been prepared by my father David.
‘Also, please send me some cedar, juniper, and pine boards from Lebanon, because your servants know how to cut up the timber of Lebanon.
And then {Look!} your servants can direct the servantsthat [I will send], who will bring back the large quantities of timber for the great and glorious Temple that I am to build.
And look!
I will thereafter send you gifts of grain as food for your servants that will cut the trees…
I will send 140,000 bushels of wheat, 140,000 bushels of barley, 20,000 barrels of wine, and 20,000 barrels of olive oil.’
So King HiRam of Tyre sent a return letter to Solomon that said:
‘Jehovah must love His people very much to put such a king over them.’
And he added:
‘Praise Jehovah the God of IsraEl who made the skies and the lands, and that gave King David such a wise son that knows enough and understands enough to build a Temple to Him, as well as a palace for his kingdom.
‘Now, I’ve sent a man to you that is wise and knowledgeable, my servant HiRam.
His mother is one of the daughters of Dan, although his father is from Tyre.
He knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood; and he knows how to weave blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and linen, as well as how to do carving.
He’s good at doing everything that you will assign him to do alongside your wise men and the wise men of your father, my Lord David.
‘And concerning the grain, barley, olive oil, and wine that my lord spoke of;
Let him send it to his servants,and we will cut all the trees of Lebanon that you need and send it to you by sea to JopPa on barges.
You can then carry it on from there to JeruSalem.’
So Solomon gathered all the foreign men in the land of IsraEl that had been counted by his father David (all 153,600 of them).
Then he put 70,000 to work loading the carriers, 80,000 to work in the mountain quarries, and 3,600 were assigned as the supervisors.
Thereafter, Solomon started the construction of the Temple of Jehovah on Mount MoriAh in JeruSalem…
The place where Jehovah had appeared to his father David at the threshing floor and which he [bought] from Ornan the Jebusite.
He started this construction project in the 2nd month of the 4th year of his reign.
When Solomon built the Temple of God, he made it 100 feet (30.5m) long and 33 feet (10m) wide.
It also had a columned porch that adjoined its full width along the front, which was 33 feet (10m) wide and 33 feet (10m) tall. On the inside, [the Temple] was totally covered in pure gold.
It was a large building made of cedar wood that had been covered in pure gold and engraved with palms and chain work.
Valuable stones were then added to make the Temple more glorious, and using gold that he got from PharaOh Aim,he gilded the Temple’s walls, gatehouses, roofing, and doorways, and he had cherubs engraved on its walls.
Next, he made the Holy of Holies.
Its width (along the front side of the Temple) was 33 feet (10m), and it was 33 feet (10m) long.
Then he had it covered with 13 tons (11,800kg) of gold…
The weight of each nail was the same as the weight of 50 gold coins, and the upper rooms were also covered in gold.
Inside the Temple, facing the Holy of Holies, he made two cherubs of durable wood that were covered with gold.
They each stood 33 feet (10m) tall and their wings were 8 feet (2.4m) long,so that they touched the Temple walls on either side, and they touched each other [in the middle].
Their [combined] wingspan was 32 feet (9.75m), and they stood on their feet facing the [Sacred Chest].
Then he made the separating veil of blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and linen that was woven into [the shape of] cherubs.
In front of the Temple there were 2 columns that each stood 50 feet (15.25m) tall, and their caps were each 8 feet (2.4m) tall.
Then he made a chainwork for the corners that was put over the column caps, and 100 pomegranate figures were mounted over the chainwork.
These columns were located on each side of the [entrance to] the Temple.
He then named the one on the right Success, and the one on the left Strength.
Next, he built a bronze Altar that was 33 feet (10m) long, 33 feet (10m) wide, and 16 feet (4.9m) high.
After that, he had the [Sacred] Sea cast. It was round and 16 feet (4.9m) in diameter.
It stood 8 feet (2.4m) tall and it was 50 feet (15.25m) in circumference.
This bathing tub [was resting on metal] calves that were standing in a 16-foot circle beneath it.
There were 12 calves that were cast in two types…
3 looked north, 3 looked west, 3 looked south, and 3 looked east, with their backsides facing inward and the Sea resting on top of them.
[The Sea] looked like a palm in the middle, and its rim was like the edge of a cup, with carved lily buds [all around].
It had a capacity of 20,000 gallons (75,000l).
After he finished the [Sacred Sea], he made 10 washbasins, 5 of which were put on its right and 5 on its left.
They were used to wash and rinse those who sacrificed the whole burnt offerings.
However, the Sea was only to be used for washing the Priests.
Then he made 10 of the unique gold lampstands and put them inside of the Temple, 5 on the right, and 5 on the left.
He also made 10 tables and put them inside the Temple, 5 on the right and 5 on the left.
And he made 100 gold bowls.
Next, he made the Courtyard of the Priests.
It was very large, and it had bronze doorways.
He also located the [Sacred] Sea next to the corner of the Temple, on the right side, to the east.
Then HiRam made the meat hooks, the censers, the grate for the Altar, and all the other items.
For by then, he had completed the rest of the work on the Temple of God for King Solomon.
He also made the two columns with their bases and caps.
These caps had a meshwork that covered the tops.
And he made 400 gold bells to go over the meshwork, and two types of pomegranates to cover the mesh that was on the bottom sides of the column caps.
HiRam then made the 10 wash tubs and their bases,the Sacred Sea with the 12 calves beneath it,the foot basins, the ladles, the cooking pots, the meat hooks, and everything else, which he thereafter presented to King Solomon at the Temple of Jehovah.
All of these things were made of pure bronzethat he had cast for the king in a temporary structure that he’d built underground near the JorDan.
Solomon had a tremendous number of items made, because he had more than enough bronze.
He had everything made [that was needed] for the Temple of Jehovah, including the gold Altar, the tables, the place settings for the bread,and the unique lampstands and their lamps for lighting [the Temple], which were all made from pure gold.
Then there were the tongs, lamps, bowls, and incense pans, which were also made of pure gold,as were the Temple doors and the inner door to the Holy of Holies.
After Solomon had finished construction on the Temple of Jehovah, he carried in all the holy things of his father David (the things made of silver and gold) and put them into the Temple treasury.
Thereafter, he held an assembly in JeruSalem of all the elders, all the tribal heads, and all the family heads of the sons of IsraEl, which is when they brought the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah out of the city of David on [Mount] Zion.
At the time, everyone in IsraEl had assembled with the king during the holiday of the 7th month,along with their elders, and that’s when the Levites picked up the Chest,as well as the Tent of Proofs and the rest of the holy items, and they carried them before the Priests and Levites.
Then Solomon and the entire assembly of the God-fearing gathered around the Chest, and they sacrificed so many calves and sheep that they couldn’t be counted.
It was the Priests who thereafter carried the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah and placed it inside the Temple, inside the Holy of Holies, beneath the wings of the cherubs.
So, there it sat beneath the spread wings of the cherubs that watched over the Chest, with its bearing poles lying across the top.
These bearing poles could always be seen sticking through the veil to the Holy of Holies (but they couldn’t be seen from outside [of the Temple]).
And they are still there to this day.
Of course, nothing was in the Chest except the two tablets that Moses had put there at The Dry Place (Horeb), when Jehovah first made the [Agreement] with the sons of IsraEl after they had left the land of Egypt.
Then the Priests came out of the Holy Place.
Note that, at the time, not all the Priests were viewed as being holy, since the assignments and daily rotationshadn’t been made yet.
[But when the Priests came out of the Holy Place], the musicians and singers from the families of Asaph, HeMan, and IdiThoum (and those that were with them that were all dressed in fine linen) assembled in front of the Altar with their cymbals, stringed instruments, and woodwinds, along with 120 Priests that had been assigned to blow their trumpets,and they played a loud anthem that was accompanied by singing to acknowledge and praise Jehovah.
Well, as the voices, trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments reached a climax with the words,
‘Jehovah is good, and His mercies endure through the ages;’
The glorious cloud of Jehovah started filling the Temple.
And at that, the Priests were no longer able to stand there and serve before the face of the cloud, because the glory of Jehovah had filled the whole Temple of God.
Then Solomon said:
‘O Jehovah; You’ve said that You camp in the shadows.
So I have built a House to Your Name as something holy to You… a place for You to camp through the ages.’
And at that, the king turned his head and blest the entire gathering of IsraEl as they were standing nearby.
He shouted,
‘Praise Jehovah the God of IsraEl who spoke to my father David with His mouth and who filled his hands, saying:
From the day that I led My people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from among any of the tribes of IsraEl to build a [Temple] to My Name, nor had I chosen a man to be a leader over My people IsraEl.
But now I have chosen JeruSalem as the place for My Name, and I have chosen David to lead My people IsraEl.
Therefore, it came into the heart of my father David to build a Temple to the Name of the Lord God of IsraEl.
However, the Lord said to my father David:
It’s a good thing that your heart has been moved to build a Temple to My Name,but you may not build it for Me.
Rather, it will be a son that comes from your loins that will build a Temple to My Name.
‘So now, Jehovah has made the thing that He said come true;
For I have taken the place of my father David and I am sitting on the throne of IsraEl, just as Jehovah said, and I have built a Temple to the Name of the Lord God of IsraEl,into which I’ve placed the Chest of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah made with IsraEl.’
Then [he walked over] and stood against the Altar of Jehovah and raised his arms before the assembly of IsraEl.
For Solomon had a bronze podium made in the midst of the Temple courtyard that was 8 feet (2.4m) long, 8 feet (2.4m) wide, and 5 feet (1.5m) high.
So he got up on it and then fell to his knees before the whole assembly of IsraEl; and he raised his arms toward the sky and said:
‘O Jehovah, God of IsraEl;
There is no other god like You in the heavens or on the earth that keeps his agreements and shows mercy as You have shown to Your children that are now wholeheartedly standing before You.
For You’ve honored [the agreement] that You made with Your servant David (my father), which You promised with Your mouth, and with which You’ve filled Your hands to this day.
‘And now, O Jehovah, God of IsraEl;
Keep [the promise] that you made with Your servant David (my father) when You said,
There will never fail to be a man from you that sits before My face on the throne of IsraEl for as long as your sons are careful to always obey My Laws, as you have been doing before Me.’
‘And now, O Jehovah, God of IsraEl;
May the things that You said to Your servant David prove to be true…that You will for a fact live as God upon the earth.
But if the skies and the heavens of the heavens aren’t enough to hold You; then, how can this House that I built possibly do so?
‘Please hear the prayers of Your servant and listen to these things that I’m begging before You, O Jehovah God;
Please answer the prayers and petitions that Your servant has brought before You today.
May Your eyes watch over this Temple day and night… this place that You said would be called by Your Name.
Hear the prayer that Your servant is praying in this place…listen to whatever things that Your servant and Your people IsraEl pray for in this place.
Listen from the place where You dwell in the heavens, and be forgiving.
For if a man should sin against his neighbor and then [his neighbor] comes before the Altar at this Temple to curse him;
Please listen to him from the heavens and act. Judge Your servants, and bring the bad ways of lawbreakers down upon their own heads.
Give justice to the just, and repay each one for his righteousness.
‘And if Your people IsraEl should be devastated by their enemies for sinning against You, and then return and acknowledge Your Name and pray and beg before You in this Temple;
Please listen from the heavens and forgive Your people IsraEl.
Then return them to the land that You gave to them and to their ancestors.
‘And if You should hold back the skies so there is no rain because of their sinning against You, and they come and pray and praise Your Name in this place, turning away from their sins because You have humbled them;
Please listen to them from the heavens and forgive the sins of your servants and of your people IsraEl.
Then show them the good ways to go, and bring back rain upon Your land that you have given to Your people as their inheritance.
‘Or if a famine should come upon the land, or a killing plague, or a wind-blown blight, or jaundice, or locust, or grasshoppers, or if an enemy should attack their cities – whatever the calamity or misery –
Please listen to the things for which they beg and pray.
‘And if any man among Your people IsraEl knows of a man who has an infection and has become disabled, and then he raises his arms toward this Temple;
Please listen to him from this Home that has been prepared for You, and from the heavens, then forgive the man.
Know [what’s in] his heart and give him the things that he deserves.
For only You know the hearts of the sons of men.
So, may they all fear Your ways for as long as they live on the face of the land that You gave to their ancestors.
‘And when foreigners that are not of Your people IsraEl come from far-away lands because of Your great Name, strong hand, and raised arm, and they come here to pray in this place;
Please listen to them from Your Home in the heavens and do everything that they ask, so that everyone on the earth will come to know Your Name and fear You, as do Your people IsraEl.
And may they recognize that this Temple that I built bears Your Name.
‘And if Your people must go to war against their enemies – wherever You may send them – and they pray in the direction of this city that You chose and toward this Temple that I’ve built to Your Name;please listen from the heavens to the things that they beg and pray, and bring them justice.
‘And when they sin against You (for there is no man that doesn’t sin) and You strike them and hand them over to their enemies, and they are carried away as captives to lands that are nearby or far away,and they then turn their hearts to the land from which they were taken and turn and beg to You in their captivity, saying,
We have sinned, we have broken [Your] Laws, and we were wrong,
And then they return to You with their whole hearts and souls, as well as to this land from which they were taken as captives and pray toward this land that You gave to them and to their ancestors and toward this city which You chose, and toward this Temple that I have built to Your Name;
From Your home in the heavens, please listen to the things that they beg and pray, and bring them justice.
Forgive Your people for their sins against You, O Jehovah.
Open Your eyes and ears to the things for which the people will beg in this place!
‘And now, O Jehovah our God;
Awaken from Your rest when it comes to this Mighty Chest and to Your Priests, O Lord, our God.
May they wrap themselves in Your salvation, and may Your sons rejoice in all Your good things!
O Jehovah our God;
Please don’t turn Your face away from Your anointed one…
Remember the [goodness] of Your servant David!’
Then, as Solomon was finishing his prayer, fire came down from the sky and consumed the whole burnt offerings and the sacrifices;
And the glory of Jehovah filled the Temple.
So, the Priests couldn’t enter the Temple at that time, because the glory of Jehovah filled the Temple.
And when all the sons of IsraEl saw the fire come down and the glory of Jehovah filling the Temple, they all fell to the stone pavement with their faces to the ground, bowing low and praising Jehovah, [singing],
‘[Jehovah] is good,
And His mercy endures through the ages.’
Well after that, the king and all the people offered [even more] sacrifices before Jehovah.
King Solomon himself offered 22,000 calves and 120,000 sheep in dedication to the Temple of God.
Meanwhile, the Priests were standing watch and the Levites were playing songs that were written to Jehovah by King David on their [musical] instruments [and singing] the songs they had written, which acknowledged before Jehovah His mercy through the ages.
Then the Priests stood out in front and blew their trumpets, as the people stood there [listening].
Thereafter, Solomon made the middle of the courtyard of the Temple of Jehovah holy by sacrificing whole burnt offerings and the fat of salvation.
However, the bronze Altar that Solomon had made wasn’t large enough to handle all the whole burnt offerings, gift offerings, and fat.
Well, Solomon observed the holiday for 7 days, and all IsraEl stayed there with him;
For it was a huge crowd that had come from as far away as the entrance to HaMath and the River of Egypt.
Then on the 8th day, he proclaimed a holiday recess to the Altar dedication ceremony, since they had already celebrated the holiday during the previous 7 days.
So on the 23rd day of the 7th month he sent the people back to their homes, and they all left filled with joy and with happy hearts because of all the good things that Jehovah had done to David, to Solomon, and to His people IsraEl.
Well by then, Solomon had not only completed the Temple of Jehovah and his own palace, but everything else that he wanted to do for the Temple of Jehovah, and his house prospered.
Then Jehovah appeared to Solomon one night and said to him:
‘I’ve heard your prayers, and I’ve chosen this place for Myself as a Temple for sacrifices.
So if I should stop up the sky and not allow it to rain, or if I should send locusts to eat all the trees, or if I should send a deadly plague among My people,and then they become ashamed and once more have My Name called upon them, and they pray to Me and search for My face and turn from their wicked ways;
Then I will listen to them from the heavens, forgive their sins, and heal their land.
For My eyes will be open and My ears will pay close attention to the prayers of these people.
‘I have also chosen this Temple and made it holy to My Name through the ages, so it will remain in My eyes and in My heart each day.
And if you come before Me, as did your father David, and do everything that I tell you to do, following My instructions and Commandments;
I will elevate the throne of your kingdom, just as I promised your father David when I said,
No [descendant] of yours will be removed from the leadership of IsraEl.
‘However, if you should turn away and abandon My instructions and the Commandments that I’ve set before you, and you go and serve other gods and bow before them;
I will remove all of you from the land that I’ve given to you, and I will turn My face away from this Temple that I’ve made holy to My Name and make it an example that will be talked about among the nations.
Then people who pass by this Temple that I’ve made so important will be shocked and ask,
Why did Jehovah do all of this to His land and to His Temple?
And they will then be told:
It happened because they abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors that led them out of the land of Egypt, then they started following other gods, bowing before them and serving them.
That’s why God brought all of these bad things upon them.’
Well, it was some 20 years after Solomon finished building the Temple of Jehovah and his own palacethat he started developing the cities that HiRam had given to him, and he settled the sons of IsraEl there.
He went to ZoBah (in HaMath) and strengthened its defenses,then he built TadMor in the desert, and he built several other fortified cities in HaMath.
He also built both Upper and Lower BethHoron, and he fortified them all with walls, bars, and gates (for that’s where he kept his chariots and cavalry).
Then Solomon did whatever things he wanted to do in JeruSalem, Lebanon, and throughout his whole kingdom.
At the time, those that were left in the land that were descendants of the Hittites, Amorites, Pherezites, Hivites, and Jebusites (all those that weren’t IsraElitesand that hadn’t been destroyed by IsraEl) were forced by Solomon to pay a tribute (which they still pay to this day).
And Solomon didn’t appoint any IsraElites as servants in his kingdom;
For these people served as his warriors, governors, great men, and as those that were in charge of his chariots and cavalry.
There were 250 [of them] that King Solomon had appointed as heads over the supervisors of public works among the people.
Then Solomon built a palace for the daughter of PharaOh outside the city of David where he had sent her to live.
He said:
‘You may not live as the [wife] of the king of IsraEl inside the city of David; for it is holy, due to the fact that the Chest of Jehovah is there.’
Solomon also sacrificed whole burnt offerings on the Altar that he built to Jehovah in front of the Templeon each of the days that they calculated by the Commandments of Moses…
On the Sabbaths, on the [New Moons], and on the three annual holidays (the Festival of fermentation-free Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Temporary Dwellings).
Then, following the instructions of his father David, he set up the divisions of the Priests and assigned their duties.
He assigned the watches for the Levites for when they were to direct the other priests (as he understood it was to be handled each day), as well as the shifts for the gatekeepers of each of the gates.
He did just as David (the man of God) had instructed…
All the commandments of the king were followed when it came to the Priests, Levites, and everything that had to do with the [Temple] treasures.
Solomon continued to set everything in order from the day that the Temple foundation was laid to the day that it was completed.
Then Solomon built EziOn GeBer in ElAth by the Sea (in the land of Idumea).
And thereafter, HiRam sent some of his servants (that were able seamen) with boats that were to be used by Solomon’s servants, and they went to Ophir where they brought back 14 tons (12,700kg) of gold to King Solomon.
Well, when the Queen of SheBa heard of Solomon’s reputation, she came to JeruSalem to test him with riddles.
And when she came, it was with a very large contingent of [servants] and with camels that carried huge amounts of aromatics, gold, and gems.
And when she spoke to Solomon, she talked about everything that concerned her;
And Solomon replied to everything that she asked, not missing a word.
Well, after the Queen of SheBa saw the Wisdom of Solomon, the Temple he had built,the food on his tables, what his servants looked like, the stations and uniforms of his wine servers, and all the whole burnt offerings that he sacrificed at the Temple of Jehovah, she was beside herself.
So she said to the king:
‘Everything that I’ve heard about you in my own land and of the wise things that you say, are true!
However, I didn’t believe any of it until I came and saw it with my own eyes.
And look, they didn’t tell me half the story, for I’ve [learned] so much from your wisdom!
Why, your men and your servants are blest to be able to always stand before you and listen to your wisdom.
May your God Jehovah be praised for choosing you and putting you on His throne as their king.
Your God Jehovah must have a great love for IsraEl and [and He must plan] for it to last through the ages, that He would put you as king over them as their righteous judge.’
Then she gave the king 3-1/2 tons (3,175kg) of gold and huge amounts of aromatics and gems.
And the aromatics that she gave to him were without equal.
Then the servants of Solomon and HiRam brought more gold to Solomon from Ophir, as well as pine lumber and precious gems.
The king used the wood to build the entryway stairs to the Temple of Jehovah and [the entrance] to his palace, as well as harps and other stringed instruments for his musicians.
Nothing like this had ever been seen before in the land of Judah.
Then King Solomon gave the Queen of SheBa everything that she desired and asked for…
Which exceeded the [gifts] that she’d brought to Solomon;
And thereafter, she returned to her own land.
Well, the weight of the gold that was brought to Solomon that year was 20 tons (18,140kg)…
And this was in addition to what his men had gained from their trading.
For all the kings of Arabia and all the governors of the land brought gold and silver to the king.
So Solomon had 200 shields of pure gold hammered out, which were each made with 600 gold coins,as well as 300 more shields of 300 gold coins each, which were then taken and hung in the king’s palace, in [the room that he called] the Forest of Lebanon.
Thereafter, the king had a huge throne made for himself from ivory tusks that were covered with pure gold,and he had 6 steps to the throne that were overlaid with gold.
There was a drop-off on either side of the throne,and there were 12 [carved] lions on either side of the throne that were positioned along the drop-off on the 6 steps leading up to the king’s throne.
Nothing like this has ever been seen in any other kingdom.
Everything that King Solomon had was made of gold, and everything in his palace and in the Forest of Lebanon was overlaid with gold.
For during the time of Solomon, silver was considered as nothing.
The king’s ships would sail to TarShish with the servants of HiRam once every three years, and they would return to the king filled with gold, silver, ivory, and monkeys.
So Solomon became greater than all other kings in both wealth and wisdom,and all the kings of the earth would come before Solomon to listen to the wisdom that God had put into his heart.
And when they came (which they did each year), they all brought gifts… items of gold and silver, clothes, balsam, spices, horses, and mules.
So Solomon soon had 4,000 mares for his chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the cities that he’d built for his chariots, in addition to those that he kept with him in JeruSalem.
He also ruled over all the kings from the river and the land of the Philistines to the borders of Egypt.
During his reign, gold and silver in JeruSalem became as common as stones, and cedar wood was as common as sycamores in the plains.
Solomon also had horses delivered from Egypt and many other lands.
The rest of the things that Solomon said – from beginning to end – [Look!] were recorded by the Prophet Nathan, by AhiJah the ShiLonite, and in the visions of the Seer JoEl, who saw things concerning JeroBoam (the son of NaBat).
So Solomon reigned over all of IsraEl for 40 years.
Then he went to sleep and they buried him in a tomb in the city of David (his father);
And his son RehoBoam started ruling in his place.
Well, RehoBoam went to SheChem, which was where he was to receive his coronation as king over IsraEl.
And when JeroBoam (the son of NaBat) heard of it, he returned from Egypt (where he had been living after he had to flee from King Solomon),because the assembly of IsraEl had called for him.
And when he got there, he and the entire assembly went to the king and said:
‘Your father put a hard yoke on us.
So now, free us from the hard service and the heavy yoke that your father laid upon us, and we will serve you.’
And [RehoBoam] replied:
‘Leave me for three days, and then return [for an answer].’
So, the people then left.
And thereafter, King RehoBoam assembled all the older men that had served his father Solomon during his entire life, and asked them,
‘How do you suggest that I answer the people?’
And they told him:
‘If you give a good reply to these people today and think well of them, they will serve you for as long as you live.’
However, he rejected this advice of the older men and listened to the advice of the younger men that he had grown up with and whom he had chosen as his councilors.
For when he asked them,
‘What do you suggest that I tell these people that came before me and asked me to remove the yoke that my father put on them?’
The young men that had been raised with him replied,
‘When you speak to them say: My little finger is greater than the hips of my father.
So if my father disciplined you with a heavy load, I will add to the weight of your yoke.
And if my father disciplined you with whips, I will discipline you with scorpions!’
As the result, when all the people and JeroBoam came before RehoBoam on the 3rd day (for the king had said, ‘Return to me on the 3rd day’),
The king gave them the hard answer, because he had rejected the council of the older men and told the people what the younger men had suggested.
He said:
‘My father put you under a heavy yoke, so I will add to it.
And my father disciplined you with whips, so I will discipline you with scorpions.’
However, the [reason why the] king had refused to listen to what the people said was because God had caused the words that He’d said through AhiJah the ShiLonite concerning JeroBoam (the son of NaBat)and all IsraEl to be fulfilled… a
And that is what kept him from listening to them.
So the people said to the king:
‘What [do we owe to] David and the inheritance of the sons of JesSe?
Run to your Tents, O IsraEl…
And you can go back to your own house of David!’
So, all the men of IsraEl returned to their homes, and thereafter RehoBoam only ruled over those that lived in Judah.
For when King RehoBoam sent AdoniRam to collect their taxes, they threw rocks at him and killed him, and King RehoBoam had to run to his chariot and flee to JeruSalem.
Therefore, IsraEl annulled their allegiance to the house of David, which is still true to this day.
Well, after RehoBoam returned to JeruSalem, he called an assembly of Judah and BenJamin – 180,000 young men – for the purpose of going to war.
Then he went off to fight IsraEl, in order to bring them back under his rule.
But the Lord said to the Man of God ShemaiJah:
‘Tell RehoBoam the son of Solomon (who was once the king Judah and all IsraEl, not just of Judah and BenJamin), that Jehovah says you must not go and attack your brothers.
Everyone must just go back to their homes, because I said so!’
As the result, they obeyed the words of Jehovah and they didn’t attack JeroBoam.
So RehoBoam [reigned] in JeruSalem and he built [many] fortified cities throughout Judah.
He also refortified BethLehem, AiTan, ThekoE,BethSoura, SocChoth, OdolLam,Gath, MariSan, Ziph,AdoRaim, LachIsh, Azeka,SaraA, AiLom, and HebRon (in Judah and in BenJamin).
He built strong walls around them and appointed governors over them;
Then he sent them provisions of food, olive oil, and wine,and he armed each city with shields and spears.
He made all the cities that he ruled in Judah and BenJamin very strong.
Well after that, all the Priests and Levites that had been scattered throughout IsraEl left their homes and came to him…
They left their homes and all their possessions, and moved to Judah and JeruSalem, because JeroBoam and his sons had driven them out so they wouldn’t represent [Jehovah in his land].
For he had assigned his own priests for the high places, his idols, his foolish things, and the calves that he made.
He also drove out all those of the tribes of IsraEl whose hearts belonged to Jehovah the God of IsraEl, and they all moved to JeruSalem, where they could sacrifice to Jehovah the God of their ancestors.
So, the [influx of] all these people strengthened RehoBoam (the son of Solomon) and the kingdom of Judah, and he followed in the ways of David and Solomon for the next three years.
RehoBoam married MolLath, who was the daughter of David’s son JeriMoth and of AbiGail (the daughter of JesSe’s son EliAb),and she gave birth to her sons JaOus, ShamariJa, and ZaAm.
He also married MaAchah (AbSalom’s daughter), and she gave birth to AbiJah, JetThi, ZeZa, and SalemOth.
Now, RehoBoam loved AbSalom’s daughter MaAcha much more than his other wives and concubines (he had 18 wives and 30 concubines through whom he fathered 28 sons and 60 daughters);
So, he appointed MaAcha’s son AbiJah over his brothers to become king after him,and he became very powerful throughout the fortified cities along the borders of Judah and BenJamin.
He sent huge amounts of provisions to them, but he also asked for many women.
Well, once RehoBoam was firmly established on his throne, he abandoned the Commandments of Jehovah, and all IsraEl followed along.
Then in the 5th year of the reign of RehoBoam, Shishak (the king of Egypt) attacked JeruSalem because they had sinned against Jehovah.
He came with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and innumerable soldiers from Egypt, Libya, SukKia, and Ethiopia,and they captured all the fortified cities of Judah…
Then they came to JeruSalem.
Well, the Prophet ShemaiJah went to RehoBoam and the governors of Judah (who had all fled to JeruSalem) and said to them:
‘Jehovah says,
Because you have abandoned Me, I will abandon you into the hands of Shishak.’
And at that, the king and all the governors of Judah became ashamed, and they said:
‘Jehovah is just.’
Then when Jehovah saw their shame, He sent word to ShemaiJah, saying:
‘Because they feel ashamed, I won’t destroy them totally.
Rather, I will give them some small consideration and I won’t pour out all My rage upon JeruSalem.
Then, if they will become My servants, they will learn what serving Me really means and what it means to serve the kingdom of this land.’
However, Shishak (the king of Egypt) did attack JeruSalem and he took all the treasures that were in the Temple of Jehovah, as well as all the treasures in the king’s palace, including the gold shields that Solomon had made(which RehoBoam later replaced with brass shields).
Then Shishak stationed his own guards in the king’s gatehouse;
So, whenever the king went to the Temple of Jehovah, they would go along and watch him, and return with him.
Well, because [RehoBoam] had felt ashamed, the anger of Jehovah turned away from him, and he didn’t remain corrupt to the end.
So things went well for Judah thereafter,as RehoBoam continued reigning in JeruSalem… and before long, he started regaining his power.
RehoBoam was 41-years-old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem (the city from among all the tribes of IsraEl where Jehovah chose to put His Name) for 17 years.
His mother’s name was NoOmMa (she was an AmMonite).
But he also continued to act wickedly, because he could never straighten out his heart when it came to seeking Jehovah.
[Look!] All the words of RehoBoam (from beginning to end) and all the things that he did were recorded by the Prophet ShemaiJah and by the Seer AdDo.
Well, RehoBoam stayed in a state of war with JeroBoam throughout his life.
Then he died and was buried in a tomb with his ancestors in the city of David, and his son AbiJah became king after him.
So in the 18th year of the reign of JeroBoam, AbiJah started his rule over Judah,and he reigned in JeruSalem for three years.
His mother’s name was MaAcha, and she was the daughter of OuriEl from GibeOn.
[During the lifetime of] AbiJah, there was war between him and JeroBoam.
For though AbiJah had assembled a huge force of 400,000 mighty warriors, JeroBoam came against him with an even larger army of 800,000 mighty warriors.
However, AbiJah stood on Mount SomorOn (in the mountains of Ephraim) and shouted at them:
‘Hear me, O JeroBoam and all IsraEl;
Don’t you know that Jehovah the God of IsraEl appointed King David to rule over IsraEl through the ages, and that He made an agreement of salt with his sons?
But then JeroBoam, the son of NaBat and the servant of David’s son Solomon, went and rebelled against his lord,gathering a group of troublemakers and lawbreakers to come against Solomon’s son RehoBoam.
And because RehoBoam was young and timid at heart back then, he didn’t oppose him face-to-face.
‘But now you’ve dared to speak of resisting the kingdom of Jehovah through the hands of the sons of David, and have you gathered a huge army against us.
Yet, your gods are just the gold calves that JeroBoam made for you.
For you drove out the Priests of Jehovah – the sons of Aaron and the Levites – and you choose your own priests from among the people of the land, so that anyone who came and offered 7 rams was made the priest of something that isn’t even a God!
However, we have Jehovah as our God, and we haven’t abandoned Him!
His Priests – the sons of Aaron and the Levites – still serve before Jehovah in their daily rotations and offer whole burnt offerings to Jehovah in the mornings and in the evenings.
They also burn the [sacred] incense, lay the [sacred] bread loaves on the table, and they serve before the sacred lampstand of pure gold, keeping the lamps burning to light the nights.
‘We’re also the ones that guard the watches of Jehovah the God of our ancestors, and you’re the ones that have abandoned Him.
So, {Look!} Jehovah is leading us, and His Priests are blowing the signal trumpets that testify against you and the sons of IsraEl!
Therefore, you can’t fight against Jehovah the God of your ancestors, because you know that what you’re doing won’t be blest!’
Well at the time, [part of] JeroBoam’s [army] had marched around Judah to ambush them from behind.
So while JeroBoam was there in the front, an ambush was forming behind Judah.
Then when the army of Judah looked around andfound that they were being attacked from the front and from the rear, they yelled to Jehovah and the Priests started blowing their trumpets.
And when the men of Judah started calling to Jehovah, He struck down JeroBoam and IsraEl there in front of AbiJah and the Judeans,and the sons of IsraEl then turned and ran from Judah.
So, Jehovah saved them from their hands.
Thereafter, AbiJah and his men chased after and attacked the army of IsraEl, causing a great calamity for them; for they killed 500,000 of their mighty men.
So the sons of IsraEl were disgraced that day, and the sons of Judah became stronger, because they had put their trust in Jehovah, the God of their ancestors.
Well after that, AbiJah pursued JeroBoam and captured the cities of BethEl and its surrounding towns, JeShanah and its surrounding towns, and EphRon and its surrounding towns.
So, JeroBoam was no longer strong during the rest of AbiJah’s lifetime… and then Jehovah struck him and ended him.
But AbiJah grew stronger and took 14 women for himself, fathering 20 sons and 16 daughters.
All the rest of the things that AbiJah said and did are written in the scrolls of the Prophet AdDo.
Then AbiJah died and they buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the city of David, and his son Asa started reigning after him.
During the lifetime of Asa, all was quiet in the land of Judah. Because, for the next 10 years,he did good things and was righteous before his God Jehovah.
He removed all the [pagan] altars and high places [of worship], he broke down their monuments, and he cut down their sacred poles.
Then he urged Judah to search for Jehovah the God of their ancestors and to obey His Laws and Commandments.
Throughout Judah, he had all the altars and idols destroyed, and he brought peace to all the walled cities in the land.
So, everything was peaceful, and there were no more wars during that period, because Jehovah gave him rest.
Then [Asa] said to the people of Judah:
‘We should rebuild all our cities and give them walls, towers, gates, and bars.
For since we’ve been searching for our God Jehovah, He has been searching for us, and He’s provided us with rest all around and blest us.’
Well at the time, Asa had 300,000 armed soldiers from the land of Judah who each carried shields and spears, as well as 280,000 bowmen from the land of BenJamin that carried small shields, all of whom were powerful warriors.
Then ZaRe the Ethiopian attacked them with 1,000,000 troops and 300 chariots.
And when he reached MariSha, Asa came to meet him and attacked him in the ravine just north of the city.
Then Asa called to Jehovah his God and said,
‘O Jehovah; It is possible for You to save with many or with few.
So, strengthen us, O Jehovah God, for we will trust in You.
We’ve come against this huge army in Your Name, O Jehovah our God, so don’t allow any man to defeat You!’
Well thereafter, Jehovah cut down the Ethiopians before Judah, and they fled.
Then Asa and his men chased after them all the way to Gedor.
And there the Ethiopians couldn’t find a place to hide, so they were cut down and defeated before Jehovah and his army, and [the Judeans] carried away much loot.
So at that, because Jehovah was with them, the whole situation was reversed;
For [Judah] then attacked and destroyed all the towns around Gedor, and they ravaged all the [Ethiopian] cities, carrying away huge amounts of loot.
They even destroyed the tents and property of the shepherds, carrying away many sheep and camels;
And then they returned to JeruSalem.
Thereafter, the Breath of Jehovah came over AzariAh (the son of Oded), and he went to meet with Asa, as well as with all of Judah and [the tribe of] BenJamin.
He said,
‘Hear me Asa, and all you of Judah and BenJamin!
As long as you’re with Him, Jehovah will be with you; and if you’ll search for Him, you’ll find Him.
However, if you abandon Him, He will abandon you!
‘Now, IsraEl has been without the true God for a long time.
Therefore, there is no Priest among them that can explain things clearly, and they have no Law.
But now that you have returned to Jehovah the God of IsraEl, He will be found by you!
‘So though there has been no peace for those that entered or left [our cities] until now;
Jehovah is going to bring a change of state to all those that live here.
‘Understand that the reason why nations fight against nations and cities fight against cities, is because God shocks them by bringing all sorts of problems upon them.
But now, you must be strong and not lose your grip, because you’re going to reap the reward of your [good] deeds!’
Well, after he heard these words of the Prophet AzariAh, Asa was moved to drive all the disgusting things out of the lands of Judah and BenJamin.
He dedicated all the [idols] that JeroBoam had [built] in the mountains of Ephraim [to destruction], [and he repaired] the Altar of Jehovah that was in front of His Temple.
Then he [called an] assembly of Judah, BenJamin, and those of the tribes of Ephraim, ManasSeh, and SimeOn that were living among them (for many had moved there from IsraEl when they saw that Jehovah God was with them),and they all came to JeruSalem in the 3rd month of the 15th year of the reign of Asa.
He thereafter sacrificed part of the things that they had captured to Jehovah on that day… 700 calves and 7,000 sheep.
And they all agreed to search for Jehovah the God of their ancestors with their whole hearts and souls.
They also agreed that anyone who refused to search for Jehovah the God of IsraEl should die, whether they are young or old, male or female.
So, everyone swore an oath to Jehovah in a loud voice, as the trumpets and horns were being blown.
And everyone in Judah was delighted to swear the oath with their whole souls… freely and of their own will.
Then thereafter, they did search for Jehovah and they found Him… and He rested among them.
Well, [Asa] thereafter forced his mother MaAcha to stop bowing before Astarte, and he cut down her idol, incinerated it, and had [its ashes] thrown into the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi.
And though he failed to remove the high places of worship that were then located all around Judah and IsraEl, Asa’s heart remained [true] throughout the rest of his life.
He also recovered the holy things of his ancestor David and the holy things of the Temple of God… all the items of silver and gold.
And there was no more war through the 35th year of Asa’s reign.
It was during the 36th year of the reign of Asa that BaAsha (the king of IsraEl) attacked Judah, and he fortified RamAh to keep [his people] from entering or leaving the land of Asa (the king of Judah).
Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasury in the Temple of Jehovah and from the king’s palace, and sent it to BenHader, the king of Syria (who lived in Damascus), saying:
‘Let’s create a treaty between you and me, [as there had been] between my father and your father.
Look! I’m sending you gold and silver!
So, come and scatter BaAsha (the king of IsraEl) and drive him away from me!’
Well, King BenHader listened to Asa and he ordered his generals to attack the cities of IsraEl.
As the result, they attacked AiOn, Dan, AbelMain, and [cities] throughout the land of NaphTali.
And when BaAsha heard what was happening, he stopped working on RamAh and ended his projects.
Then King Asa gathered all Judah and they gathered up the stones and timbers that BaAsha was using to build RamAh, and they used them to build GabaE and MasPha.
But after that, the Prophet HanaNi went to Asa (the king of Judah) and said to him:
‘Because you relied on the king of Syria and you didn’t trust in your God Jehovah, the army of Syria won’t remain under your control.
Don’t [you remember] how large and courageous the armies of the Ethiopians and Libyans were, and how vast their cavalry was; and when you relied on Jehovah, didn’t He give them into your hands?
For the eyes of Jehovah search throughout the earth looking to strengthen any heart that is devoted to Him.
But now, I want you to know that you’ll be going to war.’
Well, this made Asa furious with the Prophet, and he had him thrown in prison (because he was so angry), and he actually had several people killed.
{Look!} The rest of the things that Asa said and did (from beginning to end) are written about in the scrolls of the kings of Judah and IsraEl.
It was during the 39th year of Asa’s reign that he became seriously ill; for he was having problems with his feet.
And rather than going to Jehovah for help, he went to the physicians.
So, Asa [died] and went to sleep with his ancestors, ending his reign in its 40th year.
Then they buried him in a tomb that he had quarried for himself in the city of David.
They placed [his body] on a bed that was covered with aromatics and expensive perfumes, and they held a great funeral for him.
Well, after that, [Asa’s] son JehoShaphat took his place as the king.
And JehoShaphat fortified his [land] against IsraElby placing troops in all the walled cities of Judah.
He also appointed governors over each city in Judah and over all the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
Now, Jehovah was with JehoShaphat, because he started out by following in the ways of his ancestor David.
He didn’t [worship] any of the idols… just Jehovah, the God of his father.
He also obeyed the commandments of his father and he didn’t follow in the ways of IsraEl.
So, Jehovah strengthened the kingdom under his hands, and all Judah sent him gifts.
As the result, he became very rich and powerful.
JehoShaphat continued to follow in the ways of [Jehovah faithfully], and he again removed all the high places of worship and all the sacred poles from the land of Judah.
Then, during the 3rd year of his reign, he sent his governors along with his sons and dignitaries (such as AbdiAn, ZachariAh, NathaniEl, and MichaiJah) to teach the people throughout the cities of Judah.
[In addition, he also sent] the Levites (ShemaiJah, NathaniAh, ZabDiAh, AsiEl, SemiRamOth, JoNathan, AdoniJah, and TobiAh) and the Priests (EliSama and JoRam).
They all traveled throughout Judah with the scroll of the Law of Jehovah, going to each city and teaching [God’s Laws] to the people.
As the result, Jehovah brought a change over all the surrounding kingdoms, because they no longer went to war against JehoShaphat.
Even the Philistines brought gifts and things made of silver to JehoShaphat;
And the people of Arabia sent him 7,700 male sheep, and 7,700 male goats.
So he kept growing in stature and importance, as he built houses and fortified cities throughout Judah,and he started several public-works projects.
JehoShaphat kept a contingent of mighty warriors in JeruSalem,and here are their numbers by houses and families:
The generals of Judah were AdNah, who was the leader of 300,000 men;
JoAnan, who was the leader of 280,000;
AmasiAh (the son of Zari, who was known for his zeal for Jehovah), who was the leader of 200,000 strong, mighty men.
Also, from [the tribe of] BenJamin came the strong, powerful leader EliAda, who had 200,000 bowmen that carried small shields.
And following him was JoZabad with 180,000 mighty men of war.
These men were also the king’s governors that were in charge of the fortified cities throughout Judah.
Well, after JehoShaphat became very rich and famous, he decided to ally himself with the house of Ahab through marriage.
So after several years, he went to visit Ahab in Samaria with a large contingent of his people, and he sacrificed many calves and sheep on behalf of Ahab.
Then to show his love for him, he consented to go with him to [fight at] RamOth GileAd.
For Ahab (the king of IsraEl) had asked JehoShaphat (the king of Judah):
‘Will you go to RamOth GileAd with me?’
And he replied:
‘You and your people are the same as [me and] my people, so we will join you in the war.’
However, JehoShaphat said to the king of IsraEl:
‘But first, let’s ask for [God’s direction]!’
So the king of IsraEl gathered all his prophets (some 400 men) and asked them:
‘Should I attack RamOth GileAd or should I wait?’
And they replied:
‘Go there, and God will hand them over to the king!’
But then JehoShaphat asked:
‘Aren’t there any Prophets of Jehovah that we can ask?’
And the king of IsraEl replied:
‘There’s one man that searches for answers from Jehovah, but I detest him, because he never prophesies anything good for me. All he ever tells me is bad things.
He is MichaiJah, the son of JemBla.’
But JehoShaphat said:
‘The king shouldn’t talk that way!’
Then the king called one of his eunuchs and said:
‘Quickly! Go find MichaiJah (the son of JemBla) and bring him to me!’
Well, at the time, the king of IsraEl and JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) were each sitting on thrones in the broad area near the city gate of Samaria dressed in [their royal] robes, and all the prophets were there prophesying before them.
Then one of them (ZedekiAh, the son of CanaAn) made some iron horns for himself and said,
‘This is what the Lord says:
You will gore the Syrians with these until you’ve wiped them out completely!’
And all the rest of the prophets said the same thing.
They said,
‘Go to RamOth GileAd and you’ll succeed! For the Lord will give it into the hands of the king.’
Well, the messenger that had been sent to call MichaiJah said to him:
‘Look! All the prophets are saying good things to the king, so it would be a blessing if you would tell him good things also.’
And MichaiJah replied:
‘As Jehovah lives, I’ll say whatever God tells me to say.’
So MicaiJah went before the king, and the king asked:
‘Should I attack RamOth GileAd or should I wait?’
And he replied:
‘Go, and you will be blest, because it will be given into your hands!’
But the king said:
‘How often do I have to tell you to swear to only tell me the truth in the Name of the Lord?’
And MichaiJah said:
‘I see IsraEl being scattered in the mountains like sheep without a shepherd.
For Jehovah said,
They will be without a leader, so each one should return to his home in peace.’
Then the king of IsraEl said to JehoShaphat:
‘You see… didn’t I tell you that he wouldn’t prophesy anything good, just bad things?’
And MichaiJah said:
‘That isn’t so! [These are] the words of Jehovah!
For I saw Jehovah sitting on His Throne and all the armies of the heavens were sitting beside Him on His right and on His left.
Then Jehovah asked:
Whom can I send to deceive Ahab the king of IsraEl so that he attacks RamOth GileAd and is defeated?
Well, one suggested this and another suggested that;but then a spirit stepped forward into the presence of Jehovah and said,
I can fool him!
And when Jehovah asked how,he said:
I will go into the mouths of his prophets as a lying spirit.
And [God] said:
You will indeed be able to fool him, so go there and do it!
‘As the result {Look!}, Jehovah has put a lying spirit into the mouths of all these, your prophets.
And it was Jehovah that spoke these bad things against you, [not me].’
Then ZedekiAh (the son of CanaAn) [came up] and hit MichaiJah in the jaw and shouted:
‘How has the Lord’s Breath passed from me to you, so that you should feel so free to speak?’
And MichaiJah replied:
‘{Look!} You will know it in that day when you have to run from closet to closet to hide!’
Then the king of IsraEl gave the order:
‘Take MichaiJah and hand him over to Emer the city mayor and to [my] son JoAsh the governor.
Tell them that the king wants this man thrown in jail and just fed moldy bread and water until we return in peace!’
And MichaiJah said:
‘Well, as Jehovah told me; you’re not going to return in peace…
Listen to this, all you people!’
So the king of IsraEl and JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) rode up to RamOth GileAd.
And the king of IsraEl said to JehoShaphat:
‘I’m going to disguise myself when I go into battle, so I want you to wear my clothes!’
Thus, the king of IsraEl disguised himself and rode into the battle.
Then the king of Syria told the generals that were standing near him (those that were in charge of his chariots),
‘Don’t attack the regular soldiers, just attack the king of IsraEl.’
So when the generals in charge of the chariots saw JehoShaphat, they shouted:
‘That’s the king of IsraEl!’
And they surrounded him and prepared to attack.
But JehoShaphat called out, and Jehovah saved him by turning them away from him.
For when the generals in charge of the chariots saw that it wasn’t the king of IsraEl, they turned and left him.
Then a skilled archer pulled his bow tight and shot an arrow at the king of IsraEl, hitting him in the middle of his chest, between his lungs.
And [the king] said to his chariot driver:
‘Turn around and take me away from the battle, because I’m in a lot of pain!’
So the king of IsraEl left the battle that day;
And there he sat on his chariot, right across from the Syrian lines, until the evening.
Then he died just as the sun was setting.
Well, as JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) was returning to his palace in JeruSalem,the Prophet Jehu (the son of AnaNi) came to meet him.
And he said:
‘O King JehoShaphat;
Why did you befriend and help a sinner that is hated by Jehovah?
Now, because you did this, you’ve brought Jehovah’s anger upon yourself.
However, good things have also been said about you, because you’ve removed the sacred poles from the land of Judah, and you’ve straightened your heart to search for Jehovah.’
So thereafter, JehoShaphat continued to live in JeruSalem, and he once again went to all the people (from BeerSheBa to the mountains of Ephraim) to turn them to Jehovah, the God of their ancestors.
He also assigned judges in all the walled cities of Judah, city by city.
And he told the judges:
‘Pay close attention to what you’re doing, because you aren’t judging for men but for Jehovah!
So, may the fear of God rest upon you!
And be careful about how you act, for your God Jehovah isn’t unjust… He isn’t swayed by how a man looks, nor does He accept bribes!’
Then JehoShaphat brought the Levites, the Priests, and the patriarchs of IsraEl to JeruSalem to serve as judges for Jehovah and to judge the people of JeruSalem.
The instructions he gave to them were:
‘You must [judge] with the fear of Jehovah… in truth and with a [pure] heart.
You must warn each man among your brothers who comes to you from any of the cities for justice (whether it’s a matter of blood, of order, of the Commandments, of the Law, or of the decisions [of God]) that they must not sin against Jehovah, so that God doesn’t become angry with you or with your brothers.
No, you must not sin!
‘{Look!} I’ve appointed AmariAh the Priest to be over you, so that every decision is the word of Jehovah.
Also, ZabDiAh (the son of IshMaEl) is in charge of the house of Judah when it comes to the decisions of the king… and you have the scribes and Levites there [to help you].
So, be strong and act, then Jehovah will bless those that are doing what’s good!’
Then the sons of MoAb, the sons of AmMon, and some of the Minaeans marched against JehoShaphat in war.
And [the king’s messengers] spoke plainly to JehoShaphat and told him:
‘A huge army has come against you from the other side of the sea and from Syria.
Look! They’re already in AsaSan-Thamar (EnGedi)!’
Well, this frightened JehoShaphat and he went to seek [God’s] guidance, and he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.
So, all of Judah gathered to seek Jehovah’s help, coming from all the cities of the land.
Then JehoShaphat stood up before the entire assembly of Judah in JeruSalem, there at the Temple of Jehovah (in front of the new courtyard),and said:
‘O Jehovah, the God of my fathers;
Aren’t You the God of all that’s above the skies, and don’t You dominate all the kingdoms of the nations?
Don’t Your hands have the strength to dominate everything, and can anyone really stand against You?
You are Jehovah…
You’re the One who destroyed those that lived in this land from before your people IsraEl, and it was You who gave this land to the seed of AbraHam… this one whom loved you through that age.
So, this is where we now live and where we’ve built a Most Holy Place to Your Name.
‘Now, [the people have said],
Should any bad things come against us, such as war, judgments, plagues, or famines, we will all come and stand before You and You will save us; for the battle is Jehovah’s!
But look!
The sons of AmMon, MoAb, and [people from] the mountains of SeIr (those whose lands You refused to allow Your people to pass through as they returned from the land of Egypt and from which they were driven away, but who we couldn’t conquer)have now come here to drive us out of the inheritance that You gave to us!
‘O Jehovah our God;
Won’t You condemn them?
We aren’t strong enough to resist such a huge army, and we don’t know what to do about them, so we’re all looking to You!’
Well at the time, all of Judah was standing there before Jehovah, including the women and children.
Then the Breath of Jehovah came over OziEl (the son of ZachariAh, a descendant of BenaiJah, the son of EliEl, the son of MathaniAh the Levite of the sons of Asaph) as he stood there in the assembly.
And he said,
‘Listen all of Judah, as well as you who live in JeruSalem, and King JehoShaphat; for, this is Jehovah’s reply to you:
Don’t be afraid of that huge army, because this battle isn’t yours, it belongs to God.
Therefore, ready yourselves to march against them tomorrow!
Look; they will be marching along the road to Asa, and you will find them camped beside the river in the JeriEl Desert.
However, don’t attack them. Just stand there and watch; and then you will see that the deliverance of Jehovah is with you, O Judah and JeruSalem.
Don’t worry and don’t be frightened; for when you march to meet them tomorrow, Jehovah will be with you!’
And at that, JehoShaphat bowed to his face, and all Judah and the people of JeruSalem fell to their faces before Jehovah.
Then the Levites (the sons of KoHath and KorAh) got up and started praising Jehovah the God of IsraEl, calling out loudly toward the heavens.
So, everyone got up early the next morning and started their march into the Thecoe Desert.
And as they were marching, JehoShaphat went ahead of them, and he shouted:
‘Hear me, O Judah and those that live in JeruSalem!
Trust in Jehovah and you’ll find that He can be trusted…
Yes, trust in His Prophet and you will be blest!’
Then, as he led the people on, he sent the singers and [the Priests] who offer holy praise and acknowledgements to march ahead of the army shouting,
‘Praise Jehovah and His mercy through the ages!’
And as they were shouting these praises and acknowledgements, Jehovah caused the sons of AmMon to turn against the MoAbites and the people of the mountains of SeIr as they were marching against Judah, and they all turned and ran away.
Then the sons of AmMon and the MoAbites attacked the people from the mountains of SeIr and killed everyone that lived there…
And after that, they started fighting among themselves until they were all destroyed.
So when Judah reached the ridge along the edge of the desert, they looked down on that whole army and found them all lying on the ground dead…
None were left!
Well at that, JehoShaphat and his people went down and looted all their possessions (there were many cattle, personal things, desirable things, and loot)… they took it all…
It took three days for them to pick it all up, because there was so much to be collected!
And on the 4th day, they all assembled in the Valley of Blessings, which is what they started calling that place because Jehovah had blest them there…
And it’s still called the Valley of Blessings to this day.
Then all the men of Judah marched back to JeruSalem joyfully, with JehoShaphat taking the lead;
For everyone was so happy over what Jehovah had done to their enemies.
And as they entered JeruSalem, they were playing stringed instruments, woodwinds, and trumpets, as they headed toward the Temple of Jehovah.
And after that, Jehovah brought a change of state upon all the kingdoms of the land;
For when they heard that Jehovah was fighting against the enemies of IsraEl,they allowed the kingdom of JehoShaphat to have peace and rest all around.
JehoShaphat had started his reign over Judah when he was 35 years old, and he reigned in JeruSalem for 25 years.
His mother’s name was Azuba, and she was the daughter of Sali.
JehoShaphat followed in the ways of his father Asa, and he never turned aside from doing what was upright before Jehovah.
But the high places of worship were still there, and the people never straightened out their hearts to Jehovah, the God of their ancestors.
{Look!} The rest of the things that JehoShaphat said, from beginning to end, have been written about by Jehu (the son of AnaNi), who put it all in the scrolls of the kings of IsraEl.
However, later on, JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) [displeased Jehovah] by working with AhaziAh (the king of IsraEl) to build boats in EziOn GeBer, which they could sail to TarShish.
So EliEzer (the son of DodiJa from MarIsis) prophesied against JehoShaphat, saying this:
‘Because you befriended AhaziAh, Jehovah has destroyed all your work and broken your boats to pieces.’
And as the result, they never sailed to TarShish.
Then JehoShaphat went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in the city of David.
So his son JehoRam started reigning in place of him.
Now, JehoRam had 6 brothers, AzariAh, JeiEl, ZachariAh, AzariAh, MichaEl, and ShaphatiAh, all of whom were sons of JehoShaphat the king of Judah,and their father had given them many gifts of silver, gold, shields, and walled cities in Judah.
However, he gave the kingdom to JehoRam, because he was the firstborn.
But after JehoRam became strong in his kingdom, he had all of his brothers and some of the governors of IsraEl killed with a sword.
JehoRam was 32 years old when he became king, and he reigned in JeruSalem for 8 years.
But he then started acting like the kings of IsraEl and doing the same things as the house of Ahab, acting wickedly before Jehovah, even marrying the daughter of Ahab.
However, Jehovah didn’t want to destroy the house of David, due to the agreement that He had made with David when He told him that He would set him and his sons [as] a lamp through all the days.
Then Edom rebelled against Judah and appointed a king to rule over them.
So JehoRam, his leaders, and his cavalry [marched on] Edom.
However, during the night, the generals in charge of his chariots found themselves surrounded and they all retreated to their tents.
Therefore, Edom has continued their revolt against Judah down to this day.
Then LobNa revolted and became free of [JehoRam’s] rule, because he had abandoned Jehovah, the God of his ancestors,by building the high places [of worship] in the cities of Judah and leading the people of Judah and JeruSalem astray.
Then [JehoRam] received a letter from the Prophet EliJah saying,
‘This is what Jehovah the God of your ancestor David has said:
Because you haven’t followed in the ways of your father JehoShaphat or in the ways of Asa the king of Judah,and have gone in the ways of the kings of IsraEl, leading the people of Judah and JeruSalem into [spiritual] immorality (just as the house of Ahab is guilty of such immorality), and because you murdered your brothers, the sons of your father who were all better than you;
{Look!} Jehovah is going to bring a great calamity upon you, your people, your sons, your women, and everything that you own…
Then you’re going to become very sick and feel worse each day until your belly bursts!’
So Jehovah sent the Philistines, the Arabians, and the people from around Ethiopia against JehoRam,and they attacked the Judeans and defeated them.
They carried off everything that they found in the king’s palace and in the houses of his sons and daughters.
And the only son that survived was JehoAhaz (his youngest).
Then Jehovah struck JehoRam with a disease of the belly that couldn’t be cured,and which got worse day after day, for the next 2 years.
And finally, his belly broke open from the disease and he died in agony.
Well, his people didn’t even hold a funeral for him as they had done for his ancestors.
He was 32 years old when he started his reign, and he reigned in JeruSalem for 8 years.
But when he died, he wasn’t highly regarded, so they buried him in a tomb in the city of David, but not among the kings.
Then the people of JeruSalem chose his youngest son, AhaziAh, to become their king, because all of JehoRam’s older sons had been murdered by a band of Arabian and AliMazonian highwaymen.
So AhaziAh became the king of Judah and started his reign in JeruSalem when he was 25 years old.
His mother’s name was AthaliAh, and she was the daughter of OmRi.
AhaziAh also followed in the ways of the house of Ahab, because his mother was his counselor in sin.
So, like the house of Ahab, he acted wickedly before Jehovah, because [Ahab’s family] served as his counselors after his father died and they led him into destruction.
For he listened to their council and joined Ahab’s son JehoRam (the king of IsraEl) in a war against HazaEl (the king of Syria) at RamOth GileAd.
[In this war], a bowman shot JehoRam,so he went to the hospital at JezreEl to be treated for the wound that he had received in his war against HazaEl (the king of Syria) at RamOth.
Then AhaziAh (the son of JehoRam, the king of Judah) went to see JehoRam (the son of Ahab) while he was recovering there in JezreEl.
And that’s when (under God’s direction) the final event in the life of AhaziAh happened;
For he joined with JehoRam to fight against Jehu (the son of NimShi), the one whom Jehovah had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.
Now, as Jehu was punishing the house of Ahab, he found the governors of Judah along with some of AhaziAh’s relatives, and he killed them all.
Then Jehu told [his men] to search for AhaziAh, and they found him at the hospital in Samaria. So they [led Jehu to] him and Jehu killed him.
But they buried him in a tomb, for they said:
‘He’s the descendant of JehoShaphat, a man that searched for Jehovah with his whole heart.’
Thereafter, with the death of AhaziAh, there was no one left to rule his kingdom.
And when his mother AthaliAh learned that her son AhaziAh had been killed, she tried to have everyone in the royal house of Judah murdered.
But JehoShabeth (the king’s daughter) stole his son JoAsh from the midst of the other sons of the king that were to be killed, and she hid him and fed him in a bed closet.
Now, JehoShabeth was the daughter of King JehoRam, the sister of AhaziAh, and the wife of JehoiAda (the Priest).
And she kept JoAsh with her, hidden from AthaliAh so she wouldn’t have him murdered,inside the Temple of God, until he was 6 years old.
But during that time, AthaliAh ruled the land.
Well, after 7 years, JehoiAda figured that the time had finally come.
So he took several army lieutenants (AzariAh the son of JehoRam, IshMaEl the son of JoAnan, AzariAh the son of Obed, MaAseJah the son of AdiJa, and EliShaPhan the son of ZachariAh) with him into the Temple of Jehovah.
Then they traveled around Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and all the family heads of IsraEl and brought them to JeruSalem;and this whole gathering of Judah made a pact with the king there at the Temple of God.
For [JehoiAda] showed the king’s son to them and said,
‘Look… this is the king’s son!
So, may he now become the king, just as Jehovah said concerning the house of David!
Therefore, this is what you must do:
1/3d of you Priests and Levites should come here on the Sabbath and occupy all the [Temple] gates and entrances;
1/3 must surround the king’s palace;
And 1/3 must occupy the central gate.
Then all the people must assemble in the courtyards of the Temple of Jehovah…don’t let anyone enter the Temple that isn’t a Priest or Levite!
Allow all the officiating Levites to enter, because they are holy, and all the rest should guard the watches of Jehovah.
Each of the Levites should gather around the king with their weapons in their hands, and then kill anyone that dares to enter the Temple…
They must protect the king as he is entering and leaving.’
So the Levites and all Judah did exactly as JehoiAda the Priest told them.
Each of [the lieutenants] kept his men in their stations from the time that the Sabbath started until its conclusion, and JehoiAda didn’t allow the Priests to rest after their daily rotations.
He gave the Priests and army lieutenants their orders, and then he armed them with swords, large shields, and even the small shields that King David had placed in the Temple of God.
Thereafter, he stationed them (bearing their weapons) everywhere, from the room on the right of the Temple to the room to the left of the Altar, and all around the king’s palace.
Then he brought out the king’s son and placed the trappings and proofs of his kingship upon him, and the [High] Priest JehoiAda and his sons anointed him as the king, shouting,
‘Long live the king!’
Well, AthaliAh heard the sounds of the people running and shouting, praising the king, so she went to the Temple of Jehovahand she saw {Look!} the king standing at his station in the king’s entrance as the trumpets were blowing.
Also, there were all the governors standing around the king, as the people of the land were joyfully shouting and blowing trumpets, the musicians were playing their instruments, and the singers were singing praises.
So AthaliAh tore her robe and shouted,
‘Attack them!’
But JehoiAda the Priest told the army lieutenants:
‘Throw her out of the Temple, then take her outside and kill her with your swords…
Don’t kill her inside the Temple of Jehovah!’
Well at that, they released her.
And as she was walking through the gate of the horsemen toward the king’s palace, they killed her.
Then JehoiAda proclaimed an agreement between himself, the people, and the king, that they were all going to be Jehovah’s people.
And thereafter, all the people of the land went to the temple of BaAl and tore it and its altars down, and they ground its idols into a fine dust.
Then they put Mathan (the priest of BaAl) to death in front of his altars.
Thereafter, [High] Priest JehoiAda commissioned the Priests and Levites to refurbish the Temple of Jehovah, and he reestablished the assignments and daily rotations of the Priests and Levites as they were set up by David for the Temple of Jehovah.
Then he sacrificed whole burnt offerings to Jehovah in the way that was written in the Law of Moses, as they played the joyful songs that were written by David.
He also assigned gatekeepers to stand at the gates of the Temple of Jehovah so as to prevent anyone that was unclean in any way from entering.
After that, he gathered the family heads, the dignitaries, the people’s governors, and all the people of the land.
Then they led the king into the Temple of Jehovah through the inner gate of the king’s palace, and sat him down on the king’s throne.
However, though all the people of the land were joyful, everything became silent as they executed Queen AthaliAh with a sword.
So, JoAsh was 7 years old when began his reign, and he ruled from JeruSalem for 40 years.
His mother’s name was SabiJa, and she was from BeerSheba.
JoAsh did what was right before Jehovah for as long as the [High] Priest JehoiAda was alive.
Meanwhile, JehoiAda [the Priest] had taken two women that bore sons and daughters to him.
Then it came into the heart of JoAsh to repair the Temple of Jehovah.
So he assembled all the Priests and Levites and said to them,
‘Go into all the cities of Judah and IsraEl each year and collect enough money to strengthen the Temple of Jehovah… starting from right now!’
Well, the Levites didn’t do anything;so King JoAsh called for JehoiAda their leader, and asked:
‘Why haven’t you been overseeing the Levites, to make sure they are taking up the collections from Judah and IsraEl that were specified by Moses (the man of God) for the gathering of IsraEl at the Tent of Proofs?
AthaliAh is to blame [for its poor condition], because it was her sons that wrecked the Temple of Jehovah, taking all its holy things and dedicating them to the BaAls.’
And the king said:
‘Make a [collection] chest and place it just outside of the entrance to the Temple of Jehovah.
Then, have [the officials] travel throughout Judah, JeruSalem, IsraEl, and into the desert, to tell [the people] to bring the amount that was specified by Moses (the servant of God), to Jehovah.’
Well thereafter, all the people and their governors did come and bring [their tithes], and soon the [collection] chest was filled.
So when the Levites carried the chest to the king’s accountants, they found that they had more than enough money [to complete the Temple reconstruction project].
Then the king’s scribe and the High Priest’s accountant emptied the chest and put it back into its place.
They did this each day, and they gathered huge amounts of money,which the king then gave to the Priest JehoiAda and to those that were doing the work on the Temple of Jehovah;
So they hired the stonecutters, carpenters, and metalworkers that were needed to repair Jehovah’s Temple.
Well, everyone did their jobs, and soon the project of rebuilding and refurbishing the Temple was completed.
Then after it was done, they carried the rest of the money to King JoAsh and to JehoiAda, and they made things that were required for the services at the Temple, such as gold incense pans and other items of silver and gold.
And thereafter, whole burnt offerings were sacrificed at the Temple of Jehovah throughout the rest of the life of JehoiAda.
Well, [the High Priest] JehoiAda lived a very full life, which ended after 130 years.
So they buried him in a tomb in the city of David… among the kings, because he had served IsraEl, God, and the Temple so well!
But after [High Priest] JehoiAda died, the governors of Judah came and bowed before the king, and the King [JoAsh] listened to them.
So they abandoned the Temple of Jehovah the God of their ancestors, and started serving the Astartes and the idols… which has brought [God’s] anger upon Judah and JeruSalem down to this day.
So [God] sent His Prophets to turn them back to Jehovah, and they warned the people… but they just wouldn’t listen.
Then the Breath of God came over AzariAh the Priest (JehoiAda’s son), and he went before the people and said to them,
‘This is what Jehovah has said:
Why are you overlooking My Commandments so that the things you’re doing won’t be blest?
You have abandoned Jehovah, so now He will abandon you!’
Well, following the orders of King JoAsh, they then attacked him and stoned him to death there in the courtyard of Jehovah’s Temple.
For JoAsh had forgotten the mercy that JehoiAda ([AzariAh’s] father) had shown to him and had his son murdered.
And as [AzariAh] was dying, he said:
‘Look down upon this O Jehovah, and judge!’
Well, as that year came to its end, the armies of Syria came and attacked Judah and JeruSalem, and they killed all the rulers of the people, then they carried away loot and brought it to their king in Damascus.
For even though the army of Syria that came against them wasn’t very large, God gave [Judah] and their huge army into their hands, because they had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors.
They also punished JoAsh,leaving him sick and broken.
Then his own servants turned against him (over the blood of the son of JehoiAda the Priest), and they killed him in his own bed.
So he died, and they buried him in a tomb in the city of David, but not in the tomb of the kings.
Well, the men that attacked him were SaBed (the son of SamaAth the AmMonite), and JoZabed (the son of SomarOth the Moabite)and his sons (all 5 of them joined in killing him).
{Look!} The rest of the things [that JoAsh] said are written in the scrolls of the kings.
Then his son AmaziAh became the king in his place.
AmaziAh was 25 years old when he started his reign, and he reigned from JeruSalem for 29 years.
His mother’s name was JoAden, and she was from JeruSalem.
Though he did what was upright before Jehovah, he didn’t do it wholeheartedly.
When he became the king, he killed the servants that had murdered his father (the king),but he didn’t kill their sons, because of what was written in the Sacred Agreement of the Law of Jehovah, where Jehovah said,
‘Fathers should not be put to death for their children, and sons should not die for their fathers.’
Then AmaziAh gathered [the troops] of Judah and divided them under the generals and lieutenants by the houses of their families throughout all Judah and JeruSalem.
He had taken a count of all those that were 20-years old and up, and found that there were 300,000 mighty warriors that carried a spear and a shield.
But then he also hired 100,000 mighty, powerful warriors from IsraEl for 3 tons (2,700kg) of silver.
So, the man of God came to him and said:
‘O king; You should not march along with the forces of IsraEl, because Jehovah isn’t with IsraEl or with any of the descendants of Ephraim.
So if you should choose to build your army with them, Jehovah will make you run from your enemies.
For Jehovah can either make you stronger or He can force you to run.’
Then AmaziAh asked the man of God:
‘But, what should I do about the 3 tons (2,700kg) of silver that I paid for the soldiers of IsraEl?’
And the man of God replied:
‘Jehovah can repay you with more than that.’
So AmaziAh sent away the soldiers that had come to him from Ephraim.
However, this made them furious with Judah, and they went back to their homes in a rage.
Well, AmaziAh’s [army] did grow stronger, so he gathered his men and marched into the Salt Valley, where they attacked and killed 10,000 of the sons of SeIr,and brought back 10,000 captives to Judah.
Then they led them to a high cliff and tossed them all over, ripping them to shreds.
But after that, the soldiers whom AmaziAh had sent away (the ones that he didn’t allow to join him in the war) attacked all the cities of Judah from Samaria to BethOron, killing 3,000 and carrying away a lot of loot.
And meanwhile, after AmaziAh had attacked Idumea, he brought back some of the gods of the sons of SeIr, erecting them for himself as gods, and he bowed and offered sacrifices to them.
So Jehovah became very angry with AmaziAh and sent His Prophet, that asked him:
‘Why are you now looking to the gods that weren’t able to save their own people from your hands?’
And the king replied:
‘Have I appointed you as one of the king’s councilors?
Be careful that I don’t have you whipped!’
So the Prophet didn’t tell him anything more.
He just said,
‘I know that He will now oppose you and ruin you, because He [sent me to you], and you refused to listen to my advice.’
Then AmaziAh (the king of Judah) sent word to JehoAsh (the son of JehoAhaz and grandson of Jehu, the king of IsraEl), saying:
‘[Why don’t you] come and meet me face-to-face?’
And JehoAsh (the king of IsraEl) replied:
‘A thorn bush in Lebanon sent word to the cedars of Lebanon, saying,
Give me your daughter to be my son’s wife.
But then the wild animals of the fields of Lebanon went and trampled the thorn bush.
So now you’re saying [to yourself],
Why, look! I have attacked Idumea,
And your heavy heart has been lifted!
But [it would be better for] you to just go back home and sit in your palace.
Why have you assembled [your army] to do evil?
For you will fall, and Judah will fall with you!’
Well, AmaziAh just wouldn’t listen, because Jehovah planned to hand him over to JehoAsh, due to his trusting in the gods of the Idumeans.
So AmaziAh (the king of Judah) and JehoAsh (the king of IsraEl) marched against each other, facing off at BethSamus in Judah.
Then the battle began, and Judah had to run from IsraEl – everyone ran back to their tents –and AmaziAh (the king of Judah, the son of JoAsh and grandson of JehoAhaz) was captured by JehoAsh (the king of IsraEl) at BethSamus.
Thereafter, they brought him back to JeruSalem, and they tore down the city walls from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate… 750 feet (230m) of it.
[JehoAsh] also took all the gold and silver, all the things that he found in the Temple of Jehovah, all the things being cared for by ObedEdom, and all the treasures in the king’s palace.
He also carried off several of the sons of [AmaziAh’s] allies, and then he returned to Samaria.
However, AmaziAh (the son of JoAsh) the king of Judah thereafter survived the death of JehoAsh (the son of JehoAhaz) the king of IsraEl by 15 years.
Well, {Look!} all the things that AmaziAh said, from beginning to end, are written in the scrolls of the kings of Judah and IsraEl.
But thereafter, AmaziAh [continued to rebel] against Jehovah, and there was an attempt to assassinate him.
So he fled JeruSalem and went to LachIsh.
But after he got there, they still found him and killed him.
Then they mounted his body on a horse and buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the city of David.
So, all the people of the land took UzZiAh, who was just 16 years old, and appointed him as king in place of his father AmaziAh.
He had been away, building ElAth, but he returned to Judah after the king went to sleep with his ancestors.
So UzZiAh was only 16 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem for 52 years.
His mother’s name was JecheliAh, and she was from JeruSalem.
[UzZiAh] did what was upright before Jehovah, every bit as much as did his father AmaziAh.
He searched for Jehovah throughout the entire life of ZachariAh, who was the one that [showed him] the need to fear Jehovah.
So, during the period that he was searching for Jehovah, all of his ways were blest.
Therefore, when he went to war with the Philistines, he tore down the walls of Gath, JabNe, and AshDod, and he built cities around AshDod, right there in the midst of the Philistines.
For Jehovah gave him power over the Philistines, the Arabians, those that lived on The Rock, and the Minaeans.
The Minaeans even brought gifts to him, and his name became famous beyond Egypt.
Thereafter, UzZiAh built [battle] towers around JeruSalem’s gates, at the corners [of the walls], at the gates and corners of the walls in the valley below, and he strengthened the [city walls].
He also built forts in the desert and he dug many wells, because there were so many cattle in the plains of ShepheLa.
In addition, he sent vinedressers into the mountains and to CarMel, because he was fond of farming.
However, UzZiAh [was also fond of] war, because he fought many battles.
The accounts of these were recorded by the Scribe JeiEl and Judge MasSiAh, from what they were told by AnaniAh, the king’s second-in-command.
There were 2,600 generals in his army[that were appointed over] 307,500 men.
These were always prepared for war and ready to [fight for] the king against his many opponents.
And UzZiAh took good care of [his army] by providing them with shields, spears, helmets, chest plates, bows, and stone slings.
He also had war machines built for them in JeruSalem by an engineer, which were used to attack the towers and corners of [the city walls].
The machines were used to shoot arrows and to throw huge boulders.
In fact, they became famous throughout the whole earth at the time, for he had such wonderful help… that is, until he grew strong.
However, after he became strong, his heart became very corrupt and he started sinning against his God Jehovah;
For he entered the Most Holy [in the Temple of Jehovah] to burn incense on the [sacred] Incense Altar.
Well, the [High] Priest AzariAh and 80 mighty Priests of Jehovah went in after himand they resisted King UzZiAh, saying to him:
‘UzZiAh, you aren’t allowed to burn incense to Jehovah!
That may only be done by the Priests that have descended from Aaron and have been made holy to burn the incense.
Now, leave this Holy Place; for you have left Jehovah!
This glory will not be given to you by Jehovah our God!’
Well, this made UzZiAh furious!
For there he was with the incense pan in his hand, ready to burn incense inside the Most Holy.
And as he was raging against the Priests, leprosy started to appear on his forehead, right there in front of the Priests in the Temple of Jehovah and in front of the Incense Altar.
So when AzariAh (the High Priest) and the other Priests turned to look at him, they saw the leprosy in his forehead, and they pushed him out of the Temple.
But even he was in a hurry to leave, because Jehovah was disciplining him!
Well, King UzZiAh had leprosy until the day he died, and he was kept in a home for lepers, cut off from the Temple of Jehovah.
As the result, his son JoTham ruled over his kingdom and judged the people of the land.
{Look!} The rest of the things that UzZiAh said, from beginning to end, were written by the Prophet IsaiAh (the son of Amoz).
Then UzZiAh went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in a tomb in the graveyard of his ancestors, but not among the kings, because they said,
‘He’s a leper.’
Then his son JoTham became the king after him.
JoTham was 25 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled from JeruSalem for 16 years.
His mother’s name was JeroUsa, and she was the daughter of ZaDok.
[JoTham] did what was upright before Jehovah in the same way that his father UzZiAh did (but he didn’t enter the Holy Place of Jehovah).
Yet despite this, the people still kept corrupting themselves.
[JoTham] built the tall gatehouse of Jehovah, and he did a lot of building along the wall of Ophel.
He also built citiesin the mountains of Judah, as well as forts and places to live in the forests.
He fought wars with the king of the sons of AmMon and conquered him.
And thereafter, the sons of AmMon had to send him 3 tons (2,700kg) of silver, 300 tons (27,000kg) of wheat, and 300 tons (27,000kg) of barley each year, which they did for the first three years.
So JoTham grew strong, because he faithfully served his God Jehovah.
{Look!} The rest of the things that JoTham said and did, and the stories of his wars, are written about in the scrolls of the kings of Judah and IsraEl.
Then JoTham went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in the city of David.
So his son Ahaz started reigning in his place.
Ahaz was 25 years old when he started his reign, and he reigned in JeruSalem for 16 years.
He didn’t do what was upright before Jehovah as did his ancestor David; rather, he went the way of the kings of IsraEl and made carved images,offering sacrifices to them in the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom.
He also [offered] his children in fire, in the same disgusting way as the nations that Jehovah had destroyed from in front of IsraEl had once done.
He burned incense on the high places, on roofs, and under every tree in the woods.
As the result, his God Jehovah handed him over to the king of Syria, who attacked him and carried off many prisoners to Damascus.
He also allowed the king of IsraEl to bring a great calamity upon him;
For PekAh (the son of RemaliAh, the king of IsraEl) killed 120,000 of his strong, mighty men (all on the same day); which happened because they had left Jehovah the God of their ancestors.
Then he executed ZechRi (the great man of Ephraim), MaAsa (the king’s son), EzriKan (who was in charge of the king’s palace), and ElKana (the king’s right-hand man);
And he carried off 300,000 women and children, along with everything of value, to Samaria.
Now, there was a Prophet of Jehovah in Samaria whose name was Obed;
And when the army of IsraEl was returning to Samaria, he went out to meet them and said:
‘{Look!} The reason why these people have been given into your hands is because Jehovah the God of your ancestors is angry with Judah.
But you have killed them in anger, and [news of this] has reached into the heavens.
Also, you’re now saying that the sons of Judah and JeruSalem can be sold as male and female slaves.
But {Look!} here I am among you to testify about this before your God Jehovah,so listen to me!
Return your brothers whom you’ve taken as captives; because, now the rage of Jehovah is upon you!’
Well thereafter, the leaders of Ephraim (AzariAh the son of JoHanan, BarachiAh the son of MoSolamOth, EzekiAs the son of SelLem, and AmasiAh the son of ElDai) said to those that were returning from the war:
‘There’s no way that we will allow you to bring these captives to us, because that would bring a sin against Jehovah upon us.
By talking this way, you’re trying to add to our sins and our ignorance.
For we’re already guilty of great sins, and the anger of Jehovah is already upon IsraEl.’
As the result, they released the captured warriors and laid all the loot they had taken before the rulers of the gathering.
Then the ones whose names were called out took the captives and covered those that were naked with clothing from the loot, tied sandals on their feet, and gave them food to eat and something to clean themselves with.
Thereafter, they mounted all those who were weak upon animals and took them to JeriCho and to The City of Palms, along with the rest of their brothers;
Then [IsraEl returned] to Samaria.
Well, later on, King Ahaz sent for the king of Assyria and asked him for aid, because the Idumeans had attacked Judah and carried off captives.
Then the Philistines attacked his cities in the plains and to the south of Judah, capturing BethSamus, everything in the Temple of Jehovah and in the king’s palace, and all the governors.
So they handed AiLon, GadEron, SoChor and its surrounding towns, ThamNa and its surrounding towns, and GamZo and its surrounding towns over to their king, and they started living there.
For Jehovah was humbling Judah because their king (Ahaz) had turned away from Him.
Then Tiglath-Pileser (the king of Assyria) came to his aid.
So Ahaz took the things in the Temple of Jehovah, the things in his palace, and the things that belonged to his governors, and gave it all to the king of Assyria…
Not for his help,but to keep him from attacking them.
Well, King Ahaz continued in his course of [rebellion] against Jehovah; for he then said:
‘I will [ask for help] from the gods of Damascus’
([the gods of the people] who were overpowering him).
[And he said]:
‘Since the gods of the king of Syria are making them strong, I will offer sacrifices to them and they’ll help me also.’
Well, this became a trap to him and to all IsraEl.
Then Ahaz took everything out of the Temple of Jehovah, cut it all to pieces, and locked the Temple doors.
And thereafter, he built altars in every city and on every corner of JeruSalem,and he erected high places in all the cities of Judah to burn incense to foreign gods, which made Jehovah (the God of their ancestors) very angry.
{Look!} The rest of the things that he said and did are written in the scrolls of the kings of Judah and IsraEl.
Then Ahaz went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in a tomb in the city of David…
But they didn’t bury him in the tombs of the kings of IsraEl.
Then his son HezekiAh became king in his place.
HezekiAh was 25 years old when he started his reign, and he reigned in JeruSalem for 29 years.
His mother’s name was AbBa and she was the daughter of ZachariAh.
HezekiAh did what was upright before Jehovah, as his ancestor David had done.
And after his kingdom was established, in the 1st month, he reopened the doors to the Temple of Jehovah and had it repaired.
Then he brought back the Priests and Levites… he had them assemble on the east side [of the Temple]and said to them:
‘O Levites, listen to me!
Now, purify yourselves, and then purify the Temple of Jehovah the God of your ancestors.
Clear out everything from the Holy Place that’s unclean,because our fathers have been [guilty of] rebellion and they’ve done evil things before our God Jehovah when they abandoned Him and turned their faces away from the Tent of Jehovah, showing Him the backs of their necks!
They have locked the Temple doors; they extinguished the lamps; they stopped burning the incense; and they stopped sacrificing whole burnt offerings in the Holy Place of the God of IsraEl.
That’s why Jehovah has been so angry with Judah and JeruSalem, and why He appointed them as objects of wonder and destruction by the Syrians… as you can see is happening with your own eyes.
Look! Your fathers have been attacked with swords, and your wives, sons, and daughters have been carried off as captives into a land that isn’t their own…
And that’s where they still are!
‘So, because of these things, you must decide in your hearts to conclude a sacred agreement with Jehovah, the God of IsraEl;
For only then will He turn His anger and rage away from you!
Don’t give up, because Jehovah has selected you to stand before Him and to serve Him by officiating and burning the incense.’
Then all the Levites stood up.
From the sons of KoHath, there was MaAl (the son of AmaSi) and JoEl (the son of AzariAh).
From the sons of MeraRi, there was Kish (the son of AbDi) and AzariAh (the son of JalLelEl).
From the sons of GerSham, there was JodaAd (the son of ZemMa) and JoAdam (the son of JoAcha).
From the sons of EliShaphan, there was ZamBri and JeiEl.
From the sons of Asaph, there was ZachariAh and MathanAniAh.
From the sons of HeMan, there was JeiEl and Semei.
From the sons of IdiThoun, there was SamaiJah and OziEl.
These went back and gathered all their brothers, and they were purified just as the king had commanded them (and following the directions of Jehovah), so they could do the work of cleansing the Temple of Jehovah.
Then the Priests went inside and threw out everything that was unclean, both in the building and in the courtyards…
The Levites took it all out and threw it into the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi.
Well after that, on that 1st day of the month, they celebrated their first New Moon festival.
And on the 8th day of the month, they went into the Temple of Jehovah to make everything holy, which took 8 days.
So they finished the project on the 16th day of the month.
Then they went to see King HezekiAh and said:
‘We have purified all the things in the House of Jehovah, from the Altar for the whole burnt offerings and its utensils, to the table where the [sacred bread] is placed (along with its utensils)…
All the things that King Ahaz defiled during his defection.
So, everything has been prepared and purified, and look… it’s all there in front of Jehovah’s Altar.’
Well, King HezekiAh arose early the next morning and gathered all the city officials, and they went up to the Temple of Jehovah.
They brought along 7 calves, 7 rams, 7 lambs, and 7 winter-yearling goats as sin offerings for the kingdom, for the holy things, and for IsraEl.
Then he told the Priests (the sons of Aaron) to go up to the Altar of Jehovah,where they sacrificed the calves and collected the blood and poured it out on the Altar.
Then they sacrificed the rams and poured their blood on the Altar.
And after that, they sacrificed the lambs and poured their blood on the Altar.
Finally, they brought the winter-yearling goats to be sacrificed as sin offerings before the king and the gathering.
So everyone placed their hands on [the goats],and the Priests sacrificed them, pouring their blood against the Altar to cover the sins of all IsraEl.
For the king said:
‘We are sacrificing these whole burnt offerings and sin offerings [on behalf of] all IsraEl.’
The Levites had also come to the Temple of Jehovah carrying their cymbals, stringed instruments, and woodwinds, just as King David had instructed them, along with the king’s Seer Gad and the Prophet Nathan, following the Commandments of Jehovah…
Since the order of events had been entrusted to the hands of the Prophets.
So the Levites stood there with the instruments of David, and the Priests had their trumpets.
Then when HezekiAh [said it was time] to sacrifice the whole burnt offerings on the Altar, they all started singing to Jehovah, accompanied by the trumpets and the instruments of David (the king of IsraEl),as the whole assembly bowed with their faces to the ground.
Well, the singers kept singing and the trumpets continued to be blown until all the whole burnt offerings had been sacrificed.
And as they were completing the offering, the king and all his guests also bowed to the ground.
After that, King HezekiAh and his dignitaries told the Levites to [sing] praises to Jehovah in the [psalms] of David and of the Prophet Asaph.
So they sang these praises joyfully, and they also fell and bowed low to the ground.
Then HezekiAh [told the people]:
‘Now that you’ve filled your hands for Jehovah, come forward and bring your sacrifices of praise to the Temple of Jehovah!’
So, the people eagerly started bringing their sacrifices of praise to the Temple as whole burnt offerings to Jehovah.
The gathering offered 70 calves, 100 rams, and 200 lambs as whole-burnt-offerings to Jehovah,and they also set aside some 600 calves and 3,000 sheep for sacred use.
Well, because there were so few Priests, they were unable to cut up all the whole burnt offerings;
So their brothers the Levites had to assist them until all the work was done and all the Priests were purified (for the Levites had been more eager to purify themselves than the Priests had been).
But there was more than enough of the whole burnt offerings and fat for the sacred deliverance offerings and drink offerings.
Well, the work in the Temple of Jehovah had finally begun.
And HezekiAh and all the people were very joyful, because God had prepared the people, and everything came together so quickly.
Thereafter, HezekiAh sent letters to all IsraEl and Judah, as well as letters to Ephraim and ManasSeh, inviting them to come to the Temple of Jehovah in JeruSalem to observe the Passover to Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.
Then the king and his governors laid plans for the entire assembly to come to JeruSalem to observe the Passover in the 2nd month,because they hadn’t been able to celebrate it at the correct time (since the Priests weren’t sufficiently purified and all the people hadn’t gathered in JeruSalem).
Well, this pleased the king and the [people] so muchthat they decided to send a proclamation throughout IsraEl (from BeerSheBa to Dan), inviting everyone to come and observe the Passover to Jehovah the God of IsraEl in JeruSalem (because most of them hadn’t responded to the [first] letters).
So they sent runners with letters from the king and his governors into all IsraEl and Judah (following the king’s orders), saying,
‘Sons of IsraEl; return to Jehovah, the God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.
For He will return to those who have escaped and survived the hand of the king of Assyria.
Don’t be like your ancestors and your brothers who turned away from Jehovah, the God of their fathers;
For He handed them over for destruction, as you can see has truly happened.
‘Don’t stiffen your necks as did your fathers;
Give glory to Jehovah, your God! Come to the Holy Place that He made holy through the ages, and serve your God Jehovah, then He will turn His rage and anger away from you.
For when you return to Jehovah, your brothers and your children will be shown pity by those who have taken them captive, and He will return this land to you.
Jehovah our God is merciful and He feels compassion, so He won’t turn His face from us if we return to Him.’
Well, the runners traveled from city to city throughout the mountains of Ephraim and ManasSeh and into ZebuLun;
And everywhere, people made fun of them and ridiculed them.
However, some of the men of Asher, ManasSeh, and ZebuLun did feel ashamed, and they came to Judah and into JeruSalem;
And the hand of God gave them a united heart to do as the king and his governors had ordered… to follow the instructions of Jehovah.
Then they all gathered in JeruSalem, and so many people attended to observe the celebration of the fermentation-free bread in the (the 2nd) month, [that it turned into] a huge assembly.
And thereafter, everyone got up and demolished all the [pagan] altars in JeruSalem and they tore down all the altars upon which they had burned incense to their lying idols, and threw them into the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi.
Then they sacrificed the Passover on the 14th day of the 2nd month.
Well, the Priests and the Levites all felt ashamed, so they purified themselves and carried whole burnt offerings into the Temple of Jehovah.
Then each one took his station and handled his responsibilities, just as Moses (the man of God) had commanded, and the Priests received the [sacrificial] blood from the hands of the Levites,because many of them had been purified.
However, not all of the Levites who were to sacrifice the Passover had yet been purified to Jehovah,and most of the people that had come from Ephraim, ManasSeh, IsSachar, and ZebuLun had not purified themselves.
Yet they all ate the Passover, which was contrary to [what was written in] the Scriptures.
Then HezekiAh prayed for them, saying:
‘O Jehovah, the good God;
[Please] cover [the sins] of those of us who have straightened our hearts to search for You, the God of our ancestors, and who haven’t been purified as the Holy Things have been purified.’
Well, Jehovah listened to HezekiAh and He healed the people.
Then all the sons of IsraEl who were found in JeruSalem celebrated the holiday of the fermentation-free bread for 7 days with great joy, singing praises to Jehovah each day, as the Priests and Levites played their instruments to the Lord.
Then at the conclusion of the holiday of the fermentation-free bread loaves (at the end of 7 days of sacrificing for salvation and for praising Jehovah the God of their ancestors), HezekiAh spoke to the hearts of the Levites and to all those who were searching for Jehovah with a pure heart.
And thereafter, the entire assembly agreed to observe [the festival] for another 7 days…
So they joyfully celebrated for 7 more days!
Then HezekiAh dedicated 1,000 calves and 7,000 sheep on behalf of those who had assembled from Judah, and the governors dedicated 1,000 calves and 10,000 sheep on behalf of the people… giving many holy things to the Priests.
So, everyone was happy – the Priests, the Levites, the whole assembly of Judah, and everyone else that was found in JeruSalem, including the foreigners who had come from the land of IsraEl and those who were living in Judah.
It was a joyful day in JeruSalem, for there hadn’t been one like it since the days of Solomon the son of David, the king of IsraEl.
Then the Levite priests got up and blest the people…
And the things they said were heard, because their prayers reached to the Sacred Home in the heavens.
Well after that, all the IsraElites in the cities of Judah broke down the monuments and sacred poles, then they tore down the high places [of worship] and the shrines throughout Judah, BenJamin, Ephraim, and ManasSeh, until they were all gone;
And all IsraEl returned to the lands and cities of their inheritance.
Then HezekiAh reestablished the different responsibilities and the daily rotations of the Priests and Levites for sacrificing the whole burnt offerings, for offering sacrifices of salvation, and for praising, acknowledging, and officiating at the gates and courtyards of the Temple of Jehovah.
He also set aside a portion of his own possessions as whole burnt offerings to be sacrificed early each morning, at dusk, on the Sabbaths, on the New Moons, and on the holidays, as it was written in the Law of Jehovah.
Thereafter, HezekiAh spoke to the people who lived in JeruSalem about giving their due portion to the Priests and Levites, so these men could do more in their services at the Temple of Jehovah,and he sent word to all sons of IsraEl to bring in the first fruits of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and the offspring of their fields.
As the result, a huge number from IsraEl and Judah brought in their 1/10th portion.
Also, those from the cities of Judah brought 1/10th of their calves, sheep, and goats, which they [offered] as holy to their God Jehovah…
They brought it all in and piled it in heaps upon heaps.
It was in the 3rd month that they started the heaped piles of [offerings], which they [continued to bring] until the 7th month.
And when HezekiAh and his governors came and saw all the heaps, they praised Jehovah and His people IsraEl.
Then HezekiAh spoke to the Priests and the Levites about the heaps.
He said to AzariAh (the High Priest and the head of the house of ZaDok),
‘When the first-fruits were brought to the Temple of Jehovah; after we all ate and drank, we left a huge amount behind.
Yes, Jehovah has blest His people so much that we still have a lot left over.’
Then HezekiAh told him to prepare a place for it in the Temple of Jehovah, which he did.
So they carried in all the remaining first fruits and 1/10th portions, and stored them away.
The Levite ConaniJah was thereafter put in charge of it all, and his brother ShiMei was assigned as his assistant,as were JeiEl, OzaziAh, NaEth, AsahEl, JeriMoth, JoZabad, EliEl, ShamachiAh, MaAth, and BenaiJah and his sons.
They were all assigned under ConaniJah and his brother ShiMei by King HezekiAh and AzariAh (who was in charge of the Temple of Jehovah).
JemNa, the Levite (who was in charge of the east gate) was then assigned to distribute the gifts, the first-fruits that were donated to Jehovah, and the holy things in the Holy of Holiesthat were brought by the singers and from BenJamin, JeShua, ShiMei, AmariAh, and ShechoniJah, as well as the things that the Priests had stored away.
Then he divided it among the Priests by the size of their families (counting all males from three years old and up) and their daily rotations,regardless of their genealogy, and to all those that served at the Temple of Jehovah by the number of days that they actually served in the arrangement of the daily rotations.
It was also distributed among the Levites by the houses and families of those that were 20-years-old and older, by their arrangement of daily rotations,classifications, genealogies, and by the number of sons and daughters they had, because they were entrusted with purifying the Holy Place.
Among the sons of Aaron (those that served as the officiating Priests from each of the cities); all the men were given assignments as Priests, as were those that were considered to be Levites.
HezekiAh did this throughout all Judah, and everything he did was good and upright before his God Jehovah.
In all that he did – whether it was the work at the Temple of Jehovah, or having to do with the Law, or with giving instructions – he relied upon his God with his whole soul, and his ways were blest.
Well when word of this was spread, the things that were happening there came to the attention of SenNacherIb, the king of Assyria.
So he marched into Judah and camped around its walled cities, as he talked about conquering them.
Then when HezekiAh saw that SenNacherIb had arrived and that he intended to wage a war with JeruSalem,he met with his councilors and generals and discussed ways to stop up the springs and streams that were outside of the city wall…
And they vigorously assisted him in doing this.
So he recruited a large number of people and stopped up the waters of the springs, as well as the river that runs [in front] of the city.
For they asked:
‘Should the king of Assyria be able to find a lot of water and grow strong?’
Then HezekiAh strengthened his position by rebuilding all the walls that had been torn down and all the battle towers.
In fact, he built a perimeter wall all the way around the city wall.
He also strengthened the citadel in the City of David, and he made many other preparations.
Then he declared Marshall Law, and he gathered all his military leaders in the square at the gate that leads into the valley, and he spoke to their hearts, saying:
‘Be manly and strong!
Don’t allow the king of Assyria or any of those nations that are marching with him to frighten or terrify you, because there are more with us than there are with him.
For while those that are with him have arms of flesh, we have our God Jehovah to save us and to fight our battles!’
Well, the words of HezekiAh the king of Judah inspired confidence in the people.
But then SenNacherIb (the king of Assyria) sent his personal servant to JeruSalem (while he was marching on [the city of] LachIsh with his entire army), who spoke to HezekiAh and to all the Judeans that were gathered in JeruSalem, saying,
‘This is what SenNacherIb, the king of the Assyrians, has said:
What are you people relying on that you’ve all [fled] to the stronghold of JeruSalem?
Has HezekiAh deceived you into thinking that he can save you from hunger, thirst, and death by telling you that your God Jehovah will save you from the hands of the king of Assyria?
For, isn’t this the same HezekiAh that tore down His altars and high places of worship, and said to Judah and to those that live in JeruSalem,
Now bow before this Altar, and here is where you should burn incense?
Don’t you know what my ancestors and I have done to similar peoples?
For none of the gods of any of the other nations on the earth have been able to save their peoples from my hands!
Which of any of the gods of these nations that my ancestors and I destroyed were able to rescue their people from my hands, and how can your God save you from my hands?
‘Now, don’t allow HezekiAh to fool you and persuade you to do what he says… don’t trust him!
For there’s no way that any god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from my hands…
And there’s no way that your God will save you from my hands.’
Well, he just kept on speaking against Jehovah God and His servant HezekiAh.
[SenNacherIb] also wrote a letter to berate Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, that said concerning Him:
‘No other god of any nation on earth has rescued his people from my hands, so there’s no way that the God of HezekiAh will save his people from me!’
Then [the envoy] yelled in the Jewish language to the people of JeruSalem that were manning the walls, telling them to tear down the walls so that he could just take the city.
And he [again] spoke against the God of JeruSalem, as well as against all the gods of the rest of the peoples of the earth (those that men made with their hands).
Well, King HezekiAh and the Prophet IsaiAh (the son of Amoz) prayed about these things, calling into the heavens.
Then Jehovah sent a messenger who wiped out all the mighty warriors, all the rulers, and all the leaders in the camp of the king of Assyria, forcing [SenNacherIb] to return to his own land in shame.
And when he went to the temple of his god, those that came from his own belly overthrew him, [murdering] him with a broadsword.
So Jehovah saved HezekiAh and the people that were living in JeruSalem from the hands of SenNacherIb the king of Assyria (as well as all those that were with him), and He provided a period of rest throughout the land.
And thereafter, many people brought gifts to Jehovah in JeruSalem, and they brought presents to HezekiAh, the king of Judah.
For after that, he became highly respected by all the surrounding nations.
However, sometime later, HezekiAh became ill to the point of dying.
So he prayed to Jehovah, and God heard him and gave him a sign.
But after that, HezekiAh failed to deal with [Jehovah] in the same way that [God] had dealt with him; for he became proud in his heart, which brought [God’s] anger upon Judah and JeruSalem.
As the result, He started to humble the proud hearts of HezekiAh and those that lived in JeruSalem.
However, thereafter, Jehovah’s anger didn’t come again to HezekiAh throughout the rest of his days.
So HezekiAh became very rich and famous.
He filled his treasuries with silver, gold, precious gems, aromatics, weapons, and all sorts of desirable things.
His cities had all types of produce, grain, wine, and olive oil; and his towns had stables for all sorts of animals and huge pens for the flocks [of sheep].
Then he built cities for himself, and he came to own vast herds of sheep and oxen;
For [Jehovah was blessing] all of his holdings.
It was HezekiAh that had blocked up the upper [spring] of GiHon and rerouted it to the south of the city of David…
And all of HezekiAh’s projects prospered.
Then ambassadors came to him from the rulers of Babylon to ask about the miracles that had taken place in his land;
And that’s when Jehovah left [HezekiAh], as a test, to find out what was really in his heart.
{Look!} All of the rest of the things that HezekiAh said (and of his mercy) are written about in the prophecies of IsaiAh (the son of Amoz) the Prophet, and in the scrolls of the kings of Judah and IsraEl.
Then HezekiAh went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in the tomb that’s along the road that leads up to the tombs of the sons of David.
And all the people of Judah and those living in JeruSalem showed him great honor after he died.
Thereafter, his son ManasSeh started reigning in his place.
ManasSeh was 12 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled from JeruSalem for 55 years.
However, he acted wickedly before Jehovah and he started doing the same disgusting things that the nations Jehovah had destroyed before the sons of IsraEl had been doing.
He rebuilt the high places [of worship] that his father HezekiAh had torn down; he erected columns to the BaAls;
He erected sacred poles, and he bowed before them and served all the armies of the heavens.
He even built altars inside the Temple of Jehovah, the place where Jehovah had said,
‘[I will establish] My Name in JeruSalem through the ages.’
And he erected altars to all the armies of the heavens inside the Temple courtyards.
Then he even [sacrificed] his own children in the fire at GeHenna;
He [personally] foretold the future;
He administered potions and went to fortunetellers;
And he did many other bad things before Jehovah, so as to anger Him.
He also carved and molded images and placed them inside the very Temple of God where Jehovah had said to David and to his son Solomon,
‘I have chosen this House and JeruSalem from all the tribes of IsraEl, and I will put My Name here through the ages.
And I will not shake the foot of IsraEl from this land that I gave to their ancestors, as long as they’re careful to do all the things that I’ve instructed them and they follow the Laws, orders, and decisions that they were given through the hands of Moses.’
So, ManasSeh misled Judah and the people of JeruSalem into acting worse than all the nations that Jehovah had removed from before the sons of IsraEl.
And though Jehovah spoke to ManasSeh and his people, they just wouldn’t listen.
As the result, Jehovah led the rulers of the army of the king of the Assyrians against them, and they captured ManasSeh and put him shackles, then they led him off to Babylon.
Well, it was while he was in this terrible situation that [ManasSeh] finally searched for the face of Jehovah his God, and he became very humble before the God of his ancestors.
He prayed to Him, and [God listened]…
He heard his cries and returned him to JeruSalem [as king] over his kingdom;
For ManasSeh had finally learned that Jehovah is The God.
After that, [ManasSeh] built a wall around the city of David, from GiHon in the south, along the [Cedar] Wadi, and all the way around to the Fisherman’s Gate.
He also had a huge number of weapons [made], and he assigned generals and troops to guard each of the walled cities of Judah.
Then he removed the foreign gods and carved images from the Temple of Jehovah, along with all the altars that he had built on the mountain where the Temple of Jehovah was located, as well as those inside JeruSalem and outside of the city.
He also erected an Altar to Jehovah, where he sacrificed a salvation offering and a praise offering…
And he told Judah to serve Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.
However, the people kept on offering sacrifices in the high places, which was something that wasn’t acceptable to their God Jehovah.
{Look!} The rest of the things that ManasSeh said…
Of his prayer to God and of the [warnings that came from] the Seers that spoke to him in the Name of the Lord God of IsraEl,and of how he prayed and God listened to him, and of all his sins and defections, and of the locations of the high places that he built, and of the sacred poles and the images that he had erected before he returned [to God], are written about in the words of the Seers.
Then ManasSeh went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in a tomb in the garden [behind] his palace.
So his son Amon started ruling in his place.
Well, Amon was 22 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem for just 2 years.
As his father ManasSeh had done, he started acting wickedly before Jehovah.
For he worshiped and sacrificed to all the idols that his father had made,and he was never humbled before Jehovah as his father ManasSeh had been humbled.
So he then committed sins that were even worse than those of his father.
However, his own servants attacked him and killed him in his palace.
Then the people of the land attacked those who’d killed King Amon, and they appointed his son JosiAh to be king in his place.
JosiAh was only 8 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem for 31 years.
He did what was upright before Jehovah and he followed in the ways of his ancestor David…
He didn’t deviate to the right or to the left.
It was in the 8th year of his reign (while he was still a boy) that he started searching for Jehovah, the God of his ancestor David.
And in the 12th year of his reign, he started cleansing Judah and JeruSalem of the high places [of worship], the sacred poles, the shrines, and the molded images.
He totally destroyed the things that were there before his face… the altars and high places of the BaAls, as well as all those that were in charge of them.
He cut down the sacred poles and carved images, and he had the molded images crushed into a fine powder and the dust was thrown on the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them.
He also incinerated the bones of the priests on their own altars, and he totally cleaned up Judah and JeruSalem.
Then he did the same things throughout the cities of ManasSeh, Ephraim, SimeOn, and NaphTali, and all the places around them.
He tore down the altars and the sacred poles, and he cut the idols into fine pieces.
And after beating down all the high places throughout the land of IsraEl, he returned to JeruSalem.
It was during the 18th year of his reign that he called for a cleansing of the land and of the Temple.
So he sent ShaPhan (the son of EseliJa), MaAsa (the city mayor), and the City Recorder JoAh (the son of JoAhaz) to repair the Temple of his God Jehovah.
And thereafter, they went to the High Priest HelkiAh, and gave him the money that had been collected by the Levites at the gates, which had been donated to the Temple by those from ManasSeh, Ephraim, the governors, and all the rest of Judah, BenJamin, IsraEl, and the people of JeruSalem.
He in turn gave it to those that were in charge of doing the work in the Temple of Jehovah, to repair and fortify it.
So they paid the builders and contractors that bought blocks of cut stone and wooden beams for the roof, since all of that had been destroyed by the kings of Judah.
Now, the overseers that were in charge of the men that supervised the construction were Jeth and ObadiAh (Levites that were descendants of MeraRi), as well as ZachariAh and MosShaloam (descendants of KoHath).
Then all the Levites, including the musicians and singers, kept an eye on the project,while the Levite scribes, gatekeepers, and judges watched over the laborers and their foremen.
Well, it was while they were delivering the money that had been collected for the Temple of Jehovah that the High Priest HelkiAh found a scroll of the Law of Jehovah that [had been written] by the very hand of Moses.
And HelkiAh said to ShaPhan (the scribe):
‘We have found the scroll of the Law in the Temple of Jehovah!’
So HelkiAh gave the scroll to ShaPhan,and he carried it to the king, who started off by saying:
‘All your servants have been paid for doing their work.
They also melted down the silver that was found in the Temple of Jehovah and used it to pay the overseers and laborers.’
Then the Scribe ShaPhan said this to the king:
‘This scroll was given to me by HelkiAh the Priest.’
And then he read it before the king.
Well when the king heard the words of the Law, he started ripping his clothes.
Then he gave orders to HelkiAh, AchiKam (the son of ShaPhan), AbDon (the son of MichaiJah), ShaPhan (the scribe), and his personal servant AsaiAh, saying:
‘Go and ask Jehovah about the things that are written in this scroll that was found, on behalf of myself and everyone that is left in IsraEl and Judah.
For Jehovah’s rage must surely be burning against us, because we’ve ignored what our ancestors told us about the words of Jehovah when they passed on the things that are written about in this scroll.’
So HelkiAh and the others whom the king had called went to see the Prophetess HulDah (the wife of SelLem, the son of ThekoE and grandson of Aras, the one who was in charge of guarding the Commandments).
She lived in JeruSalem, in the 2nd section. And they told her everything that had happened.
Then she told them,
‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl has said:
Tell the man that sent you to methat Jehovah says [He is] calling down evil upon this place because of the things that are written in this scroll that was read before the king of Judah.
For they have abandoned Me and burned incense to foreign gods to make Me angry over these things that they made with their hands.
So My rage is burning against this place, and it won’t be extinguished.
‘And say this to the King of Judah that sent you to search for Jehovah… tell him that Jehovah the God of IsraEl says:
Because you felt shame in your heart over the words that you heard, and because you humbled yourself before Me when you heard what I said about this place and those that live here, and because you were humbled and ripped your clothes then wept before Me;
I have listened to you.
And Jehovah said:
{Look!} I will count you among your ancestors and send you to your tomb in peace, so your eyes won’t see any of the bad things that I will bring upon this place and upon those that live here.’
Well thereafter, they brought the message back to the king,and then the king gathered all the elders of Judah and JeruSalem,and they went to the Temple of Jehovah, along with all the people of Judah and JeruSalem (including the Priests and Levites)…
All the people from the least to the greatest.
Then he read all the words of the scroll of the Sacred Agreement that was found in the Temple of Jehovah.
The king got up on the podium and proposed a sacred agreement there before Jehovah…
That they would obey His Commandments, testimonies, and orders with their entire hearts and souls, so as to observe the words of the Agreement that were written in the scroll.
Then he asked all those in JeruSalem, Judah, and BenJamin to ratify this agreement with the Temple of Jehovah, the God of their ancestors.
Thereafter, JosiAh removed all the disgusting things from the land that the sons of IsraEl had made, and he decreed that everyone in JeruSalem and IsraEl would start serving Jehovah as their God.
And throughout the rest of his life, he didn’t turn aside from following Jehovah, the God of his ancestors.
It was then that JosiAh observed the Passover to his God Jehovah…
He offered the Passover sacrifice on the 14th day of the 1st month.
He also stationed the Priests at their watches and he granted them even more power to do their work at the Temple of Jehovah.
Then he urged the most prominent Levites in all IsraEl to dedicate themselves to serving Jehovah and to returning the Holy Chest [to its place] in the Temple… and that’s what they did.
They put the Holy Chest into the Temple that was built by Solomon (the son of David), the king of IsraEl.
Then the king said to them:
‘It isn’t your job to be carrying anything on your shoulders… your job is just to serve your God Jehovah and His people IsraEl!
So, prepare the houses of your families to handle your daily rotations according to the way it was written by David, the king of IsraEl, and by the hand of his son Solomon.
Then take your stations in the Temple by the order of your houses and families, so you can [help] your brothers, the sons of the people.
Select some from each house of the families of the Levites,then sacrifice the Passover and prepare the holy things, so that your brothers may observe it as Jehovah had instructed through the hand of Moses.’
Well, JosiAh dedicated some 30,000 sheep, lambs, and goat kids for the Passover on behalf of the sons of the people, as well as 3,000 calves (which all belonged to the king).
Then his governors dedicated [animals] on behalf of the people and brought them to the Priests and Levites.
However, HelkiAh, ZachariAh, and JeiEl (the Chief Priests at the Temple of God) also offered 2,600 more sheep, lambs, and goat kids, plus 300 calves for the Passover.
And ConaniAh, BenaiJah, SamaiJah, his brothers NathaniEl, AsabiJah, JeiEl, and JoZabad (the heads of the Levites) dedicated 5,000 sheep and 500 calves on behalf of the Levites for the Passover.
So after everything was arranged, the Priests then took their stations, and the Levites handled their assignments as they had been commanded by the king.
Then they sacrificed the Passover…
The Priests poured out the blood, and the Levites did the cutting and skinning,as they prepared the whole burnt offerings, and they delivered each one’s portions to the sons of the people by houses and families, so they could present them to Jehovah as it is written in the book of Moses.
This all lasted well into the morning.
Thereafter, following the Law, they roasted the Passover [sacrifices] over a fire, while the holy pieces were boiled in brass pots and kettles.
Everything went well, and they then ran and [distributed the pieces] among the sons of the people.
Well after that, the Priests prepared to sacrifice whole burnt offerings on behalf of themselves, and the fat was burned for themselves and their brothers (the sons of Aaron) until that evening.
So the singers and musicians (the sons of Asaph) then took their stations.
And following the instructions of David, Asaph, HeMan, and JediThun (the king’s Prophet), the gatekeepers and their supervisors who manned the gates didn’t have to go up to offer their holy things, because their brothers the Levites prepared it all for them.
Everything was set up for the service to Jehovah in observation of the Passover on that day, and their whole burnt offerings were placed on the Altar of Jehovah, following the commands of King JosiAh.
Thereafter, all the sons of IsraEl who had come to observe the Passover celebrated the holiday of the fermentation-free bread for 7 days.
There hadn’t been another day like it in IsraEl since the time of the Prophet SamuEl, because none of the kings of IsraEl had observed the Passover [in the way that] JosiAh did.
And the Priests, Levites, all those in Judah and IsraEl, and all those that lived in JeruSalem participated.
This Passover was observed in the 18th year of the reign of JosiAh.
However, the oracles, fortunetellers, family gods, idols, and beloved things that had all still been commonplace throughout the land of Judah and in JeruSalem.
So King JosiAh had them all collected and burned, following the Law that was written in the scroll that the High Priest HelkiAh had found in the Temple of Jehovah.
There was never anyone else like him who had turned to Jehovah so wholeheartedly (with his whole soul and strength) when it came to following the Law of Moses, nor was there anyone like him after that.
However, even this didn’t turn away Jehovah’s great anger and rage, because of the many ways in which Judah and ManasSeh had been provoking Jehovah.
For Jehovah said:
‘I will for a fact remove Judah from before My face as I removed IsraEl, and I will push away JeruSalem (the city that I chose) and the Temple where I said that I would put My Name.’
Then PharaOh Necho (the king of Egypt) attacked the king of Assyria at the EuPhrates River, and King JosiAh went to fight against him.
Well at that, [PharaOh Necho] sent messengers to JosiAh, to ask:
‘What have I done to you, O king of Judah?
I haven’t come to wage war against you today;
I’m fighting my battle here, because God told me to come here quickly.
So be careful, for God is with me, and He can also ruin you.’
However, JosiAh didn’t turn back… he got ready to wage war, and he refused to listen to the words of Necho (that came from mouth of God).
So he marched into the plains of MegidDo.
Then a bowman shot and hit King JosiAh, and he said to his servants:
‘Take me [home], because I’m in a lot of pain.’
So his servants took him out of his chariot and put him in a second chariot that was nearby, and they carried him back to JeruSalem, where he died.
Thereafter, he was buried in a tomb with his ancestors, and all Judah and JeruSalem mourned for him.
[The Prophet] JeremiAh also mourned over JosiAh, and he spoke a dirge to all the governors and rulers over JosiAh, which is still spoken to this day;
For he told IsraEl to say:
‘Look! It’s written in the Lamentations.’
{Look!} The rest of the things that JosiAh said and hoped for concerning the Law of Jehovah –all of his words, from the first to the last – are written in the scrolls of the kings of IsraEl and Judah.
Then the people of the land took JehoAhaz (JosiAh’s son) and anointed him as king over JeruSalem in place of his father.
JehoAhaz was 23 years old when he started his reign, and he reigned in JeruSalem for just three months.
His mother’s name was AmiTal, and she was the daughter of JeremiAh of LoBena.
He acted as wickedly before Jehovah as his ancestors before him had done.
Then PharaOh Necho had him imprisoned in DebLatha (in the land of HaMath), so he could no longer serve as his vassal in JeruSalem,and thereafter he took him to Egypt.
[Necho] also demanded that [the people of IsraEl] were to pay him a tribute of 30 tons (27,000kg) of silver and 60 pounds (27.2kg) of gold.
PharaOh Necho then put JosiAh’s son EliAkim on the throne of Judah, and he changed his name to JehoiAkim.
That’s when PharaOh Necho carried his brother JehoAhaz to Egypt, where he died.
Then [JehoiAkim] paid the silver and gold to the PharaOh, and a tax was imposed on the land by the word of PharaOh.
Each person was required to hand over his silver and gold (as they were able) to PharaOh Necho.
Well, JehoiAkim was 25 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled from JeruSalem for 11 years.
His mother’s name was ZeKora, and she was the daughter of NerYow from RamAh.
He also acted wickedly before Jehovah… every bit as bad as did his ancestors.
It was during his reign that NebuChadnezzar (the king of Babylon) came to the land and made [JehoiAkim] his vassal for three years.
But then he rebelled against him, and Jehovah sent the Chaldeans (as well as bands of Syrian robbers, bands of Moabite robbers, the sons of AmMon, and [the people of] Samaria) against him.
However, they all left after Jehovah had sent a warning to them through His servants the Prophets.
Yet, Jehovah was still in a rage against Judah because of the sins of ManasSeh and all the [bad] things that he did, and because of all the innocent blood that JehoiAkim had spilled (for he had filled JeruSalem with the blood of the innocents);
So, He planned to remove Judah from before His face.
However, Jehovah didn’t want to destroy everyone.
Then NebuChadnezzar (the king of Babylon) attacked [JehoiAkim] and had him carried off to Babylon in shackles,along with many things that he had taken from the Temple of Jehovah, which he thereafter put into his own temple in Babylon.
{Look!} The rest of the things that JehoiAkim said and did were written in the scrolls of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.
Then JehoiAkim went to sleep with his ancestors, and he was buried in a tomb at GanOza with his ancestors…
So his son JehoiAchin started reigning in his place.
JehoiAchin was 18 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem for just 3 months and 10 days;
For he acted wickedly in the presence of Jehovah.
Then toward the end of the year, King NebuChadnezzar had him carried off to Babylon, along with many more valuable things from the Temple of Jehovah;
And then his uncle, ZedekiAh, became king over Judah and JeruSalem.
ZedekiAh was 21 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem for 11 years.
But he also acted wickedly before his God Jehovah, and when the Prophet JeremiAh brought him word from the mouth of Jehovah, he wasn’t shamed.
Thereafter, he annulled his allegiance to King NebuChadnezzar (which he had sworn before God)…
He just stiffened his neck and [hardened] his heart, and he refused to return to Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.
Well, during that time, all the most honored men of Judah, as well as the Priests and the people of the land, just got worse.
They traded goodness for wickedness and the disgusting things of the nations, and they started defiling the Temple of Jehovah in JeruSalem.
So Jehovah the God of their ancestors sent messages through His Prophets.
They got up early each morning and brought [warnings] to spare His people and His Holy Place.
But all [the people] did was sneer at His messengers, treat their words with contempt, and mock His Prophets…
To the point where Jehovah became furious with His people, since it was so [obvious] that there was no cure.
So He brought the king of the Chaldeans against them, and their young men were slaughtered with broadswords.
They didn’t spare His Holy Place, or ZedekiAh, nor did they show any mercy to the virgins.
All the elders were captured and carried away,and everything in the Temple of God (both large and small) – all its treasures, as well as all the treasures of the king and everyone of importance – was carried off to Babylon.
Then he burned the Temple of Jehovah, tore down the walls of JeruSalem, torched its palaces, and wiped away everything that was of any beauty.
And after that, he carried off everyone that was left to [Empire of] Babylon, where they served as slaves for him and his sons…
Until the Medes came alongand fulfilled the words of Jehovah through JeremiAh, after the land had observed its Sabbaths.
For during the 70 years that the land lay desolate, it was observing its Sabbaths.
It was in the 1st year of Cyrus, the king of Persia, after the fulfillment of the words of Jehovah through the mouth of JeremiAh, that Jehovah awakened the spirit of Cyrus and commanded him to send a written proclamation throughout his kingdom, that said,
‘Cyrus the king of Persia says:
All the kingdoms of the earth have been given to me by Jehovah, the God of heaven, and He told me to build a Temple to Him in JeruSalem in Judah.
So, who of you are His people?
His God Jehovah is now with him, so let him [return to JeruSalem]!’
In the 1st year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Word of Jehovah came through the mouth of [the Prophet] JeremiAh to awaken the spirit of King Cyrus.
So, [Cyrus] sent a written proclamation throughout his kingdom that said,
‘This is what Cyrus the king of Persia has decreed:
All the kingdoms of the earth have been given to me by Jehovah, the God of the heavens, and He told me to build a Temple to Him in JeruSalem of Judah.
So, who of you are His people? His God Jehovah is now with him!
Therefore, let him [return to JeruSalem] and build a Temple for the God of IsraEl who is The God in JeruSalem.
Therefore, all the Judeans should leave the places where they’ve been staying and take up a collection of silver and gold, as well as of things from among their belongings and their cattle, [to rebuild] the Temple of God in JeruSalem.’
And thereafter, the family heads of Judah and BenJamin, as well as the Priests and Levites – everyone whose spirit God had awakened to go and build a Temple of Jehovah in JeruSalem – got up and left,[carrying along] silver, gold, cattle, and gifts, in addition to their own offerings and personal belongings.
King Cyrus also brought out the things [that had been taken] from the Temple of Jehovah, which NebuChadNezzar had removed from JeruSalem and put into the temple of his god,and [Cyrus] sent them by the hand of his Royal Treasurer MithraDates, who counted everything and gave it all to SasaBasar, the [man that had been appointed as] the ruler of Judah.
This is what he sent:
· 30 wine-chillers of gold
· 30 wine-chillers of silver
· 29 sacrificial knives
· 30 gold washbasins
· 410 double-silver items
· 1,000 other items, plus 5,400 smaller things of silver and gold.
SasaBasar had it all carried from Babylon to JeruSalem during the resettlement.
These are the ones that returned from Babylon to resettle Judah and JeruSalem [whose families] had been relocated by NebuChadNezzar (the king of Babylon)… each person returned to his own city.
Those that returned with ZerubBabel were JoShua, NehemiAh, SeraiJah, ReElaiJah, MardecAi, BilShan, MizPar, BigVai, Rehum, and BaAna.
In numbers, the people of IsraEl included:
2,172 from ParOsh;
372 from ShephatiJah;
775 from Arah;
2,812 from Pahath MoAb (descendants of JoShua and JoAb);
1,254 from ElAm;
945 from ZatTu;
760 from ZacKai;
642 from Bani;
623 from BaeAi;
1,220 from AzGad;
666 from AdoniKam;
2,056 from BigVai;
454 from Adin;
98 from Ater (descendants of HezekiAh);
323 from BezAi;
112 from JoRah;
223 from Hashum;
95 from GibBar;
123 from BethLehem;
56 from NetoPhah;
128 from AnathOth;
43 from AzMaveth;
743 from KiriAth JaiRim, ChaPhira, and BeerOth;
621 from Rama and GabaA;
122 men of MichMash;
223 men of BethEl;
52 from Nebo;
156 from MagBish;
1,254 from ElAm;
320 from Harim;
725 from Lod, Hadid, and Ono;
345 from JeriCho;
3,630 from SenaAh;
973 Priests of the house of JoShua from JedaiJah;
1,052 from ImMer;
1,247 from PashUr;
1,007 from Harim.
There were also the following:
74 Levites that were descendants of JoShua and KadmiEl from HoDaviJah;
128 singers from the family of Asaph;
139 gatekeepers from ShalLum, Ater, TelMon, AkKub, HatiTa, and ShobAi.
The Nethinim from SiHa, HaSupha, TabaOth,Keros, SiaHa, Padon,LebanAh, HagAbah, AkKub,HagAb, ShalmAi, Hanan,GidDel, Gahar, ReaJah andRezin, and 12 from NekoDa and GazZam.As well as from UzZa, PaseAh, BesAi,AsNah, Mehunim, Nephousim,BakBuk, HakUpha, HarHur,BazLuth, MehiDa, HarSha,Barkos, SiSera, ThamAh,NeziJah, HatiPha;and descendants of the servants of Solomon from SotAi.
From SopherEth, there were, Perudaof JaAlah, DarKon, GidDel,ShephatiJah, HatTil, PocherEth, Zebaim, and Ami.
Altogether, there were 392 Nethinim and descendants of the servants of Solomon.
Those that came from TelMelah, TelHarsa, Cherub, AdDan, and ImMer were unable to report on their houses and children, because [it was questionable] whether they were actually IsraElites.
In addition, there were 652 from TobiJah and NekoDa.
Though the records of the priests from HabaiJah, Koz, and BarZilLai who married women from BarZilLai (in GileAd) had once existed,they couldn’t be found when they went looking for their genealogy, so they were suspended from the priesthood.
AtherSastha told them this:
‘You may not eat from the Holy of Holies until a Priest returns [with] the Lights and Perfections (Urim and Thumim?) to [tell us what we should do].
Altogether, there were 42,360 that returned,plus 7,337 male and female servants and 200 male and female singers.
They brought back 736 horses, 245 mules,435 camels, and 6,720 burros.
The family heads who went to the Temple of Jehovah in JeruSalem that were willing and able to contribute to its reconstruction,contributed 61,000 gold coins and 5,000 silver coins, plus 100 outfits for the Priests, which was all then put into the treasury.
However, the Priests, Levites, [dedicated] people, singers, gatekeepers, and Nethinim went and lived in their own cities, as did all the rest of IsraEl.
Well, by the 7th month, all the sons of IsraEl had returned and were settled in their cities;
And thereafter, all the people gathered in JeruSalem as one man,and JoShua (the son of JoZadak), his brothers the Priests, and ZerubBabel (the son of ShealtiEl) and his brothers all got up and built an Altar to the God of IsraEl upon which they could offer whole burnt offerings, as it was written in the Law of Moses, the man of God.
They prepared the Altar in a [hidden] place, because they were afraid of the people in the land.
However, they kept bringing the whole burnt offerings to Jehovah from morning until evening.
Thereafter, they celebrated the Holiday of Temporary Dwellings, following the written instructions, and they offered whole burnt offerings each day for the number of days that they understood were required.
And from then on, they continued to sacrifice whole burnt offerings on the New Moons and on all the holy celebrations of Jehovah, in addition to the free-will offerings that they brought to the Lord.
It was on the 1st day of the 7th month that they started sacrificing the whole burnt offerings to Jehovah, but the foundation for His Temple hadn’t been laid yet.
So, they then hired quarry workers and laborers, and they offered food, drink, and olive oil to the Sidonians and the people of Tyre to get them to transport cedar boards from Lebanon across the sea to JopPa, as it had been decreed by Cyrus, the king of Persia.
Then when they assembled at the Temple of Jehovah God in JeruSalem, which was in the 2nd year and the 2nd month, ZerubBabel (the son of ShealtiEl), JoShua (the son of JoZadek), and the rest of their brothers among the Priests and Levites (as well as everyone else that had left captivity and returned to JeruSalem) assigned all the Levites that were 20-years and older to ensure the success of the ones that were doing the work on the Temple of Jehovah.
So, JoShua and his sons, as well as his brother KadmiEl and his sons (who were all Judeans) were put in charge over those that were doing the work at the Temple of God, along with the sons of HenAdad and their brothers the Levites.
Well, when they started laying the foundation for the Temple of Jehovah, the Priests donned their robes and got their trumpets, and the Levites (the descendants of Asaph) picked up their cymbals to praise Jehovah with [the songs] of David, the king of IsraEl.
Then, before Jehovah, they praised and acknowledged that He is good and that His mercy would remain upon IsraEl through the ages.
Meanwhile, all the people were shouting and praising Jehovah together as the groundwork for the Temple of Jehovah was being prepared.
There was so much noise, because many of the Priests, Levites, family heads, and elders that were standing there watching the groundwork for the preparation of the Temple started weeping, while many others were shouting in joy (which made the sounds even louder).
So, it soon became difficult to distinguish the difference between the sounds of people shouting in joy and the sounds of the weeping.
For the sounds of the cheering and weeping could be heard for [miles].
Well, when the people that opposed Judah and BenJamin heard that those who had returned were building a Temple to Jehovah the God of IsraEl,they approached ZerubBabel and the family heads and said to them:
‘You should allow us to build the Temple with you, so we can also ask [for things] from your God;
For we’ve been offering sacrifices to Him since the time of EsarHaddon the king of Assyria, who brought us here.’
But ZerubBabel, JoShua, and the rest of the family heads of IsraEl replied:
‘It isn’t up to us to decide whether you can help us to build a Temple to Jehovah the God of IsraEl, for we were told to do this by Cyrus, the king of Persia.’
But thereafter, the people of the land did whatever they could to weaken the people of Judah and to impede the construction project.
They even hired advisors to strongly oppose their plans during all the days of King Cyrus of Persia, right up until the kingdom of Darius of Persia.
Then, at the beginning of the reign of AhaSuerus, they wrote a letter against the people that were living in Judah and JeruSalem.
And in the days of ArthaSastha; MithraDates, TabeEl, and his fellow servants wrote to ArthaSastha (the king of Persia) about them.
And because they wrote it in Syrian, [the king’s] tax collector had to translate it for him.
It was Lord Rehum that wrote the letter against JeruSalem to King ArthaSastha through his scribe ShimShai, which said:
‘This is what our lord, Judge Rehum, as well as the scribe ShimShai, the rest of our fellow servants, the Dinaites, ApharSathchites, Tarpelites, Apharsites, Archevites, Babylonians, Sousanchites, Dehavites, Elamites,and all the other nations that were resettled in the cities of Samaria and across the river by the great and esteemed Asnapper (AshurBanipal) have to say’…
This is what they wrote to King ArthaSastha:
‘From your servants on the other side of the river;
We wish to inform the king that the Judeans whom you sent among us have come to JeruSalem (an apostate and wicked city), where they’ve raised a foundation and they’re getting ready to rebuild its walls.
So, we want the king to know that if the city should be rebuilt and its walls re-erected, they will stop paying their tolls and taxes, and they’ll treat the king wickedly!
It’s because we don’t wish to see such indecent treatment of the king that we’re sending [this letter], and we want to let the king know what is really happening.
‘If you will examine the records of your ancestors, you will see that [JeruSalem] is an apostate city that treats their kings badly, and that they’ve been escaping and rebelling through the ages…
This is why their city was destroyed!
Therefore, we are informing the king that the city should not be rebuilt and that they should not be preparing its walls.
‘From us on the other side of the river, to the king.
From Lord Rehum, ShimShai the scribe, and from the rest of their fellow servants that live in Samaria and across the river.
We wish you Peace.’
[Then the king replied]:
‘I just called the tax collector before me whom you sent,and as the result, I’ve issued a decree.
For after examining [the records], this is what I found:
That city has for a fact rebelled against the kings through the ages, and all sorts of uprisings and defections have happened there.
For they once had [their own] mighty kings that ruled from JeruSalem all the way to the other side of the river, and that used to collect their own taxes and tolls.
‘So now, [I have] passed a decree that those men should stop their work and that their city must never be rebuilt again!
I appreciate the ways that you’ve followed my decrees, and for your concern that the power of the king may never be lost to evil deeds.’
[Then upon his return], King ArthaSastha’s tax collector read [the letter] in the presence of Lord Rehum and the scribe ShimShai and their fellow servants, and they quickly traveled to JeruSalem [and throughout] Judah with their army and cavalry to force them to stop doing their work.
As a result, construction on the Temple of God in JeruSalem came to a halt, and it remained on hold until the 2nd year of the reign of Darius the king of Persia.
It was then that the Prophets HagGai and ZechariAh (the son of IdDo) [each] spoke prophecies about the Jews in Judah and JeruSalem in the Name of the God of IsraEl.
So, ZerubBabel (the son of ShealtiEl) and JoShua (the son of JoZadek) got up and started rebuilding the Temple of God in JeruSalem once again, along with the Prophets of God that came to help them.
Then TatNai (the vassal king on the other side of the river) and ShetharBozNai and their fellow servants came to them and asked:
‘By whose decree are you rebuilding this Temple…
Where did you get the money,and what are the names of the men that have started rebuilding this city?’
Well, the eyes of God had been watching over the captivity of Judah and He didn’t make them stop working on the Temple during the time that a report was being carried to Darius by his tax collector, and while they were thereafter awaiting his reply.
This is what the letter that was sent to King Darius by TatNai (the vassal king from the other side of the river), ShetharBozNai, and their fellow servants (who were ApharSachaeans that lived on the other side of the river) said:
‘To Darius the king;
May you have peace in everything.
Let it be known to the king that we went into Judea to the Temple of the great God, and found it being rebuilt with the best of stone and with timbers being inserted into the walls.
We also found that the workmanship was well done and proceeding very well under them.
So, we asked the elders there by whose decree this Temple was being rebuilt, who was providing the money for the construction,and what their names were, so we could send [this information] to you.
And this was their reply:
‘We are servants of the God of the lands and the skies, and we’re rebuilding the Temple that was built here many years ago by a great king of IsraEl, who prepared it for [His people].
But when our ancestors made the God of of the heavens angry, He handed them over to NebuChadNezzar, the Chaldean king of Babylon.
So, this Temple was allowed to rest and the people were resettled in Babylon.
‘However, in the 1st year of Cyrus (the king [that conquered] the Babylonians), he issued a decree to rebuild this Temple of God,and to return the items of gold and silver to the Temple of God that NebuChadNezzar had taken from the Temple in JeruSalem and carried to his own temple in Babylon.
Then King Cyrus had these things taken from the temple in Babylon and he gave them to SheshBazzar (his royal treasurer), telling him to go and return it all to the Temple of God in JeruSalem, so that it could be rebuilt in the place where it once stood.
So, SheshBazzar went to JeruSalem and laid the Temple foundation… which has been under construction since that time, but it hasn’t been finished yet.
‘Now, if the king approves;
Please send someone to the treasury in the king’s temple in Babylon to see if King Cyrus really did issue such a decree to rebuild the Temple of God in JeruSalem.
And when the king finds out, may he send a reply to us.’
Well, after examining the library at the treasury in Babylon, King Darius thereafter issued a decree.
For in the city of AchMetha, in the palace of the Medes, he found a scroll with a record that was written in the 1st year of King Cyrus, where he rendered a decree concerning the Temple of God in JeruSalem.
It said,
‘Allow a Temple to be built where they will offer sacrifices!
Let them set in place the foundations.
[The building] must be 100 feet (30.5m) high and 100 feet (30.5) wide.
It should be made with three layers of durable stones and a layer of durable timbers.
It is decreed that the expense [of this construction] will be paid for by the palace of the king.
Also, the items of gold and silver that were confiscated from the Temple of God by NebuChadNezzar should be removed from his temple and returned to the one in JeruSalem…
It should be taken from Babylon and transported to the Holy Place in JeruSalem, the Temple of God.’
So [the king] told King TatNai, ShetharBozNai, and his fellow servants (the ApharSachites from the other side of the river) to leave that place and to allow the work on the Temple of God [to be completed]…[not to bother] the elders and those that were directing the work of the Judeans, so they could rebuild [the Temple] where it once was.
[He said]:
‘My decree through the elders of those Judeans is for them to build the Temple of God using tax money from the [vassal] kings on the other side of the river.
The expenses must be carefully calculated and then paid to those men, so the work doesn’t stop.
‘Also, where they are lacking enough male calves, rams, and lambs for their whole burnt offerings to the God of heaven, or wheat, salt, wine, or olive oil… whatever the Priests in JeruSalem need, must be given to them each day.
There must be no arguing;
Whatever they ask forshould be provided, so a pleasant aroma may be offered to the God of heaven, and so that prayers may be offered on behalf of the king and his sons.
‘This decree has come from me, and any man that challenges what I’ve said will have his house demolished and its boards placed upright;
Thereafter, he will be impaled on top of them, and everything in his house will be looted.
May the God that camps and puts His Name there wipe out any people and their kings that raise a hand against, or change, or hide the Temple of God in JeruSalem.
For I Darius have rendered this decree after thoughtful consideration…
May it be so!’
Then TatNai (the vassal king) from the other side of the river (as well as ShetharBozNai and his fellow servants) did exactly as they were told, because of what King Darius had decreed.
So, the Judean elders kept on building… and they were blest, just as the Prophets HagGai and ZechariAh (the son of IdDo) foretold.
They got everything ready and did the rebuilding, following the instructions of the God of IsraEl by the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and ArthaSastha, the kings of the Persians.
Well, the Temple was completed by the 3rd day of the month of Adar in the 6th year of the reign of King Darius.
So, the sons of IsraEl, the Priests, the Levites, and all the rest that had returned in the resettlement joyfully declared a holiday of rededication of the Temple of God.
And this is what they offered for the rededication:
100 calves, 100 rams, 200 lambs, and 400 winter-yearling goats as sin offerings for all IsraEl, and they repeated this 12 times (for the number of the tribes of IsraEl).
They also reestablished the divisions of the Priests and they distributed the duties at the Temple of God in JeruSalem among the Levites, just as it was written in the book of Moses.
Thereafter, those that had returned went on to observe the Passover on the 14th day of the 1st month.
For by then, all the Priests had been purified and all the Levites were clean.
So they slaughtered the Passover for those that had returned and for their brothers the Priests.
Then, all the sons of IsraEl (those that had returned and separated themselves from the uncleanness of the gentiles so they could ask for things from Jehovah the God of IsraEl) ate the Passover,and they joyfully observed the holiday of Fermentation-free Bread for 7 days, because Jehovah had filled them with joy.
Thereafter, even the king of Assyria assisted them by providing [workers] for the Temple of the God of IsraEl.
It was during the reign of ArthaSastha the king of Persia, that Ezra (the son of SeraiJah, the son of AzariJah, the son of HilkiJah,the son of ShalLum, the son of ZaDok, the son of AhiTob,the son of AmariJah, the son of AzariJah, the son of MeraiOth,the son of ZerahiJah, the son of UzZi, the son of BukKi,the son of AbiShua, the son of PhineHas, the son EliEzer, the son of Aaron, the first Priest) returned from Babylon.
He was a scribe that was well-versed in the Law that Jehovah the God of IsraEl had given to Moses.
And because the hand of his God Jehovah was with him, the king gave him everything that he requested.
Then the sons of IsraEl, the Priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers,and the Nethinim returned to JeruSalem in the 5th month of the 7th year of the reign of King ArthaSastha.
It was on the 1st day of the 1st month that he arranged for their return from Babylon, and it was on the 1st day of the 5th month that [Ezra] came to JeruSalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him.
Now, Ezra had prepared his heart to search the Law of Jehovah and then to practice and teach all its regulations and decisions to IsraEl.
King ArthaSastha also gave a copy of the following edict to the Priest Ezra (who was the scribe of the scroll of the words of the Commandments of Jehovah), which contained his orders concerning IsraEl.
[The decree said]:
‘ArthaSastha (the king of kings) to the Priest Ezra, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven;
May my reply to this matter now be initiated, for I’ve sent a decree that tells all those in my kingdom among the people of IsraEl, including their Priests and Levites who wish to return to JeruSalem with you, that they may go there.
And here, before the king and his 7 advisors, I am sending you to oversee Judah and JeruSalem according to the Law of your God.
You are to carry all the silver and gold to the Temple of Jehovah that the king and his counselors are willing to donate to the God of IsraEl that camps in JeruSalem,as well as all the silver and gold that you can find in Babylon, as an offering.
This is in addition to whatever your people may wish to offer to the Temple of your God in JeruSalem.
‘Now, for everyone that is willing to go, you must (by this edict) arrange for them to bring along calves, rams, lambs, sacrifices, and drink offerings for presentation at the Altar of your God in JeruSalem.
Also, carry along anything that you and your brothers see that you [will need] in addition to the silver and gold.
Do whatever pleases your God!
‘Carry with you the items that were given to you for the services at the Temple of God, and present them before your God in JeruSalem.
Also, carry along anything else that you see will be needed for your God from the treasury in the king’s palace.
‘I, King ArthaSastha, have also sent a decree regarding the treasuries that are on the other side of the river, that whatever Ezra the Priest and scribe of the Law of the God of heaven asks of [those people] must be readily obeyed.
They must give you 3 tons (2,700kg) of silver, 600 bushels of wheat, 600 gallons (2,200l) of wine, 600 gallons (2,200l) of olive oil, and salt (no amount was specified).
They must supply whatever the God of heaven has decreed for the Temple of the God of heaven!
They must be very careful to do this, for any attempt against the Temple of the God of heaven at any time will bring [my] rage upon the king of that kingdom and upon his sons.
‘And let it be made known that in regard to all the Priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, and officials at the Temple of God;
No one is authorized to impose any sort of tax or toll upon them.
‘As for you, O Ezra;
Use the wisdom of God that has been placed in your hands to appoint scribes, as well as judges who know the Laws of your God, so as to judge all the people on the other side of the river and to teach them to anyone that doesn’t already know them!
Then you must decide whether any person that doesn’t diligently obey the Laws of God and the laws of the king must be killed, exiled, taught, fined, or locked in prison.’
O praise Jehovah the God of our ancestors who put it into the heart of the king to glorify the Temple of Jehovah in JeruSalem this great way,and for causing the eyes of the king, his advisors, and his leading men to look so mercifully upon me.
[And praise] the good hand of my God Jehovah that has strengthened me, so that I could gather all the leaders of IsraEl and bring them back with me!
Now, these are the heads of families and the genealogies of those that came with me from the kingdom of ArthaSastha, the king of Babylon:
From the descendants of PhiNehas there was GerSom;
From the descendants of IthaMar there was DaniEl;
From the descendants of David there was HatTush;
From the descendants of ShechaniJah and the sons of PharOsh there was ZechariAh, and with him were 150 that could trace their genealogies.
From the descendants of PahathMoab there was EliHoEnai (the son of ZereHijah) and 200 males with him;
From the descendants of ShechaniJah there was AziEl and 300 males that came with him;
From the descendants of Adin there was Ebed (the son of JoNathan) and 50 males that came with him;
From the descendants of ElAm there was IsaiJah (the son of AthaliAh) and 70 males that came with him;
From the descendants of ShephatiJah there was ZebadiJah (the son of MichaEl) and 80 males that came with him;
From the descendants of JoAb there was ObadiJah (the son of JehiEl) and 218 males that came with him;
From the descendants of ShelomIth there was JoSephiJah and 160 males that came with him;
From the descendants of BebAi there was ZechariAh (the son of BebAi) and 28 males that came with him;
From the descendants of AzGad there was JoHanan (the son of HacKatan) and 110 males that came with him;
From the descendants of AdoniKam (the latter) there was EliPhelet, JeiEl, and ShemaiJah, and 60 males that came with them;
From the descendants of BigVai there was UthAi and ZaboUd, and 70 males that came with them.
I gathered them by the river that flows past Evi, where we camped for three days.
But then I noticed that there were no Priests or Levites to be found among the people,so I sent [a message] to EliEzer, AriEl, ShemaiJah, ElNathan, JaRib ElNatham, Nathan, ZechariAh, and MeshulLam (who were their leaders), as well as to JoiArib and ElNathan (their supervisors),and told them to go see IdDo, the ruler of the area of CasiPhiJa.
I told them to tell IdDo and their brothers the Nethinim (who were the treasurers of CasiPhiJa) to send us officials and singers for the Temple of our God.
And because the hand of our God was good to us, a very wise man from among the sons of MahLi (a descendant of Levi, the son of IsraEl) was sent to us, along with SherEbiJah and his sons and family (18 people).
Also, HashAbiJah and JeShaiJah from the family line of MeraRi and their families and sons (some 20 people) came with them.
And from the Nethinim whom David had appointed to be in charge of the services for the Levites, there were 220 more that were all [chosen by] name.
Then I called for a fast there at the Ahava River to humble ourselves before our God and to ask Him to straighten the way for ourselves, our children, and our possessions,because I was ashamed to ask the king for troops and cavalry to protect us from our enemies along the way, since I had told the king that the hand of our God would be with all those that search for good things from Him, and that His might and rage would come upon all those that abandon Him.
So, we fasted and [put our trust] in our God about this matter, and He listened to us.
Then I selected 12 of the leaders from among the Priests and 10 from among the brothers of SherEbiJah and HashAbiJa,and I assigned them [to watch over] the silver, gold, and the items of the first-fruits that were dedicated to the Temple of our God by the king, his counselors, his governors, and by all the people of IsraEl.
I handed over to their charge some 25 tons (22,700kg) of silver, 4 tons (3,600kg) of items made of silver, 3 tons (2,700kg) of gold,and 1,000 gold bowls weighing 20 pounds (9kg) each, plus many items of shiny high-quality brass that was as good as gold.
And I said to them:
‘Now, you are holy to Jehovah God, and these items of silver and gold are also holy, for they are voluntary offerings to Jehovah the God of our ancestors.
So, stay alert and watch over these things until we can hand them over to the Chief Priests, the Levites, and the heads of the families in JeruSalem for the place of worship in the Temple of Jehovah!’
Therefore, the Priests and Levites weighed all the silver, gold, and other items before they were to carry them to JeruSalem and to the Temple of our God.
Then we got up and left the Ahava River on the 12th day of the 1st month, as we started our journey toward JeruSalem, and the hand of our God was upon us, for He protected us from our enemies and everyone else along the way.
Well, when we finally arrived in JeruSalem, we [rested up] for three days.
Then on the 4th day, we took all the silver, gold, and other items for the Temple of our God, and handed it over to MeremOth (the son of UriJah) the High Priest, EliEzer (the son of PhiNehas), JoZabad (the son of JoShua), and NoAdiJah (the son of BinNai the Levite),who weighed and recorded everything once again.
Then all those that had traveled with us in our return from captivity brought whole burnt offerings to the God of IsraEl, which consisted of 12 calves (1 for each of the tribes of IsraEl), 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 winter-yearling goats for the sin offering.
It was all to be sacrificed as whole burnt offerings to Jehovah.
And thereafter (following the mandate that was given by the king and his administrators), the vassal kings on the other side of the river [provided the rest of the things that] the people needed for the Temple of God.
Well after that, the leaders came to me and pointed out that we had not yet separated the people of IsraEl (or even the Priests and Levites) from the peoples of the land and the disgusting things of the CanaAnites, Hittites, Pherezites, Jebusites, AmMonites, MoAbites, Moserites, and Amorites.
For [many] had taken these people’s daughters [as wives] for themselves and for their sons.
So, the seed of what is holy had become mixed with the peoples of the land… and even the governors and generals had become involved in this breach-of-contract.
Well when I heard about this, I ripped my clothes and underwear, and I was so furious that I ripped hair from my head and beard;
Then I had to sit down to calm myself.
And all those that had gathered around me started trembling because of what the God of IsraEl had said about a breach-of-contract in the resettlement [of our people].
So I just sat there calming myself until [it came time for] the evening sacrifice.
Then I got up and I felt ashamed over ripping my clothes and underwear.
So, I fell to my knees and spread my arms toward my God Jehovah,and I said:
‘Lord, I’m so ashamed… I’m too ashamed to stand up and face You, O my God, because we’re in over our heads with lawbreaking, and our errors are so bad that they have reached into the heavens!
For from the time of our ancestors down to this day, we’ve been guilty of great sins.
And it’s because of our lawbreaking that our kings, our Priests, and [our people] were handed over to the kings of the nations to be killed with swords and carried off into captivity…
Yes we were seized, and our faces have been shamed to this day.
‘Now, O Jehovah our God;
You’ve been patient with us and You’ve allowed us to return [to our land] so that we could be taught to rely on Your Holy Place, to open our eyes, and to put a little life into our service [to You].
And because we are Your servants and we haven’t abandoned our service to our God, the kings of Persia have been merciful to us and given life to us, so that we could return to our deserted [homes] and rebuild the Temple of our God, and to fence Judah and JeruSalem off [from the surrounding nations].
‘So, what can we say to our God after this?
For we’ve abandoned the Commandmentsthat You gave to us through the hands of Your servants the Prophets when You said,
The land that you’re returning to as its heirs is a land in motion;
For the people that once inhabited that land have been removed from it because of the disgusting things and the filth that spilled from their mouths.
Therefore, you must not give your daughters to them or take their daughters for your sons… nor should you expect peace with them through the ages!
So now, to grow stronger, you must eat the good [produce] from this land, which you will share with your sons through the ages!’
‘Then after all of these things that happened to us because of our own wickedness and great errors, and after You (our God) [forgave] us for our lawless actions and delivered us,we still turned around and disregarded Your commandments by creating alliances with the people of these lands through marriages.
But, please don’t become angry with us and destroy us, so that none of us remain!
‘O Jehovah, the God of IsraEl;
You are righteous, for you’ve preserved us down to this day.
And look;
Here we stand before You in our errors… and we know that no one can stand before You in such a condition.’
Then Ezra prayed, confessed, and cried as he fell [to his face] before the Temple of The God, along with a vast gathering of men, women, and young people from IsraEl that joined him, weeping bitterly.
Then one of them (ShechaniJah the son of JehiEl, a descendant of ElAm) said to Ezra:
‘We’ have broken our contract with our God by [taking] women from among the people of this land.
So because of this, there’s no hope of IsraEl ever having a contract with our God.
But, what if we agree before our God to [send away] all the women and all those that were born to us, so that we can then start following the counsel of Jehovah, and so that those of us that are trembling before our God today can start following His commandments?
If [He will accept this], we can make it happen!
So, you must now arise [and be strong], because this matter also affects you!
Since we’re all with you, you must have the strength to do whatever must be done!’
Well at that, Ezra stood up and he made the leaders, Priests, Levites, and all IsraEl swear to do the thing that [ShechaniJah] had proposed.
And thereafter, he left from that place in front of the Temple of God, and he went to the treasury of JoHanan (the son of EliAshib) and he started living there.
But he refused to eat any food or drink any water as he mourned over the breach-of-contract by those that had returned to resettle [the land].
Well, this was soon reported throughout Judah, JeruSalem, and wherever the people had resettled, and everyone was then called to assemble in JeruSalem.
In fact, the governors and elders [had decreed] that all those that didn’t come in [the next] three days would have everything they owned destroyed, and they would be cut off from the gathering of those that had returned in the resettlement.
So, all the men of Judah and BenJamin gathered in JeruSalem over the next three days.
It was in the 9th month and on the 20th day of the month that all the people had finally arrived.
Then they sat down in the square before the Temple of God… and they were all shaking, because of the seriousness of this matter.
Then Ezra (the Priest) stood up and said to them:
‘You have added to the sins of IsraEl and broken our contract [with God] by settling here with foreign women.
Now, praise Jehovah the God of our ancestors and do whatever is pleasing before Him… separate yourselves from the people of this land and from your foreign women!’
Then the entire assembly shouted loudly:
‘We will do just as you said!’
Well, the crowd was huge; and because it was winter, they couldn’t just throw the people [out of their homes].
So, the job couldn’t be done in just a day or two, for that would have made all the wrongs even worse.
[Therefore, it was agreed that] the governors would call an assembly in each of the cities, and that all who had taken foreign women were to come there at a prearranged time to meet with the city elders and judges, so that God’s anger and rage over this matter could be removed from them.
Now, with the help of JoNathan (the son AsahEl) and JahaziJah (the son of TikVah) and their assistants MeshulLam and the Levite ShabBethAi, everyone that had returned in the resettlement did as they were told.
So the Priest Ezra and each of the heads of the family lines started their inquiry on the 1st day of the 10th month,and the process of questioning all the men that had settled in with foreign women lasted until the 1st day of the 1st month.
As the result, it was found that among the Priests;
Those that had taken foreign women were the sons of JoShua (the son of JoZadek) and those of his brothers MaAseiJah, EliEzer, JaRib, and GedaliJah.
So they each gave their hand in a pledge to bring in their women, along with a sin offering of a ram from among their sheep, to cover their errors.
From among the sons of ImMer there was HanaNi and ZebadiJah.
From the sons of Harim there was MaAseiJah, EliJah, ShemaiJah, JehiEl, and UzZiJah.
From the sons of Phasur there was EliWenai, MaAseiJah, IshMaEl, NathaniEl, JoZabad, and ElAsah.
Among the Levites, there was JoZabad, Shemei, KelaiJah (also known as Kelita), PethAhiJah, Judah, and EliEzer.
Among the singers, there was EliAshib.
And from among the gatekeepers, there was ShalLum, TelEm, and Uri.
From IsraEl there were the sons of ParOsh; RamiJah, JeziJah, MalchiJah, MiAmin, EliEzer, MalchiJah, and BenaiJah.
From the sons of ElAm there was MattaniJah, ZechariAh, JehiEl, AbDi, JeremOth, and EliJah.
From the sons of ZatTu there was EliWenai, EliAshib, MatTaniJah, JeremOth, Zabad, and AziZa.
From the sons of BebAi there was JehoHanan, HaNaniJah, ZabBai, and AthLai.
From the sons of Bani there was MeshulLam, MalLuch, AdaiJah, JaShub, SheAl, and RamOth.
From the sons of PahathMoab there was Adna, ChelAl, BenaiJah, MaAseiJah, MatthaniJah, BezaleEl, BinNui, and ManasSeh.
From the sons of Harim there was EliEzer, IshiJah, MalchiJah, ShemaiJah, and ShimeOn.
From BenJamin there was MalLuch and ShemariJah.
From the sons of Hashum there was MatTenai, MatTathAh, Zabad, EliPhelet, JeremAi, ManasSeh, and ShiMei.
From the sons of Bani were MaAdai, AmRam, Wel,BenaiJah, BedeiJah, ChelLah,VaniJah, MeremOth, EliAshib,MattaniJah, and MattenAi.
There were also the sons of Bani: ShiMei,ShelemiJah, Nathan, AdaiJah,MachNadebAi, SharAi, ShashAi,AzareEl, ShelemiJah, ShemariJah,ShalLum, AmariJah, and JoSeph.
From the sons of Nebo there was JeiEl, MatithiJah, Zabad, Zebina, JaDau, JoEl, and BenaiJah.
They had all taken foreign women for themselves that had each given birth to sons.
These are the words of NehemiAh the son of HachaliJah.
It was in the 20th year, during the month of Chislev, while I was in the city of Susa in AbiRa,that HanaNi (one of my brothers) arrived with some men from Judah.
So I asked him about those that had survived and escaped the captivity, and about JeruSalem.And he said to me:
‘Those that survived the captivity and are still in [Judah] are a joke and they are extremely wicked.
As for the walls of JeruSalem; they’ve been knocked down and its gates have been burned.’
Well when I heard this, I sat down and cried.
Then I mourned for days, and I fasted and prayed to the God of heaven.
I said,
‘No, O Lord God of the heavens, the mighty, great, and fearful One who has guarded our Sacred Agreement and who shows mercy to those that love Him and keep His Commandments;
May Your ears hear [what my brother is saying], and may Your eyes be open so that You pay attention to Your servant today – throughout this day and night – who is praying on behalf of Your servants, the sons of IsraEl!
‘I openly admit to the sins that the sons of IsraEl have committed against You;
For even the house of my father and I have sinned,because we left You and we haven’t obeyed the Commandments, decisions, and instructions that You gave to Your servant Moses.
However, please remember what You told Your servant Moses when You said,
If you break our contract with Me I will spread you among the peoples.
But if you return to Me and start observing and obeying My Commandments… even if you’re scattered to the wings of the skies, I’ll gather you back and return you to the place where I’ve chosen to camp and where I’ve put My Name.’
‘Now, they are Your children and Your people whom You ransomed by Your great power and with the fortress of Your hand.
No, O Jehovah; allow Your ears to pay attention to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayers of Your children that fear Your Name!
Bless the way of Your servant today, and make the [king] compassionate before this man; for I am [just] a wine server to the king.’
Well, it was in the month of Nisan in the 20th year [of the reign] of King ArthaSastha that I was bringing him some wine…
I took it up and handed it to the king in private,and then the king asked me,
‘Why is your face so downcast and why are you so unhappy? This appears to be nothing other than a [broken] heart!’
Well, I was frightened,but I said to the king:
‘O king, may you live through the ages!
Why shouldn’t my face be sad; for the city where the houses and tombs of my ancestors are has been destroyed, and its gates have been burned with fire!’
Then the king asked me:
‘So, what is it that you are looking for?’
Well, I then prayed [silently] to Jehovah the God of heaven,and thereafter I said to the king:
‘If the king is moved to do such a good thing, and if he is pleased enough with his servant that stands before him;
Please send me to Judah and to the city of the tombs of my ancestors, so that I can rebuild it.’
Then the king (who was sitting next to his concubine) asked me:
‘How long will this take and when will you return?’
Well, the king [found my proposal] to be good and he sent me off.
Then I [wrote a letter of] confirmation to him, which said:
‘To the king;
If it pleases the king, please give me letters to the vassal kings on the other side of the river, so as to allow me safe passage to Judah.
Also provide me a letter to Asaph, the king’s groundskeeper, and ask him to provide me with enough wood to make roofs for the gates along the city’s walls and for the house where I will be staying.’
Then, by the hand of God, the king provided this to me.
And when I reached the vassal kings on the other side of the river, I gave them the letters from the king.
The king had also sent his top general along with me, as well as a contingent of cavalry.
But when SanBalLat the Horonite and TobiJah (his AmMonite servant) heard of it, all of this appeared wrong to them, since they were very unhappy that anyone would be coming to do good things for the sons of IsraEl.
Well, when I got to JeruSalem, I [rested] for three days.
Then I got up during the night and I took a few men with me.
I didn’t have to report to anyone, because it was God that had put it into my heart to do this for JeruSalem. And I didn’t bring along any animals, except the one that I rode.
I traveled through the City Gate out to the mouth of the Well of Dragons, and past the Manure Gate.
Then I examined the walls of JeruSalem that had been torn down and the gates that had been burned with fire.
I passed by the Fountain Gate, then I went up to the Pool of the King to a place where I could get through [on horseback],then I rode down into the Cedar (Kidron) Valley that night, studying the walls, until I had reached the Valley Gate.
That’s when I turned around and went back.
Well, the guards didn’t know why I went there or what I was doing, nor did I report what I was doing to any of the Judeans, the Priests, the important ones, the generals, or to any of the rest that had been doing the work until then.
But later, I said this to them:
‘Do you see this wicked condition that we’re in?
JeruSalem is a waste and its gates have been burned.
Come on, let’s build a wall around JeruSalem so we’re no longer a joke.’
Then I explained how the hand of God had blest me with the things that the king had said to me, and I told them:
‘Now, let’s get up and build!’
Well, this emboldened their hands to do what was good.
But when SanBalLat the Horonite, his servant TobiJah the AmMonite, and the Arab Gesham heard about this, they laughed out loud; for were disgusted with us, and they asked:
‘Just what do you think you’re doing?
Have you chosen to revolt against the king?’
But I spoke right back to them and said,
‘The God of the heavens will bless us, because we (His servants) are pure; therefore, we will arise and build!
However, you may have no part in doing this or in giving us the legal right to do so, nor will your [names] be remembered in JeruSalem.’
Well thereafter, the High Priest EliAshib and his fellow Priests rebuilt the Sheep Gate and made it holy.
They set its doors in place and completed [the walls] from the Tower of the Hundred to the Tower of HanaNeEl.
Then, next to him, ZacCur (the son of ImRi) and men from JeriCho rebuilt [the adjoining portion of the wall].
The sons of HasSenaAh rebuilt the Fish Gate… they roofed it and set its doors, bolts, and bars in place.
And from that point, MaremOth (the son of UriAh and grandson of Kos) took control [of rebuilding the adjoining wall].
Then MeshulLam (the son of BarAchiJah and grandson of MeShezaBeel) did more repairs, and ZaDok (the son of BaAna) also handled a section[of the wall].
From there, the Tekoites repaired the next section… though their mightiest men refused to lift their necks in the service of their Lord.
Then JehoiAda (the son of PaseJah) and MeshulLam (the son of BoSodeiJah) repaired the Gate of JasanAh… they roofed it and set its doors, bolts, and bars in place.
Next to them, MeLatiJah the GibeOnite, JaDon the Meronothite, and the men of GibeOn and MizPah (who were being ruled by those on the throne on the other side of the river) made the repairs.
And next to them, UzZiEl (the son of HarHaiJah the refiner) made the repairs, and HanaNiAh (the son of the perfumers) made the repairs and rebuilt JeruSalem all the way to the Broad Wall.
From there, RephaiJah (the son of Sur, the ruler of part of the area around JeruSalem) made the repairs.
And next to him, JedaiJah (the son of HaruMaph) made the repairs all the way to his house.
Then next to him, HatTush (the son of HashaBaniJah) made the repairs.
The 2nd section [of the wall] was repaired by MelchiJah (the son of Harim) and Hashub (the son of PahathMoab) all the way to the Tower of Furnaces.
And next to them, ShalLum (the son of HaloHesh, the ruler of the other half of the area around JeruSalem) made the repairs with the help of his daughters.
Then Hanun repaired the Valley Gate with the help of the people of Zanoa…
They built it and set its doors, bolts, and bars in place, and they also rebuilt 1,700 feet (520m) of the wall to the Manure Gate.
The Manure Gate was repaired by MelchiJah (the son of RechAb, the ruler of the area around BethHakKarim) and his sons.
They covered it and set its doors, bolts, and bars in place.
ShalLum (the son of ColHozeh, the ruler of part of MizPah) was in charge of the Spring Gate;
He rebuilt it, roofed it, and set its doors and bars in place, then he rebuilt the wall around the Pool of SiloAm, the King’s Garden, and the stairway that leads down from the [Citadel] of David.
And next to him, NehemiAh (the son of AzaBuk, the ruler of half of the area around BethSur) made repairs from the garden of the Tomb of David to the man-made pool and the House of the Mighty.
Next to him, the Levites under Rehum (the son of Bani) did the repairs, and then AsabiJah (the ruler of half of the area around KeiLa) made the repairs around his [house] by himself.
And after him, his friend Benei (the son of HenAdad, the ruler of the other half of the area around KeiLa) made the repairs.
Then Ezer (the son of JoShua, the ruler of MizPah) made the repairs to the corner of a second wall opposite the armory, all by himself.
After him, BarUch (the son of Zabai) made the repairs from the corner of the 2nd wall up to the door of the house of EliAshib the High Priest.
And after him, MeramOth (the son of UriAh and grandson of HaKoz) rebuilt a measured section from the door of the house of EliAshib and all along the area behind that house (which was also being rebuilt).
And next to him, the Priests that were descendants of Ek Chechar repaired the wall.
After him, BenJamin and Hashub did the repairs by their houses.
Then AzariAh (the son of MaAseJah and grandson of HananiAh) did the repairs next to his house.
And BinNui (the son of HenAdad) repaired another measured section from the house of AzariAh to the corner, and then around the bend.
Thereafter, PaLal (the son of UzAi) did the repairs to the opposite corner and to the tower that protrudes from the king’s palace and overlooks the prison courtyard.
Then PedaiJah (the son of ParOsh)and the Nethinim that lived in Ophel rebuilt the eastern Garden-Watering Gate and the tower that protrudes from it.
Next, the Tekoites repaired a measured section that was across from the Great Tower, up to the wall of Ophel.
And from there, the Priests repaired the portion of the Horse Gate that was across from their own houses.
Then ZaDok (the son of ImMer) did the repairs across from his own house.
And ShemaiAh (the son of ShechaniJah, who was in charge of the Eastern Gate) did the repairs there.
Also, HanaNiAh (the son of ShelemiJah) and Hanun (the 6th son of ZalAph) repaired another measured section.
MeshulLam (the son of BarAchiJah) made the repairs across from his treasury.
And from there, MelchiJah (the son of SarEfi) did the repairs up to the House of the Nethinim and the market that’s in front of the Gate of MiphKad, and then around the corner.
And [finally], the goldsmiths and venders repaired the section of wall that ascends back up to the Sheep Gate.
Well, when SanBalLat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he thought this was a bad thing and he was extremely angry.
He also laughed out loud about the Judeanswhen he spoke before his people and the army of the Samaritans.
For he said:
‘What do these men of Judah – these Jews – think they’re doing? Do they think we’ll just leave them alone?
Do they think that they’ll be able to offer sacrifices there, and do they think that they will be able to finish the job?
For today they’re making their repairs with stones that they find in heaps of rubbish that should have been burned!’
Then TobiJah the AmMonite (who was standing next to him) said:
‘Even if they do build, won’t a fox go there and demolish their wall of rocks?’
Listen, O our God, to the people that are sneering at us, and bring their scorn down upon their own heads…
Make them do their sneering as captives in [faraway] lands.
Don’t cover over their lawlessness, and may their sins never be wiped away from before Your face, because they are taunting You in front of those that are doing the rebuilding!
Anyhow, we continued to rebuild the wall until it was joined all the way [around the city].
And though only half of the project was completed, the people were working whole-heartedly to finish it.
Meanwhile, when SanBalLat, TobiJah, the Arabians, the AmMonites, and the AshDodites heard that the gaps in the walls of JeruSalem were being repaired, this appeared wrong to them,and they all gathered to distract us and to undo our work on JeruSalem.
So, we prayed to our God and we posted guards [outside the walls] both day and night.
But then the Judeans said:
‘Our enemies have broken our resolve, and now there’s so much dust that we just can’t finish building the wall!’
And thereafter, those that were oppressing us said:
‘They won’t know and they won’t see us when we come among them to murder them and make them stop the work.’
But the Judeans that lived in their midst came to us and told us what they were saying, and they warned us that our enemies were all around us.
So I posted men in fortified trenches behind the walls whom I armed with broadswords, wooden spears, and bows.
And after looking the situation over, I got up and spoke to the leaders, generals, and the rest of the people, and said:
‘When you face them, don’t be afraid… you must remember that our God is great and someone to be feared!
So, prepare yourselves to fight in order to protect your relatives, sons, daughters, wives, and your homes!’
Well, when our enemies found out that we had learned about their plans and that God had blocked their schemes, we were all able to start rebuilding the walls once again.
Therefore, everyone went back to doing their jobs.
But from that day on, half of us did the work while the other half stood armed and ready for battle with their lances, shields, bows, and armor.
So, the rulers and the whole house of Judahprotected those that were building the wall.
And those that carried things on their shoulders did their work with one hand, while they held arrows in the other.
Also, all the workers – every man – had his broadsword tied to his waist as he built.
Meanwhile, I kept the trumpeters next to me,and I told the rulers, generals, and the rest of the people that, since the work covers a vast area and we were spread all along the walls with each man working some distance from his brother;
Whenever they heard the trumpets being blown, everyone was to gather here with me, and we would allow our God to fight the war for us.
Well, that’s how we did it… with half of us [ready for battle] as we worked from sunrise until we could see the stars.
Then I told the people:
‘All those with children should sleep in the middle of JeruSalem, and we will keep guards posted all night long.
However, during the day, everyone must work!’
So I stood there with my brothers and the younger men flanked by guards, and nobody took off their clothes or removed their swords, even when they went to draw water.
Then, many of the people (especially their wives) started complaining loudly about their brothers, the Judeans.
Some were saying,
‘Even though we have many sons and daughters, we still have enough grain to eat and to get by.’
But others were saying,
‘We had to mortgage our fields, vineyards, and houses to buy enough grain to eat.’
And others were saying,
‘Because we had to borrow money to pay the king’s taxes on our fields, vineyards, and houses, our flesh now belongs to our brothers… our sons have become their sons, and our daughters have become their daughters.
And look! They are tyrannizing our sons and they’re using our daughters as though they were slaves…
Many of them are being tyrannized, and there’s nothing we can do [to help them], because our fields and vineyards now belong to the important ones.’
Well when I heard the things they were saying in their outcries, I was deeply disturbed,and my heart moved me to do something.
So I confronted the important ones and the rulers, and said to them:
‘Should any man ask the things of you that you’re asking of you brothers?’
Then I called for a great assembly against them,where I said to them:
‘We once had to ask you for contributions in order to buy back many of our Judean brothers that had been sold to the gentiles.
So are you now going to sell your brothers back, or do you think that they should all be returned to us?’
Well, no one said a word.
Then I said:
‘What you’re doing here isn’t good, because it doesn’t reflect a fear of our God!
Should we be giving our enemies from the nations even more reason to treat us with contempt?
Why, my own friends, brothers, and acquaintances have [had to lend these people enough] of their own money and grain money to repay you!
However, I’m now bringing an end to these exacting accounting practices,and you must return these people today… along with their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses.
Also, you must provide them with some money, some grain, some wine, and some olive oil.’
And they replied,
‘We’ll give it all back and we won’t ask any more of them…
We’ll do just as you’ve said.’
Then I called the Priests up and I made them swear with an oath that they would be sure that these people did what they said.
And I shook off my cape and added,
‘This is how God will shake off any man that doesn’t stand by his word on this matter…
His house and everything he has worked for will be shaken off like this!’
Well at that, the entire assembly said,
‘May it be so!’
Then they praised Jehovah, and the people did just as they had agreed to do.
Also, on that day, they appointed me to be their ruler in the land of Judah… from the 20th year to the 32nd year of the reign of King ArthaSastha (for the next 12 years).
And during that entire period, my brothers and I who governed didn’t accept any [compensation].
But before that, those that had been the rulers actually oppressed the people by taking the last of their bread and wine, and by applying a tax of 40 silver coins.
So, although they and their servants had once dominated over the people, I didn’t do that, because of my fear before the Face of Jehovah.
I also worked on repairing the walls myself, and I didn’t acquire any land…
I sent my [household] servants and field workers there to do the work.
In addition, I allowed many of the Judeans and the rulers (about 150 men) that had returned to us from the nations roundabout, to eat at my table.
Each day, they consumed 1 calf, 6 choice sheep, and 1 winter-yearling goat.
I also needed huge quantities of wine to be delivered every 10 days.
Yet I didn’t seek any compensation for my work, because everyone else was slaving so hard.
Please remember me, O my God, for all the good that I’ve done for these people!
Well when SanBalLat, TobiJah, Gesham the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I was finishing the wall, they became quite dispirited.
However, the doors hadn’t been set in the gates yet.
Then SanBalLat and Gesham sent me [a letter] that said:
‘Come and meet with us in one of the towns in the plains of Ono!’
But because they were just planning to [kill] me,I sent messengers to them that said:
‘I still have a tremendous amount of work to do, and I can’t stop right now, because that would bring the work to a halt.
I’ll come and see you after it’s finished.’
Well they sent me 4 more messages after that, but I just kept giving them the same reply.
Then SanBalLat sent his servant a 5th time, who opened the letter and read it to me.
It said:
‘Geshem told me (and it’s being rumored among the nations) that you are planning to rebel, and that’s why you and the Judeans are building the wall… so you can become their king.
For you have appointed your own prophets to proclaim throughout JeruSalem that you’re now the king of Judah.
So, tell the king that these words aren’t true… come here and let’s discuss the matter!’
Well, I sent a reply that said:
‘None of these things have happened, and you’re lying from your heart about this…all you’re really trying to do is frighten us.
You’re saying,
If we worry them enough, we can stop the work so it won’t be completed.
However, I’m now more determined than ever to get it done.’
Then later, when I went to the house of [the Prophet] ShemaiAh (the son of DalaiJah and grandson of MeHetaBeel), he acted like he was very worried, and he said to me:
‘We must all gather in the middle of the Temple of God and lock its doors, for they’re coming to murder you tonight.’
But I asked him:
‘From which man must I run, and who could possibly make me run for my life into the Temple?
I’m not going to do that!’
And it was then that I realized that {Look!} God really hadn’t sent him.
Rather, his prophesy was just part of a plot against me, for he had been hired by TobiJah and SanBalLatto scare me into doing something that would cause me to sin and give me a bad reputation, so they could thereafter have something bad to say about me.
O my God;
Remember these things that TobiJah, SanBalLat, the prophet NoAdiJah, and the rest of the prophets have done to frighten me!
Well, we finished the wall on the 25th day of the month of Elul, after 52 days.
And when our enemies heard about it, they and all the nations roundabout became extremely fearful, because they realized that it was our God that had brought the work to a completion.
Then I found that during the entire time, several important men of Judah had been sending messages to TobiJah, and that he had been sending messages back to them,because many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him, since he was the son-in-law of ShechaniJah (the son of Arah), and his son JoHanan had married the daughter of MeshulLam (the son of BarAchiJah).
So he’d been using these connections to his advantage when he was writing to me;
For, everything that I said was being reported back to him, and the letters from TobiJah were just sent to frighten me.
Well after the walls were finished and the gate doors were set in place, we took a census of the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites.
Then we assigned a job to my brother HanaNi and to HanaNiJah (the man in charge of the palace in JeruSalem), because they feared God and were more righteous than most of the rest.
I told them:
‘Don’t allow the city gates to be opened before sunrise each morning, and make sure that they are locked [each night], as a safety precaution.
Also, select guards from among the people of JeruSalem and assign them to posts near their homes.’
I did this because the city was wide and spread out, not many people lived there yet, and none of their homes had been completed.
Then God inspired my heart and I gathered all the important people, the rulers, and the common people into groups and I had them registered.
That’s when I found a scroll that listed all the people that had first returned [to JeruSalem] and thecities that they had returned to in Judah after the captivity and the resettlement by King Nebu Chadnezzar of Babylon.
The men of IsraEl that had returned with ZerubBabel, JoShua, NehemiJah, AzariAh, RaAmiJah, NaHamani, MordecAi, Balsan, MisPereth, BigVai, Nehum, BaAna, and Masphar were:
The descendants of ParOsh – 2,172
The descendants of ShephatiJah – 372
The descendants of Arah – 652
The descendants of PahathMoab (including the sons of JeShua and JoAb) – 2,818
The descendants of ElAm – 1,254
The descendants of ZatTu – 845
The descendants of ZacCai – 760
The descendants of BinNui – 648
The descendants of BebAi – 628
The descendants of AzGad – 2,322
The descendants of AdoniKam – 667
The descendants of BigVai – 2,067
The descendants of Adin – 655
The descendants of Ater (from the line of HezekiAh) – 98
The descendants of Hashum – 328
The descendants of BezAi – 324
The descendants of Hariph – 112
The descendants of Asen – 223
The men of GibeOn – 95
The men of BethLehem and NetoPhah – 123
The men of AnathOth – 128
The men of BethAzmaVeth – 42
The men of KiriAth JaiRim, ChephiRah, and BeerOth – 743
The men of RamAh and GabaA – 621
The men of MichMash – 122
The men of BethEl and Ai – 123
The men of Nebo – 152
The men of ElAm – 1252
The men of Harim – 320
The men of JeriCho – 345
The men of LodHadid and Ono – 721
The men of SenaAh – 3,930
The priests from the sons of JedaiJah and the house of JeShua – 973
The descendants of ImMer – 1,052
The descendants of PashUr – 1,247
The descendants of Harim – 1,017
The Levites from the sons of JeShua (the son of KadmiEl) and the sons of HodeVah – 74
The singers that were the descendants of Asaph – 148
The gatekeepers that were the descendants of ShalLum, Ater, TalMon, AkKub, HatiTa, and ShobAi – 138
The Nethinim that were the sons of HashUpha, TabBaOth,Keros, Sia, Padon,Lebana, HagaBa, ShalmAi,Hanan, GidDel, Gahar,ReaJah, Rezin, NekoDa,GazZam, UzZa, and PhaseAh – 54.
From BesAi, there were the sons of MeUnim, NephiShesim,BakBuk, HakuPha, HarHur,Bazlith, MehiDa, HarSha,Barkow, SiSera, Tamah,NeziJah, and Hatiph.
Among the servants of Solomon, there were the descendants of SotAi, SopherEth, Perida,JaAla, DarKon, GidDel,ShephatiJah, HatTil, PochEreth, and Zebaim (who were all AmMonites).Altogether, the Nethinim and the servants of Solomon numbered 392.
Those that had come from TelMelah, TelHaresha, Cherub, AdDon, and ImMer weren’t able to say which houses and families they were from, or even if they were the seed of IsraEl.
From the descendants of DalaiJah, TobiJah, and NekoDa, there were 642.
Priests that were descended from HabaiJah, Koz, and BarzilLai (those that married the daughters of BarzilLai the GileAdite and took their family name)searched for their family lines but couldn’t find them, so they were expelled from the Priesthood.[King] ArthaSastha told them that they couldn’t eat from the Holy things until a Priest could stand and provide some light on this.
Altogether, the entire group consisted of 42,360,plus their male and female servants, who numbered 7,337, and 245 male and female singers.
There were 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels,and 6,720 burros.
Then [King] ArthaSastha sent 1,000 large gold coins to the family heads for the reconstruction (which was all put into the treasury), plus 50 [gold] bowls and 530 robes for the Priests.
Thereafter, the family heads contributed 2,000 more large gold coins for the work, plus 2,300 large silver coins, which was all put into the treasury.
And then the rest of the people contributed 20,000 large gold coins, 2,000 silver coins, and 77 outfits for the Priests.
Well after that, the Priests, Levites, gatekeepers, and singers each returned to the cities that their families were from, as did the Nethinim and all IsraEl.
By the 7th month, all the sons of IsraEl had had returned to their cities.
Then all the people came and gathered as a single man in the wide area in front of the Water Gate, and they asked the Scribe Ezra to bring out the scroll of the Law of Moses that gave Jehovah’s instructions to IsraEl.
So on the 1st day of the 7th month, the Priest Ezra carried the Law before the gathering, because everyone (both the men and the women) wanted to hear what it said.
Then from sunrise until about noon, Ezra read it to them there in the square in front of the Water Gate, and everyone paid very close attention to what was written in the scroll of the Law.
Ezra did this as he was standing on a wooden podium that he had made for such public speaking, and MatTithiJah, ShemaiAh, AnaiJah, UriAh, HilkiAh, and MaAseJah were standing on his right, while PedaiJah, MishaEl, MelchiJah, Hashum, HashBadana, ZechariAh, and MeshulLam were standing on his left.
So Ezra opened the scroll before all the people as he stood above everyone that was gathered there,and he praised their great God Jehovah. And the people said,
‘May it be so, may it be so,’
As they were raising their arms and bowing low before Jehovah with their faces to the ground.
Well, after that, JeShua, Bani, SherebiJah, JaMin, AkKub, ShabbethAi, HodiJah, MaAseJah, Kelita, AzariAh, JoZabad, Hanan, PelaiJah, and the Levites explained the Law to the people as they were all standing in their places.
And as he read from the scroll of the Law of God, Ezra taught and instructed them in order to give them a deeper knowledge of Jehovah…
And the people understood.
Then NehemiAh (who was also known as AtarSatha) stood up next to the Scribe and Priest Ezra and the Levites (who’d been explaining things to the people) and said:
‘Because this is a holy day to our God Jehovah, you must stop being sad and crying’ (because all the people had been crying as they were listening to the words of the Law).
He continued,
‘Rather, you should each [sit down] and eat the fatness and drink the sweetness, then share what you have with those that have nothing, because, this is a holy day to our God Jehovah.
Don’t be shy before our God, because the joy of Jehovah is what will make us strong!’
Well thereafter, the Levites had to settle the people down.
They shouted,
‘You have to be quiet, because this is a holy day… you must stop falling to the ground!’
So at that, all the people started eating, drinking, and sharing whatever they had;
For they were all very joyful after learning of the things that they had just been told.
Then on the 2nd day, the governor gathered all the family heads, along with all the people, the Priests, and the Levites, before the Scribe Ezra, so that they could listen to the [reading of] more of the words of the Law.
That’s when they found it was written in the Law that God gave to Moses, that the sons of IsraEl were to live in temporary dwellings during the holiday of the 7th month, and that this was to be announced by the blowing of trumpets throughout all their cities and in JeruSalem.
So Ezra said:
‘Everyone should go into the mountains and gather olive branches, along with the branches of cypress trees, myrtle trees, palms, and branches from bushes (as we were told to do in the writing) to make temporary dwellings for ourselves.’
So all the people went out and gathered whatever they needed to make the temporary dwellings, and they erected them on their roofs, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the Temple of God, in the square by the Water Gate, and in the square by the Gate of Ephraim.
Then everyone that had returned from captivity spent time living in the temporary dwellings, which is something that the sons of IsraEl hadn’t done from the time of JoShua (the son of NaWeh) until that day, and everyone was extremely happy.
Thereafter, [Ezra] continued to read from the scroll of the Law of God from the 1st day to the last of the 7 days of the holiday.
Then they ended it on the 8th day, just as they were told.
Well, it was on the 24th day of the month that the sons of IsraEl had gathered to fast wearing sackcloth and with ashes on their heads.
Then, after separating the foreigners from among themselves, they all stood and openly confessed their sins and the lawbreaking of their ancestors.
They each took their positions, as the scroll of the Law of their God Jehovah was being read over the next 4 days, and they were each speaking openly to Jehovah and bowing before the Lord, their God.
All the while, the Levites (JeShua the son of KadmiEl and SecheniJah the son of SherebiJah and grandson of ChenAni) were standing on the ascent calling out loudly to their God Jehovah.
Then the Levites (JeShua, KadmiEl, Bani, SherebiJah, HodiJah, SecheniJah, and PethahiJah) said to the people:
‘Stand up and praise Jehovah who has been our God through the ages and into the ages of ages!
Praise His glorious Name and raise it high with blessings and praises!’
Then Ezra said:
‘O our only Lord; it was You that made the skies and the heavens above the skies!
You’re the One that put everything in its position… the land and all that’s on it, the seas and everything that’s in them, and You gave life to everything.
So to You, all the armies of the heavens must bow.
‘O Jehovah our God;
It was You that chose Abram and led him out of the [land] of the Chaldeans; then You changed his name to AbraHam,because You found his heart worthy before You.
And You concluded a Sacred Agreement with him, promising to give the land of the CanaAnites, Hittites, Amorites, Pherezites, Jebusites, and Gergesites to his seed…
And then You did what You said You would do, because You are righteous.
‘And when You saw how our ancestors were being humiliated in Egypt and You heard their cries at the Red Sea,You sent signs and miracles to the PharaOh of Egypt on their behalf and to all his servants and all the people of his land, because You saw how [the Egyptians] were dominating them.
Then You made a Name for Yourself that has lasted to this day;
For You ripped open the sea before them and threw those that were chasing them to the bottom of that sea like stones in turbulent waters.
And after that, You guided them with a column of clouds by day and by a column of fire by night…
To light their way as they followed behind it.
‘And on Mount SinAi, You went down and spoke to them from out of the sky and You gave them Your righteous Commandments, Laws of truth, orders, and good [instructions],as You explained to them about Your Holy Sabbath, [which had been written about] among the Commandments, orders, and Laws that You gave to them by the hands of Your servant Moses.
Then You sent them bread from heaven as their provisions, and You brought water out of a rock to quench their thirst.
‘Thereafter, You spoke to them and told them to enter and inherit the land that You stretched out Your hand to give them…
But our ancestors were too proud. They stiffened their necks and refused to listen to Your Commandments…
They shook their heads and refused to listen, because they forgot the wonders that You had just performed among them.
And though You [could have] appointed a leader to return them to their slavery in Egypt, since they had stiffened their necks;
Because You, O God, are merciful, compassionate, lenient, and filled with patience when it comes to forgiving sins, You didn’t abandon them.
‘But then they molded a calf for themselves and said,
This is our God that led us out of Egypt,
which made You very angry.
However, in Your great compassion, You didn’t abandon them in the desert or remove the column of clouds that guided them on their way during the day, or the column of fire that lit their way during the night.
With Your beautiful Breath, You made them understand, and You didn’t withhold Your manna from their mouths or the water that You gave them to quench their thirst.
‘Thereafter, You fed them in the desert for 40 years, and they lacked nothing, because their clothes didn’t become old and their sandals didn’t wear out.
And You gave them kingdoms… You divided the people from among them, and they inherited the land of SeOn the king of HeshBon, and the land of Og the king of BaShan.
And all the while, You multiplied their sons as the stars in the skies, and You brought them into the land that You told their ancestors they would enter and inherit.
‘Then, after their sons entered and inherited the land, You wiped out those that had lived in the land before them.
You gave the CanaAnites into their hands, both their kings and the people of the land, to do whatever they saw fit with them.
There they conquered cities with high walls and entered a fertile land, where they inherited houses that were already furnished, as well as quarries, vineyards, olive groves, and plenty of things to eat.
So they ate until they were full and fat, as they indulged in Your goodness.
‘But then they changed and rebelled against You…
They threw away Your Laws and killed the Prophets whom You sent as witnesses and to turn them back to You, which made You extremely angry.
So You handed them over to those that oppressed them.
And as they were being oppressed, they called out to You in their time of need, and You again heard them from Your heavens.
Then in Your great compassion, You saved them and delivered them from those that were oppressing them,and You allowed them to rest.
‘But then they turned around and started acting wickedly before You once more;
So You abandoned them into the hands of their enemies, who started ruling over them.
And they once again yelled out to You, and once again You listened from the heavens and rescued them, because of Your great compassion;and You advised them to return to Your Law.
However, they acted superior and they wouldn’t listen to Your Commandments and judgments that bring life to a man… and they kept on sinning!
They turned their backs and refused to be persuaded… they stiffened their necks and just wouldn’t listen.
But You put up with them for many years, until Your patience finally ran out.
Then, through Your Breath, You warned them by the hands of Your Prophets, before handing them over to the people of the land.
Yet, in Your great compassion, You didn’t destroy them or abandon them… You were strong and merciful, and You felt pity.
‘And now, O our strong, great, fearsome, and mighty God who is merciful and guards His Sacred Agreement;
Don’t allow all the troubles that have found us, our kings, our rulers, our Priests, our Prophets, our fathers, and all Your people since the days of the kings of Assyria down to this day, to go unnoticed.
For You have been just when it comes to all the things that have happened to us.
You have acted righteously while we were being led into sin;
For our kings, rulers, Priests, and our fathers didn’t obey Your Laws or pay attention to Your Commandments and the things that You testified to them.
Yet, they continued to live in Your kingdom, enjoying the abundant goodness that You gave to them, and they [inherited] the wide and beautiful land that You had set before them.
However, they still wouldn’t serve You or turn from their wicked ways.
‘But look!
We are Your servants today in this land that You gave to our ancestors, so that we might eat its fruit and enjoy its good things. Look… we are Your servants here!
Yet, the abundant fruitage of this land now belongs to the kings that were put over us because of our sins – as were our bodies and our cattle – to do whatever they pleased.
So we are extremely oppressed,and we’re entrusting these things [to You].
We have written all of this down, and now our rulers, Levites, and Priests will put their seal upon it.’
Well, those in charge of setting the seal were Governor NehemiAh (the son of HachaliJah), ZidKiJah,AraiJah, AzariAh, JeremiAh,PashUr, AmariJah, MelchiJah,HatTush, ShebaniJah, Harim, MalLu ch,MeremOth, ObadiAh,DaniEl, GinNethou, BarUch,MeshulLam, AbiJah, MiJamin,MaAziJah, Bilgai, and ShemaiAh (the Priests).
The Levites were JeShua (the son of AzaniJah), BinNui (of the sons of HenAdad), KadmiEland his brothers ShebaniJah, HodiJah, Kelita, PelaiJah, Hanan,Micha, ReHob, HaShabiJah,ZacCur, SherebiJah, ShebaniAh, and HodiJah(the sons of BeniNi).
These rulers of the people [also agreed to the seal]:
ParOsh, PahathMoab, ElAm, and ZatThu, the sons of Bani, as well asAgad, BebAi,AdoniJah, BigVai, Adin,Ater, HezekiAh, AzZur,HodiJah, Hashum, BezAi,Hariph, AnathOth, NebAi,MagPiAsh, MeshuLam, Hezir,MeShezaBeel, ZaDok, JadDua,PelatiJah, Hanan, AnaiJah,HoSheA, HanaNiJah, Hashub,HalLohesh, PiLeha, Shobek,Rehum, HashabNah, MaAseJah,AhiJah, Hanan, Anan,MalLuch, Harim, and BaAnah.
And thereafter, all the rest of the people also [agreed to the seal]…
The Priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, Nethinim, and all the other people of the land that had dedicated themselves to the Law of God, plus their wives, sons, and daughters…
All that were able to know and understand.
They all supported their brothers and they swore bad things and curses upon themselves with an oath, that they would follow the Law of God that had been given at the hand of Moses (the servant of God), and that they would guard and observe all the Commandments of our God Jehovah, as well as His judgments and orders.
[They also swore] not to give their daughters to the peoples of the land, or to take their daughters for their sons.
Then they agreed that they would not buy anything that the peoples of the land would bring in to sell on the Sabbath or on other holy days, and that every 7 years, they would each go up and forgive all debts.
In addition, they all agreed to pay 1/3 of a large gold coin each year to support the services at the Temple of our God,and to provide the show bread, the daily sacrifice offerings, the whole burnt offerings, and the sacrifices for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the holidays, along with the holy things for sin offerings for ourselves and for all IsraEl, and to help with the repairs and upkeep of the Temple of our God.
Then we [held] a lottery among the people (by houses and families) to determine who would carry wood to the Temple for the Priests and Levites during each season and by time of day each year, to be burned on the Altar of Jehovah our God, as it was written in the Law.
[We also agreed to] bring the first produce of our lands and the first produce of the fruit from every tree to the Temple of Jehovah each year,as well as the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle (as it is written in the Law)…
The first-born of our oxen and our flocks.
We agreed to bring them to the Temple of our God for the Priests that serve there in the Temple of our God,as well as the first-fruits of our grain and other offerings (the fruit of every tree, and of our wine and olive oil), which was to be be delivered to the Priests and stored in the treasury in the Temple of our God.
In addition, we agreed to pay a 10% tithe for the Levites (they were to receive 1/10th in each city for their services),in which the descendants of Aaron (the Priests) were also to share.
Then, even the Levites were to offer 1/10th from their 1/10th to the Temple of our God, which would be put into the Temple treasury.
The treasuries were to be used to store all that the sons of IsraEl and the Levites would bring to the Temple – the first fruits of the grain, wine, and olive oil – where it would be stored in holy containers for the Priests, servants, gatekeepers, and singers.
Then we all agreed that we would never abandon the Temple of our God.
Well, after the rulers had all settled in JeruSalem, the rest of the people threw lots to choose 10% [from among] them that would then [live in] the Holy City.
The other 90% could settle in other cities,and they praised all the people that were willing to settle in JeruSalem.
So, the rest of the IsraElites, including the Priests, the Levites, the Nethinim, and the descendants of the servants of Solomon, brought their possessions to other cities.
These are the rulers of the land that settled in JeruSalemalong with many Judeans and some from the tribe of BenJamin:
[The leader] of the sons of Judah was AthaliAh (the son UzziAh and grandson of ZechariAh, the son of SamariAh, the son of ShephatiJah, the son of MaHalaleEl).
[Over] the sons of Perezwas MaAseJah (the son of BarUch, grandson of ColHozeh, the son of HazaiJah, the son of AdaiJah, the son of JoiArib, the son of ZechariAh, the son of Seloni).
Altogether, there were 428 mighty men that were descendants of Perez that settled in JeruSalem.
[The leader from] the tribe of BenJamin was SalLu (the son of MeshulLlam, grandson of JoEd, the son of PedaiJah, the son of KolaiJah, the son of MasSeJah, the son of IthiEl, the son of JesaiJah).
And under him were GabBai and SalLai, with 928 men.
JoEl (the son of Zichri) was their overseer, and Judah (the son of Asam) was second in charge of the city.
From the Priests, there was JedaiJah (the son of JoiArib), JaChin,and SeraiJah (the son of HilkiAh, grandson of MeshuLam, the son of ZaDok, the son of MaraiOth, the son of AhiTub) that were in charge of the Temple of God.
And under them were 822 of their brothers that did the work.
This included AdaiJah (the son of JeroHam, grandson of PelaliJah, the son of Amzi, the son of ZechariAh, the son of PashUr,and 242 of his brothers that were the rulers of families, including AmaShai (the son of AzareEl, grandson of SikiAh, the son of MeshilLemOth, the son of ImMer)and his brothers, some 128 mighty men that were ready for battle.
Their overseer was ZabdiEl, who was a descendant of a great line of warriors.
From the Levites, there was ShemaiJah (the son of Hashub, grandson of AzriKam, the son of HashabiJah, the son of BunNi),and MatTaniJah, and JoZabad, who were in charge of the work outside the Temple of God, who were the rulers of the Levites.
There was also MatTaniJah (the son of Micha, grandson of ZechRi, the son of Asaph) who was in charge of the praises, Judah was in charge of the prayers, his brother BakBukiJah was second under him, and then there was AbDa (the son of ShamMua, grandson of Galal, the son of JediThun).
Altogether, there were 284 Levites in the Holy City.
Over the gatekeepers were AkKub and TalMon. And under them there were 172 of their brothers that guarded the gates.
All the rest of IsraEl and the Priests and Levites settled in the lands of their inheritance, in the other cities of IsraEl.
The Nethinim settled in Ophel, Ziha, and Gispa.
The overseer of the Levites in JeruSalem was UzZi (the son of Bani, grandson of SabiJah, the son of MatTaniJah, the son of Micha).
The singers (who were descendants of Asaph) had to do their work before the Temple of God,for this was commanded by the king, and each one had his own daily assignment.
PethAhiJah (the son of MeShezaBeel) from the line of Zerah of the Tribe of Judah, reported directly to the king on matters pertaining to the people,and regarding their properties and lands.
Some from the Tribe of Judah settled in KiriAth Arba and its suburbs, in Dibon and its suburbs, in and around KabSel,in JeShua, in MolAdah, in BethPhelet,in HazarShual, in BeerSheba and its suburbs,in ZikLag, in MabNe and its suburbs,in RimMon, in ZeriJah, in JariMoth,in ZaNoah, in and around AdulLam, in and around LachIsh, and in AzekAh and its suburbs.
They also camped near BeerSheba in the Valley of Hinnom.
The Tribe of BenJamin settled in GebaA, in MichMash, in AiJa, in BethEl and its suburbs,in AnathOth, in Nob, in AnaniAh,in Hazor, in RamAh, in GitTaim,in Hadid, in Zeboim, in NebalLat,in Lod, and in OnoKareSeim.
Also, some of the Levites settled throughout Judah and BenJamin.
These are the Priests and Levites that came here with ZerubBabel (the son of ShealtiEl) and JeShua:
SaraiJah, JeremiAh, Ezra,AmariAh, MalLuch, HatTush,ShechaniJah, Rehum, MeremOth,AdiJah, GinNetho, AbiJah,MiAmin, MaAdiJah, BilGah,ShemaiAh, JoiArib, JedaiJah,SalLu, Amok, HilkiAh, JedaiJah.
These are rulers of the Priests and their brothers in the days of JeShua and the Levites:
JeShua, BinNui, KadmiEl, SherebiJah, JoiAda, MatTaniJah (who, along with his brothers, was over [the gifts] of confession),BakBukiJah, UnNi, and their brothers, who handled the daily rotations.
JeShua fathered JoiAkim, JoiAkim fathered EliAshib, EliAshib fathered JoiAda,JoiAda fathered JoNathan, and JoNathan fathered JadDua.
Now, during the days of JoiAkim, these were the Priests and the rulers of the families:
The leader of the family of SeraiJah was MeraiJah;
The leader of the family of JeremiAh was HanaNiJah;
The leader of the family of Ezra was MeshulLam;
The leader of the family of AmariAh was JehoHanan;
The leader of the family of MeliKu was JoNathan;
The leader of the family of SecheniJah was JoSeph;
The leader of the family of Ares was Adna;
The leader of the family of MaraYoth was HelkAi;
The leader of the family of IdDo was ZechariAh;
The leader of the family of GinNethon was MeshulLam;
The leader of the family of AbiJah was Zichri;
The leader of the families of MinJamin and MoAdiJah was PiltAi;
The leader of the family of BilGah was ShamMua;
The leader of the family of ShemaiAh was JehoNathan;
The leader of the family of JoiArib was MattenAi;
The leader of the family of JedaiJah was UzZi;
The leader of the family of SalLai was KalLai;
The leader of the family of Amok was Eber;
The leader of the family of HilkiAh was HashaiJah;
The leader of the family of JedaiJah was NethaneEl.
The Levites in the days of EliAshib were JoiAda, Joa, JoHanan, and JadDua.
They were the recorded heads of their families and the Priests in the kingdom of Darius the Persian.
The [names of] the sons of Levi that were the family heads had been written in the scrolls of the records of those days until the time of JoHanan (the son of EliAshib).
The rulers of the Levites were HashabiJah, SherebiJah, JeShua, and the sons and family of KadmiEl.
These were in charge of praising and acknowledging, [which was an office] that David (the man of God) had set up in daily rotations.
MatTaniJah, BakBukiJah, ObadiAh, MeShulLam, TalMon, and AkKub were in charge of assembling and assigning the watches of the gatekeepers.
It was in the days of JoiAkim (the son of JeShua and grandson of JoZadak), and in the time of NehemiAh (the ruler) and Ezra (the Priest and scribe)and during the festival of dedication of the wall of JeruSalem that they went searching for the Levites in the places where they lived, to bring them to JeruSalem so they could handle the holiday of rededication with happiness, praises, and with music played on their cymbals, reed instruments, and stringed instruments.
Then they gathered singers from around JeruSalem (from NetoPhalthi,Beth GilGal, the fields of Geba, and from AzMaveth), because the singers had built homes for themselves close to JeruSalem.
Then the Priests cleansed themselves, as well as the Levites, the people, and the [city] gates and walls.
Thereafter, the [singers] marched in front of the leaders of Judah around the tops of the [city] walls.
I had stationed two large groups of [musicians and singers] along the walls that were to walk toward the Manure Gate,as HoshaiJah and half of the rulers of Judah walked behind them.
AzariAh, Ezra, and MeshulLamrepresented Judah, and ShemaiAh and JeremiAh represented BenJamin.
Under [the leadership of] ZechariAh (the son of JoNathan, grandson of ShemaiAh, the son of MathaniJah, the son of MichaiAh, the son of ZacCur, the son of Asaph), some of the of the Priests were blowing trumpets,while the rest of his family (ShemaiJah, AzaraEl, GilalAi, MaAi, NathaniEl, Judah, and HanaNi) walked behind Ezra the scribe playing the songs of David (the man of God) on their instruments.
Then when they reached the Gate of the Spring, they marched down the stairway of the City of David and back up along the wall over the house of David, heading eastward toward the Water Gate.
And as they were marching along [playing and singing their] songs of praise, the 2nd group was marching to meet them, as I walked behind them.
Half of the people walked along the wall near the Furnace Tower, then along the Broad Wallover the Gate of Ephraim, and over the Gate of EiSiana, the Fish Gate, the Tower of HaNaneEl and the Tower of MeAh, all the way to the Sheep Gate, and then on to the Prison Gate,where both groups stopped to offer their praises at the Temple of God, as half of the commanders and I stood there.
Then the Priests (EliAkim, MaAsiJah, MiniAmin, MichaiAh, ElioEnai, ZechariAh, and HanaNiJah) blew their trumpets,as MaAseJah, ShemiAh, EliEzer, UzZi, JehoHanan, MelchiJah, AiLam, Ezer (and their overseer, JezRahJah) started singing.
Well, they offered many sacrifices that day and everyone was extremely happy, for God had made them, their wives, and their children very happy;
And the sound of their joy could be heard a long distance from JeruSalem.
It was on this day that they ordered those that were over the treasures in the treasuries (the first fruits and the tithes) to go out and gather the portions for the Priests and Levites from the cities and the fields.
And everyone in Judah was very happy for the Priests, Levites, and the guardsthat kept the watches for their God, and for those in charge of the cleansing, for the singers, and for the gatekeepers, all of whom were doing everything according to the commandments of David and of his son Solomon.
Because, it was in the days of David and Asaph that singers were first assigned to sing praises to God.
And it was during the days of ZerubBabel and NehemiAh that all the people started contributing a portion to the singers and gatekeepers each day.
It was handed over as something holy to the Levites, who handed it over as something holy to the sons of Aaron.
Well on that day (when they were reading the scroll of Moses before the ears of the people), they came to understand that it was written that the AmMonites and MoAbites were not to enter the gathering of God through the ages,because they hadn’t greeted the sons of IsraEl with bread and water, but hired BalaAm to curse them (which our God turned into blessings).
And when they heard this read in the Law, they separated such people that had been mixed among the IsraElites.
Before that time, however, the Priest EliAshib had assigned TobiJah to be in charge of the treasury of the Temple of our God,[and he had moved into] the large room in the treasury where the sacrifice offerings, the frankincense, the sacred utensils, the tithe grain, the wine, and the olive oil was supposed to be stored (as it was commanded) for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the first fruits for the Priests.
I wasn’t in JeruSalem when he did this, for (because it was the 32nd year of the reign of ArthaSastha the ruler of Babylon) I had gone to see the king, and then (after some time) I asked the king for a few thingsbefore returning to JeruSalem.
But when I [got back and] saw the wicked thing that EliAshib had done for TobiJah by giving the treasury to him there in the courtyard of the Temple of God,this looked very wrong to me.
So I took all of TobiJah’s things out of the treasury and threw them outside.
Then I gave the order and they cleansed the treasury, and I had the Temple of God’s sacred utensils, sacrifice offerings, and frankincense all brought back.
I also realized that the Levites weren’t being given their portions, so the Levites, singers, and workmen had all returned to their own fields.
Therefore, I had a heated exchange with those that were in charge, and I asked,
‘Why has the Temple of God been abandoned?’
And afterward, I called everyone back and assigned them to their stations,as everyone in Judah once again started bringing their tithes of the wheat, wine, and olive oil to the treasury.
I then put all of this into the hands of the Priest ShelemiJah, the scribe ZaDok, and PedaiAh and Hanan (the sons of ZacCur and grandsons of MatTaniJah) who represented the Levites, since I thought that they could be trusted.
And I left it up to them to divide it all among their brothers.
Remember me for this, O my God, and don’t forget my acts of mercy on behalf of the Temple of my God Jehovah and [the assignment of] His watches!
Well, it was then that I noticed that the people of Judah were treading their wine vats and collecting sheaves of grain and loading them on their burros (along with wine, grapes, figs, and everything else) and carrying them into JeruSalem on the Sabbath day.
Yes, I can testify to the fact that they were even selling these things on that day!
People from Tyre were also bringing in fish and all sorts of things, and they were sitting there offering them for sale to the sons of Judah in JeruSalem on the Sabbath!
So I quarreled with the free men of Judah and asked,
‘Why are you doing this wicked thing… why are you profaning the day of the Sabbath?
Isn’t this the same thing that your fathers did that caused God to bring all the evils down upon this city and upon us?
Now you’re adding to His anger upon IsraEl by profaning the Sabbath!’
Well, after I said that, they started locking the gates of JeruSalem before the Sabbath, and I told them not to unlock them until after the Sabbath.
Then I had some of my young men stand at the gates to make sure that no one carried loads on the Sabbath day,and that all the traders were forced to find lodging.
Oh, some did business outside of JeruSalem’s walls once or twice,but I spoke to them and asked,
‘Why are you lodging so close to the city wall?
If you do this a second time, I’ll be forced to take action against you!’
Well from that time on, they no longer came on the Sabbath.
Thereafter, I had a talk with the Levites that were being cleansed and with those that had come to guard the gates, about the need to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Remember me, O my God, and protect me by Your great mercy!
Back then, I saw Judeans that had settled in with women that were AshDodites, AmMonites, and MoAbites…
They were even speaking the AshDod language and they weren’t learning Judean, for they were speaking the languages of these people and those people!
So I quarreled with them and I cursed them… I hit some of the men, pulled their hair, and made them swear before God not to take those people’s daughters for their sons or for themselves.
[I said]:
‘Isn’t this how Solomon the king of IsraEl sinned?
Yet among all the nations, there wasn’t another king like him, because God loved him and God appointed him to be the king over all IsraEl.
But it was this thing that turned him aside… foreign women!
So, should we allow you to do such wickedness and break your relationship with God by taking foreign women?’
[I said this to] the sons of JoiAda and to EliAshib (who was the High Priest and a relative by marriage of SanBalLat)…
Then I threw them all out!
Remember them, O my God, because they opposed the rights of inheritance of the Priesthood [as was set forth in] Your Sacred Agreement for the Priests and the Levites!
I cleansed them of all their connections with foreigners, then I established the daily rotations for the Priests and Levites, so that every man had an assignment among the Priests,whether it was just to provide gifts of wood for the offerings by seasons and times, or [to bring in] the first fruits.
Please remember me, O our God, for the goodness that [I have shown]!
This all happened in the days of ArtaXerxes (the ArtaXerxes that ruled an area of 127 regions all the way to India):
Back in those days, after ArtaXerxes had been enthroned as king in the City of Susa andduring the 3rd year of his reign, he held a great [wedding] banquet to which he invited his friends, foreign dignitaries, the most honorable Medes and Persians, and those that were in charge of the governors of the various regions.
Then over the next 180 days, he took them and showed them all the wealth of his kingdom and the glory of the things that he had accomplished.
Well, after the days for celebrating his wedding were completed, the king held another banquet inside the courtyard of the king’s palace for the foreigners that lived in his city, which lasted 7 more days.
The [banquet] area was decorated with fine linen and cotton cloth that was stretched over lines of fine linen and purple cloth, which were fastened with gold and silver cubes to Parian-marble columns.
[There were also] beds of gold and silver on a Parian-marble floor [that was set with] emerald stones and mother of pearl, and this was strewn with transparent beds that were variously decorated with cups of gold and silver.
In addition, they had an abundance of the finest wines (the type that was reserved for the king).
The banquet wasn’t handled as it was specified in their laws, but because that’s the way the king wanted it, he gave instructions to those that were in charge of the workers to handle things his way.
Meanwhile, Astin (the queen) was holding a banquet for the women of the kingdom in the same place where ArtaXerxes was holding his.
Then on the 7th day, because the king was in a particularly happy mood, he gave orders to HaMan, BizTha, Harbona, BigTha, AbagTha, Zethar, and Carcas (the king’s 7 [most trusted] eunuchs) to bring the queen to him,so she could receive her coronation and be given a royal turban, and so that he could display her beauty before all the princes and the foreigners (because she was very beautiful).
But Queen Astin refused to go along with the eunuchs, which made the king very angry.
So he said to his friends,
‘If this is how Astin has chosen to answer, then you deal with this matter according to the law and judge her!’
Well, Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, TarShish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan (the 7 sub-rulers of the Persians and Medes that were closest to the king and who sat by him) came forwardand told the king what the laws required them to do to Queen Astin for not following the orders that the king had given to his eunuchs.
Memucan spoke and said this to him and to the other rulers:
‘Not only has Queen Astin dishonored the king, but she has dishonored all of the king’s rulers and leaders.’
Then after describing to them all the things that the queen had said and how she had disobeyed the king, he proclaimed:
‘Because she has disobeyed King ArtaXerxes,and because all the wives of the sub-rulers and leaders of the Persians and Medes have heard what the queen said, they may also dare to dishonor their husbands.
Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let him write out and sign a royal decree passing a law among the Medes and Persians that she should not be treated as the queen and that she may no longer sleep with the king.
Then may the king find a woman better than her.
This law should be announced throughout the entire kingdom, so that all the women will learn to respect their men, both the rich and the poor!’
Well, because what he said pleased the king and his rulers, the king did as Memucan had proposed.
He sent a proclamation everywhere throughout his entire realm in each of their languages, requiring women to show respect for the men in their households.
This ended the king’s rage, and he never mentioned Astin again, or the things that she said, or his condemnation of her.
So then the king’s servants said to him:
‘Have them search for a young woman for the king that is both pure and beautiful to look at.
Send judges throughout your kingdom and have them choose young women that are virgins and pretty, then have them taken to your harem in the City of Susa where they will be handed over to the king’s eunuch who is in charge of the women, to take care of them and give them beauty treatments.
And after that, the woman that best pleases the king will reign instead of Astin.’
Well, because this pleased the king, it was done.
Now, there was a man (a Judean) in the City of Susa whose name was MordecAi.
He was the son of JaiRus, the grandson of SemeYas, and the great-grandson of KisaYus from the tribe of BenJamin,who had been carried off as a captive from JeruSalem by NebuChadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
MordecAi had a child that he’d raised who was the daughter of his uncle (his father’s brother), and her name was Esther.
For after her parents died, he [agreed to] take [care of] the young woman, who was very pretty.
Well, after the king’s proclamation [was read], many young women were gathered to the City of Susa [to be seen by] Gai (the harem keeper), and then Esther was led before him.
He found the young woman very pleasing and he liked her, so he hurried to give her the beauty treatments and her share [of good things], and 7 young women from the royal palace were brought there [to serve] her.
Thereafter, he treated [Esther] and her handmaidens very well in the harem chamber.
However, Esther didn’t discuss her race or her fatherland with him, because MordecAi had told her not to mention it.
Then, every day, MordecAi would walk by the women’s courtyard to see what was happening to Esther.
Well, at the end of 12 months, the time finally came for the young women to go in to the king (for that’s how long the beauty treatments were to last).
They also underwent 6 months of treatments with fragrant oils.
It was then, after 6 months of being bathed in myrrh oil, that she was taken in to the king, along with any others that the king told them to bring from the harem chamber to the royal palace.
She was brought in to him that evening, and the next morning, she returned to the secondary harem where the Eunuch Gai (the king’s harem keeper) stayed, and she couldn’t go before the king after that, unless she had been called.
Well eventually, Esther (the daughter of AbiHail, MordecAi’s uncle) was brought before the king again, and she carefully followed all the eunuch’s instructions, so that everyone that saw her came to like her.
Esther had been taken to King ArtaXerxes in the 10th month (TeBeth) of the 7th year of his reign,and he fell passionately in love with her, preferring her to all the other virgins.
He then placed the royal turban of the queen on her head,and he held a banquet for all of his friends and the governors that lasted 7 days.
He also made the wedding feast of Esther greater by [releasing all the prisoners] in his kingdom.
Meanwhile, MordecAi had been put in charge of matters having to do with [the king’s] courtyard.
And he reminded Esther not to mention her fatherland. Rather, he told her to just fear God and obey His orders, the same as she did when she lived in his home…
And Esther never deviated from doing this.
Well, MordecAi kept growing more important,and when two of the king’s eunuchs (the chiefs of his bodyguards) became worried about ArtaXerxes and decided to assassinate him, MordecAi heard about this and sent a warning to the king through Esther about their plot.
So after the king interrogated the eunuchs, he had them hung, and he had a record written in the royal library about the goodwill that MordecAi had shown, saying that he was to be commended for this.
However, after that, King ArtaXerxes honored HaMan (the son of AmaDathes the AgAgite).
He promoted him over all his friends and seated him in [the most prominent position].
So thereafter, everyone in the courtyard had to bow before HaMan, because the king said that they had to do so… however, MordecAi refused to do this.
As the result, the people in the king’s courtyard started asking MordecAi why he was disobeying the order of the king.
And though they spoke to him about this every day, MordecAi just didn’t pay any attention to them.
So someone thereafter pointed out to HaMan that MordecAi had been disobeying the king’s orders, and he also mentioned that MordecAi was a Judean.
Well when HaMan found out that MordecAi wasn’t bowing before him, this made him very angry.
So, that’s when he started making plans to remove all the Judeans from the kingdom of ArtaXerxes.
Then, during the 12th year of the reign of ArtaXerxes, he drafted a law, and he threw lots for each day and month to determine when the best time would be to destroy the race of MordecAi…
And it fell on the 14th day of the month of Adar.
So he went and spoke to King ArtaXerxes and said this:
‘There’s a nation that is mixed among all the nations of your kingdom whose laws are different from those of the other nations, and they disregard the laws of the king.
Therefore, it isn’t to the king’s advantage to keep them.
So if it seems good to the king; may he approve this decree [that I’ve written], which says that they must be destroyed.
Then I will appropriate 10,000 gold coins from the king’s treasury to get it done.’
Well, the king removed his ring and handed it to HaMan to seal the judgment that he had written against the Judeans.
And the king said to HaMan:
‘As for the [money]; you have it.
And as for that nation; treat them in any way that you wish!’
So then the king called in his scribes (on the 13th day of the 1st month) and they copied HaMan’s orders [and sent them to] all the military commanders and governors from India to Ethiopia… to 127 districts.
[HaMan also] sent letters to all the rulers of the nations in their own languages in the name of King ArtaXerxes.
He sent them by couriers throughout ArtaXerxes’s kingdom, [telling the people] to wipe out the race of the Judeans on the [13th] day of the 12th month (Adar), and he told them that they could plunder all their possessions.
So, copies of the letters were put on display everywhere.
And then the day was set and everything was being prepared and made ready…even in Susa.
And after that, the king and HaMan toasted each other, as the whole city was in an uproar.
Well when MordecAi realized that this was the end, he ripped his clothes, put on sackcloth, [covered himself with] ashes, and he rushed to the city square, where he yelled as loudly as he could:
‘A nation is being removed that has wronged no one!’
Then after that, he went and stood outside the palace gate (because he wasn’t allowed to enter the courtyard in sackcloth and ashes).
And everywhere that the letters were on display there was crying, beating on chests, and great mourning among the Judeans, as they put on sackcloth and made beds for themselves in ashes.
Well, the queen soon learned about this plot through her handmaids and eunuchs, who came to her and told her about it…
And she was very upset when she heard what had happened.
Meanwhile, she sent a robe to MordecAi and told him to stop wearing his sackcloth; but he refused to do it.
Then Esther called Hatach (her personal eunuch) and sent him to MordecAi,so she could learn the details of the situation.
And MordecAi explained to him how it all came about… of how HaMan had gotten the king’s promise to receive 10,000 gold coins from his treasury so he could destroy the Judeans.
And then he gave a copy of the decree that was on public display in Susa (which said that they were to be destroyed) to Hatach, who carried it to Esther.
He also told the eunuch to ask her to [go before] the king [to beg for his mercy] and for her to prove worthy by speaking on behalf of her people.
He said:
‘Tell her to explain to him about how lowly she was once considered and of how I took her in and raised her, because HaMan (the king’s second in command) is talking about killing all of us.
Tell her to call upon Jehovah, and then go speak to the king about us and rescue us from death!’
So Hatach returned and told Esther everything that [Modecai] had said.
And then Esther told Hatach to go to MordecAi and say,
‘Everyone in the kingdom knows that there’s no hope for any man or woman that goes into the king’s inner courtyard without being called.
Only those to whom the king stretches out his scepter is safe…
And I haven’t been called to see the king for some 30 days now!’
Therefore, Hatach went and told MordecAi everything that Esther said, and MordecAi told him:
‘Go and tell Esther not to think that she’s the only Judean that will be saved.
And if she wants to ignore us this time, the Judeans will get help from somewhere else…
Then she and the house of her father will be destroyed.
But perhaps the reason why she was made queen, was for this very purpose!’
Then Esther sent a reply to MordecAi, saying:
‘Gather all the Judeans in the City of Susa and ask everyone to fast for me…
Don’t eat or drink anything for three days and three nights!
Also, my handmaids and I will go without food before I go in before the king, because I will be breaking the law.
Yet, even if it’s necessary for me to die, I will do it!’
And thereafter, MordecAi did everything that Esther told him to do.
Well on the 3rd day, Esther dressed in her royal clothes, then she went and stood in the palace courtyard, inside the inner courtyard, which is right outside of the king’s residence.
And when the king went and sat down on his royal throne (which was inside his palace but it faced the front entryway)and he saw Esther the queen standing in his courtyard, he was pleased.
So he stretched out the gold scepter toward her that he held in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
Then the king asked:
‘What do you want Esther… what is your request?
Ask for half of my kingdom and it’s yours.’
And Esther said:
‘This is a special day for me;
So if it seems good to the king, may both the king and HaMan attend a banquet that I will hold for them today!’
So the king said to HaMan:
‘Hurry, let’s go and do what Esther has asked!’
And they both went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Well, when they arrived, the king said to Esther:
‘Tell me what it is that’s so important to you, Queen Esther, and I’ll do whatever is worthwhile.’
Then she said,
‘My only request and petition is this:
If I’ve found the favor of the king, may you and HaMan come again tomorrow for [another] banquet that I’ll hold for you, the same as today.’
Well after HaMan left the king that day, he was very cheerful and happy.
But when he noticed the Judean MordecAi standing in the courtyard, he was furious.
Then when he got home, he called his wife ZoSara and his friends,and he showed them all the wealth he had gained.
He also told them of the glory that the king had vested upon him, and of how the king had appointed him to be the most important and how he had given him the lead position in his kingdom.
Then HaMan said:
‘Today, the queen didn’t invite anyone to a banquet that she held other than just me and the king, and she has invited me again tomorrow!
However, the thing that really bothered me was seeing that Jew MordecAi standing there in the courtyard.’
Then his wife ZoSara said to him and his friends:
‘You should cut down a very tall tree, then at dawn tomorrow morning, you should go and speak to the king about hanging MordecAi on it, so that when you attend the banquet with the king, you can do it joyfully!’
Well, because this seemed to be a good idea, HaMan went and prepared the tree.
However, because Jehovah had removed sleep from the king that night, he gave orders to his servant to bring in the memorandum letters and to read them to him.
And that’s when he found the letter concerning MordecAi, which told of how he had reported that two of the king’s eunuchs were looking to get their hands on ArtaXerxes.
So the king asked,
‘What glory or favor was shown to MordecAi for doing this?’
And the king’s servants replied:
‘Nothing has been done for him.’
Well, it so happened that, just as the king was asking about doing good things for MordecAi, {Look!} HaMan arrived in the courtyard;
For he had come to speak to the king about hanging MordecAi on the pole that he had prepared.
So the king asked,
‘Who is in the courtyard?’
And the king’s servants replied,
‘Look, its HaMan standing in the courtyard.’
And the king said,
‘Call him in!’
Then the king asked HaMan:
‘Tell me; What [do you suggest that] I do for a man whom I wish to honor?’
And HaMan thought to himself,
‘Whom would the king wish to honor other than me?’
So he said to the king:
‘As for the man whom the king wishes to honor;
The king’s servants should bring him the same fine linen that the king wears, as well as the king’s horse.
Then one of the king’s most honored friends should dress the man that is loved by the king in royal robes, mount him on the horse, and then lead him around the city square proclaiming,
This is how any man that is honored by the king must be treated!’
And at that, the king said to HaMan:
‘Well spoken!
That’s what I want you to do for my courtyard attendant, the Jew MordecAi…
Be sure that you do everything that you said!’
Well thereafter, HaMan went and got the robes and the horse, then he dressed MordecAi and mounted him on the [king’s] horse, and he led him around the city square proclaiming,
‘This is how any man that is honored by the king must be treated!’
And after he brought MordecAi back to the courtyard, he went home extremely upset and with a worried mind.
So when he got back home, he told his wife ZoSara and his friends everything that had happened.
Then his wife and friends said:
‘Since MordecAi is of the Judean race and you have started being humbled before him, this means that you’re going to fall…
There’s no way to defend yourself against that man, because the Living God is with him!’
Well, it was while they were still speaking to him that the eunuchs arrived to hurry HaMan along to the banquet that had been prepared by Esther.
So then, the king and HaMan went in to [eat and] drink with the queen on the 2nd day of the banquet,and the king asked Esther:
‘What would you like, Queen Esther?
What is your request or petition?
Whatever you may ask is yours… up to half of my kingdom!’
And she replied:
‘If I’ve found favor before the king, my request and petition is for him to grant life to my people;
For my people and I have been sold for destruction, ravaging, and as male and female slaves… including our children!
I haven’t mentioned this to you before, but the one that slandered us is no longer worthy to sit in the courtyard of the king.’
Well at that, the king asked:
‘Who would have dared to do such a thing?’
And Esther said:
‘A man… an enemy… HaMan… this wicked man!’
Well, HaMan became very upset before the king and queen,and the king just got up and walked out into the garden.
So then HaMan appealed to the queen, because he saw that he was in a bad situation.
Then when the king returned from the garden, he found that HaMan had fallen on the queen’s bed as he was begging her.
And the king asked,
‘Are you attacking my wife here in my own home?’
Well when HaMan heard that, he didn’t know what to say.
Then Harbonah (one of the king’s eunuchs) said to the king:
‘{Look!} HaMan has prepared a very tall pole [on which he has planned to hang] MordecAi, the man that protected the king…
He had it erected next to his home.’
And the king said:
‘Then let him be hung on it!’
So HaMan was hung on the pole that he had prepared for MordecAi that day, and this ended the king’s rage.
Then on that same day, King ArtaXerxes offered everything that had once belonged to the slanderer HaMan, to Esther.
And after Esther explained how MordecAi was related to her, the king called him inand gave him the ring that he had removed from the hand of HaMan.
Esther also put MordecAi in charge of all the possessions of HaMan.
Then later that day, [Esther] went in and spoke to the king.
She fell to his feet and begged him to undo all the evil things that HaMan had [planned] to do against the Judeans.
So the king held out his gold scepter to Esther, and she got up on her feet and stood next to the king and said:
‘If it seems good to you, and if I’ve found your favor; have those letters that HaMan wrote and sent out about destroying all the Judeans in your kingdom, recalled.
For, how could I watch my people being so mistreated, and how could I personally be saved when everyone else in my fatherland is being destroyed?’
But the king said to Esther:
‘Since I’ve already granted you everything that HaMan owned, and I had him hung on a pole for raising his hands against the Judeans, what more are you asking?
You may write whatever seems good to you in my name and then seal it with my ring.
However, once the king has given an order and has sealed it with his ring, it may never be changed!’
Well, it was the 23rd day of the 1st month (Nisan) of the same year that the scribes were called in, and [an edict] was written concerning the Judeans that was thereafter sent to all those in authority (to those that were in charge and to all the governors from India to Ethiopia…
127 governors by districts) in each of their own languages.
It was written in the name of the king, sealed with his ring, and sent out by couriers,giving instructions on how his laws were to be executed in each city, and explaining that [the Judeans] were to be helped in dealing with their opponents and enemies in any way that they requested.
Then on the 1st day, the proclamation [was read] throughout the entire kingdom of ArtaXerxes, and copies were put on public display for everyone throughout the kingdom to see,saying that the Judeans were to be allowed to prepare themselves for war against all their enemies on the 13th day of Adar (the 12th month).
This edict of the king was then carried on horseback to be quickly delivered throughout the whole realm, and it was put on display in Susa.
Well after that, MordecAi was dressed in royal robes, and a gold crown was placed on his head over a purple turban.
And when the people of Susa saw this, they all rejoiced…
And the Judeans were also very relieved and happy.
Then in every place and city where the edict had been displayed, there was rejoicing and feasting among the Judeans;
And as the result (because of their fear of the Judeans), many people of the nations got circumcised and became converts to Judaism.
Well, by the 13th day of the 12th month (Adar), all the letters from the king had been distributed.
So on that day, all the enemies of the Jews were destroyed, because everyone was afraid to oppose them.
And everyone (including the heads over the governors, the vassal kings, and the royal scribes) treated the Judeans with respect, because they were afraid of MordecAi,since the king had ordered his nameto be proclaimed throughout the kingdom.
In the city of Susa alone, the Judeans killed about 500 people,including PharShandatha, Daiphon, Aspatha,Pharadatha, Barea, Sarbaka,MarMasima, Ruphaeus, Arseus, ZabuThaeus,the 10 sons of HaMan, and the son of AmaDathes the Bougean (who were all enemies of the Judeans).
However, they didn’t do any plundering that day.
Well when the king heard how many had been destroyed in Susa, he said to Esther:
‘Since the Judeans have destroyed 500 men in the city, how do you suppose they were treated in other areas?
You can ask for whatever you wish and it will be yours!’
And Esther said to the king:
‘Allow the Judeans to do the same thing tomorrow, and let them hang [up] the 10 sons of HaMan.’
So he agreed to let it happen, and the Judeans in the city hung up the bodies of the sons of HaMan.
Then they all gathered in Susa on the 14th day of Adar and killed 300 more men…
But again, they didn’t plunder them.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Judeans throughout the kingdom had also gathered to protect themselves, which finally gave them some rest from those warlike men.
Altogether, they destroyed 70,000 of them on the 13th of Adar… but they didn’t do any plundering either.
Then they rested on the 14th day of the month, proclaiming it a day of rest, joy, and gladness.
The Judeans in the city of Susa also gathered for rest on the 14th day, then they celebrated on the 15th day with joy and gladness.
And because of this, all the Judeans that were scattered outside [of Judea] still celebrate the 14th day of Adar as a happy day, during which they each send food to their neighbors.
For MordecAi wrote that they should write this in a scroll that he would then send to the all Judeans throughout the kingdom of ArtaXerxes, both near and far,establishing the 14th and 15th days of Adar as good days of celebration,because those were the days when the Judeans were gained rest from their enemies…
It was the month when their mourning was turned into joy and their grief was turned into happy days.
As the result, they were to celebrate those days happily with wedding feasts and by sending food to their friends and to the poor.
The Judeans were also happy when MordecAi wrote ofhow HaMan (the son of HamaDathes the Macedonian) had waged war against them by authoring a referendum to wipe them out,and of how he had gone before the king to hang MordecAi [on a pole].
Then he told of how [HaMan’s] attempt to do bad things to the Judeans resulted in his own hanging, along with his children.
So they call those days Purim (Lots), because these were the days [that HaMan] had chosen by throwing lots (which in their dialect was called Purim).
Well, because of the words in that letter, all the things that [the Jews] had suffered and which had been done to them, came to an end.
And the Judeans adopted [Purim as a holiday] for them and their seed, and they agreed to observe it exactly as [MordecAi] suggested.
It was to be a memorial from generation to generation in every city, family, and place.
These days were to be celebrated for all time, and were never to be forgotten through the generations.
Then Queen Esther (the daughter of AbiHail) and MordecAi (the Judean) wrote about all that they had done, in confirmation of what was written in the letter about Purim.
MordecAi and Esther attested to all that they had done, of how they had fasted, and to the things that they had each said.
And thereafter, Esther established the matter through the ages by [having it written] as a memorial.
Well after that, the king also wrote about this matter to everyone in his kingdom, both on land and at sea;
However, he also wrote about his strength, valor, riches, and the glory of his kingdom.
Look! It’s all written as a memorial in the scrolls of the Persians and Medes.
From then on, MordecAi provided great relief to King ArtaXerxes, and he became great in his kingdom.
He was also highly praised by the Judeans, because he fondly [watched out for] the welfare of their nation.
There was a certain man named Job who lived in the land of the AuSitidi. He was true, blameless, righteous, God fearing, and he distanced himself from all that was wicked.He had 7 sons, 3 daughters, and he also had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 grazing female burros. In addition, he had a huge work force to serve him and many more to care for his land,for the man had been born into a prosperous family from the sunrise in the east.
[Job’s] sons prepared banquets for each other each day, and their three sisters were always invited to eat and drink with them.Then, after all the banqueting was done, Job would get up early each morning to purify them. He offered sacrifices on their behalf, which included a calf as a sin offering for their lives. As Job said:
‘[I’m doing this] just in case my children even think something bad about God.’
And that’s how Job always did things.
Then one day, {Look!} the messengers of God went to stand before Jehovah, and the Opposer came along with them.So, Jehovah asked the Opposer:
‘From which place have you come?’
And the Opposer replied to Jehovah:
‘I’ve been on the earth walking around everywhere under the sky.’
Then Jehovah asked him:
‘Have you noticed and thought about My child Job? There’s no one else like him on the earth, because he’s blameless, true, God fearing, and he distances himself from anything that is bad.’
So the Opposer stood up before Jehovah and said:
‘Is Job really free to bow before You, Jehovah?Haven’t You protected him and all in his household from anything that might be harmful to him? You’ve blest everything he does, and You’ve provided huge herds of cattle for him that cover the entire land!However, if You were to just reach out Your hand and touch all the things that he has, he would surely rave against You to Your face!’
Then Jehovah said to the Opposer:
‘{Look!} I’m putting everything he has into your hands… just don’t touch him personally.’
And at that, the Opposer left the presence of Jehovah.
Well, on that day, all of Job’s sons and daughters had all been enjoying wine in the house of their older brother.
But then, {Look!} a messenger came to Job and told him:
‘We were plowing with the teams of oxen, and the female burros were grazing nearby,when slavers came and took them all and killed all your servants with swords. I’m the only one that escaped, so I could bring this message to you!’
Then while he was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said to Job:
‘Lightning came out of the sky and burned up all the sheep… and the shepherds were destroyed the same way. I’m the only one that escaped, so I came to report it to you!’
And while he was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said to Job:
‘3 companies of mounted troops attacked us, then they rounded up the camels and took them, and they killed all your servants with swords. I was the only one that escaped, so I’ve come to report this to you!’
Well, while that one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and told Job:
‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking with their older brother,when a tornado came toward them from out of the desert and touched down on the 4 corners of his house and destroyed it, killing all your children. I’m the only one that escaped, and I came to report it to you!’
And with that, Job got up and started ripping his clothes, then he cut all the hair off his head, and he bowed all the way to the ground and said:
‘I came from my mother’s belly naked and I will return there naked… Jehovah gave it, and Jehovah took it away. So, what seems good to Jehovah has come to pass. May the Name of the Lord be praised!’
Well, despite all these terrible things that happened to him, Job didn’t sin against Jehovah a single time, nor did he accuse God of foolishness.
Then on another day, when God’s messengers came to stand before Jehovah, the Opposer once more came among them to stand before the Lord.And Jehovah asked the Opposer:
‘So, from what place have you come?’
And the Opposer again replied:
‘I’ve been on the earth walking around everywhere under the sky.’
So Jehovah asked him:
‘Have you been paying attention to my child Job? For there are none others like him on the earth. He’s not a wicked man… he’s true, blameless, God fearing, and he avoids anything that is evil, so he’s still innocent. However, you told me [that he wouldn’t remain faithful] if everything he had was destroyed without a reason.’
Then the Opposer said to Jehovah:
‘Skin for skin… a man will give everything he has for his life.For a fact; if You send Your hand to touch his flesh and bones, he will surely rave against You to Your face!’
And Jehovah replied to the Opposer:
‘{Look!} I’m giving him to you… just don’t take his life!’
So the Opposer left Jehovah and struck Job with terrible sores from his head to his feet.And as the result, [Job] had to carry a broken piece of pottery to scrape the pus as he sat in a pile of ashes.
Then his wife asked him:
‘How much longer are you going to endure this? Just speak a word to God and end it!’
But he looked at her and said:
‘Why are you acting like such a foolish woman? If we’ve looked for good things from the hand of Jehovah, shouldn’t we also endure the bad?’
Then, when three of his friends heard of all the bad things that had happened to him, they each came from their lands to see him. There was EliPhaz the Temanite (a king), Baldad the Shuhite (a sovereign ruler), and Zophar the Minaean (a king), and they had all come to visit him for the purpose of comforting him.However, as they approached, they didn’t even recognize him. So they each started shouting, crying, ripping their clothes, and throwing dust in the air.Then they all sat down beside him for 7 days and 7 nights without speaking a word, for they recognized that this was a terrible calamity, which was much worse than anything that they had anticipated.
Well, after this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day,saying:
‘May the day I was born be destroyed,
Along with the night when they said, It’s a boy!
‘May that night become very dark;
May the Lord up above never seek it,
And may it not see the coming of dawn.
May it be taken by darkness
And by the shadow of death.
‘May that day forever be dimmed…
May that day forever be cursed,
And its night carried into the darkness.
‘No more, may it be a day of the year,
Nor may it be counted in one of the months.
May that night become one of grieving,
Not one that’s happy and joyful.
‘May the One that brought a curse to that day
Also heap curses upon it.
May it be [swallowed by] beasts of the sea
And may darkness cover the stars of that night,
So they will no longer be seen…
And may they not shine ever after.
‘May the morning star not arise,
For it failed to close the womb of my mother,
So my eyes wouldn’t see all of this misery.
‘Why didn’t I die in her belly
Instead of having to ever be born…
Why wasn’t I killed there and then…
Why did her knees come to meet me,
And why did her breasts come to nurse me?
‘May I go to my bed and lie still…
May I sleep and find rest among kings…
The councilors of the lands where they once pranced with swords…
With the rulers that once had so much gold
And that once filled their houses with silver.
‘O if I had just been miscarried
Within the womb of my mother,
Like babies that don’t see light of day,
And go where the anger and rage of the Godless
Has all been burned up in fire.
‘It’s that place where the tired find rest for their bones,
And where none that have lived through the ages
Hear tax collector’s voices again.
It’s where the small and the great must all go…
The servants [along with] their masters.
‘Why must those that are bitter see light,
And why is life given to those that are grieved,
Then long for death that won’t come…
Those rooting for death as though it were treasure,
And who’d be overjoyed to attain it?
‘For to such a man, death becomes rest,
When there’s nowhere else he can go…
Yes, when [our] God has opposed him.
‘My grain has now become moaning,
And I’m crying and shaking in fear;
For the things I once feared in my dreams have come true,
And what I held in awe has now met me.
I’m not at peace, or still, or at rest,
For [His] rage has now come upon me.’
Then EliPhaz the Temanite decided to speak. He said:
‘Do you often complain of your problems…
Who can stand such strong talk?
‘To many people, you’ve given advice,
And to the hands of the weak, you’ve brought comfort;
You’ve lifted the timid with words,
And encouraged the ones that had feeble knees.
But, now that misery has arrived to touch you,
You tend to be in a hurry.
‘Aren’t you rather in fear of your own foolish ways…
Your own wrong hopes and bad paths?
Can you think of any that are truly pure
That [God has] ever destroyed,
Or any of the true who’ve been wiped away?
‘I’ve seen people that plow in strange places,
And those that plant there reap grief for themselves.
Then, by [God’s] order, they perish…
With the spirit of His wrath, they are then wiped away.
‘So the strength of the lion and the lioness’ roar,
And the prancing of beasts is no more.
Like the lion’s cubs that die without prey,
The young won’t come to each other’s aid.
‘So, if the things that you said are all true,
And if they have all really happened;
Then, none of these things would have happened to you.
‘Should my ears now start to believe
That He has done something so strange?
‘An echo in the night brings fear to all men…
It stuns them, makes them tremble, and rattles their bones.
But a spirit once came and looked in my face,
Which made my flesh shudder and my hair stand erect.
I jumped, for I didn’t understand what I saw;
But, there it was in front of my eyes.
‘Then I felt a breeze and I heard a voice say,
Why should a man be pure before God?
For He doesn’t even trust His own servants,
And He thinks of His angels as crooked.
‘Those that live in houses of clay
Are made from its very same mortar;
So, both are destroyed in the very same way.
[They come] in the morning, then by evening, are gone…
And they die, if they can’t help themselves.
‘He just breathes upon them and they wither…
They perish in their own foolish ways.’
‘So, shout and see who will listen;
Will holy angels appear?
Even a fool will end all his madness,
And a man that wanders will soon end his search.
‘I have seen fools making plans…
And then, their homes were destroyed.
And though their sons were in a safe place,
At the doors of lesser men, they were crushed;
For, no one would come to their aid.
‘Though the hungry can eat what they harvest;
Those that bear arms can siphon their strength.
So the ground will only bring work,
As misery sprouts in the hills.
‘Though a man is just born to do work,
And young vultures are made to fly in the skies;
I will still beg to Jehovah…
Yes, I will still call to the Almighty God
Who does great things that can’t be explained…
Things of honor, unnumbered, and odd.
‘He’s the One that sends water down to the ground
And rain to all places under the skies.
He’s the One that raises the humble
And returns life to those that are dying.
‘He alters the plans of the clever,
So that they are unable to do what is true.
He conquers the wisdom of the wise,
And surprises the plans of the crafty.
‘For, in daylight, darkness can still come to meet them,
And at noon, they may grope as though it were night.
They may also be killed in a war,
While the weak may escape from the mighty.
‘So, there is still hope for those without strength,
And unrighteous mouths may also be closed.
‘Blest is the man that is whipped by the Lord,
And those that don’t ignore the Almighty!
For, though He brings pain, He also restores…
He strikes, and then He heals with His hands.
‘6 times, He’ll save you from problems,
But in the 7th, He’ll give you what’s bad.
In times of famine, He’ll save you from death;
And in war, He’ll free you from shackles of iron.
From the whip of the tongue, He will hide you,
And you won’t have to fear the evils that come.
‘Then you’ll laugh at the unrighteous and lawless,
And not have fear of any wild beasts.
For with you, the wild will be peaceful,
And you’ll know there’s peace in your house
When you tent in your home without sin.
‘You’ll know that your seed will be many,
And your children will sprout like weeds in the fields.
Then you’ll go to your grave like grain in the harvest…
Like heaps on the floor in the hour it’s reaped.
‘{Look!} These are the things that we have concluded,
And these are the things that we’ve heard.
But, within yourself, only you know
Whether you’ve done something evil.’
Then Job spoke. He said:
‘If you would use a balancing scale
To measure my anger against all my grief,
You’d find that they both balance out…
But they’re still as heavy as the sands of the seas.
‘For it seems as though you’ve not heard what I’ve said…
That my body has been pierced by God’s arrows…
That His rage has been drinking my blood,
And this stings me whenever I’m starting to speak.
‘Why do wild burros cry out
When they aren’t looking for grain?
And why do cattle bawl from their stables
When there is plenty of grain?
‘As bread should be eaten with salt;
What taste can be found in your empty words?
Yet, I still can’t drive them out of my life.
‘Now I groan when I see my cereal grains;
For [to me], they have the odor of lions.
‘If He would just give me the things that I ask…
If the Lord would just give me the things that I’ve hoped…
But, Jehovah has started to pierce me,
And it’s not been withdrawn or come to its end!
‘So if the place of the dead could now be my city,
Onto its walls I would jump…
Yes, I would gladly accept it.
‘Since I haven’t lied about God’s holy words,
Why have I still the strength to remain…
Why do I have the strength to live on?
Am I as mighty as the rocks…
Are my body parts made out of bronze?
‘In Him, have I not put my trust?
Yet His help has been taken away!
Has His mercy to me been forbidden,
And have the visits of the Lord overlooked me?
‘Those closest to me, now see me no more,
For I’m like a stream that’s gone dry,
Or a wave that’s already passed by;
For now, everyone just walks past me.
‘Those that once showed deep respect
Now view me like banks of ice or of snow
That has melted away in the heat [of the day],
And no longer is seen as what it once was.
That’s how I’ve been abandoned by all…
I’m destroyed and I’ve become homeless.
‘Behold the Temanite trails
And all the passes of the Sabaeans,
O you who now think that you’re seeing things clearly.
They [exist because of] those living in towns,
And they’re the things that they rely upon there.
‘Now, with no mercy, you all stand [away],
As though you’re afraid of my sores.
Yet, what have I asked you to give me,
And how much of your strength have I asked?
Just save me from my enemy’s hands,
And snatch me away from the mighty!
‘Teach me, and I’ll then remain silent…
If I’ve strayed, then prove that it’s so!
For, you view the words of someone who’s true
As though they’ve become very foul.
‘I haven’t asked for your strength,
And your scolding won’t stop me from speaking.
I won’t put up with the things that you say;
For you’re coming down on an orphan,
And you are attacking a friend!
‘Now, as I gaze at your faces,
I will tell you no lies.
So, just sit here and don’t be unrighteous…
Just sit here together with one who is just;
For, nothing wrong has come from my tongue,
And from my throat will come things to consider.’
‘The purpose of man on the earth
Is surely not just to be tried.
For he lives his life as a hired day worker,
And as a servant in awe of his master…
One that stands in the shade of his shadow
As he is awaiting his wages.
‘Thus, for months, I have waited in vain,
To only receive nights of grief.
For, when I go to bed, I now say:
How long will it be ‘til day comes again?
And thereafter, I must ask when I rise,
How soon will it become night?
‘I am filled with grief from morning ‘til night;
For my body is rotting and covered with worms.
Like clods of dirt, I am melting away,
As I’m scraping away all the pus.
My life now weighs less than my words …
It has perished in hopes unattained.
‘My soul has become like a breeze,
And my eyes no longer see good.
The eyes of those searching, don’t see me…
Though their eyes are upon me, I’m gone
Like a cloud that drifts away in the sky.
‘When a man goes down to his grave,
He does not come back again.
There’s no way he’ll return to his house…
For, even his home doesn’t know him.
But, I will not close my mouth…
Yes, I will still speak of my plight.
I will bear open my soul
To show you the bitterness it holds…
I won’t be like the sea’s dragons.
‘I once said that my bed brings me comfort.
But now, all I have to offer myself
Are my own words, as I lie on my cot,
Where I am frightened by dreams
And by visions that strike me with terror.
‘[Please] let my breath leave my soul,
And may my bones be handed to death!
May I no longer live in [this] age…
For, why must I just keep on waiting,
When all in my life is so empty?
‘O what is a man that You’d make him so great,
Or notice the things that he thinks?
Why visit him until morning arrives
And judge him as he lies there asleep?
‘How long will [You] keep me alive
And refuse to provide my release,
As I swallow my spit in my grief?
‘If I have sinned, then what can I do,
O You who knows the minds of all men?
Why have You made me [a person] that blames You,
And why have You made me Your burden?
‘Why not rather forget the laws that I broke,
And then cleanse me from all of my sins?
Please let me go into the ground,
And no longer rise early again.’
Then Baldad the Shuhite spoke. He said:
‘How long will you use the breath from your mouth
To speak in such a talkative way?
‘Does Jehovah sin when He judges,
And does the Maker of all harm the righteous?
Surely your sons had sinned before Him…
Because they were lawless, He took them away!
‘To seek Jehovah, you always rose early,
And before the Almighty, you’ve begged.
But, if you were truly pure,
He’d have listened to all your requests
And restored your position in justice.
Then, if at first, your men had been few;
In the end, they would be beyond number.
‘Ask the first generations,
And trace the race of the fathers!
For, while they were here, they were not aware
That shadows would cover their lives in the ground.
Doesn’t this tell you and doesn’t this teach…
Don’t such sayings arise from your heart?
‘Can papyrus live without water…
Can bulrushes live without drinking?
As long as the plant has its roots,
And before it has been cut down;
If it can’t drink from the garden,
Doesn’t it wither and dry?
‘So it is with those forgetting Jehovah;
Since there is no hope for the Godless,
His home won’t be lived in again,
And spiders will spread out their tents there.
‘If no one comes to care for his house,
It won’t be able to stand…
It won’t remain unless it is claimed!
‘Whenever it’s wet under the sun,
From things that are rotten, a branch starts to sprout.
So, on a pile of stones, a man goes to bed,
And he lives there amidst all the gravel;
His place then swallows him down,
And thereafter, it covers him over.
Haven’t you witnessed such things?
‘Yes, that’s how the godless all come to their end…
And then, from the ground, sprouts another.
‘No way will the Lord harm the good,
And He accepts no gifts from the godless.
With laughter, He fills the mouths of the true
And those that use their lips in His praise.
To their enemies, He will always bring shame,
And the homes of the Godless, He soon wipes away.’
Then Job spoke. He said:
‘I know for a fact, what you’re saying is true;
For, how can a man say he’s righteous to God?
So, if he wishes to argue this point,
He’ll not prove God wrong with thousands of words.
For, all of God’s thoughts are wise, strong, and great.
‘Thus, who can approach Him in anger
And still have some hope of survival?
Do the mountains know who destroys them in rage?
‘All that’s under the sky,
He can shake to its core…
And then He can shake all its columns.
He can speak to the sun and it will not rise,
And He can also close up the stars.
‘By Himself, He can stretch out the sky,
And walk on the sea like a floor.
He’s the One that made the PleiAdes,
As well as Hesperus and ArcTurus…
He’s the One that arranged the skies in the south.
‘He does things that are great and unfathomed…
Honorable things beyond number and odd.
If He passed over me, I’d not see it…
If He passed me by, I’d not be aware.
‘When He sends someone away,
Who can thereafter return him,
And who can ask why He did it?
‘For, God doesn’t turn back His rage…
To Him, even the whales bow under the skies!
‘So, why should He ever obey me,
Or why should He judge all my problems?
And if could I prove myself righteous,
He’d [have no reason to] hear men…
Though I’d still ask Him for His decisions.
‘Thus, should I call, He may not give an ear,
Nor should I trust that He’s heard my voice.
‘But He shouldn’t destroy me in darkness,
Nor bruise me without any reason.
For, though He’s allowed me to breathe,
I am now filled with what’s bitter.
‘Because He’s so mighty and strong,
Who can stand and oppose Him?
So, even if I have been righteous,
My mouth would still say wicked things.
And though I might [truly] be blameless,
I’d still produce what is wrong.
‘But, if I am really ungodly,
In my soul, I remain unaware…
Though my life has been taken away.
‘I’ve said: The mighty kill in their rage;
And for the vile, death isn’t uncommon.
They’re the ones that laugh at the righteous
When they’re handed to those that are Godless.
For He covers the eyes of the judges…
And if He doesn’t do it, who does?
‘O that my soul was as light as a sprinter…
Yet, my days have passed by without notice.
Can my ship still be seen on the horizon
By eagles in search of their prey?
‘So to you here before me, I’ll say:
If I’d just forget about speaking,
Then bow my head and just moan;
And if I’d just let my limbs shiver,
Wouldn’t you still find me guilty?
‘But, if I am someone who’s godless;
Why haven’t I already died?
If I’d wash myself in the snow,
And if I scrubbed all the dirt from my hands,
You would still dip me in filth,
And even my clothes would detest me.
‘Yet, you are men just like me
By whom I am judged and compared.
Before His Judgment Seat, we all stand together…
Before the lawyers and accusers,
And in front of the One listens to both.
‘So, may He set me free from the [whip],
And may I not be twisted in fear.
Then, I will speak and I won’t be afraid,
For I’m still unaware of my crimes.’
‘Since my soul has become tired of moaning;
I’ll now tell Him how bad I now feel.
Yes, to Jehovah, I’ll say:
Don’t tell me that I am ungodly…
So, why have You judged me that way?
‘Would You think it good if I’d sinned,
Or if I’d disavowed the works of Your hands?
Why do You believe what the godless have said
And look at things as do humans?
‘When You look, do You see as men see?
Is Your existence like that of a man?
Are Your years as those of just men?
‘Since You’ve searched for all my law breaking
And You’ve traced out all of my sins,
You must know that I’m not ungodly;
But, from Your hands, who can wrest me away?
‘It was Your hands that made me and shaped me,
Then You turned around and You struck me.
O remember the day that You shaped me,
Then, stand me erect on the ground once again!
‘You extracted me as though milking,
And then I was curdled like cheese.
You put me together with meat, skin, and bones,
And then, with nerves, You entwined me.
In mercy, You put life within me,
Then You watched over me and guarded my breath.
‘You did all these things by Yourself;
And it’s a fact that You can do all…
There’s nothing that You cannot do.
So, if I should sin, please protect me…
Declare me free of law breaking.
‘[Don’t count me] among the ungodly!
Yet, though I am righteous, I can’t raise my head;
For, I have become so dishonored.
‘I’ve been caught like a lion for slaughter…
For You’ve turned around to destroy me.
You’ve disciplined me once again,
And dealt with me in great rage
By bringing these trials upon me.
‘Why did you lead me out of the belly…
Why didn’t I die, so my eyes wouldn’t see
As one that had never been born?
Why wasn’t I just sent away…
Sent to the tomb as I came from the womb,
And why have I lived for so many years?
‘Now, allow me to rest for a while
And go to the place where I will not return…
To a land that’s shrouded and dim…
A land that’s dark through the ages,
Where light and life can’t be seen.’
Then Zophar the Minaean spoke, saying:
‘This One who has so much to say
Should also listen in turn;
Is this one who’s so very-well spoken
Proclaiming himself to be just?
‘Those born of women that live just short lives
Are blest, because they have much less to say.
‘Now, no one’s comparing himself to you,
And don’t try to say that your deeds are all pure…
That you’re blameless, as you’re standing before Him.
‘O that Jehovah would speak
And tell you what He has to say.
‘Should He speak to you of His wisdom?
His wisdom is so much greater than yours!
But if He did, you would know that what’s happened
Has come because of your sins against God.
‘Search for the ways of Jehovah,
And you’ll find the Almighty’s prepared for your end.
‘Because the heavens are ever so high;
What can you do and what do you know?
‘There are things much deeper than the place of the dead…
They’re longer than the span of the land,
And wider than the breadth of the seas.
And if He’d destroy all those on the earth,
Who could question His reason?
‘He knows the deeds of those that break laws,
And He doesn’t overlook their wrongdoing…
Yet, men keep swimming in words.
For all men that are born of a woman,
Are no wiser than the desert’s wild burros.
‘But, if you have a truly-pure heart,
And you can spread your hands out before Him;
Should He find that you have broken no laws,
And you’ve stayed a long way from injustice
(That you’ve kept it away from your home);
Your face would then have a shine…
Pure water would wash off your filth,
And you would have nothing to fear.
‘You’d forget all your troubles like waves passing by,
And you’d have no reason for terror.
In the morning, your vows would be like the stars,
And at noon, your life would return.
‘You’d have some hope, if you would comply,
And have peace in place of trouble and strife.
For you, there would be no more battles,
And many would turn and beg for your aid.
‘But for them, will come no salvation,
Since their only hope is destruction,
And the eyes of the godless will melt.’
Then Job spoke. He said:
‘Have you and the men that are with you
Reached the end of your wisdom?
‘I too have a heart that’s like yours.
But it seems that a man who is righteous and just
Has only been born to be taunted!
‘There’s a time appointed when each man must fall,
And for his house to be pillaged by crooks…
But, may the wicked not trust [in their ways].
For the guileless will [be given] support,
While [the bad] will be taught by God’s rage.
‘You could ask the four-footed creatures
(If they could give you an answer),
Or ask the things that fly in the sky
(If they could give a report)
To explain all they know of the earth,
Or to even describe all the fish in the sea.
‘Are there any among them that don’t realize
That they were made by God’s hand?
For, in His hands are the lives of all things,
As well as the spirits of men.
‘Men listen with their ears and examine each word,
Then they taste the meanings inside of their throats.
‘Wisdom is ancient and knowledge is old,
For from Him comes all wisdom and power…
Along with understanding and all good advice.
‘So, if He chooses to tear something down,
Who can thereafter rebuild it?
And if He chooses to lock up a man,
Who can thereafter release him?
‘If He should choose to hold back the rain,
All the lands would go dry.
But, He can also choose to release it,
To destroy them and wash them away.
‘In Him, there’s both might and strength;
In Him, there is knowledge and all comprehension.
He strips council away from advisors,
And He [can also make fools of] earth’s judges.
‘He’s the One that sets kings on their thrones
And who ties a sash ‘round their waists.
But He’s also the One that sends priests off as slaves,
And can wipe away all the mighty.
‘The lips of the honest, He understands,
And the words of the elders, He knows.
Upon rulers, He can pour out dishonor,
While to those that are humble, He heals.
‘He uncovers the darkness of very deep things,
And from the shadow of death, He can lead into light.
‘He destroys the nations that stray,
And He cuts down those that mislead them.
He knows the hearts of the rulers of lands,
And He leads them in ways they don’t know.
‘So, may they corrupt the darkness, not light…
May they wander as though they were drunk.
‘{Look!} I’ve seen such things with my eyes,
And I’ve heard such things with my ears.
‘I know the same things that all of you know,
And I have as much sense as do you.
Thus, I will speak before God,
And I’ll scold you, if He will allow it.
‘For, you have been unrighteous doctors,
And as healers, you’ve done a very poor job.
So, it would be a blessing if you would stay still…
Yes, that would be the course that is wise.
‘Now, hear these things that I’ll tell you,
And heed the judgments that come from my lips.
‘Aren’t you speaking here before God,
And before Him, aren’t you being deceitful?
Isn’t it time for you to back off;
For, aren’t you just judging yourselves?
‘If He should choose to examine your tracks
And pay attention to all that you do,
Then discipline you for the [bad] things you’ve done…
You’d worry that He sees all your secrets.
‘Wouldn’t He spin you in His awesome power…
Wouldn’t fear of Him overcome you?
For your prancing would then become ashes,
And your bodies would turn back to clay.
‘So, stay still as I pour out my rage;
For, I’ll grab my flesh with my teeth now,
And hold myself with my hands.
‘But, if the Almighty should grab me,
I would still speak to Him and complain…
I’d argue that I should be spared,
For He’d not find me guilty of evil.
‘Listen to me… hear my words,
For I’ll shout them into your ears!
Look at me… yes, gaze upon me!
For, as I stand here before you in judgment,
I know that you’ll not call me righteous…
Yet, the One that’s my judge is impartial.
‘Now, I’ll say nothing more, because I am through,
And I’ll allow you two things to finish me off…
Then I’ll go and hide from your presence.
But, keep your hands at a distance,
And give me no reason to fear you.
‘You can call out to me and I’ll listen;
So, speak and I’ll give a reply.
Of how many sins am I guilty,
And how many laws have I broken?
Yes, tell me just what they have been!
‘What are you hiding from me,
And why do you think I am lesser than you?
Will you avoid me like leaves in the wind,
Or face me like grass in the air?
‘Against me, you’ve written so many bad things,
And accused me of sins that are common to youth…
You’ve opposed me, although I am righteous.
But by now, you’ve examined all of my deeds,
And to the roots of my feet, you have reached.
‘Yet, I have been aging [so quickly],
And I look like a bag made of leather,
Or like a robe that’s been eaten by moths.’
‘For men born of women, life is too short,
And our lives are too filled with rage…
Then we drop like flowers that have blossomed,
And escape like shadows that have passed.
‘But, you have required an accounting of me,
And though I’ve stood in judgment before You;
Which [of you] can claim that you’re free of all filth…
I am sure there is not one among you!
‘Men live but a day on the earth,
And we count off the months of our lives
Until we reach the time we’re allowed…
[A time that] we cannot pass by.
Therefore, leave me alone so that I can be still,
And think well of the work that I’ve done.
‘For a tree, there’s still hope after it’s cut,
Since it may blossom again;
For the sprouting of its shoots never fail,
Though its roots may be old in the ground.
Yet, even rocks will grow old,
And even the stones melt away.
‘When the trunk of a tree can smell water,
It will blossom and fruit once again,
As though it were something that’s new.
But, when a man reaches his end,
That will not be undone…
When he falls, he no longer exists.
‘In time, even the seas will be gone,
And all the rivers will become barren and dry.
But, when man goes to sleep, he won’t rise again
Until [the stars] are all sewn together…
From that sleep, we never awaken.
‘O that in the grave, You’d hide me and guard me
Until all Your anger has passed.
Please order a time to be set for me,
When You’ll mention my name once again.
‘Can a man live again after he dies,
Once the days of his life have all past?
As for me; I’ll wait ‘til I live again,
When You’ll call out to me and I’ll hear You…
Please don’t undo the work of Your hands!
‘You’ve counted all the things that I’ve done in my life,
And none of my sins have You overlooked.
So, take all the laws that I’ve broken,
Then seal them up in a bag,
And [remove] the ones that I meant not to do.
‘A mountain will fall into ruin,
And a rock wears out where it stands.
In water, even stones become smooth,
And floods wash away the earth’s cliffs.
This is how You’ve destroyed the lengths of men’s lives…
You stab them through and they die…
You just turn Your face and they’re gone.
‘We don’t know how many descendants we’ll have,
And we’re unaware if they’re few.
For, our flesh just knows aches and pains,
And in mourning, our lives have been spent.’
Then EliPhaz the Temanite spoke. He said:
‘May I reply to a man that’s so wise,
And in a spirit that he understands…
Who’s known misery since he came from the womb,
But, who scolds with words that will never be true,
And with things that will never bring profit?
‘Have you forgotten your fear
As you speak before God?
What has come from your mouth has proven your guilt;
For you’ve failed to examine the words of the great.
So, may your own mouth now correct you (not me);
Since against your own lips, you have spoken.
‘Were you the first man to ever be born
Before the hills had been piled?
Did you hear how Jehovah arranged it,
And did God then ask your advice…
Did He gain all His wisdom from you?
‘What do you know that we do not know,
And what do you see that we’ve missed?
For, we are each much older than you,
And we’ve lived more days than your father!
‘Because of your sins, you’ve been whipped just a bit,
And you’ve blown this all out of proportion!
Dare you see with your eyes or examine with your heart,
How this rage has torn you away from the Lord,
By spewing such things from your mouth?
‘Which man do you know that is free from all blame
Among those that from women are born?
For, [God] trusts not even the holy…
Before Him, the heavens aren’t pure!
And the filth of man is disgusting…
He sucks unrighteousness down like a drink!
‘So now, pay attention and I’ll give my report…
Yes, I will announce what I’ve seen,
And mention the things that the wise men have said…
Things that from their sons, they’ve not hidden.
‘This land was once given to our fathers
When there were no strangers among them.
And for the ungodly, there’s just been confusion,
While years have been added to the mighty.
‘In times of peace, men listen in fear,
And this brings about their undoing.
So, may they not hope to return from the dark
When they’re gripped by hands made of iron.
‘For, the grain of vultures, they’ve now become,
As they await the death of their bodies…
The dark day that whisks them away,
As by distress and disaster, they are sucked down,
And they fall like generals in battle.
‘It’s against Jehovah that they’ve raised their hands,
And before the Almighty, they have stiffened their necks.
So, for their insolence, they’re forced to retreat,
And behind their shields, hide their thickness,
Since their faces have been covered with fat,
And their thighs have become very flabby.
‘So, in abandoned cities, may they now lodge,
And in houses where people no longer live…
Where all those that once had been found there
Have now been carried away.
‘May they not be rich or keep what they own,
Or cast a shadow again on the ground,
Nor may they flee from the darkness.
‘May their buds soon wither away…
May their flowers be taken by the wind.
May they not trust that they will survive,
For soon, they’ll have nothing at all.
‘Corruption will prune them away,
So their branches won’t grow into trees.
May they be gathered like unripened grapes,
And fall like blossoms that don’t become olives.
‘For the unrighteous, the judgment is death;
And for those taking bribes, their homes will be burned.
This is all that comes from the womb…
To all that are born, just comes grief.
Emptiness is all that they will receive,
And in their guts, they must live with their lies.’
Then Job spoke, saying:
‘Things like this, I’ve heard all before;
And as those that should offer comfort,
You surely have done a poor job.
‘Where is the order to your windy words,
And why do you bother to answer?
‘Now, I’ll speak the same as you have been doing,
As though my life had been traded for yours.
Then, with my words, I’ll attack you,
And at you, I’ll now shake my head.
‘O may my mouth be given the strength…
May the movement of my lips serve me well.
For, if I speak, my sores will not ache;
And if I would stay silent, could they hurt me less?
‘Now, after He has worn me out,
You’ve latched onto this festering fool.
As I’m sitting here, I’ve proven what I’ve said,
And I’ve thrown back your lies in your faces.
‘I’ve been debased by the One with whom I must deal,
And against me, He’s grinding His teeth.
The arrows of marauders have struck me,
And sharp darts from His eyes have been shot in my knees…
They’ve all arrived to attack me!
‘He’s handed me over to the unrighteous,
And delivered me to the ungodly.
He’s removed my chance to ever make peace,
And as an example, He plucked the hair from my head.
‘With their lances, they now have me surrounded,
And they’ve stabbed them into my kidneys…
They’ve done nothing at all that would spare me,
And they’ve poured my bile on the ground.
‘They’ve knocked me down time and again…
They have attacked me and won!
Then, to my skin, they sewed sackcloth,
And my strength, they’ve driven into the ground.
‘My belly now burns from my crying,
And my eyelids are darkened with shadows.
Yet, I am guilty of nothing at all,
And my hands are clean from the things that I’ve vowed.
‘O ground, don’t cover the blood of my flesh,
And don’t allow room for my cries.
‘Look; the heavens have served as my witness,
And the heights above testify for me.
May the things that I beg reach up to Jehovah,
And may the tears from my eyes drip before Him.
‘O that man might plead before God
As he would on behalf of a neighbor.
Yet, the days of my life have been counted and reached,
And from where I’m going, there is no return.’
‘I’ve been destroyed and I’m borne on the wind…
I’ve begged to be buried and had no success.
So I wearily ask, Just what have I done…
Have I stolen from strangers?
For, who has shackled my hands?
‘From these men’s hearts, You’ve hidden all wisdom,
And You will never exalt them.
You’ll announce their badness to all,
And make the eyes of their sons melt away.
‘But, among the nations, You’ve made me a joke;
And that’s why they’re laughing at me.
Yet, my eyes are now callused to their rage,
Since I’ve been attacked by them all.
But the righteous have wondered and asked:
Then, why can’t the just beat the lawless?
‘O may the faithful maintain their [right] course,
And the hands of the clean receive courage.
Yes, may it all be established;
For among you here, I’ve found little truth.
‘In groaning, my days are now spent,
And the hopes of my heart have been ripped away.
Night for me is now day,
As the face of darkness draws closer.
‘Though I am still here, the grave is my home,
And I’ll make my bed where it’s dim.
For now, my father is death,
And decay is my mother and sisters.
‘O what hope do I have,
And where will I ever find goodness?
Along with me, it has gone to its grave,
And we’ll all be buried together.’
Then Baldad the Shuhite spoke, saying:
‘When are you going to end it?
Stop for a while and let us speak too!
Why must we stay silent before you
Like beasts that walk on four feet?
‘Anger has gotten the better of you…
So what, if you have to die!
Will all life under heaven then come to an end…
Will mountains be wiped from their bases?
‘The light of the godless will soon be put out,
And his flame will be there no longer.
The light in his home will be darkness,
And his lamp will thereafter be gone.
‘The least of men search for the things they once owned,
And they trip on their own good advice.
So, may his feet fall into a snare,
And in a net, may they get entangled.
‘Yes, let him fall into a trap,
And may the snare hold him tighter.
For the trip line is hidden under the ground…
Yes, that which will grab and destroy him
Is already there in the road.
‘May grief surround and destroy him,
And may hunger encircle his feet.
For him, a downfall has been prepared,
And the soles of his feet will be eaten away.
‘May death now consume his beautiful things,
And may the place of his healing be taken away…
For these things have happened by royal decree
That will camp in his tent throughout the night.
‘May his beautiful things be covered with sulfur;
May his roots dry out underneath him.
May what he has reaped fall upon him,
And the memory of his face be wiped from the land.
‘May he be pushed from the light into darkness…
May even his family forget his name.
May his house remain under the sky;
But, may it be lived in by others.
‘For, though he once lived in wonder,
In the end, he just sits here and moans.
This is the home of someone unrighteous…
It’s the place where Jehovah is no longer known.’
Then Job spoke again and said:
‘How long are you going to weary my soul,
And demolish me with your words?
All you know is the things God has done,
And speak ill of me with no shame…
You just keep on pressing against me.
‘It’s a fact that I’ve been misled,
And delusions are lodging within me.
For I’m speaking words that should never be said…
That mislead, and at the wrong time.
‘Now you use me to look more important,
And you attack me in scorn.
But, know that the Lord is the One that’s disturbed…
He’s the One that built this fortress against me.
So look; I now laugh at your scorn!
‘Therefore, I will stop all this banter;
For if I shout, it won’t bring me justice.
I’m stuck in a circle through which I can’t pass,
And darkness now covers my face.
He has taken away all my glory,
And removed the garland that I wore on my head.
‘He has pulled me apart and scattered [my bones];
I was marked and cut down like a tree.
In His rage, He’s treated me badly,
As though I’d been His opposer.
His marauders have gathered and attacked me,
And in an ambush, they have me surrounded.
‘Now, all my brothers have left me,
Preferring strangers to me;
And my friends no longer feel pity,
Pretending that they do not know me.
‘Those dearest to me have forgotten my name…
I’m a foreigner to all of my neighbors
And a stranger to the women that have served me.
‘When I call to my servant, he doesn’t obey,
Though, with my mouth, I keep begging.
I call out to even my wife,
And call sweetly to my concubines’ sons.
But they listen not… they just stand there.
‘Those that once knew me, dislike me,
And those I once loved, now oppose me.
For, my skin and flesh are festered with sores,
And my teeth have come loose from my jaws.
‘Please show mercy… show mercy my friends;
For the hand of Jehovah has touched me!
Why treat me the same as Jehovah has done…
Aren’t you filled enough with my flesh?
‘May my words be written down in a scroll,
And be preserved through the ages.
With a pen of iron, inscribe them on lead,
And may they be set within stone.
‘For I know that the One who made me this weak
Has walked ‘round the earth through the ages;
And it’s due to Him, that my skin has grown tired…
I’m worn out because of Jehovah.
‘All I’m aware of and seen with my eyes,
Has happened to me, not to others.
But, what can I ask and what can I say…
Is the root of my problem in Him?
‘Please turn around and send me what’s good,
Or just cover me over.
May Your rage be sent to the lawless instead…
May they be the ones that reap this reward.’
Then Zophar the Minaean spoke, saying:
‘So far, I’ve not disagreed
With any of the words that you’ve spoken,
Since we both view things in much the same way.
So I’ll heed your instructions that shame me,
And note the spirit of your reply.
‘But, haven’t you known about all these things…
That since man was put on this earth,
The irreverent one’s glee brings his downfall,
And the joy of lawbreakers brings their destruction?
‘For, even if his gifts should ascend to the heavens,
And his offerings should reach to the clouds;
When he thinks that all’s going well,
That’s when he’ll meet with his end.
‘Then, those that know him will ask where he is.
But like dreams, he’ll no longer be found.
From then on, all eyes will overlook him,
And no one will note where he’s been.
‘Though his sons once destroyed weaker [peoples],
And their hands lit fires that brought others grief…
Their bones that once held the vigor of youth
Will make their beds under the ground.
‘For, evil was sweet in their mouths,
So they hid it under their tongues.
It wasn’t left or abandoned,
But they brought it up from their throats.
‘So, now they can’t help themselves;
For, the poison of asps is inside of their guts.
And all the wealth that they’ve unjustly gained
Will be collected and vomited out,
As angels drag them out of their homes.
‘May they have to endure the rage of wild beasts…
May the tongues of snakes now destroy them.
May they never again see cows being milked,
Or see pastures of butter and honey.
‘Then their wealth will seem empty and vain,
And for such things, they will lose all their taste,
Since they’ll become too tough to be chewed,
And they’ll find that they can’t take it with them.
‘And though they once crushed the homes of the mighty,
And by force, taken their houses;
What they have will be no longer theirs…
For, what they owned, will no longer be safe,
And they won’t keep the things that they loved.
‘For them, there’ll be no more food,
And good things will no longer blossom.
Though they once had [all they desired],
Problems arose and then it was cursed.
‘When they’ve had enough to fill up their bellies,
God sends someone else to succeed them.
So, may He now send His anger and rage,
And upon them, pour out floods of grief.
‘From hands of iron, may they not be saved…
May they be shot through by brass bows.
May the arrows go clean through their bodies,
And may fear then walk through their homes.
‘May they have to wait in the darkness,
To be burned by the fire of the ages.
May strangers bring what’s bad to their homes;
May the heavens uncover all their lawless deeds;
And may the ground rise up against them.
‘May their homes be destroyed ‘til the end,
And may the day of rage come upon them.
For, this is what the irreverent get…
It’s their reward from the One that keeps watch.’
Then Job spoke, saying:
‘Listen to me… hear my words!
I don’t need such comfort from you!
Now, please help me up, and I’ll speak;
For, I won’t accept such abuse!
‘Since it’s by men that I’m being accused,
Don’t I have a good reason for rage?
‘Why are you looking at me in such wonder,
As you put your hands under your jaws?
When I try to think of a reason,
I tend to be a bit quick to conclude,
Because of the grief in my flesh.
‘Why do the godless continue to live,
And why do they grow rich and old?
For, they plant whatever their souls might desire,
And their children are there in front of their eyes.
‘Their houses continue to prosper,
And they don’t seem to know any fear;
For they fail to feel the whip of the Lord.
‘None of their cattle are stillborn,
And their pregnant are also protected;
So, none of them stumble or fall.
‘Their sheep remain through the ages,
And their children are playing before them.
They hold their flutes to their mouths,
And enjoy sacred hymns strummed on harps.
‘For as long as they live, they have good things…
Then they lie down to rest in the grave.
They say that God doesn’t see,
Since they’ve chosen not to know of His ways.
‘So, why should we continue to serve Him…
For us, what good does it do,
Since He doesn’t inspect godless hands;
So, they’re always filled with what’s good?
‘But, their lamps will soon be extinguished…
Their reward is to feel the pain of His rage.
They’ll be like straw that’s blown in the wind,
And as clouds of dust in a storm.
‘May their possessions and sons all be lost,
And may they know that God has repaid them.
May they see their slaughter with their own eyes,
When God won’t be there to save them.
Then, what joy will they have in their homes
When they see that their months have been numbered?
‘Doesn’t Jehovah send wisdom?
For who else gives people their insight…
Isn’t it He the One that makes judges wise?
‘Yet, this one dies doing just as he wished,
Enjoying prosperity and pleasure…
Full, fat, and filled up with marrow.
While another ends life with what’s bitter,
Having never tasted what’s good.
Then they both go to sleep in the ground;
And with decay, they’re both covered.
‘So, I know what you’ll say as you’re pressuring me:
Where are the houses where princes will live
And safe tents where the godless will dwell?
‘Ask those passing by on the roads, and you’ll see
That the signs are all very clear;
For the day of destruction will come
When He will enlighten the wicked…
And in that day of His rage, they’ll be gone.
‘Then, to their faces, He’ll accuse them,
And speak of the bad things they’ve done.
Yes, He will come to repay them
As they lie awake upon heaps of trash,
And then, to their tombs, they’ll be led.
‘In gravel, thereafter, they will be covered,
As other men come to see them…
Yes, they’ll come in great numbers to stand there.
‘So, why waste your time to offer me comfort,
Since you have done nothing to bring any rest!’
Then EliPhaz the Temanite spoke, saying:
‘Doesn’t wisdom and understanding come from the Lord?
So, why should He be concerned
If what you’ve been doing is pure?
‘What good [do you think] it would do Him
If all of your ways had been clean?
Will He discipline you for the things that you say,
Or join with you in your judgments?
‘Haven’t you done many bad things…
Could anyone count all your sins?
Haven’t you taken what your brothers need
Without any justification?
Haven’t you claimed the clothes of the naked…
Refused to give water to the thirsty…
And taken scraps of food from the famished?
‘You’ve shown favor to the faces of some,
While you removed the poor from their land.
You’ve sent away widows with nothing at all,
And orphans, you have treated badly.
So, the snares that you’ve set have now captured you,
And this is why such a war has arrived.
‘So, light for you is now darkness,
And when you sleep, you’re covered in dew.
For the Living One is paying attention,
And He humbles those that think themselves high.
‘You’ve asked, What does the Almighty know?
And, Can He judge what happens in darkness?
He’s concealed by the clouds, so He can’t be seen
As He travels across the arc of the sky!
‘You can’t guard the roads of the ages,
Which have been walked by the righteous
Who were taken away in untimely [deaths],
Like rivers overflowing their banks!
Yet, even they had once asked,
What will God do to us…
Yes, what will the Almighty bring?
‘He’s the One that filled their homes with good things,
While the council of the the Godless, He has pushed away.
The righteous all laugh when they see this,
And the blameless sneer at such ones.
For, their supports will soon vanish,
And their clothes will be burned up in fire.
‘So you must be strong if you want to survive,
And then you’ll receive your reward
For all the good things that you’ve done.
Remove all the [bad] from your mouth,
And keep His words in your heart!
‘Turn back and be humbled by God,
And stay away from wrongdoing!
Then you’ll lay away gold as though it were dust
From the rivers of Ophir…
The Almighty will then watch over you,
And you will have plenty of silver.
‘So, confess [your sins] to Jehovah,
And look to the heavens in joy.
Make vows to Him and He’ll listen to you,
Then He’ll give you the strength to do as you’ve vowed
And restore you to a righteous condition,
So your ways can be bright once again.
‘For, those that humble themselves
Will admit that they’ve been too proud;
And [God] will save those that are humble.
Yes, He’ll rescue those free from guilt…
But first, you must keep your hands clean!’
Then Job spoke, saying:
‘I know for a fact that my change of state
Is something that’s out of my hands.
For, it’s His hand that has been heavy on me,
And He is the source of my moaning.
So who knows if I’ll ever find Him again,
And bring these things to a conclusion.
‘Now, on myself, I’ll pass judgment,
And with scolding words, I will fill my mouth.
Then I’ll learn the cure, for He’ll show it to me…
I’ll understand, because He’ll explain it!
‘He’ll come to me with great strength,
And I know He won’t do so unsurely.
He’ll send me truth and correction,
And bring an end to my case.
‘But, if I should be the first one to go,
And if I should no longer be;
How could I know how it ends?
‘With His left hand, He acts… I can’t stop Him;
And what He covers with His right, I can’t see.
He already knows all my ways;
For He’s searched me through as though I were gold.
‘My feet have walked in His footsteps…
I’ve kept His ways and not swerved.
I have never rejected commands from His lips,
And I’ve held in esteem the words from His mouth.
But, if He has judged me as guilty,
Who can say that He’s wrong?
‘So I’ve always turned toward Him quickly,
And when I’m corrected, I keep Him in mind.
For, grave are the things that come from His face…
They’re things that leave me in terror.
‘Yet, Jehovah has softened my heart…
The Almighty has moved me to action.
For, I never suspected that darkness would come
And that before my face, all would go dim.
‘Why hasn’t Jehovah noticed this time
When the godless are overrunning our borders…
Those that seize both the shepherds and sheep?
‘From the orphans, they’ve taken their burros,
And the cows upon which the widows relied.
They keep the disabled from walking upright,
So the gentle of the land must run off and hide.
‘They act like burros that stray into fields
And find the bread of infants delicious.
They harvest in fields not their own,
And reap it before it is ripe.
‘The godless hire the disabled
And put them to work in their vineyards…
But then, they don’t pay them or feed them!
They leave them naked, without any clothes,
And they take all they need to survive.
So, in mountain mists, such poor ones must bathe,
And hide in the rocks for protection.
‘They then snatch away babies…
They take them away from the breasts
In payment for debts that are owed.
They mistreat and rest on the naked,
And take scraps of food from the famished.
‘In alleys, they lie in wait to do harm,
And righteous ways, they don’t know.
They throw people from their homes in the cities,
And bring moaning to the lives of their children.
‘So, why does the One that is watching
Fail to act on this earth,
While people like this just ignore Him,
Disregarding all that is just
And taking the easiest way?
‘In the cover of darkness, they murder,
And during the night, they break in and steal.
‘The adulterer waits for darkness and says:
They’ll not know that my eyes will be watching.
And as he keeps his face hidden,
He carves peepholes in homes in the night.
‘Then, during the day, he locks himself in,
So he never comes to know light.
For at dawn, he would see the shadow of death,
And observe the bad things it brings…
But when he looks in the water, he still sees a good face.
‘May his portion on the earth forever be cursed,
And may all that he plants wither and dry…
For he even grabs arms of the orphans!
‘So, [please] remember his sins!
Like fog, may he soon pass away,
And may he vanish like dew.
‘Please repay him for all that he’s done…
Like rotting wood, may he just waste away.
For, those with no sons, he’s mistreated,
And he shows no mercy to those that need aid.
‘The disabled, he’s knocked to the ground in his rage;
So, no man’s life can ever feel secure.
Thus, may he get sick and never be healed…
And may his illness then lead to his death!
‘Since many are harmed by his arrogant ways,
Like mallows, may he wither in heat…
Like an ear of grain that just falls on its own.
‘If such things aren’t so, then say that I’ve lied,
And disregard all that I’ve said.’
Then Baldad the Shuhite spoke and said:
‘What kind of insight and fear does he have…
This one that makes it sound so important?
‘Let’s not think that [God] will save us from robbers
Or that we will never be ambushed.
For, which man can say he’s righteous to God…
Can men born of women make themselves pure?
‘[God] can order the moon not to shine,
And before Him, the stars are impure.
[So to Him], all mankind is rotten,
And the sons of men are like worms.’
Then Job spoke, saying:
‘Who are the ones that are closest to you…
Those whom you’d turn to for aid?
Aren’t they the ones that are mighty…
Those with great muscled arms?
‘To whom do you turn when you need advice…
Isn’t it to those that are known to be wise?
And whom do you chose to follow…
Isn’t it those that have power?
So, to whom are you speaking these words,
And whose breath is now coming from you?
Will giants start acting like midwives
And go under the water for neighbors?
‘For, the grave lies naked before Him,
And He’s wrapped in a robe of destruction.
He stretches the north wind on nothing,
And on nothing, He has hung the earth.
‘He takes water and binds it in clouds;
Yet, the bottoms of the clouds never rip.
And He hides the face of [the moon]
By spreading the clouds as its cover.
‘By His order, the sea’s face is round,
From where the light reaches to darkness.
The columns of the skies, He’s spread all around,
And they shake when they hear of His rage.
‘By His might, He settled the seas in their beds,
And in wisdom, He spread it for whales.
Of Him, the bolts in the skies stand in awe,
And by His order, the dragon defector is killed.
‘{Look!} These are just a small part of His ways;
For when He breathes a word, we will listen!
So, who knows when He will bring change…
When He’ll bring the strength of His thunder?’
Then Job continued in his own defense.
‘As God lives; He’s the One that has judged me…
It’s the Almighty that has made my life bitter.
But, as long as my spirit is in me
And the Divine One’s Breath remains in my nose;
My lips won’t speak lawless things,
And my life won’t contemplate wrong;
For, such things bring the sentence of death!
‘I’m not saying that I’m free from blame…
But, I’ll cling to what’s right and never let go,
For, I know when I’m doing what’s wrong.
‘May my enemies disappear with the godless
And my opposers be destroyed with lawbreakers.
‘What kind of hope have the godless?
Do they think they’ll be saved by Jehovah…
That God will hear what they pray,
Or He’ll come when they are in need?
Can they stand before Him securely
As those that can call and be heard?
‘I’ll tell you of the things [God] holds in His hands…
I won’t lie about the Almighty.
{Look!} For, He piles what’s foolish on the foolish…
This is what the impious will get from the Lord,
And it’s what their most mighty receive.
‘Should the Almighty One come to their aid,
And should the sons [of the wicked] grow many? No!
Their purpose is just to be slaughtered,
And they’ll beg to be allowed to grow into men.
But, those that remain will die of the plague,
And on their widows, none will show mercy.
‘If they gather silver as though it were dirt,
And set aside gold as though mortar;
The righteous will [soon] own these things,
And those that are true will control it.
‘Then his house will belong to the moths
And to the cobwebs of spiders.
The rich man will sleep and not rise again…
He’ll be dead, though his eyes are wide open.
‘Grief will pour on him like water,
And dark will overtake him during the night.
A burning wind will snatch him away,
And like chaff, he’ll be blown from his place.
‘He’ll be sent where no one can save him…
By [God’s] hands, he’ll be taken to exile.
Then, all men will be clapping their hands,
And they’ll whistle at him from wherever they are.’
‘There is a place where silver is mined,
And a place where gold is refined.
Men take iron out of the ground,
And copper is quarried like stones.
This is how He’s established an order for darkness,
And precisely set all its limits.
‘Like the darkness [that’s inside a mine]…
So is the shadow of death.
And as they [pan gold] in fast-running streams,
The ways of the just are discovered…
By mortal men, they are sifted.
Even our bread comes out of the ground
As though roasted in fires down below.
‘There are places where sapphires are found,
And places where gold may be mined.
There are also roads that birds do not know…
By the eyes of eagles, they’re overlooked.
They haven’t been walked by sons of the rich,
Nor have lions ever been there.
‘For, He sticks out His hand and chisels a place,
And the roots of mountains, He overturns.
The banks of rivers, He has destroyed…
And my eyes have beheld such great things.
‘The depths of rivers, He has laid bare,
And in the [day]light, He’s shown all their might.
But, where can wisdom be found,
And what is the source of great knowledge?
‘For, no man really knows of its ways,
Since such ways can’t be found among men.
Says the abyss, It’s not found in me,
And says the sea, Nor in me!
So, no one can make an investment in it,
And with silver, it cannot be bought.
‘It can’t be compared to all Ophir’s gold,
Nor to precious onyx or sapphires.
With [diamonds] and gold, it can’t be compared,
And it can’t be bought with gold coins.
‘I won’t compare it to crystals or coral,
For wisdom is higher than all we could want.
To topaz from Etheopia, it can’t be compared,
Nor can it be equaled by the finest of gold.
‘So, where can wisdom be found,
And from where comes great understanding?
It escapes the notice of every man,
And it’s hidden from the birds in the skies.
‘Thus, say the days of destruction and death:
We have heard of its fame,
For, God speaks well its ways,
And He alone knows where it is found.
‘He looks down from the heavens above,
And from there, He passes inspection…
For He sees all that happens throughout the earth.
‘He also weighs the things that He makes…
He’s measured the wind and the water…
When He made them, He saw them and counted it all,
Then He made a way for the thunder.
‘He saw [what He made] and described it…
The One that prepared it has tracked all its ways,
And this is what He’s concluded:
{Look!} Wisdom is being like God,
And higher knowledge is staying away from what’s bad.’
Then Job continued, saying this:
‘O that He’d let me return,
Back to that month once again…
To those days when He watched over me,
And His lamp was lit over my head,
By His light, I traveled through darkness,
As I walked down the streets in importance,
And when God watched over my house…
When I was exceedingly plump,
And I had all my children around me…
When all that I did poured like butter that’s warm,
And mountainous things poured like milk…
When, in the morning, I entered the city,
And they’d set a chair for me in the square.
‘Before me, the young ran and hid,
And the elders arose in respect.
Stout men would all stop their speaking,
And place their fingers over their mouths.
‘Then, all that listened said I was blest,
And their tongues would stick in their throats.
With their ears, they listened and praised me,
And when they saw me, they all stepped aside.
For I rescued the poor from the hands of the mighty,
And to helpless orphans, I supplied aid.
‘So, you that are dying; please praise me again…
May the mouths of the widows praise me once more!
For, I once dressed up to give justice
In a robe doubled over;
Then I served as eyes for the blind,
As well as feet for the lame…
And to the disabled, I became like a father.
‘When I didn’t know the right thing to do,
It worked out well anyhow.
I broke the molars of the unrighteous,
And I snatched their prey from their teeth.
‘I said: I’ll grow old and round like the trunk of a palm,
And I will live for many more years;
For my roots have reached deep to the water,
And on my harvest, the dew always settles.
‘Back then, my glory meant little to me;
For, I had entrusted my bow to His hands.
Then, men would pay close attention to me,
And stay silent as I offered council.
‘When I was speaking, they never spoke;
And they were joyful whenever I talked…
As the ground enjoys rain when it’s thirsty,
That’s how they thought of my words.
‘For at them, I never laughed…
Which is why they trusted my council.
For the light of my face was before them,
And I showed them the right ways to go.
So, I was always their prince.
And though I camped like a king ‘midst his army,
I remembered to comfort the mourning.’
‘Now, even their least are laughing at me;
And those whose fathers I’ve viewed with contempt
Now dare to give me correction…
Those whom I once thought unworthy
To serve as dogs to watch over my flocks.
‘So, what value is the strength of their hands before me,
Since their vigor has already perished?
They’re in need and hungry, with nothing…
They’re miserable, like those that flee from a war
To hide in a place with no water!
‘They stand on the shore and pick seaweed;
For, plants from the sea are their grain.
They have no honor, and nothing to give;
They’re looked on as worthless and lacking all good.
‘In hunger, they’ve gnawed upon tree roots…
These that have risen against me like thieves…
Those that once burrowed in rocks.
‘But now, they look for places to yell
(Such ones with homes made of sticks).
They’re the sons of dishonored fools,
Whose fame will be wiped from the land.
‘Yet now, they’re strumming their harps about me…
I’m the topic of all their discussions.
They dislike me and stay far away,
And into my face, they now spit.
‘For [God’s] opened His quiver and shot me,
Then He led me away from His presence.
‘So, the hands of their sons have risen against me…
They stick out their legs and kick me!
They’ve wiped my ways from their wicked paths,
And they’ve taken the clothes that I wore.
‘For, He’s run me through with His spear,
And He’s judged me the way that He wished.
Thus, with anguish, I’m now befouled,
And all of my grief has returned.
My hope has passed by like the wind,
And my salvation has faded like clouds.
‘So, may my life soon be poured out,
Since I’ve had enough days of this grief.
All night long, my bones are burning within me,
And my nerves are broken and shattered.
With great power, my robe has been wrinkled…
And within its folds, I’ve been wrapped.
‘So, now you treat me like dirt,
And think that ashes are all I deserve.
Though I’ve cried out to you, you don’t listen…
You just stand and think of my plight.
‘Together, you’ve joined to attack me,
And with mighty hands, you have whipped me.
You’ve handed me over to grief
And removed any hope of salvation.
‘I know that death will soon wipe me away,
For the ground is the home of all mortals.
So, should I consider killing myself,
Or ask someone else to do it?
‘Though I’ve cried over all the disabled,
And moaned when I saw people in need,
I’m still waiting for good things to come,
And I hope for good days, not bad.
‘My belly is noisy and rumbles,
As more days of suffering confront me.
I’m moaning because of discomfort,
And among the gathering, I weep.
‘To trapped demons, I’m now a brother,
And to the ostrich, I am a companion.
My skin has become very dark,
As my bones continue to swelter in heat.
‘So in mourning, I now strum my harp,
And my hymns are all about weeping for me.
‘I’ve made a vow that my eyes
Will not pay attention to virgins.
For, what I have, came from God up above…
It’s the inheritance of what the Almighty saw fit.
‘To the godless comes woe and destruction,
And those that break laws are alone.
So, why won’t He look at my ways
And count all the footsteps I’ve taken?
For, I haven’t traveled with those that play jokes,
And my feet haven’t rushed to do evil.
So, I can now step on a scale
And prove myself just in the balance.
‘For, Jehovah knows that I haven’t done wrong
And my feet haven’t turned from His way
(Though my eyes often follow my heart),
And my hands have never touched bribes.
Yet, what I have planted, others now eat…
I no longer have roots in the ground.
‘If my heart had followed another man’s wife,
And if I had stood in wait at her door;
May my wife then please other men,
And my babies be humbled thereafter.
For, the One that dirties another man’s wife
Should receive [God’s] unrestrained anger.
May a fire burn in all of his parts,
And may he be destroyed to his roots.
‘If I’ve disregarded what I owe my servants,
And if my maids ever had to beg before me;
What could I say to my God
When I am beaten by Him…
When He visits, how could I reply?
For, weren’t they also born from a womb…
Didn’t they come from the belly?
‘But the disabled and needy never missed out,
And the eyes of the widows weren’t wasted.
For, when I ate my food all alone,
I always set some aside for the orphans.
Like a father, I fed them the food from my mouth,
And I led them as though from my own mother’s womb.
‘If I hadn’t provided for those without clothes,
Or to the disabled, failed to give aid,
Unless they gave me a blessing;
Or if I’d refused to take my lamb’s wool
And used it to warm up their shoulders;
If I failed to lift a hand to aid orphans,
Or helped those that trusted in me to give aid;
May my shoulders be pulled from my collars
And my arms be broken at the elbows.
‘It was the fear of Jehovah that caused me to act;
For, without His care, I couldn’t endure.
If I had trusted in gold for my strength,
Or in gems, had put all my trust;
If I [did these things] to make myself rich,
Or to get my hands on great treasure;
May my eyes see the sun growing dim,
And the moon, as it’s starting to darken.
‘So, if my heart has deceived me,
And if I’ve secretly [kissed] my own hand;
May this be considered the worst of my crimes,
For I’ve lied to the Most High, Jehovah.
‘If I rejoiced at my enemy’s fall,
And if I’d said in my heart, Well done;
Then, let my ears hear the curses I’m due,
And may everyone speak of my badness.
‘I’ve never said to my female attendants,
Please give me some of your flesh!
Nor have I forgotten the need to be kind,
And to lodge strangers, my door was kept open.
‘Unintentional sins, I’ve not hidden,
And I’ve never been swayed by the masses.
The disabled, I’ve never turned from my door,
Or with empty stomachs, sent them away.
‘So, please may I find a person to listen…
Someone in awe of the hand of the Lord!
For I’ve never sent anyone bills,
Nor read what they owed me while wearing a crown.
I just tore up [the debts] and returned them,
Without getting whatever they owed.
‘Have I given the ground a reason to moan…
Have I given her furrows reasons to weep?
If I have taken some of her strength,
And ate it alone without paying;
Or, if I’ve made the land’s owner mad,
And he has been bothered by this;
May my wheat just become stinging nettles,
And may my barley be turned into weeds.’
Well with that, Job stopped speaking.
Then, for a while, all got quiet, and Job’s three friends stopped contradicting him, for they started thinking that he was truly a righteous man.That’s when EliHu (the son of BarachiEl the Buzite, a descendant of Ram from Ausis) became very angry with Job for declaring himself righteous before God.And he was also indignant with Job’s three friends, because they couldn’t give Job a reply and they found him to be a righteous man.
EliHu had patiently waited to give Job an answer, because the others were much older than him.But when he saw that no more replies were coming from the mouths of these men, he became angry and went into a rage.So, EliHu (the son of BarachiEl the Buzite) then said:
‘Because I am younger in years,
And you are much older than me;
I’ve chosen not to speak until now,
For I feared to say the things I must say.
I said:
This isn’t the time to speak out;
For, with their years, they have gained much more wisdom.
Yet, though there’s a spirit in humans,
The Almighty’s Breath does the teaching.
And since the wise don’t live long enough,
The old don’t always know what is right.
‘Now, I beg you all to listen to me,
And I’ll tell you the things that I know.
Give an ear to what I will say,
And I’ll speak to you free of charge.
‘Examine my words and you’ll see
That you’ve not given Job the correction.
Don’t say that you’ve found wisdom from God,
For you got your commission from men!’
Well at that, they were all afraid and they refused to say anything more, because the words they were hearing had the sound of age.Also, he had waited and refused to speak until they stood there with no answer.
So EliHu said:
‘Now, I am ready to speak,
And I have many things that I wish to say.
‘I cannot hold back the wind in my chest,
For within me, it bubbles like very young wine…
It’s been tied up in me like a bellows,
And awaiting the time to break out.
So now, I will speak and give myself rest,
For the time has arrived to open my lips.
‘I’m not embarrassed to speak before men,
Nor will I feel shame before humans.
For, if I should show special favor to men,
By moths, may I then be devoured.
‘Listen, O Job, to my words…
Give ear to what I am saying!
For, {Look!} I will now open my mouth
And use my tongue to instruct.
These words are pure and come from my heart,
And what comes from my lips is all clean.
‘By the Breath of [God], I was made;
And by the Almighty’s Spirit, I have been taught.
So, if you are able to answer,
Then, reply to me concerning these things!
Yes, wait… just stand here [and face] me,
And I will now stand up to you!
‘Both you and I were made from the clay…
From the same dirt, we were formed;
So don’t twist against me in fear.
‘Now, the things that I heard you say,
And the claims that I heard you make, are:
I am pure and I have not sinned…
I’m blameless and I’ve broken no laws.
Yet, though He doesn’t have a complaint,
God thinks me to be His opponent.
For He’s put my feet into stocks made of wood,
Though He’s watched all the things that I’ve done.
‘But, how can you claim to be righteous
And say that He’s paid no attention to you?
For, He has lived through the ages,
And He’s far above all us mortals.
Yet, you ask, Why hasn’t He seen my just ways…
Why hasn’t He heard what I’ve said?
‘Jehovah may only speak once,
Or He may reply even twice.
He may send a dream or a vision at night,
Bringing us fear as we lie in our beds.
‘He uncovers the things that men think,
And He sees the things that we fear…
Then He uses such things just to scare us…
To turn us away from our sins
And to rescue our bodies from downfall.
From death, He is saving our lives,
And protecting us from many battles.
‘When we are sick in our beds,
And when our bones cannot move;
This discipline is coming from Him.
So, when we’re offered grain, we won’t take it,
Though food is the thing that we really need.
‘Our flesh will just lie there and fester
Until our bones can be seen
And death has finally approached…
Then it sends our lives down to the grave.
‘But, though thousands of angels may come to bring death,
No way will one pierce you through,
If in your heart, you’d just make a change,
And turn to Jehovah again.
‘So, it’s about ourselves that we should complain…
We should speak of the laws that we’ve broken;
For then, our God would support us…
Not allow us to fall into death.
‘Then like someone that plasters a wall,
He’d make our bodies new once again,
Refilling our bones with their marrow,
And renewing our flesh like a child,
To restore us to what we’d once been.
‘If you make a vow to Jehovah,
And your vow is thereafter accepted,
You’ll walk away with a face that is clean
And a mouth that’s speaking His praises…
For, He always deals justly with men.
‘So, we each should blame ourselves and then say,
What are the things that I’ve done?
What have I done to be disciplined,
And what are the sins I’ve committed?
O save my soul from corruption,
So I can see light once again!
‘{Look!} This is how the Almighty deals with each one,
And they’re the three things that He does.
For, from death, He has rescued my soul,
So my life can go on to praise Him in light.
‘O Job;
Lend me an ear and hear what I say…
Be quiet, for I am now speaking!
But, if there are words you can use to reply,
Then speak, for you should be given your due!
Yet, if you don’t, then just hear me out…
Be quiet and I’ll tell you what’s wise!’
Then EliHu continued:
‘And hear me now, O you wise men…
Give ear, O you that have knowledge!
For the ear judges words as the mouth tastes it’s food…
And that’s how we should be judging ourselves,
Since we already know if we have been good!
‘Now, Job has said, Although I am righteous,
Jehovah has ended my case,
And when He judged me, He lied.
So, at His injustice, I now shake my spear!
‘Though Job is a man that drinks [wine],
And sneers as though it were water,
He says he’s not sinful or godless,
And had nothing to do with the lawless,
Or gone along with those that show no respect.
‘Now, perhaps you think it all wrong
For someone to watch over men.
Yet, we all are watched by Jehovah,
And He searches through all of our hearts.
‘Listen, yes hear me, my God;
For, no way do I wish to show direspect…
May the Almighty not think me unjust!
‘He pays men back for all they deserve,
And in his own paths, each man finds Him.
‘Can you imagine Jehovah being guilty of wrong,
Or the Almighty One of being unjust?
Is not the earth His creation…
Didn’t He make all that’s under the skies?
‘So, if He would hold back His power,
Or if He’d remove all His Breath;
Life on earth would come to an end,
And mortals would return to where they were formed.
‘But, what if He didn’t correct us?
Shouldn’t we hear the sounds of His words?
{Look!} He’s the One that hates all lawbreaking,
And through the ages, He’s proven to be righteous;
So, He will destroy all the wicked!
‘It’s impertinent to say to a king,
You have broken the law!
Or to say to a prince,
You have acted ungodly!
‘So, who may show disrespect
To such a person of honor?
For, He has never appointed the mighty
Because He thought well of their faces.
‘Nothing good can come when we cry out to men;
For they’re all unrighteous and they won’t help the poor.
But, He observes all the things that they do,
And their deeds don’t escape His attention.
‘There is no place where the lawless can hide;
For, He tolerates men no more than He must.
So all men are inspected by God,
And He notices all the wrong that they do.
‘He observes the things that are hidden,
As well as things to be honored…
Extraordinary things unnumbered.
He knows all the [bad] things we do,
And He humbles us during the night.
‘He wipes away the ungodly
Because He can see the things that they’ve done…
When they have turned from God’s Laws,
And given no thought to His rules.
‘The cries of the needy reach up to Him,
And He hears the calls of the poor.
So, since He’s the One that is bringing them rest,
Who would dare to condemn Him?
‘If He hides His face, who will see Him,
Whether a nation or just a man?
But, He can appoint a hypocrite king
If He finds the people unruly.
‘Has anyone heard a mighty one say,
I’m so blest, so I really don’t need Him?
Or, Unless He can prove that He knows of my sins,
There is nothing that He can require?
‘Will He pay for the things that you’ve thrown away?
Give me an answer… yes, tell me!
‘Understanding hearts will reply to such things,
And a wise man will hear what I’ve said.
But, Job hasn’t thought about this,
Since his words don’t reflect higher knowledge.
‘So learn, O Job… don’t be a fool…
Don’t add any more to your sins!
For we’re all considered law breakers
When we stand and speak [before God].’
Then EliHu continued:
‘Why does justice matter to you…
Who are you to call yourself righteous,
And say you deserve no vengeance from God?
‘You’ve asked what sins you’ve committed.
And about this, I’ll give you an answer,
Then I’ll tell it to these, your three friends.
‘Look up to the sky and see
How high the clouds are above you!
So, if you have sinned, what will you do?
Yes, what can you do if you’ve broken [God’s] laws?
‘And if you are truly so righteous,
What things can you offer to Him,
And what will He take from your hands?
Will He accept irreverence from men,
Or unrighteousness from all their children?
‘Many call out when they have been robbed…
But they yell at the strong one that robbed them!
They don’t ask, Where is [God] who made me…
The One that’s in charge of night watches,
And made me different from the beasts of the earth,
As well as from the birds in the sky?
‘Oh, they can cry out, but no one will listen;
For, there’s insolence in those that are wicked.
Yet, there’s nothing that goes unnoticed by God,
Because He is the Almighty.
‘He observes all those that break laws,
And you can ask Him to save you…
That is, if you’re praising Him now!
‘He assigns no numbers to His rage,
And He sets no limits on sins.
Yet, Job has foolishly opened his mouth,
And in ignorance, he’s weighed out his words.’
EliHu continued, saying:
‘Be patient for a while and I’ll teach you;
Because, I still have [much] more to say.
‘I was taught in a faraway land,
And I’ve learned to do as I say.
So, I’ll speak of what’s true and righteous,
And you’ll find that I’m not telling lies.
‘I know that Jehovah won’t harm a good man…
One that’s mighty and has strength of heart.
But, to the irreverent, He won’t return life.
‘He will give justice to those that are poor,
And He doesn’t turn His eyes from the righteous.
For, they’ll sit as kings upon thrones…
They’ll be raised and treated like winners!
‘The crook that is led off in shackles,
In poverty’s cords, will be wrapped.
Then, He’ll speak of all the bad things he’s done,
And of his many transgressions.
‘But, [God] listens to what the righteous ones say,
And He warns them to turn from all badness.
So, if they should listen and serve [Him],
They will live a very long time
And spend many years having good things.
Then, when they come to the end of their days,
Many beautiful things, they will own.
‘But the godless will not be preserved;
For, they fail to look to Jehovah.
And though they’ve been warned time and again,
They keep on refusing to listen.
‘Though the hypocrite’s heart will know rage,
He won’t call out, for [God] has him bound.
So his life will end while he is still young,
Since angels will come here to pierce him…
If he’s mistreated the weak and disabled.
Yet, they will be fair to the humble.
‘When an enemy uses his mouth to deceive,
[God] opens a pit underneath him,
Where his table of good things is thrown.
‘To the righteous, He’ll always bring justice,
While on the impious, He sends His rage.
For if, in godless ways, they’ve taken bribes;
In justice, they’ll receive what they deserve.
‘So don’t be blind to the cries of disabled,
Or send away those that are seeking aid in the night.
Rather, you should go out and help them,
So that others can see your example.
Be careful to never mistreat them,
Or take advantage of their lowly condition.
‘{Look!} Though the strong use their strength to overpower…
Who are these that are feeling so mighty?
Who examines the things that they do,
And tells them when they have done wrong?
‘Remember that it’s the great things we do
That give us control over men.
And each man knows deep within his own heart
How many mortals he has stabbed through.
‘{Look!} The Almighty is great…
Yet, we do not really know Him;
For, there is no end to His years.
He can count the number of rain drops
Before they’re even formed in the clouds.
Then they fall and flow past the things that grow old…
Past the shadows of the uncounted dead.
‘He’s established a time for the animal’s lives,
And this order of things, they comprehend.
Yet, you haven’t bothered to think about this,
And your heart doesn’t know your own body.
But remember, as you watch the clouds passing by…
This will also happen to the tent that is you.
‘{Look!} He has stretched the light out above us,
And the roots of the seas, He’s covered.
Then, between them, He judges the people,
And He nourishes those that have shown strength.
‘He can cover the light with His hands,
And tell the clouds what to do.
Yet, we can trust that He’ll speak to His friends,
And provide them a haven from evil.
‘So, this is what has bothered my heart…
They’re the things that make my heart drop.
Pay attention to my report on God’s rage;
For, what I’ve said has come from His mouth!
‘He’s the sovereign of all under the heavens,
And His light shines to the wings of the earth.
‘Though voices may yell out against Him;
He thunders at the sound of their insults.
For, He must bargain with no one…
With none of those that may hear His voice.
‘When the Almighty speaks, it’s like thunder,
Which tells of the great things He’s done.
He orders the snow in the winter,
And instructs it to cover the ground…
And the rain also follows His orders
‘He’s the One that shackles men’s hands,
To make them aware of their weakness.
‘Wild beasts live within His protection;
So, in their lairs, they are tranquil,
While in your bedrooms comes grief,
And from far away, comes a chill.
‘From the Almighty’s Breath comes the ice,
And water is steered where He chooses.
If He covers a cloud, it passes away,
Followed by light in its order.
‘Cyclones are turned aside by His rules
(The ways by which they must work),
Sparing the land on which He shows mercy…
He’s the One that orders such things for the land.
‘So, pay attention, O Job!
You should stand in awe of God’s power!
For we know that it all comes from God,
Who created light from the darkness.
‘He knows the difference between every cloud,
As well as the ways that the wicked will fall.
‘So, though your clothes are all hot and sticky;
From the south, blows peace for this land.
‘Can you join Him as He spreads out the skies,
And turns them into bronze mirrors?
‘So now, teach me what I should tell Him,
And let’s bring an end to this banter!
Is there a scribe with a scroll next to me,
To whom must I now be pleasing?
‘For the light is now shining so brightly,
To illuminate all that is old.
It’s as though He has parted the clouds,
And made them glow like gold in the north.
So, their honor and glory reflect the Almighty;
For, in no one else may such strength be found.
‘Since He’s the One that brings honest judgments;
Don’t you think that He has listened to you?
So, we all have good reasons to fear Him…
Even those that think their hearts wise.
Then, after EliHu finished his speech, Jehovah spoke to Job from the clouds during a storm, saying:
‘Who is it that’s hiding counsel from Me,
And thinks he can cover the things in his heart?
Now, wrap up your loins and act like a man,
For I’ll ask the questions and you answer Me!
‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of earth?
Tell me, if you know, and if you understand!
Who planned and laid out its measures… do you know?
And who laid the string down upon it?
Upon what have its hooks been supported,
And who set the slabs for its foundation?
‘When I did this, all the stars praised Me,
And My angels shouted a cheer.
Then I locked the seas in their gates,
When they first burst from the womb.
‘I established the clouds as clothes [for the seas],
And I wrapped it in fog, like a child.
Thereafter, I established its limits
And I bolted its gates into place.
I said, This is as far as you go…
You cannot go any farther,
So your waves must now break within you.
‘Did I use you to bring morning light,
Or to set the morning star in its place?
[Can you] grab the wings of the earth,
And shake off all the ungodly?
‘Have you picked up a piece of clay from the ground,
And used it to make something living?
And who brought the powers of speech to the earth?
‘Have you removed the light from the godless,
Or broken the arms of the proud?
Have you found the springs of the seas,
And walked in the tracks of the deep?
‘Do the gates of death open before you,
And do the keepers of the place of the dead
Get alarmed whenever they see you?
‘If you’ve been told about all under heaven;
Then, tell Me how great it all is!
Where is the land from which the light comes,
And from what kind of place comes the darkness?
‘If you could lead Me up to their limits
(That is, even if you even knew of their paths),
You’d already know all these things.
And if you were born on that day,
Your years by now, would be many.
‘Have you found the treasuries of the snow?
Have you seen where the hail is all stored?
For you, has the hour of enemies been reserved,
Or the days for battle and war?
‘When the frost leaves, where does it go?
And where under the skies goes the south wind?
Who prepares the storms when they blow,
And who holds back rain from the ground?
‘Who made the deserts where no men can live,
But then fills unwalked, uninhabited lands
With sprouts and new shoots of green?
‘Who is the father of rain,
And who gives birth to the dewdrops?
In whose womb does the ice start to form,
And who gives birth to frost from the skies,
Then turns it into drops to make streams?
‘Who is it that changes the face of the godless,
And who creates their alarm?
‘Have you seen what bonds the PleiAdes?
Have you opened the barriers of Orion?
Have you opened MazurOth when it can be seen,
Or have you led Hesperus by its tail?
‘Do you know how the orbits of the heavens all work,
Or how things under the sky work together?
Can you call to a cloud and cause it to shake,
Then obey you and pour out a storm?
‘Are you able to send for the lightning?
Will it ask, What is it, and obey you?
‘Who gave women the wisdom to weave,
And who gave them the skill to embroider?
‘Who in his wisdom can count all the clouds…
Who can lean on the sky and the ground?
‘Who poured out the powder that created the earth,
And stuck it together as a stone block?
‘Will you hunt for lions as prey,
And be filled with the souls of wild beasts?
Yet, they must be feared when they’re in their lairs,
Or when they’re lying in wait in the woods.
‘Who gives carrion to the crows for their young,
As they call to Jehovah while searching for grain?’
‘Tell Me this, if you know:
When do rock antelopes give birth,
And have you seen the birthing of hinds?
Have you counted the months for them to give birth,
And do you know how long they have birth pangs?
‘Do you know how their offspring are fed,
And can you bring an end to their labor?
For their young rip out and many are born…
Then they just walk away.
‘Who is it that set zebras free…
Who untied them from bondage?
I am the One that [gave him] his home
There in the deserts and in the salt flats…
I’m the One that gave him his dwelling.
‘He laughs at the complaints of those living in towns,
And tax collectors, he can ignore.
He views the mountains as his pastures,
As he searches for green things to eat.
‘Can you make the rhinoceros do what you say?
Can you force him to sleep in your barn?
Can you tie him with straps and put on a yoke,
Then use him to plow up your fields?
‘Can you trust him to do this because of his strength,
And will he lighten the work that you do?
Can you trust him to carry your grain,
And haul it to threshing-floors for you?
‘Consider the wings of the ostrich…
Whose feathers the storks use for their nests.
They lay their eggs on the ground,
Then incubate them in the dust.
‘If she forgets them, they then may be lost,
Or crushed by wild beasts in the fields.
So, she’s hardened herself against her own young,
And she isn’t sad when her work is in vain.
‘It was God that removed all her wisdom,
And gave her such scant understanding.
But, when she spreads her feathers to run,
She laughs at the horse and its rider.
‘Was it you that gave the horse all its strength,
Or that caused his neck [to tremble] in fear?
Are you the one that gave him full armor,
And put the glory of daring in his breast?
‘In the fields, he grazes and prances,
And with strength, he runs in the plains.
He laughs when he meets up with spears,
And from weapons of iron, he never retreats.
‘When he’s struck by arrows and swords,
He just gets angry and tears up the ground.
He doesn’t quit ‘til the trumpet is blown,
And then he just says, Well done!
‘He can even smell war from a distance,
Then he stands on his [back] legs and whinnies.
‘Was it you that gave hawks their look of defiance
As they set their wings to fly toward the south?
Was it by your order that eagles fly high,
Or vultures to lodge in nestsamong rocks?
‘From such places, [these birds] search for food,
For their eyes can see from a distance.
Then their young become covered in blood,
Because they can find whatever has died.’
Then Jehovah God said this to Job:
‘Have you chosen to correct this One that’s so mighty…
And can one that teaches God give an answer?’
Then Job replied to Jehovah:
‘So, why must I still go on begging,
And for what am I being corrected…
Why are my prayers just being ignored?
‘Since I can’t reply [to Your questions],
I’ll just cover my mouth with my hands…
I’ve spoken and I’ll say no more.’
Then Jehovah God replied to Job, saying:
‘Are you judging the One that’s so mighty…
And when someone scolds God, must He reply?’
So Job thought about this and then he asked the Lord:
‘But, why must I stand here and beg…
Being scolded and disciplined by God?
‘No, I am nothing at all,
And yes, I have heard all that You said;
So what answer can I give in reply?
‘Now. I’ll cover my mouth with my hands,
For I’ve spoken and I’ll say no more.’
Then the Lord once again spoke to Job from out of the clouds, saying:
‘Now, wrap up your waist and act like a man;
Then, I will ask you, and you must reply!
‘Should you undo My decisions?
And do you think it was Me that sent these [bad] things,
Or that you’d have to prove yourself righteous to Me?
‘Is your arm like the arm of Jehovah?
Is your voice like His… can it thunder?
If so, lift yourself in stature and might,
And clothe yourself with glory and honor;
Then, send out [His] angels in rage
To humble those that are proud,
And to bring an end to the haughty…
Right now, cause the godless to rot!
Hide them together inside of the ground,
And with dishonor, then cover their faces!
For, surely you know that your right hand can save!
‘Now, notice the dragon that’s standing beside you;
He eats the same grass as the ox.
Yes, behold the strength in his loins,
And the power in the navel of his belly.
‘He makes his tail tall like a cypress,
And his nerves are all closely entwined.
His sides are like something that’s made out of brass,
And his spine is much like cast iron.
‘He’s the beginning of the things [that I] shaped,
And he was made to be mocked by My angels.
‘When he climbs upon chiseled mountains,
He brings joy to those four-footed beasts
That within Tartarus dwell.
‘He sleeps under all kinds of trees…
By the papyrus, reeds, and bulrushes.
In his shadow, [rest] birds in the trees,
Who unknowingly sway in [his branches].
‘When storms come, he pays no attention;
For, he trusts that it runs to the JorDan,
And from there, it flows into his mouth.
‘When he is on watch, who can take him?
But if, in a snare, you could catch him,
Would you drill [a hole] through his nose?
‘Can you lead this dragon around with a hook;
Can you put a halter ‘round his nose?
Will you put a hook though his nose as a clasp,
And bore a hole in his lip?
‘Will he speak and beg you in an earnest, soft way…
Will he make an agreement with you…
Will you keep him as your servant through the age?
‘Will you play with him like a bird…
Would you cage him like a sparrow for a child?
Wouldn’t you rather feed him to the ethnics…
To Phoenicians, carve him as [steaks]?
‘If all that floats were assembled,
There’s no way they could carry his hide or his tail,
Nor could fishermen’s boats bear his head.
‘Could you lay your hands down upon him,
Then, consider the war in his flesh,
And make it no longer take place?
‘[While it’s true] that you cannot see him.
Haven’t those that have spoken ever wondered…
Aren’t they in awe of this thing I’ve prepared?
‘But, who can really stand and oppose Me…
Yes, who can resist Me and win,
Since all under heaven is Mine?
‘So, I won’t remain silent for his sake;
For, the word of My power to show mercy
Is greater than all that he has to say.
‘Who will uncover the front of his clothes
And enter the fold of his chest plate?
Yes, who will open the gates of his face,
And see that in his teeth, there really is fear?
‘His insides are like shields of brass,
And his sinews are like emery stone.
They each cleave tightly together,
And no wind [can blow] through them…
They’re as close as a man and his brother,
And they cannot be driven apart.
‘His sneezing brings about brightness,
And his eyes are like morning stars.
From his mouth come lamps that are burning
Like the scattered coals of a fire.
‘From his nostrils come the smoke of a furnace,
Burning with the fire of live coals.
For his soul is much like live coals,
And flames shoot out of his mouth.
‘Within his neck, there is power,
And before him, there is much destruction.
The flesh of his body cleaves tightly,
So, he’s never bothered by rain.
‘His heart is fixed like a stone…
He stands as an anvil that cannot be bent.
When he turns, he frightens the four-footed beasts,
As well as those [flying over] the ground.
‘With lances, he cannot be harmed,
Nor does he fear armor or spears.
He views iron weapons as straw,
And brass ones, just like rotting wood.
‘By bows of brass, he cannot be pierced,
And he views [stone] slingers as grass.
He thinks of hammers as stubble,
And he laughs at the quaking of those that bear fire.
‘His bed is strewn with sharp needles;
And all the gold in the seas,
Under him, are as coals on the grates or as mud.
‘From the abyss, he breaks, as though a brass pot;
He thinks of the seas as his own ointment jar,
And the dephts of Tartarus as his captive.
For to him, the abyss is just a promenade.
‘Nothing else on the earth is quite like him…
He was made to be mocked by My angels.
‘He can see all things that are lofty,
And he’s the ruler over all in the waters.’
Then Job spoke to the Lord saying:
‘I know that You can do all,
And there is no end to Your power.
So, who can hide their thoughts before You,
And who can hold back their words,
Thinking that You cannot [hear them]?
‘You’ve just told me some things that I never knew…
Great and wonderful things,
Of which I had no understanding.
‘So, listen to me, O my Lord,
For, there are things that I’d like to say…
I’ll ask You, and You can teach me!
‘In the past, I’ve heard men talk about You,
But now that I’ve seen You with my own eyes,
I think of myself as having no value.
For before You, I’ve melted away,
And I think of myself as ashes and dirt.’
Well, after the Lord had spoken about all these things to Job, Jehovah then said this to EliPhaz the Temanite:
‘You and your two friends have sinned;
For, you haven’t spoken the truth,
As did My faithful friend Job.
So, take 7 calves and 7 rams,
And carry them to My faithful friend Job,
So that he can offer them on your behalf…
For, no way do I hold him blame.
‘But for him, I would have destroyed you,
Because of what you’ve said to My faithful friend.’
So, EliPhaz the Temanite, Baldad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Minaean went and did as Jehovah had told them. Then He forgave the sins that they had committed against Job.
Thereafter, Jehovah blest Job. And because they were his friends, he vowed to forgive those men for all their sins.
Then Jehovah [blest Job] with double, giving him twice as much as he had before.
And when his brothers and sisters heard of the good things that had happened to him, they all went to see him, and he ended up with twice as many friends as he had at first. Everyone ate and drank with him, and they offered him much consolation. Yet, they each wondered about all the things that had happened, and about all the things that Jehovah had done. Then each one gave him a lamb and an unmarked 4-drachma coin.
So, Jehovah blest the ending for Job, and he gained much more than he had before. For He came to have 10,000 cows, 4,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 oxen teams, and 1,000 grazing mares.
7 more sons were also born to him, and he had 3 more daughters.He named the 1st daughter Day, he named the 2nd one Cinnamon, and he named the 3rd one Horn of Plenty.And among all the women under the sky, none were prettier than the daughters of Job. He also gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
Well, after his calamity had passed, Job lived on for 170 more years, reaching the age of 240. Job lived to see his sons and the sons of his sons through the 4th generation.
Thereafter, Job finally came to his end, an old man that had lived a full life.
Blest is the one that ignores the impious
And will not side with the sinners,
Or sit among the disgusting.
For, he wants to do the Will of Jehovah,
And consider His Laws day and night.
So he’ll be like a tree that’s planted near water,
And he will bear fruit every season…
He’ll thrive and his leaves will not drop.
But, for the impious, this will not be so;
For they’re like the dust that’s blown ‘cross the earth.
So, they won’t be raised in the Judgment,
Nor will sinners see the [blessings] on the righteous.
For, Jehovah knows what the righteous have done,
And the ways of the irreverent will perish.
Why do the nations and all of the peoples
Think about things that are worthless?
For, the rulers of their lands and their kings
Are against Jehovah and His anointed.
They say, ‘We should strip off their bonds,
And we should throw off their yokes.’
But, the One in the heavens is laughing…
At them, Jehovah is laughing.
So, in His anger, He’ll speak,
And in His rage, He’ll disturb them and say,
‘I’ve placed My king on Mount Zion
To be the ruler over My Holy Place.’
Then the Lord spoke to me about His decree.
[He said to me], ‘You are My son,
And today, I’ve become your own Father.
So, just ask and I’ll give you the nations
All the way to the ends of the earth,
As those whom you will inherit.
With a rod of iron, you’ll lead them,
And break them like pots made of clay.’
O kings of the earth, pay attention;
And those judging the lands should now learn
To serve Jehovah in fear…
Yes, all should tremble and praise Him.
Give ear to all these instructions,
So you don’t provoke Him to rage.
For, if you should kindle His anger,
Away from the righteous, you’ll perish,
While those yielding to Him will be blest.
O Jehovah;
Why are so many against me
And why are so many attacking?
Concerning my soul, they are saying:
‘He won’t be saved by [his] God.’
But, You are my shield, O Jehovah…
You’re my glory who raises my head.
So, with my voice, I’ve called to the Lord,
And from His holy mountain, He heard me.
Then I went to bed and I slept,
And when I awoke, God sent me His aid.
So, I will not fear tens of thousands
Who’ve surrounded me and [planned to] attack.
Arise and act, O Jehovah…
Deliver me please, O my God!
Now, You have cut down all those
That had no reason to hate me,
And You’ve broken the teeth of the sinners.
For, salvation comes from Jehovah,
And He blesses His people.
When I called to my God in difficult times,
He felt pity and heard what I prayed.
[So hear me], O sons of men;
How long will you stay so hardhearted,
And why do you love what is foolish,
Always searching for things that aren’t true?
You must be aware of the wonders
That God has performed for His clean one;
For, He listened to me when I called out to Him.
So be angry with me, but don’t sin…
Complain as you pray in your beds.
To Him, offer pure sacrifices,
And put all your trust in Jehovah!
Many have asked, ‘Who’ll show us His good things…
Who will show us the light from God’s face?’
He’s the One that put joy in my heart,
And provided me with fruit, grain, and oil.
So, I will lie down in peace, O my Lord,
Since You have filled me with hope.
Lend me Your ears, O my Lord,
Please listen to me when I call…
Hear my voice and the things that I beg
As I pray to Jehovah, my King and my God!
Hear my voice in the morning…
As I pray, stand by and watch over me.
For, You aren’t the God of lawbreakers,
And the wicked may never travel with You.
O Lord;
You don’t put up with those that break laws,
And before Your face, the lawless won’t stand.
For, You will destroy all the liars
And the men of blood and deceit, whom You hate.
Because of Your mercy, I’ll enter Your House,
And toward Your Most Holy, I’ll bow…
Yes, I’ll always [show that] I fear You.
O Jehovah;
Lead me in ways that are righteous
When my enemies are standing before me.
Straighten out all of my paths,
And on them, keep a close watch.
For, there is no truth in their mouths,
And foolish ways are bound in their hearts.
Their throats are like open tombs,
And they’ve used their tongues to deceive.
So, bring Your judgments against them, O God,
And cause their council to fail.
For their irreverence, drive them away,
Since they are rebelling against You.
All can be glad who’ve put trust in You…
May they cry out and loudly shout cheers!
For among them, You dwell in Your Tent,
And those loving Your Name will boast about You.
You’re the One that blesses the righteous, O Lord…
With the shield of goodness, You’ve crowned us.
O Jehovah;
Don’t discipline me in Your rage,
And please don’t correct me in anger.
Show mercy on me, for I’m weak, O my God…
My bones are shaking, so heal me, O Lord.
The man that I am is deeply disturbed!
So, where have You gone, O my God…
How long will You stay far away?
Return to me… please save me [O Lord];
Deliver me please, in Your mercy!
For the dead are unable to bow before You…
In the place of the dead, who can praise You?
Of moaning, I have grown so tired…
Each night, I soak my bed with my tears.
For my eyes are very disturbed
By all the troubles they see.
I’ve grown old because of those that oppose me;
So, please remove all that’s lawless in me
And hear the sounds of my weeping, O God.
Then Jehovah heard the things that I begged…
My God showed me favor and listened!
So, may those young lions that hate me,
[Forever] be shamed and disturbed…
May my enemies all be dishonored.
O Jehovah, my God;
In You, I have put all my trust,
So save me from those that pursue me.
May those lions not snatch up my life…
Those from whom I cannot be ransomed or saved!
O Jehovah, my God;
If I have done many bad things,
Or if, in my hands, there’s injustice…
If I’ve repaid bad to those who’ve done good;
Before my enemies, may I fall.
May those that hate me, chase me and catch me,
Then trample my soul to the ground,
And may it thereafter camp in the dust.
O Jehovah, my God;
In Your rage, now arise…
Before my enemies, stand tall!
Awaken, O Jehovah, my God,
And give the order to attack them!
For by many, I have been surrounded,
So now’s the time for You to arise.
Condemn all these people, Jehovah,
But, please find me guileless and righteous.
O God;
Bring an end to the badness of sinners,
And straighten the ways of the righteous…
Examine their kidneys and hearts.
Then, send me aid, O my God,
And save all those with straight hearts.
My God is just, forgiving, and strong…
He’s not One that is angry each day.
But, if you should try to oppose Him;
He will shine up His sword
And He will stretch tight His bow…
Yes, He will prepare His weapons of death,
And get ready to shoot flaming arrows.
See how the wicked are slaves to their sins;
For in misery, they have been conceived,
And to lawless ways, given birth.
But, whenever they choose to dig out a pit,
They’ll fall into the cesspool they’ve made…
Yes, into the same pit they dug.
May their misery fall upon their own heads,
And may they receive their own wicked ways.
But, I will follow my God’s righteous paths,
And I’ll strum to His Most-Holy Name.
O Jehovah, our Lord;
How great is Your Name throughout the earth,
For Your majesty has reached to the heavens.
From the mouths of infants and babies,
You have ordered up praises.
And as for those that oppose You;
You’ll remove the opponents and avengers.
I see in the skies, the works of Your hands…
The moon and the stars that You founded.
So, what is man that You’d think about him,
Or a son of man that You’d visit?
For, less than Your angels, You’ve made him,
Then You crowned him with glory and honor,
And placed him over the works of Your hands…
You put it all under his feet.
You brought sheep and oxen together,
And all the cattle that live in the plains.
[You put] flying things in the sky,
And You put fish in the water,
That are treading paths through the seas.
O Jehovah, our Lord;
How wonderful is Your Name on the earth.
O Jehovah;
Wholeheartedly, I will praise You,
And I will describe all Your wonders.
O Highest One;
In You, I’ll be joyful and glad,
And I will strum to Your Name.
You’ve turned my enemies and made them retreat…
Before Your face, they are weak and destroyed.
You’ve heard my case and my cause,
And from Your throne, You sent righteous decisions.
For, You have scolded the nations,
And wiped the irreverent away…
Through the age and the age of the ages,
You have wiped away all their names.
My enemy’s swords have all failed,
And the memory of them and their cities
Has all been wiped [from our land].
Jehovah lives through the ages,
And He’s ready to judge from His throne.
In justice, He’ll judge this place where we live;
And He’ll judge all the peoples uprightly.
Jehovah is a refuge to the needy
And a helper to those in distress.
All that know You will trust in Your Name,
Since You never reject the ones searching for You.
So, strum to Jehovah, you people on Zion…
Proclaim His deeds to the gentiles!
For, He remembers whose blood is required,
[And He hears] the cries of the needy.
Show mercy on me, O Jehovah…
From the gates of death, please lift me away,
So I can shout in joy about Your salvation
And laud You before Zion’s gates.
In their corruption, the nations are mired,
And in their own snares, their feet have been caught.
For, Jehovah is known as the One that brings justice,
And the One that sets snares for the sinners
With the same things their own hands have made.
Now, bring Your vengeance on the sinners,
And send those that hate You away to their graves.
Do not forget those in need,
Nor allow the hopes of the poor to be crushed.
Yes, please arise, O Jehovah…
May You not be beaten by men!
Stand the nations before You in judgment,
And appoint [Your servant] to give them their laws…
Then, remind them that they are just mortals.
O Jehovah;
Why have You stayed far away…
Why have You left us, for we need You now!
Because of their pride and their wicked ways,
The Godless are chasing the poor.
But, may those proud ones fall into a trap
Because of their slanderous ways.
The sinners are blessing themselves
With all the things that their [hearts] have desired…
It’s how the unrighteous are blest.
But, those that are sinning provoke God to rage;
For, they will not search for Jehovah.
So, with them, our God never walks,
And He views their ways as disgusting.
O please don’t decide on their behalf…
Make them rule among people that hate them.
For, they have said in their hearts:
‘I will never be shaken…
Through generations, nothing bad will happen to me.’
Bitterness and cursing is what fills their mouths…
Toil, misery, and treachery comes from their tongues.
With the rich, they lie waiting in ambush
To kill the innocent and poor.
They lie and wait in concealment
Like lions inside of their lairs.
They lie in wait to capture the poor,
So they can snatch them away
And keep them under their power.
But this domination of the needy,
Is what will lead to their downfall.
For they say in their hearts, ‘God’s forgotten…
God’s turned his face and He doesn’t see.’
So arise, O Jehovah my God!
Raise your hand and remember the poor!
The irreverent keep making God angry,
Because they have said in their hearts,
‘There will never be an accounting.’
But, since You can see the misery they bring;
In rage, do not overlook them…
Snatch them up with Your hands!
For, the poor and the orphans have nothing,
And their only helper is You.
So, break the arms of those sinners…
When we search for them, they may not be found!
Jehovah is king through the ages,
And into the age of the ages.
May the gentiles be wiped away from His land,
And may He hear the cries of the poor.
O Jehovah;
Your ears have heard what they’ve planned…
The things that they’re saying deep in their hearts.
So, please bring justice to the orphans and poor,
And may such men not find reasons to boast!
Since I have submitted to Jehovah;
Why has He said to my soul,
‘Like a sparrow, you must fly to the mountains?’
{Look!} For, sinners are stretching their bows,
And preparing arrows for their quivers,
To shoot at my heart in the moonlight.
Yes, all that You’ve built, they’ve demolished;
And where are the righteous… what have they done?
Jehovah is in His Most Holy Place,
And His throne is high in the heavens.
Yet, His eyes pay attention to the needy,
And His eyelids [are open] to see sons of men.
About the righteous, Jehovah inquires;
But those loving injustice, He hates to the core.
So upon the unrighteous, He will rain fire…
They’ll get sulfur and wind in their cup.
For, Jehovah is just and He loves what is true,
And His face sees the good things we do.
O Jehovah;
Please come down here and save me,
For there are no holy ones left,
And few among men tell the truth.
Each man, to his neighbor, now speaks foolish things…
Deceit and wrong, they speak from their hearts.
O Jehovah;
Please destroy the lips of the liars,
And the tongues of those that boast of great things…
Those that say, ‘We’ll make our tongues great,
And ask with our lips, Who’s Jehovah?’
‘Because of the misery of the poor
And the moaning cries of the needy,
I’ll arise and offer them safety…
To them, I will openly speak.’
These wise words of Jehovah are like refined silver…
They are wisdom refined 7 times in a fire.
Though you stand tall in the heights, O our Lord,
On the sons of men, You still keep an eye.
So, please watch over and keep us
From [the bad of] this generation and age.
For the Godless now have us surrounded,
And around us, they walk everywhere.
How long, O Jehovah, will I be forgotten…
How long will You keep Your face turned…
Will it be this way ‘til the end?
How long must my life endure grief,
And plan for it, day and night, in my heart…
How much longer will my enemies be stronger?
Listen to me, O Jehovah!
O my God, please look down upon me!
Brighten my eyes, so I won’t sleep in death…
May my enemies never say that they’ve won.
For, those that oppress me will cheer if I fall.
I have put faith in Your mercy,
And Your salvation brings joy to my heart.
So I’ll sing to Jehovah who’s blest me,
And I’ll strum to His Name in the heights.
‘There is no God,’ says the fool in his heart,
As he does what’s corrupt and disgusting…
And none are doing what’s righteous!
But, Jehovah looks down from the heavens
To see if men’s sons are searching for God.
Yet, all are crooked and useless;
For, no one does good… no, not any;
Their throats are like open tombs,
And they use the tongues in their throats to deceive;
Under their lips, there’s the poison of asps,
And with what’s bitter, their mouths have been filled;
Their feet are in a great hurry
To shed innocent blood and destroy;
There is misery in all of their ways;
The road to peace they’ve not known;
And in their eyes, there’s no fear of God.
Those that break laws do not understand,
For they swallow down people like bread.
But, because they’ve not called to Jehovah,
They’re afraid when there’s nothing to fear.
With generations of the righteous, God is nearby;
Yet, most look down on wise words from the poor,
And on those putting faith in Jehovah.
So, who will stand up for Zion,
And to IsraEl, will bring its salvation?
But, when Jehovah returns all the captured,
Jacob will cry out in joy,
And in IsraEl, there’ll be many reasons for glee.
O Jehovah;
Who is allowed to visit Your Tent,
And on Your Holy Mountain, can camp?
Just the flawless that pursue righteous ways…
Just those that speak truth in their hearts…
Just those whose tongues don’t speak treachery…
Just those that won’t harm their neighbors,
Or scorn those that are living nearby…
Just those that won’t join with the wicked.
They’re the ones that praise those fearing the Lord,
And speak well of those that do as they say.
They don’t lend their money for interest,
Nor ask the innocent for bribes…
Through the ages, such ones won’t be shaken.
Please watch over me, O Jehovah,
For in You, I’ve put all my hope.
I’ve said to Jehovah, ‘You are my Lord,
And other than You, I have nothing good.’
In His land, the holy are in awe of Jehovah,
And they are all willing to serve Him.
Yet, there are many that give in to weakness
And hurriedly search to do what is bad.
I’ll never gather with such men for blood,
Or mention their names with my lips.
O Jehovah;
You are the share that I've won
And You are the [good] I’ve received in my cup…
For, You’ve given me back what is mine.
My borders have fallen across the best parts,
And upon the choicest of portions.
So, I’ll praise the Lord who directs me,
And corrects my kidneys at night.
I see that Jehovah is always beside me…
He’s at my right hand, so I’ll never fall.
For this, my heart will always be glad,
And my tongue will speak praises of Him.
Upon Him, my flesh camps in hope,
For, He won’t abandon my soul in the grave,
Or, let His holy one see corruption.
The ways of life, He has shown me,
And His face has filled me with joy.
Therefore, to my delight;
I’ll sit in perfection at His right hand.
Please listen, O Lord, to my cries,
And pay attention to the things that I beg.
Notice the things about which I pray;
For my words are not being spoken
With lips that have tried to deceive.
In Your presence, may my judgment be given,
And may Your eyes look upon me in fairness.
For You’ve tried my heart in Your visits at night…
You’ve [tried] me by fire and found nothing
To prevent me from speaking [to You].
Concerning the hard ways of men;
Your lips have been my protection.
Into Your ways, You’ve molded my steps,
So my feet may never be caught in a snare.
Yes, I called out to You and You heard me, O God…
Your ears listened to the things that I begged.
O You who [will bring us] salvation;
Please show Your wonderful mercies
To those that put trust in Your right hand.
Guard me like the pupil of Your eye…
Take me under Your wings,
And there, provide a safe haven for me.
From the faces of the Godless, protect me…
From those that wish to bring misery.
For my enemies have me surrounded,
And they speak with mouths filled with pride,
As they are wrapped in their fat.
They’ve driven me out and they have me surrounded…
Their eyes have plans to cut me to the ground.
They treat me like a lion prepared for the hunt…
As a cub that must now run and hide.
So, please arise, O Jehovah;
Cut them off and then knock them down!
With Your sword, save my soul from the godless…
Use Your hands to destroy those that hate me.
Yes, cut their bodies to pieces,
And leave them there on the ground!
Please, fill [righteous] bellies with good things,
And also provide for their children,
Then give what is left to their babies.
May Your righteous one be seen once again,
And may I be filled with Your glory.
O Jehovah;
With all my strength, I will prove that I love You;
For to me, You are real, O my Lord…
Yes, You are my refuge and savior.
My helper is God, and in Him I will trust…
He protects me and He’s my defender…
He’s the trumpet of my salvation.
So in praise, I’ll call to Jehovah,
And from my enemies, I will be saved.
By the pangs of death, I was once surrounded…
I was attacked by floods of the lawless.
Of the place of the dead, I was in fear,
And I was expecting death’s snares.
Then, in my distress, I called to my God.
I shouted, and He heard me, there in His Home…
My cries to Him reached His ears.
Then the ground trembled and shook,
Which disturbed the foundations of mountains,
As the rage of my God rumbled against them.
After that, came the smoke of His rage,
Along with the fire that He sent,
Which ignited the coals all around Him.
He leaned and came down from the heavens,
As darkness was under His feet.
He arrived riding on cherubs,
With their wings spread out on the winds.
For concealment, He came in the darkness;
For, He was wrapped in a tent of dark fog.
The radiance of His presence was covered by clouds,
As well as by hail and by fire.
Jehovah thundered from out of the sky,
And the Most High spoke with His voice.
All around them, He shot His arrows ,
And with lightning, He then filled the skies.
Then He opened the sources of water,
And the foundations of homes were exposed.
O Jehovah, this came from Your scolding…
From the blast of the Spirit of Your rage.
Down from the heights, He arrived,
Then He grabbed me and took me away from the floods.
From the mighty, He came down and saved me…
From those mighty ones that detest me.
They opposed me during bad days,
But Jehovah became my support.
He then carried me to a [safe] place…
Yes, because He chose me, He saved me!
The Lord will provide my reward
According to the righteousness of my ways.
Yes, for my clean hands, He’ll repay me,
Since I have kept watch on His ways…
Unlike the irreverent, I’ve never left God.
His decisions are now here before me,
And from His Laws, I’ve never departed.
So flawlessly, I’ll stand here before Him,
As I guard against any Law breaking.
Then Jehovah will repay me for my righteous ways,
Since His eyes have seen that I’ve kept my hands clean.
To the holy, we must always be holy,
And be blameless to those free from blame.
Then, among the elect, we’ll be chosen…
But, turned away if we’re crooked.
On the humble, Your people must watch,
As they humble the eyes of the proud!
Light my lamp, O Jehovah my God…
Please, light my way in the darkness.
From bands of marauders, please save me…
Then, by my God, I can scale any wall.
The ways of my God are all flawless,
And His words have been proven by fire.
He’s the defender of all that believe,
And there’s no other God than Jehovah…
Who else can be compared to our God?
He’s the God that wrapped me in power,
And showed me ways that are flawless.
He’s made my feet firm like those of a stag,
And He’s lifted me into the heights.
He taught my hands about ways of war,
And He turned my arms into bows made of brass.
You’ve prepared a shield to protect me…
You’ve taken me in Your right hand
And given me all Your instructions;
So, with Your guidance, I can stand ‘til the end.
You’ve widened the path underneath me,
And You have given me strength.
So I’ll chase my enemies and catch them,
And not return ‘til I’ve won.
I’ll squeeze them until they’re unable to stand,
And at my feet, they have fallen.
You’ve wrapped me in the power of war…
You’ve bound my enemies, both hand and foot.
You’ve shown me my enemy’s backs,
And destroyed all those that detest me.
They shouted, but no one could save them…
They called to their Lord, but he didn’t hear.
So I’ll grind them to powder and throw them away…
Like dust in the squares that’s blown by the wind.
You’ll rescue me from their disputes,
And place me as the head over nations.
Unknown peoples will serve me…
They’ll hear my voice and obey me.
And those sons of foreigners that have told lies
Will grow old and lame in their unrighteous paths.
Jehovah lives, so may [He] be praised…
May [the Name] of the God that saves me be raised…
The God that handles my vengeance,
And makes all the peoples submit.
From all my enemies, He’s saved me…
Yes, from those that have attacked and opposed me.
You’ve raised me above the unrighteous…
You’ve rushed to my aid and You’ve saved me.
So, I’ll praise You before all the nations…
O Jehovah, I’ll strum to Your Name.
For You’ve shown the ways that You can save the king…
You’ve shown mercy upon Your anointed…
To David and his seed through the ages.
The heavens describe the glory of God,
And space speaks of things that He’s made with His hands.
Day after day, His words bubble up,
And He brings us knowledge night after night.
There is no more speaking nor words,
And the sounds of voices cannot be heard.
For, throughout the earth, their [death] knell has gone,
And these words have reached to the ends of the man’s home…
That He’s pitched His Tent on the sun!
Like a groom that has come from his [wedding],
He makes a mighty shout in His journey.
He leaves from one end of the sky,
And from the other side of heaven, returns.
So, no one can hide from His heat.
The Law of Jehovah is perfect,
And it brings changes to lives!
What God says can always be trusted,
And from it, even young ones learn wisdom.
Jehovah’s rules are all straight,
And they bring joy to our hearts.
The Commandments of the Lord radiate,
Providing light for everyone’s eyes.
The fear of Jehovah is pure…
It lasts through the age and through ages of ages.
The judgments of the Lord are all true,
For they bring equal justice to all.
More precious than gold or gems are [His Laws],
And they’re sweeter than honey in its comb.
For, when His servants obey them,
They will receive grand rewards.
Yet, none of us see all our sins,
So from sins that are hidden, please cleanse us.
From foreign peoples, protect me;
For, if they cannot control me,
I’ll remain unblemished and free of all sins.
Then, good prophecies will flow from my mouth,
And all thoughts in my heart will be of Jehovah;
For, He is always my helper.
In bad times, you should turn to Jehovah…
Let the Name of Jacob’s God be your shield.
For, from His Holy Place, He will send help…
He’ll send you assistance from Zion.
May He remember what you’ve sacrificed…
Yes, all of your fattened burnt offerings.
May God provide you with what your hearts crave,
And fulfill whatever you’ve planned.
Then, all will shout about His salvation,
And praise the Name of our God…
So, may Jehovah grant whatever you ask.
I’ve now [seen] Jehovah’s salvation;
For, from His holy place in the heavens
He heard the things His anointed had asked,
And now it’s all under control.
Yes, with His right hand, He saved me
From the attacks of chariots and horsemen.
For, when I called on the Name of [my] God,
They fell and were bound hand and foot,
While I arose and stood firm.
O Jehovah, please save the king,
And hear us whenever we call out to You.
O Jehovah;
The king submits to Your power,
And for Your salvation, he cries out in joy,
Since You’ve given him all that his heart could desire,
And provided everything that he asked.
And even before he had asked You,
You [poured] great blessings upon him,
And placed a gemmed crown on his head.
When he asked for life, You gave him long days,
Into the ages of ages.
Through Your salvation, You glorified him,
And laid splendor and majesty upon him.
Through the age, You have blessed him,
And made him glad with the joy of Your face.
The king has put his hope in Jehovah,
And he trusts in the mercy that comes from above.
So, may his enemies be found in Your hands;
May Your right hand grab all those that hate him,
And in Your Day, throw them into an oven.
In Your rage, please send them disturbance,
And then, destroy them in fire.
Destroy their fruit from the earth,
And their seed from among sons of men.
For, their purpose toward You was just to do bad,
And they argued over plans unfulfilled.
So, throw them away with Your garbage,
And prepare their faces for this.
O Jehovah; may Your might be exalted,
And we’ll sing and strum about Your mighty deeds.
O God, my God, please listen to me!
Why have I been abandoned by You?
Are the words about all my errors,
Keeping me from Your salvation?
For, all day long, I call out to You;
However, my God, You don’t listen…
So don’t think that I’m thoughtless during the night.
You dwell within Your Most Holy Place
As the One that sends IsraEl blessings.
In You, our fathers put faith,
And then You brought them salvation.
They called out to You as their only hope,
And they were never disgraced.
People think of me as a worm, not a man…
I’m the scorn and contempt of my people.
Yes, those that see me [are laughing]…
They’re shaking their heads and they’re saying:
‘Since he’s putting his trust in Jehovah;
If God wants him, let Him come down and save him!’
It was You that pulled me from [my mother’s] womb,
And You were my hope when I sucked at her breasts.
By You, I was thrust from the womb…
And from the belly of my mother, You’ve been my God.
So, please don’t leave me when trouble is near,
For no one else will come to my aid.
I’m surrounded by great herds of cattle,
And by mighty bulls, I’m encircled.
Like lions, against me, they’ve opened their mouths…
Like those that roar and drag off [their prey].
My bones have become just like water,
And the heart in my chest has melted like wax.
My strength has dried out like a clay pot,
And my tongue is stuck to my throat;
For, to the dust of death, I’ve been led.
Many dogs now have me surrounded,
And the wicked have gathered against me.
They’re cutting into my hands and my feet,
And they count all my bones as they watch me and think.
They’ve divided my garments among them,
And thrown dice for the clothes that I wear.
O Jehovah;
I know that Your help is not far away,
For You’ll notice and come to my aid.
So, please rescue my soul from the broadsword…
[Your] one-and-only from the hands of the dogs!
Save me from the mouths of the lions;
On rhinoceros horns, May I not be disgraced.
Then I’ll speak of Your fame to my brothers,
And among the congregation, I’ll praise You.
All you that fear Him; Give praise to Jehovah!
Yes, glorify Him, seed of Jacob,
And seed of IsraEl, show Him your fear!
For He’s never looked on you with contempt,
And He’s never loathed the prayers of your poor…
Nor from me, has He turned His face,
For I’ve called out to Him and He listened!
So, before the gathering, I’ll praise Him,
And before them all, I’ll confess.
I’ll also pay all my vows
In the presence of those that respect Him.
Then the stomachs of the poor will be filled once again,
And those that are seeking Jehovah
Will offer Him praise from their hearts
Through the age and through ages of ages.
So, remember Him… turn to Jehovah,
All you to the ends of the earth.
All the ethnic families should bow before Him,
For the right to rule is just His.
Yes, He is the King of all nations,
And He’d feed all the mighty on earth,
If they would just bow down before Him,
[Instead of] choosing to be buried.
So, with my whole soul, I’m living for Him,
And my seed will serve Him alone.
They’ll proclaim Him to future generations,
And they’ll speak of His justice to those not yet born.
Because Jehovah has watched over me,
There’s nothing that I’ve ever lacked.
In Him, my life is renewed;
And He’s guided me in righteous paths,
For the sake of His Name.
So, should I travel through the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, because He is near…
In His scepter and staff, I find comfort.
Now, before me, He’s set a spread table,
Away from those who’ve opposed me.
My head, He’s anointed with oil,
And with His excellent cup, made me high.
Since His mercies have pursued me throughout my whole life;
I will dwell in the House of Jehovah
Throughout the rest of my days.
The land and its goodness belongs to Jehovah…
The world and all that live in it.
For, He’s the One that created its rivers,
And the One that founded its seas.
Who can ascend the mountain of God,
And who can stand in His Holy Place?
Just those with innocent hands
And those with hearts that are pure…
Those who’ve chosen not to do what is foolish,
Or sworn evil things against neighbors.
Yes, only such ones will be blest by Jehovah,
And see the charity of our Savior, God.
This generation is seeking Jehovah…
They’re seeking the face of Jacob’s God.
So, open the gates of your rulers…
Yes, open the gates of the ages,
That your glorious King may now enter.
Who is this glorious King?
He is the Almighty Jehovah…
The dynamic Lord with the power of war.
Yes, open the gates of your rulers…
Open the gates of the ages,
So your glorious King may now enter.
And who is this glorious King?
His Name is Jehovah of Armies!
O Jehovah;
To You, I’ve lifted my soul,
For You are the God to whom I submit.
So, through the age, may I not be disgraced,
And my enemies not make fun of me.
Don’t bring disgrace to those clinging to You,
But, bring shame to those that rebel without cause.
O Jehovah; You have shown me Your ways,
And now teach me to walk in Your paths!
In Your ways of truth, please guide me,
And teach me that You’re My Savior and God;
For I’ve waited on You all my days.
Remember Your compassions, O Lord,
And the mercy that You’ve shown through the ages.
Please overlook the sins of my youth…
Forget the ignorant things that I’ve done.
Speak to Yourself about mercy for me…
Please be kind, O Jehovah!
Jehovah is upright and kind,
But He enforces His Laws against sinners.
He guides the meek ones toward justice,
And He teaches the gentle His ways.
[God’s] ways are all about mercy,
And to those hearing His words, He sends the truth…
To those [that live by] His Sacred Agreement.
Because of Your Name, O Jehovah,
Please cover over my sins!
To those in fear of Jehovah,
He gives His laws [and straightens] their paths.
Then their souls will lodge among good things,
And their seed will inherit the land.
For, Jehovah’s a fort to all those that fear Him,
And to them, He has given His promise.
So, my eyes always look to my Lord,
For He pulls the snares from under my feet.
O look upon me and feel mercy,
For I am a poor only child
Whose pain of heart keeps on growing.
Please lead me toward the things that I need…
Please notice my humiliation;
Yes, look at my deeds and forgive all my sins!
For my enemies have kept on increasing,
And the unrighteous all hate and detest me.
So, guard my life and please save me…
May I not be disgraced, for I’m trusting in You.
The guileless and upright have stuck close to me,
Because I’ve been sticking by You, O [my God].
So, ransom us please, O IsraEl’s God…
[Save us] in our time of distress.
O God, please provide me with justice!
For, the ways that I’ve walked are free from all blame,
And I’ve put my trust in Jehovah.
O Lord, I will never waver;
So, test me and put me on trial…
Set my heart and kidneys on fire!
Before my eyes are Your mercies,
And I am pleased with Your truths.
I don’t sit in the high court with fools,
Nor hang out with those that break laws.
I’ve detested the gatherings of those that are bad,
And with the irreverent, I’ve never stayed.
In innocence, I have washed my hands,
As I’ve walked ‘round Your Altar, O Lord.
Hear my voice as I’m singing Your praises,
And as I’m lauding Your wonders.
The beauty of Your House, I have loved, O Lord…
That place where You Tent in glory.
So, don’t destroy my soul with the Godless,
Nor with men of blood, end my life…
Those whose hands are filled with what’s lawless,
And those who’s right hands take bribes.
Ransom me, for I’m free from all blame…
Please show mercy upon me!
For with my feet, I’ve walked a straight path,
And among the congregation, I’ve praised You, O Lord.
Jehovah’s my Light and my Savior;
So, whom should I have reason to fear?
The Lord is my life’s defender;
So, before whom, should I ever be shy?
For, those that attacked to bring evil,
And those that wished to devour my flesh
(Those enemies of mine who’ve oppressed me)
Have now all weakened and fallen.
Should they set their camps up before me,
And should they attack me in war;
My hope is that my heart won’t show fear.
There is one thing that I’ve asked of Jehovah
(Yes, this is the one thing I’m seeking):
To dwell in His House all the days of my life,
Where I can see the delights of the Lord,
And visit His Most Holy Place.
For, whenever evil arrives,
He hides me inside of His Tent,
And during bad days, He’s my shelter.
Within His Tent, He conceals me,
And He stands me high on a rock.
For, look… He has lifted my head
Higher than my enemies!
So, around His Tent, I’ll walk and bring gifts…
A sacrifice of praise, I will offer,
And I’ll sing and strum to Jehovah!
I’ve said to You in my heart:
‘I will always search for my God!’
Yes, within my heart, I’ve been saying:
‘I will always search for Jehovah!’
My face will always be looking to You,
And Your face, I will always be seeking.
So, please don’t turn from me, O my God…
Don’t turn from Your servant in anger;
Rather, keep on being my helper!
‘Don’t ever curse me or send me away…
Don’t leave me and don’t overlook me.
O God, may I trust that You are my Savior!’
Though my father and mother have left me,
Jehovah’s chosen me as His own.
So Lord, put Your ways in my heart,
And before my enemies, straighten my paths.
Don’t hand me to those that oppress me…
Those who’ve witnessed against me and lied,
And whose justice has lied to itself.
I trust that I’ll get what is good from the Lord
While I’m still in the land of the living.
Thus I’ll wait on Jehovah and act like a man…
I’ll wait on the Lord who strengthens my heart!
I’ll call out to You, O Jehovah…
My God, I won’t remain silent!
So, don’t be silent with me,
Or make me like those that enter the pit.
Listen, O Lord, to my voice as I beg
And I raise my arms toward Your Temple.
Don’t draw me along with the sinners,
Nor destroy me with the unjust.
For, though they speak peace to their neighbors,
Inside their hearts, there is evil.
O Jehovah;
Repay them for the bad things they do,
And for all of their wicked deeds.
Return upon them the [bad] things they’ve done…
Yes, give them a just compensation!
O Lord;
Because they don’t notice the things that You do
(All the works that You do with Your hands),
You should wipe them away,
And never rebuild them again.
Praise Jehovah, for He’s heard my prayers…
He’s my helper and my defender,
So in Him, my heart has put hope.
And because He’s helped me, my flesh has done well,
So to Him, I will always sing praises.
Jehovah’s the fort of His people…
His anointed’s Defender and Savior.
So upon Your inheritance, pour blessings,
And bring salvation to Your people…
Through the ages, please tend them and lift them.
O sons of God;
To Jehovah, you should bring sacrifices…
The offspring of rams, you should offer to God.
To the Lord, offer glory and honor…
[Yes, speak] of His Glorious Name,
And bow to Him in His courtyard.
His voice is over the waters…
The glory of God causes thunder,
And it also brings [rain].
The voice of Jehovah is mighty,
And of His majesty, it speaks.
The voice of Jehovah breaks [trees]…
Even Lebanon’s cedars.
He thins them out like Lebanon’s calves,
And as rhinoceros calves.
Like [lightning], the voice of Jehovah cuts through…
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert.
The Deserts of KaDesh tremble before Him,
For with His voice, He fashioned the hinds.
So, He tears down all sacred poles,
Since those that wish to glorify Him
Should [worship Him at] His [Temple].
Jehovah brings calmness to storms,
And He seats His king through the ages.
Jehovah shows His strength for His people,
And our Lord will bless them with peace.
O Jehovah; I praise You for lifting me high,
And for not bringing joy to my enemies.
I’ve called out to You, O my God,
And You have sent healing to me.
O God,
You’ve saved my life from the grave…
And from those going into the pit.
So You holy ones, play music to Him…
Remember and acknowledge His pureness.
For, while there is wrath in His rage,
There is also life in His Will.
And though weeping may come in the evening,
In the morning, there’ll be much rejoicing.
In prosperous times, I once said:
‘Through the ages, no way will I [stumble],
For, by Your Will, I received [power].’
But thereafter, You just turned away,
And I was very disturbed.
So, O Lord, I cried out to You…
Before my God, I was begging.
What value has my blood if I die
And rot away under the ground?
Is there knowledge of You in the dust,
And will dirt testify to Your trueness?
Jehovah then heard and showed mercy on me…
He was my helper [once more].
So my [heart] that once beat in fear,
Has now returned to rejoicing.
You tore off my sackcloth and wrapped me in joy,
So I’ll strum to You in my glory.
And, O Jehovah, my God;
There’s no way that I’ll ever be angry [with You],
And through the age, I’ll keep singing Your praises.
In You, O Jehovah, I’ve put all my hope;
So, may I not be disgraced through the age.
Please rescue me in Your justice,
And take me away from this place.
Incline Your ear and listen to me…
Hurry and take me away!
Become to me a God of defense,
And make Your House a place of salvation…
A fortified place and safe haven!
For the sake of Your [Holy] Name,
Please direct me and feed me,
Then, lead me away from their snares…
For Jehovah, You are my defender.
Into Your hands, I’ve entrusted my breath,
And You’ve paid my ransom, O God of truth.
You detest all those that waste time
Doing things that are foolish;
So I’ll put my trust in Jehovah,
And I’ll shout in praise of His mercy.
For He’s noticed my humiliation,
And He’s witnessed the distress in my life.
Then He saved me from my enemies’ hands,
And He set my feet in a safe place.
So show mercy on me, O Jehovah,
For I am in great distress.
My eyes are disturbed and enraged,
As is my belly and soul.
My life has been wasted in grief,
And through most of my years, I’ve had to moan.
For my strength has been weakened by poorness,
And there has been pain in my bones.
By my enemies, I have been scorned,
And I’m even scorned by my neighbors.
So, those that know me now fear me,
And the rest have all run away.
I’ve been forgotten like one of the dead,
And like a [chamber] pot, my heart has become.
I’ve heard the complaints of those moving about,
As they have gathered against me.
Though they’ve assembled to kill me,
I have put my trust in Jehovah.
I’ve said to Him,‘You are my God,
And I’ve left my [life] in Your hands.
So, please rescue me from my enemy’s hands,
And from all those that pursue me.
Please show Your face to your servant…
In Your great mercy, please save me!’
O Jehovah, don’t let me meet with disgrace,
For I am calling to You.
May all the godless be shamed,
And let them be led to their graves.
May the lips of deceivers be speechless…
Those that condemn righteous people
In contempt and in proud, lawless ways.
O Jehovah, Your ways are all kind,
But, they’re hidden from those that don’t fear You.
Before them, You send aid to the faithful,
And within Your face, You conceal them
From the disturbance of those that are evil.
Yes, You shelter them inside Your Tent,
Away from all scolding tongues.
So, praise Jehovah for His mercy,
And for the miraculous things that [He brings]
To those cities that are under attack.
I said, when I saw things had changed:
‘He’s thrown me away from His eyes.’
But then, You listened to me,
And You heard what I said when I called out to You.
So, love Jehovah, you holy ones;
For such trueness is what God requires.
But, He will send retribution
To those that have too much pride.
Therefore, act like men and strengthen your hearts,
And put all your faith in Jehovah!
Blest are those forgiven for breaking the Law
And those whose sins He has covered.
Blest are those in whom He doesn’t find sin,
Or treacherous words in their mouths.
I’ve become more settled as my bones have aged…
I no longer cry out all day long.
For, day and night, Your hand pressed against me,
And in misery, I writhed, as though run through by thorns.
My lawless deeds, I’ve admitted to You,
And my sins, I’ve not tried to hide.
I’ve openly confessed to the Lord
About all of my lawless ways,
And You forgave the godless thoughts in my heart.
For this, the holy should pray at right times,
So the flood will never approach them:
‘You’re my refuge from the troubles I face,
And You have ransomed my soul
From those that had me surrounded.’
[And in response, God will reply]:
‘I’ll send understanding to you…
I’ll teach you the ways you should go,
And I’ll always watch over you.
So don’t act like horses or mules
That have to be bridled and don’t understand,
And whose jaws must be squeezed to behave.’
Sinners will be whipped many times,
But, mercy surrounds those that trust in the Lord.
So, you should find joy in Jehovah;
Shout about Him in joy, all you righteous…
Wholeheartedly boast about Him!
You righteous ones; rejoice in Jehovah,
Because He blesses the upright.
Play psalms to Jehovah on harps;
Strum to Him on your lutes of 10 strings;
Then before Him, sing a new song…
Yes play, shout loudly, and cheer!
The words of Jehovah are righteous;
So, trust in the things that He does.
For our God loves charity and fairness,
And the earth is filled with His mercy.
By the Word of Jehovah, the skies came to be,
And the Breath from His mouth formed their powers.
As in a leather bag, He pulled them together,
And in treasuries of the deep, He put water.
So, fear Jehovah, all dwellers on earth;
Before Him, let all stand in awe.
For, He just spoke and it all came to be…
When He gave the orders, it started.
He wipes the plans of nations away,
And annuls the devices and plots of their kings.
But Jehovah’s Will lasts through the ages…
From generation to generation are the things in His heart.
So, Blest is the nation whose God is Jehovah…
Those whom He’s chosen to inherit.
From the heavens, Jehovah looks down,
And He watches the things that sons of men do.
From the home that He has prepared,
He watches those dwelling on earth.
He’s the One that fashioned their hearts,
And He keeps watch on the things that they do.
So, Kings can’t be saved by large armies,
And giants may not be saved by their might.
So don’t look to a horse for salvation,
For, even with their strength, you can lose.
{Look!} Jehovah watches all those that fear Him…
Those that put faith in His mercy.
Only He can keep their lives from destruction,
And in times of famine, provide them with food.
So, we must wait on Jehovah,
For He’s our defender and helper.
With your whole hearts, find joy in Him,
And trust in His Holy Name.
Please send us Your mercy, Jehovah;
For in You, we have put all our faith.
Through the age, I’ll give praise to Jehovah…
His praises will stay on my lips,
And I’ll praise the Lord with my life.
So, listen you meek and be glad…
Glorify Jehovah with me…
Let’s praise His great Name together.
I searched for the Lord and He heard me…
He rescued me during my travels.
So, come to Him… be enlightened,
And your faces will never be shamed.
A poor man once called out to God and He heard,
Then He rescued him from all his problems.
God’s messengers camped all around him,
And He saved this one that showed fear of His Name.
Taste and see that our God is good,
For those trusting in Him will always be blest!
Yes, fear Jehovah, you holy;
For those fearing Him will lack nothing.
And though the rich may go hungry and poor,
Those seeking the Lord won’t lack for what’s good.
Come to me, children, then listen,
As I teach you the fear of Jehovah!
Who is the man that doesn’t want life,
And to see better days?
Remove all that’s evil from your lips…
Take treachery away from your tongues…
Turn from what’s bad and do what is good…
Search for peace and pursue it!
For, Jehovah keeps His eyes on the righteous,
And His ears hear the things that they ask.
But the face of Jehovah opposes the bad,
And He wipes their memory from the land.
The righteous call out and God hears them,
Then He rescues them from all their problems.
God’s near to those that have broken hearts,
And He saves the humble in spirit.
Though the righteous will have many problems;
From such things, God will save them.
For, Jehovah watches over their bones,
And not a single one will be broken.
In sadness, the sinners will come to their end,
And condemned are those hating the righteous.
But Jehovah will ransom the lives of His servants,
And no way will He harm those that trust Him.
O Jehovah;
Bring judgment on those that are doing me wrong…
Wage war with those waging war!
Take up Your weapons and shield me, my God;
Arise and come to my aid!
Swing Your sword at those that pursue me…
Say that You will deliver my soul!
May those seeking my life feel shame and remorse…
May those wishing me bad retreat in disgrace.
May they be like dust in the wind…
May God’s messengers squeeze them all dry.
May their road become slippery and dark,
And may they be chased by God’s angels.
Though I have done them no wrong;
Snares, they have hidden before me,
And about my soul, they speak badly.
So, let them be caught in the snares that they’ve set…
May the snares that they hunt with, catch them…
Into the traps that they’ve set, may they fall.
I’ll praise Jehovah with my whole soul…
Of His salvation, I’ll shout.
With my bones, I’ll say to Jehovah:
‘O Lord, there’s no one else like You!
For You rescue the poor with a hand that is greater
Than those that tear the needy to shreds.
‘For, they sent lying witnesses against me,
And asked questions that I didn’t understand.
They’ve repaid me with bad for the good things I’ve done,
And left my soul without seed.
‘Because of the troubles they’ve caused me,
I’ve had to wear sackcloth and fast.
So now, I pray that I might be restored.
‘As neighbors and brothers, they once were so kind;
So in mourning and sadness, I’ve humbled my soul.
But they happily gathered against me,
And they were not sad when they cut me with whips.
‘They tried me and then they made fun…
Against me, they were grinding their teeth.
O Jehovah, how long will You let this go on?
Rescue my soul from their evil plans!’
[Then God replied:}
‘O My only begotten;
From those lions, I am coming to save you.
Then, before the assembly, I’ll praise you,
And before those bad ones, I’ll lift you!’
So, may those that hate me unjustly
Not [be allowed to] rejoice…
Those that detest me without any charge…
Those that looked away with their eyes.
Though to me, they once spoke of peace,
In anger and treachery, they’ve plotted.
They’ve opened their mouths against me and said:
‘Well done… yes, very well done.
For we’ve seen it all happen with our own eyes.’
O Jehovah, You’ve witnessed it all!
So, don’t remain silent or leave me.
Awaken, O Lord… pay attention!
Take notice of my cause, O my God.
Judge me, O Lord, and bring justice…
My God, don’t let them rejoice!
Don’t allow them to say of my soul in their hearts,
‘Well done… yes, very well done.’
And please don’t allow them to say,
‘We have swallowed him down!’
May those who’ve rejoiced at my harm feel ashamed,
And may those that witnessed against me feel bad,
As those that seek justice are joyful.
Then, may they cry, ‘Praise Jehovah,
Because He brought peace to His servant!’
Then I’ll use my tongue to sing of Your justice,
And I’ll praise You throughout the rest of my days.
About his sins, the lawbreaker says,
‘As I see it, there is no God we should fear.’
So before Him, he acts wickedly…
Yet, [God] will expose his lawbreaking.
Their mouths speak of treacherous things,
And they talk about breaking [God’s] laws,
Since they have no desire to know what is good.
They dream of crimes as they lie in their beds
And do nothing at all that’s worthwhile;
For they’ve never learned to hate what is bad.
O Jehovah, who lives in the heavens;
Your mercy and truth ascends to the clouds.
Your justice is like the mountain of God,
But Your judgments are like an abyss,
Which protects both men and their cattle.
O God;
In many ways, Your mercies are seen.
And sons of men put their hope
In the protection of Your wings.
They feast on the things that come from Your House,
And they delight in the water from its streams.
For, the springs of life come from You,
And from Your light, we’ve come to see light.
So send mercy to all those that know You,
And give justice to those with straight hearts.
May I not be kicked by the feet of the proud,
Nor may hands of sinners ever shake me.
May all those that work at lawlessness fall,
Rejected and unable to stand.
Never be jealous of the wicked,
Nor envy those that break laws.
For like grass, they’ll quickly be dried,
And they’ll wilt away like young shoots.
Rather, put your hope in Jehovah,
And always act in kind ways.
Its wealth will serve those that live off the ground,
And they’ll find delight in Jehovah.
For He’ll give you all that your hearts may desire.
Open your ways to Jehovah;
Yes, trust in Him, and He’ll act.
He’ll shine a light on your righteous deeds,
And brighten them as though it were noon.
Yes, put your trust in Jehovah,
And to Him, you must always keep praying.
Don’t envy those that prosper from crime,
And never be angry… abandon your rage!
Don’t let jealousy move you to do what is wicked,
For the wicked will soon be destroyed,
As those that wait on Jehovah
Will thereafter inherit the land.
Soon the sinners will no longer be here…
You’ll look where he was and not find him.
But, the meek will inherit the land,
And find great delight in the abundance of peace.
For, sinners keep their eyes on the righteous
And grind their teeth when they see them.
But, at them, Jehovah is laughing,
For He sees what He’ll do to them in His Day.
Sinners have unsheathed their swords
And stretched their bows very tight
To attack the needy and poor,
And to kill all those with straight hearts.
But, may their swords strike their own hearts,
And may their bows be broken to bits.
A little is better to the righteous
Than an abundance of wealth is to sinners.
For the arms of sinners will be broken,
And the Lord will support all the just.
He knows the ways of the flawless,
And their inheritance will last through the ages.
They won’t be disgraced in hard times,
And when famine arrives, they’ll be filled.
But the sinners will all be destroyed.
And then, those enemies of God
Who think they’re glorious and exalted,
Will be blown away just like smoke.
The sinners borrow and do not repay,
But the righteous feel mercy and lend.
So, those praising them will inherit the land,
While those that curse them will be wiped away.
Jehovah straightens the footsteps of men,
And all should [walk in] His ways.
Then, if you should fall, you won’t break;
For the Lord will be holding your hand.
I was once young, and now I’ve grown old;
Yet I’ve never seen the righteous abandoned,
Or his seed ever begging for bread.
Because, each day, he shows mercy and lends;
His seed will always be blest.
So, turn from evil… do what is good,
And live through ages of ages!
For Jehovah is a lover of justice,
And through the ages, He won’t abandon the holy…
So the righteous will always be guarded,
As the lawless are driven away.
The seed of the Godless will perish;
But the righteous will inherit [the] land,
And through ages of ages, they’ll camp there.
Mouths of the righteous think first and then speak…
They talk of fairness and justice.
And because they have God’s Law in their hearts,
They will not stumble and fall.
But, when the sinner thinks of the righteous,
He searches for ways to destroy them.
Yet, [God] won’t abandon them into their hands,
Nor in the judgment, will they be condemned.
Wait on Jehovah and follow His ways,
And you will inherit the land.
Then, you will see the sinners destroyed,
While they’ll see you lifted high…
As high as Lebanon’s cedars.
Yes, I went to see… and look, he was not!
I searched in his place and he’s gone!
So, guard your innocence and honest ways;
For those that love peace are the ones who’ll survive,
While the lawless will all be destroyed,
Along with any godless that still might remain.
For Jehovah will save all the righteous
And He’ll be their defender when they are oppressed.
Yes, the Lord will help them and save them…
He’ll snatch them away from the sinners…
He will deliver and save them,
Because they have put faith in Him.
O Jehovah; don’t discipline me in Your rage,
And in anger, don’t give me correction.
For Your arrows have already struck me,
And Your hand has been heavy upon me.
My flesh has not healed from the rage of Your face,
And there’s no peace in my bones because of my sins.
All my bad deeds hang over my head…
They oppress me and weigh me down.
The stripes of my foolishness fester and smell,
And in misery and sadness, I walk through the day.
My flanks have been covered by mocking,
And in my flesh, there’s no healing.
I’ve been humbled and afflicted for my wicked ways.
So from the moaning in my heart, I have roared:
‘O Jehovah, my desire is to stand before You,
So by You, my moaning will be seen.
For my heart is disturbed and my strength is all gone…
Even my eyes do not work.
‘My friends and neighbors oppose me…
They approach, but they stand at a distance.
‘Those seeking my life and wishing me bad,
Speak foolishly as they plan to deceive me.
But I pretend that I do not hear them,
As though I am someone that’s deaf,
And like the mute, I don’t open my mouth.
‘I became like a man with no hearing,
And with nothing to say in reply.
For in You, O Jehovah, I’ve put all my trust…
And my God, I’ve hoped that You’d listen.
‘May my enemies not rejoice at my fall…
May my legs not shake as they’re plotting against me.
‘I’m ready for all of their whips…
I’m prepared and ready to suffer.
I’ll admit to all of my lawless deeds,
And I’m anxious because of my sins.
‘My enemies have camped all around me…
All those that hate me unjustly.
They’ve repaid my good deeds with bad,
And lied when I was on trial.
‘So, do not leave me, Jehovah!
Yes, my God, don’t desert me!
Hear my pleas for help, O my God;
O Jehovah, please come here and save me!’
I promised to guard all my ways,
And not to sin with my tongue.
So I always put a lock on my mouth
When sinners are standing before Me.
Then, I became humble and mute,
And I spoke not even good words,
As my pains kept on growing.
Then, within me, my heart became hot,
Burning away all my thoughts.
So my tongue spoke out and I said:
‘Jehovah, please show me my limits,
And the number of days I will live,
So I’ll know what I haven’t accomplished.
‘{Look!} The days of a palm, You’ve given to me;
Yet, I am nothing before You.
For, foolish are the ways of all men.’
When men travel, they may carry an idol…
For they trust in things that are foolish.
They may also carry their treasures along…
Yet they know not why they collect them.
But, I believe that I can endure
With just the aid of [My God].
So, please save me from my lawless ways,
And from the scorn of the foolish.
I was mute and I wouldn’t open my mouth,
For these trials have come from Jehovah.
But, please bring an end to the whippings,
For in mighty hands, I am failing.
This correction is what You have sent me…
And along with the lawless, You’ve disciplined me.
Like spiders, men’s lives waste away,
And this is the folly of humans.
So, hear my prayer, O Jehovah…
Listen as I beg in my tears!
Please don’t stay silent with me,
For, like my fathers, I’ve traveled with You!
Refresh me and spare me before I must leave…
Before I no longer exist.
I’ve endured and waited on God,
Then He noticed and heard what I prayed.
He led me from the misery of the pit…
From the mud and slime, He removed me.
Then He stood my feet on a rock,
And straightened the paths that I walk.
He put a new song in my mouth…
A sacred hymn to my God.
When they’re afraid, many look to the Lord.
And blest are those that trust in His Name…
Those that do not search for what’s foolish,
And those that don’t act in rash ways.
O Jehovah; You’ve done such wonderful things…
Wondrous and great are Your ways, O my God,
And there are none that are equal to You!
So I’ll speak and tell of Your glorious ways
And the unnumbered ways they keep growing.
Sacrifices and offerings, You didn’t want,
Nor did You seek whole burnt offerings
Or sacrifices for [the covering of] sins;
Yet, You prepared a body for me.
So I said, ‘Look, I have come…
In the knob of the scroll this was written about me:
I’ve come to do Your Will, O my God;
For Your Laws lie deep in my [heart].
‘I’ve announced the good news of [Your] righteous ways
Among the great congregation…
O Lord, I’ve not held back my lips!
‘I’ve not hidden Your righteous ways in my heart,
And I’ve told the truth about Your salvation…
I’ve not hidden Your mercy and truth
Before the great congregation.
So Jehovah, don’t hide Your compassions from me…
May Your mercy and truth give me strength.
Bad things are now all around me,
For my lawless deeds overtook me
And I’m no longer able to see.
They’ve multiplied like the hairs on my head,
And by my own heart, I’m abandoned.
So think well of me and save me, O God…
O Jehovah, pay attention and help me!
May those that are seeking my life
(Those that wish to lift it away)
Together, feel shame and disgrace.
May those that wish to do evil
Feel shame and be forced to back off.
Let them feel their shame right away…
Those that are saying of me,
‘Well done, yes very well done.’
May all those that seek You be happy, O Lord,
And may they start shouting in joy…
May all that love Your salvation
Start shouting aloud, ‘Praise Jehovah!’
I now find myself poor and in need;
So, please don’t forget me, my God.
Since You’re my defender and helper,
Please don’t wait or delay!
Blest are those that are paying attention
To the needs of the poor.
For God will save them when bad days arrive.
May Jehovah bless them and guard them…
May He keep them alive on the ground
And save them from their enemy’s hands.
May God give them aid in their beds of grief,
And turn their beds when they’re ill.
I said, ‘O Jehovah, show mercy on me;
Heal my soul, for I’ve sinned against You,
And my enemies are saying bad things,
Asking about me, When will he die?’
Once foolishness came here to visit,
And he spoke to me from his heart.
He also brought the lawless along,
And they all went outside to talk.
To each other, my enemies whispered,
And developed a plot [to destroy] me.
They planned to do something illegal…
They said, ‘He’ll go to bed, but never arise.’
And a man with whom I always had peace
(One upon whom I had always relied
And that once ate bread at my table),
Against me, made plans of deceit.
But You, O Lord, showed mercy on me.
You lifted me up and repaid him.
By this, I knew that you [loved] me,
And my foes will never find joy over me.
You helped me because I’m not guilty,
And through the age, I stood strong before You.
So, Praise Jehovah, IsraEl’s God,
Through the age and the age of the ages…
May it ever be so!
As a stag searches for springs of water,
Is how my heart longs for You, O my God…
Since my soul thirsts for the Almighty God,
When may I come and stand before You?
My tears have become my bread day and night…
Each day, people ask me, ‘So, where is your God?’
I think of such things and thereafter,
[Before You], I pour out my soul.
I’ll go to Your wonderful Tent…
I’ll go to the House of my God.
I’ll go shouting aloud, singing praises of You,
As though it were a great holiday.
O man within me; why are you so sad…
Why do you bother me so?
We must put trust in our God…
Sing in praise of the ways that He saves!
O my God; I’m so bothered within,
And it’s about You that I am concerned.
In the land of the JorDan, I think about You,
Here on little Mount Herman.
Because of the roar of floods in the deep,
I cried out to You [in my fear];
For by Your waves and their crests, I’ve been covered.
Each day, I beg God for His mercy,
And each night, I pray that He’ll send it…
This God [that watches over] my life.
Then I say to God, ‘Since You are my shield,
Why do You still overlook me…
Why must I always look downcast,
And have to push past my opposers?
‘They berate me as they’re breaking my bones,
And afflict me each day, as they ask:
So now, where is your God?’
O man within; why are you dejected,
And why do you bother me so?
We must put our hope in Jehovah…
Give praise to our Savior and God!
Judge me, O God… try my case
Here in an unholy nation…
Save me from the unjust and deceitful!
Since You are my God and my fortress,
Why have you thrust me away…
Why must I be so downhearted,
And oppressed by my enemies?
From Your Tent and Your Holy Mountain,
Send Your light and truth as my guide.
Then I’ll go to the Altar of God…
To the God of my youth that once brought me joy.
Why have You rejected my soul
And allowed me to be so upset?
Yet, I still have faith in my God,
And I’ll still sing praises to Him…
So, rescue my soul, O my God!
O God;
With our ears, we have heard about it;
For our fathers told us the stories
Of the deeds that You did back in their day.
How, with Your hand, You replanted nations,
And of how You also destroyed them…
How You oppressed them and drove them away,
And how they couldn’t inherit this land with their swords;
For, all of their arms couldn’t save them…
Just by Your right hand and mighty arm,
And by the light of Your face, if You liked them.
So, You are my King and my God…
You’re the One that told us how Jacob was saved.
So [we’ll trust] that our enemies will also be gored,
And that in Your Name, those rising against us
Will come to know Your contempt.
Thus, I will not trust in my bow,
Nor in my broadsword to save me…
Just in the One that will save us,
And disgrace all those that detest us.
Yes, we’ll praise our God every day,
And through the ages, speak of Your Name.
But now, You’ve pushed us away in disgrace
And no longer take the lead of our army.
From our enemies, You’ve forced us to flee,
And given us as plunder to them.
Like sheep, You gave us as food,
And scattered us among all the nations…
You treated Your people as worthless,
And assigned us as having no value.
You’ve made us the scorn of our neighbors,
To be taunted and sneered at by those roundabout.
You’ve made us a parable to the gentiles…
As those at whom they can just shake their heads.
So, all day long, I am taunted,
And with shame, my face has been covered.
The sounds of berating and disrespect
Is what I hear from our enemies,
Who have carried us off.
Yet, though all these things have happened to us,
We’ve not forgotten our God,
Nor have we broken our Agreement with You.
We’ve not left our hearts in the rear,
Nor have we turned from Your righteous paths.
In this God-forsaken place, we’ve been humbled,
And we’re covered by the shadow of death.
If we’d forgotten the Name of our God,
And chosen the hands of foreign gods,
We should have expected such things.
For God knows all the secrets deep in our hearts.
Because of You, we’re slaughtered all day…
We’re thought of as sheep to be butchered.
So, wake up… why are You sleeping, O Lord?
Stand up… don’t push us away ‘til the end.
O why have You turned away,
And not noticed our misery and affliction?
For our souls have been humbled down to the dust,
And our bellies have been forced to the ground.
So arise, O Jehovah, and help us!
Ransom us for the sake of Your Name!
From my heart, I thrust out good words,
Then quickly, I wrote my work for the king;
For my tongue had become like a reed pen…
As one that is held in the hands of a scribe.
More beautiful than the children of men,
Is the favor that pours from your lips.
And for this, may our God be praised through the age.
So now, strap your sword to your thigh,
And in your fineness, stretch tight your bow!
Bless us and rule us in truth…
In your gentle ways and in justice,
Give us direction with your right hand!
Sharpen your arrows, O mighty one.
For the peoples beneath you must fall…
All the enemies in the heart of the king.
Your throne, O [god], is through ages of ages,
And your Kingdom is ruled by your scepter.
For, you have loved what is right,
And you have hated law breaking.
And for this, The God who is also your God
Has anointed you with His oil
And praised you above all your peers.
Your clothes smell of myrrh, balsam, and fruit,
Which is found in your palace of ivory.
In your honor, the daughters of kings find delight,
While your queen is at your right hand,
Wearing finest clothes embroidered with gold.
So listen, O daughters, and look…
Incline your ears and forget your own kin…
Those in the house of your father.
For the king has desired your beauty,
And he is your [sovereign] lord.
So, you daughters of Tyre, bow before him,
And you rich, bring gifts to curry his favor!
The king’s daughter is glorious within,
And she’s wrapped in clothes embroidered with gold.
Then, all the virgins that follow in her train
(Those closest to her) will be carried to you.
They’ll be carried there singing praises of joy,
And led to the Most Holy Place of the king.
Then, in place of your fathers, sons will be born,
And you’ll appoint them as rulers over the lands.
From one generation to another,
All will remember your name.
Yes, all the peoples will praise you,
Through the age and the age of the ages.
Our God is our refuge and powerful aid
Against the many problems we face.
Because of this, we won’t be afraid
When the whole earth is upset,
And the mountains fall into the seas.
For, by His force, the waters will roar,
And the mountains will all be disturbed.
A river brings joy to the city of God…
To the Holy High Tent of Jehovah.
Since God is in there, [the city] won’t fall;
For, morning-after-morning, God sends it His aid.
Kingdoms were tilted and nations had trembled,
For the Most High shouted and then shook the earth.
But, Jehovah of Armies is with us;
Yes, Jacob’s God is our shield!
Come and witness the works of our God…
The miracles that He brings to our land!
For He’s driven wars to the ends of the earth…
He has destroyed all their bows,
And He’s burned all their weapons and shields in a fire.
‘Relax and know that I am your God;
And among the nations, I’ll be raised high…
Throughout the whole earth, I’ll be praised.’
Yes, Jehovah of Armies is with us;
The God of Jacob is our shield!
Clap your hands, all you nations
And joyfully call to our God!
Fear Jehovah, for He’s the Most High;
Yes, He is the King of the earth!
He’s caused the peoples to yield,
And He’s put all the nations under our feet.
For, as His inheritance, He chose us;
And He loves the beauty of Jacob.
With a shout, our God has ascended…
From Jehovah, the sound of the trumpet was heard.
So, to our God, play your music…
Strum [your harps] to our King.
Since our God is the King of the earth,
Before Him, play your instruments well.
God rules over the gentiles,
And He reigns from His holy throne.
So, under AbraHam’s God,
The rulers of the peoples are gathered;
For He owns all the kings of the earth,
And by them, He’s greatly respected.
O how great is Jehovah…
May He be praised in the city…
Praise our God on His Holy Mountain!
Leap for joy, all you on the earth;
For, just to the north of Mount Zion
Is the city of the great king.
In her estates, God is well known,
And He’s the One that comes to her aid.
{Look!} The kings of the earth have assembled…
Yes, they have all come to this place,
And when they saw it, they were amazed…
It shook them and they were disturbed.
After that, they started to tremble
Like a woman with birth pangs.
With storms, You will wreck boats from TarShish,
And the things that we’ve heard are what we believe…
That the city of Jehovah the Almighty
(Yes, the city of God)
Was established by Him through the ages.
We’ve received Your mercies, O God,
And among Your people, we’re standing.
O God, may Your Name always be praised
To the ends of the earth;
For, from Your right hand comes true justice.
So Mount Zion, you should be joyful…
And shout in joy, you daughters of Judah
Over the judgments of God.
Encircle Zion and grab hold of her…
Describe each one of her towers.
Keep her army close to your Hearts,
And make her palaces strong,
So that future generations can see her.
[Jehovah’s] is our God through the ages
And into the age of the ages.
For, through the ages, He’s watched over us.
Listen to this, all you nations;
Give ear, all you that dwell in the land;
You earth-born ones and sons of men,
Both the rich and the poor.
For my mouth will now speak about wisdom,
And the thoughts that my heart has come to know.
So, incline your ears and listen to proverbs,
For I’ll explain my riddle in this song:
‘Why should I fear that wicked day
When the lawless are chasing my heels,
And when they have me surrounded…
Those that enforce their own power,
And brag of their wealth before all?
‘A man’s brother can’t serve as his ransom,
Since he can’t pay God for even himself!
And if he should try to ransom himself,
Through the age, he’ll grow weary by trying.
Thus, may he live ‘till the end,
So his body will not see corruption.
‘Whenever a wise man comes to his end;
Along with the foolish and mindless he leaves,
And his wealth is then passed on to strangers.
‘So thereafter, his home is his tomb…
It’s his tent through the next generations.
And though they may call the land by his name,
He’ll see no honor in that,
For, he becomes like the cattle;
And like them, he thinks nothing at all…
So, this is the snare in his path.
‘Though his mouth once found pleasure in the things that he said,
Like a sheep, he goes to the the place of the dead,
And he’s put in a place where he’s tended by death.
‘In the morning, he may have been ruled by the upright,
But their help grows old and ends in the grave
Where they and their glory are banished.
‘For, only God can ransom our lives
From the hands of the grave,
Whenever He chooses to take us.
‘So, fear not those that make themselves rich,
Or those whose houses receive all the glory.
For when we die, we take nothing away,
And all of our glory is gone.
‘Yet, while we’re alive, we think our lives blest,
When men have given us praise.
But, from one generation to another,
We all just go down to our fathers,
And through the ages, we never see light.
‘For an honored man does not realize
That he’s like his unthinking cattle,
And [his end] is also like theirs.’
Jehovah is the God of all gods;
For He speaks and calls the sun from the east,
Where it crosses the earth to where it descends.
It’s from Zion that His beauty is shining,
And when His coming is seen,
He’ll not be silent thereafter!
For, a fire will go before Him and burn,
And a gale will blow all around Him.
He’ll call to the earth from the heavens above,
And then, He’ll set separate people.
He’ll gather His holy ones to Him
(Those that [follow] His Sacred Agreement),
Then, across the skies, He’ll shout His decisions.
For, God is truly our judge.
He says, ‘Listen, My people, and I’ll tell you…
Yes listen, O IsraEl, and I’ll testify!
For, I am God… I’m your God!
‘I won’t discipline you over your sacrifices,
Since your whole burnt-offerings have always been there.
Yet, I never asked you for calves,
Or for your winter yearlings or flocks.
‘For the beasts in the fields are already Mine,
As are your cattle and oxen,
And all the birds in the skies…
The beauty of the fields came from Me!
‘If I were hungry, I would never tell you;
For, all in man’s habitation is Mine.
So, why should I eat meat of bulls,
Or drink the blood of male goats?
‘Why not offer Me praise as your sacrifice,
And just pay the vows that you’ve made?
Then, you could call out to Me,
And I would [be there to] save you…
And thereafter, you’d speak of My glory.’
So, to the sinners, God asks:
‘Why do you bother to take up My Laws
And speak of My Sacred Agreement,
When you really hate My instructions,
And disregard everything that I’ve said?
‘If you saw a thief, you’d run with him,
And you’d join with those committing adultery!
For your mouths are filled with what’s bad,
And your tongues are twisted in lies.
‘Against your own brothers, you sit and speak ill…
You set snares for the sons of your mother!
Then, if I don’t speak when you’re breaking My Laws,
You think that I am like you!
‘But, I will soon discipline you…
I’ll stand in your face [and speak of] your sins!
So notice, all you who’ve forgotten your God;
For the time will come when I’ll snatch you away,
And no one will be there to save you.
‘And though you may have offered Me glory
With your sacrifices and praises…
There’s no way that I will then spare you!’
Show mercy on me, O my God!
In Your abundant compassions,
Please erase the ways that I’ve broken Your Laws…
Wash away all my lawless deeds,
And cleanse me from all my sins.
For I know all the laws that I’ve broken,
And my errors are ever before me.
Against You alone, have I sinned,
And before You, I’ve done wicked things.
So, Your decisions are righteous,
And in Your judgments, You’ve proven just.
{Look!} But in lawlessness, I was conceived…
Yes, in the strange food of sin
That I’ve craved [since I came from] my mother.
However, You love what is true,
And now You’ve revealed the bad things I did
From the hidden, private things of Your wisdom.
So, may I be sprinkled with branches of hyssop,
That I may be clean once again…
Wash me with the snow from above,
So I can stand whitened before You.
Please let me know cheering and gladness again…
Let my humbled bones be joyful once more!
Turn Your face away from my sins
And erase all of my lawless deeds!
O God, please give me a heart that is clean,
And with a righteous spirit, renew me within.
Don’t reel and turn Your face in disgust,
Nor take away Your Holy Breath.
Return the joy of salvation to me…
Support me and [help me] rule [well].
Then I’ll teach Your ways to the lawless,
And I’ll turn the irreverent toward You.
O my Savior and God;
If You’ll save me from the guilt of this blood,
My tongue will shout in praise of Your justice.
O Jehovah; to You, I’ll open my lips,
And with my mouth, I will praise You!
If You wanted sacrifices, I’d give them,
But You don’t think well of burnt offerings.
What You want is a spirit that’s broken,
And You don’t overlook humbled hearts.
O Jehovah; In Your good will,
Do the best thing for Zion…
Let JeruSalem’s walls be rebuilt.
Think well of our righteous sacrifices,
And we’ll bring burnt offerings to Your Altar.
O you who think you’re so mighty;
Why do you boast of the evil you’ve done,
And of your lawless deeds, all day long?
For, unrighteousness thinks of your tongue
Like the treachery of a razor,
Since you have preferred evil to goodness,
And lies to telling the truth.
You have loved words that cause drowning,
As well as tongues of deceit.
For this, our God will destroy you…
He’ll pluck you out of your tent,
And uproot you from the land of the living.
Of the righteous, you will come to know fear;
For they’ll laugh at you and they’ll say:
‘Notice this one that won’t lean on God,
But rather, puts trust in his wealth,
And feels strong in his own foolish ways.’
But, in the House of my God,
I’ve been like a tree of ripe olives.
For, through the age, I’ve trusted His mercy…
Through the age, I’ve put faith in my God.
Therefore, through the ages, I’ll praise Him,
For He’s finally brought me good results.
And I will trust in His Name,
Because He provides for His holy ones.
‘There is no God,’ say the fools in their hearts;
So, they are corrupt and disgusting.
For, they are breaking [God’s] Laws,
And they don’t choose to do what is right!
God looks upon them from His place in the skies,
Since He watches what sons of men do
To see if they’re paying attention,
And if any are searching for Him.
But, they’ve all turned aside and are useless;
There are none that do good… no, not one!
Don’t they know (those acting without law…
Those eating [God’s] people like bread),
That they should [search for] Jehovah?
And for this, they fear when there’s nothing to fear.
For, God will scatter the bones
Of those that try to please men.
And since they live their lives in disgrace,
God treats them all with contempt.
Now, who will be appointed from Zion
To become IsraEl’s savior?
For, when God returns all the captives,
Jacob will cry out in joy,
And IsraEl will once more be happy!
O God;
Please save me for the sake of Your Name,
And use Your powers to bring us what’s fair.
O God, please listen to my prayer…
Hear the words that come from my mouth.
For, strangers have risen against me,
And the mighty that don’t know You are seeking my life!
But look! God came and He helped me…
Jehovah has shielded my soul!
To my enemies, He’s sent what is bad,
And He’s used the truth to destroy them.
So I’ll offer sacrifices to You,
And I will give praise to Your Name.
For, from great danger, You’ve saved me,
And my eyes have seen my prayers answered.
Give ear, O God, to my prayer…
Don’t overlook the things that I beg…
Please pay attention and listen!
I sat alone and was worried;
For, by my enemy’s voice,
I became very disturbed,
As well as by the oppression of sinners.
For in lawless ways, they’ve all turned against me,
And in anger, they’ve shown me their rage.
So my heart was pounding within me,
And fear of death overcame me…
I was afraid, shaking, and covered by darkness,
So I begged, ‘Please give me the wings of a dove,
That I may spread them and go find some rest!’
{Look!} I was driven far away into exile,
And I was forced to live in the desert,
Where I waited for someone to save me
From my own fears and the storms.
O Jehovah; please sink them…
Make them speak different tongues!
For I’ve seen how lawless they are,
And I hear of their wars in the cities.
Lawless ways and misery dwell in their midst…
Day and night, they encircle our walls,
Bringing injustice to our city squares,
By treacherously charging interest for loans.
Had I been slandered by my enemies,
I would have been happy to endure it.
And if someone that hates me had threatened,
I just would have hidden from him.
But it’s you, O man, someone like me…
A leader of mine and a Seer!
It was you that once sweetened my food,
And we lived in the same house together!
But may death now come to them all,
And alive, may they fall into their graves.
For, wickedness travels among them,
And in their midst, it is living.
Then I cried out to God, and He heard me.
So at morning, noon, and during the night,
I’ll beg Him for the things that I need,
And He’ll listen to all my requests.
Because I was peaceful, He’ll ransom my soul…
He’ll save me from those that were once on my side,
But who have now come to attack me.
Yes, our God, who exists through the ages,
Will listen and then make them humble…
He will not bargain with them,
Because they’ve not learned how to fear Him.
He’ll stretch out His hand and repay
All those who’ve profaned His Sacred Agreement.
With the rage of His face, He will cut them to shreds,
And then He will snatch out their hearts.
For though His words may sound as soft as olive oil,
He can also shoot them like arrows.
So upon Jehovah, throw your concerns,
Then He’ll nourish and watch over you.
For He won’t allow ages to pass,
As the righteous are being abused.
Yes You, O God, will soon lead them
(Those men of blood and deception)
Into the well of corruption.
There’s no way that they’ll live half of their days;
And Jehovah, I’m trusting in You.
Show mercy on me, O my God;
For a man has trampled on me all day long,
And he has oppressed me in war.
All day long, my enemies are winning…
From higher ground, they have fought me.
But today, I won’t be afraid,
For in You, I am putting my trust.
I’ll praise You with words throughout the whole day;
For in my God, I’m putting my hope,
So I’ll not be afraid of what flesh can do.
Every day, they’ve hated my words,
And they think of ways they can hurt me.
They run and hide, then watch for my heel,
As they patiently wait for my soul.
Yet, You won’t bring them salvation,
But in rage, You’ll thereafter destroy them.
O God, to You, I have given My life,
And as You promised, You’ve noticed my tears.
So, when I must call out to You,
Please drive my enemies away.
{Look!} I’ve always known that you are my God,
So I’ve [paid attention to] Your council,
And I’ve spoken in praise of Your words.
So because I’ve put faith in my God,
I’ll not be afraid of what men can do.
Within me, O God, are the vows
That I made as I was speaking Your praises…
For from death, You ransomed my soul.
There are also tears in my eyes,
For You didn’t allow them to trip me.
Thus, here in the light of the living,
I can keep pleasing Jehovah.
O God, show mercy upon me…
Yes, please be merciful to me!
For to You, I have given my life,
And in the shadow of Your wings, I’ve put faith.
Until these lawless things pass me by,
I’ll call out to God, the Most High…
The One by whom I am blest.
From the heavens, He’s sent me protection,
And heaped scorn on those that were walking on me.
God sent me His mercy and truth,
And from those young lions, He saved me.
For, whenever I went to bed,
I was bothered when I thought about sons of men
Whose teeth are just like their weapons,
And whose arrows are like sharpened swords.
May You be exalted, my God,
Above the highest of the heavens…
Above all the lands, may Your glory be raised!
Now, they have set snares for my feet,
And my soul, they have dragged to the ground.
And though they dug a cesspool in front of my face,
They were the ones that fell in it.
So, my heart is now ready, O God,
To sing and strum to Your glorious Name.
Therefore, awaken my glory and ready my harp
When I arise in the morning.
Then among the peoples, I’ll praise You, O Lord,
And among all the nations, I’ll strum to [Your Name].
For, above the heavens, Your mercy is raised,
And Your Truth is higher than the clouds.
So, above the skies, may You ever be raised…
O God, may Your glory [shine] over the earth.
Won’t You speak out for righteous ways,
And won’t You, in justice, judge sons of men?
For their hearts have brought lawless ways to our land,
And their hands are wrapped in injustice!
Sinners come out of the womb
And wander from the belly speaking lies.
Their rage is like that of serpents,
And as asps that can’t speak, for their ears have been closed,
So they can’t hear the sounds of [snake] charmers,
[And they strike] with the potions of witches.
But now, God has broken the teeth in their mouths…
Their molars of lions, He has shattered.
He views them as though they’re just water,
And He’ll stretch tight His bow ‘til they’re conquered…
Like melted beeswax, they will be removed;
For, He will strike them with fire,
And thereafter, they’ll not see the sun anymore.
As white-thorned shrubs, He views their thorn-bushes;
And He’ll swallow them down still alive.
We’ll all rejoice when we see they’ve been punished,
And wash our hands in the blood of those sinners.
Thereafter, each man will be forced to declare
That this is the fruitage of justice,
And there’s a God that brings what’s fair to the land.
From my enemies, please save me, O God…
Ransom me from those attacking.
Deliver me from those that are breaking the Law…
From those men of blood, please save me!
{Look!} For, they have been hunting soul…
Yes, they’ve sent their mighty against me.
But Jehovah; I’ve not broken Your laws,
Nor are [they coming] because of my sins!
Although I’ve done nothing illegal,
From them, I’ve been forced to flee…
So awaken to meet me and notice!
O God, Jehovah of armies…
O God of IsraEl, take notice…
Come and visit those nations!
Don’t pity those that are lawless…
May they come back starved in the evening,
And like dogs, may they roam through the [streets]!
They shout with their swords held up to their lips,
As they ask, ‘Who is paying attention?’
But You, O Lord, should be laughing out loud,
And treating them all with contempt.
For, You are my strength, O my God…
You are my shield [and protector].
So Your mercy travels before me,
And to my enemies, You send whatever I ask.
But don’t kill them, so Your Laws are not overlooked;
Rather, scatter them with Your power.
O my defender, Jehovah;
Have them be led far away!
For the sins of their mouths and the words on their lips,
Let them be taken as captives…
May they be cursed for their pride and their lies.
In Your rage, come down and consume them,
So that they will no longer exist.
Then, all to the ends of the earth
Will know Jacob’s Lord is the [only true] God.
When they arrive in the evening;
May they be starved upon their return,
And like dogs, may they roam through the [streets].
May they be scattered to search for their food,
And let them grumble as they’re starving.
Then I’ll sing of all Your great powers,
And I’ll praise Your mercies each morning;
For, You are my refuge and shield
In my day of distress.
Because You’re my helper, I’m strumming to You…
I’m playing to You, for You are my God.
O God; You are truly my shield,
And You have shown mercy upon me.
O God;
You’ve knocked us down and pushed us away,
But, along with Your rage, You felt pity.
For, though You shook our land and disturbed it;
You’ve healed the cracks that resulted.
You’ve taught Your people hard lessons,
And we’ve melted in the wine of Your rage.
But, to those that feared You, You then sent a sign,
To flee from the face of the bow.
So, since You have saved all those whom You love,
Please listen, and with Your hands, save me!
Then, from His Holy Place, our God spoke.
He said, ‘I’ll shout and I’ll divide SheChem…
The Valley of Tents, I will split.
‘GileAd is Mine and ManasSeh is Mine;
Ephraim is the fort of My head,
And Judah is the place of My king.’
Then, over Edom He said:
‘MoAb is the kettle of My hope;
So, I will stretch out My sandal,
And make the Philistines submit.
So, who will take Me up to their forts,
And who can guide Me to Edom?’
O Lord;
Why did You thrust us away?
O God;
Won’t You be with our army?
Help us in our day of oppression,
For, there is no salvation from men.
Only by God do we have any strength…
Only He can show His contempt
For those that have been our oppressors.
Listen, O God, to the things that I beg…
Please pay attention to my prayer!
From the ends of the earth, I called out to You
When my heart was discouraged at the Rock;
Then You lifted me high and showed me the way.
When my enemies were there in front of my face,
You were my only reason for hope…
You were my tower and strength.
So, I’ll go to Your Tent through the ages;
In the protection of Your wings, I’ll seek shelter.
For You, O God, have heard what I vowed,
And an inheritance is what You will give
To those that are fearing Your Name.
Day after day, add life to the king
From one generation to another.
Through the ages, may he live there before You
And search for Your mercies and truth.
Then, through the ages, I’ll sing to Your Name,
And I’ll render my vows every day.
Shouldn’t my life be devoted to God?
In His salvation, shouldn’t I trust?
For, He is my God and my Savior…
He is my shield, so I’ll not be afraid
When I must fight larger armies.
So, how long will You pile so much upon men?
For like walls that lean, we’ve become…
Like fences that have many gaps…
And then, to each one, You send death.
Because they’ve conspired to remove all my honor;
From them, I have run away.
For though, with their mouths, they have blest me;
Within their hearts, they have cursed me.
But I’ve given my life to my God
And I’ve trusted in Him to survive.
He is my God and my Savior…
He’s my shield, so I’ll never leave Him.
Yes, He’s my salvation and glory…
God is my hope, so I’m trusting in Him.
In Him, the congregation should also put faith…
Since He is their helper, they should pour out their hearts.
In the sons of men, they shouldn’t put trust,
Since they are the same as false weights
That are used to cheat them on scales…
To mislead them and do them wrong.
Nor should they trust in unrighteous ways,
Or long for things they can steal.
And should they find great treasures before them,
They shouldn’t let it enter their hearts.
For the Lord spoke to me and said this:
‘God sends His mercy along with His might,
And He pays each one back for the things that he does.’
God, O my God, I rise early,
Because my soul is thirsting for You.
Yes, my flesh has been longing for You
In this land that is barren, unwalked, and dry.
So, to Your Holy Place, I’ve now come
To behold Your power and glory.
And since Your mercies are better than life,
My lips will [sing praises about them].
With my whole life, I will praise You,
And to Your Name, I will raise my hands.
So may my life be filled with the fatness of fat,
And with joyful lips, may my mouth offer praise.
I’m thinking of You as I lie in my bed…
I’m meditating at the breaking of dawn.
And because You’re my helper, I’m shouting in joy,
As I lie in Your wings of protection.
To You, my soul will stick closely,
And I’ll grab hold tightly to Your right hand;
For, there are those that are seeking my life.
May they be sent to the depths of the ground…
May they be handed up to the sword…
The reward of foxes, may they receive.
May the king find joy in [his] God,
And may he swear oaths here before Him;
For, He has stopped up the mouths
Of those who’ve spoken against him.
O God, please listen to my voice;
For, I am begging before You.
Of my enemies, I am afraid…
So, please come and rescue my soul!
From the conspiracies of the wicked, give me shelter…
And from the crowds of the unrighteous.
For they’ve sharpened their tongues just like broadswords,
And in bitterness, stretched tight their bows.
They aim from hiding at the unblemished,
Then shoot at me without fear.
They’ve decided to do evil things,
And they’ve talked about how they’ll hide all their snares…
Asking each other, ‘Who will see them?’
For lawless ways, they have searched,
But, all their searching has failed;
For, not a single man would step forward,
Who had any depth of heart.
So, may Jehovah be praised;
For, even to their infants, calamity arrived.
Though they spoke in contempt with their tongues,
And all who viewed them were frightened;
Of the works of my God, they all were in awe,
When they realized He was with me.
So, may the upright find joy in Jehovah,
And in Him, may they put all their trust;
For He blesses those with straight hearts.
From Zion, I am sending this hymn, O my God;
From JeruSalem, I am sending this vow.
Please hear this prayer [that I offer];
For, before You, all flesh must approach.
Though we were overwhelmed by our errors,
Our irreverent ways, You have covered.
Blest are those whom You’ve chosen and claimed;
For, in Your courtyards, they’ll camp,
And there, You’ll fill them with the good things
That come from Your House and Your Holy Tent.
Of Your righteousness, we all are in awe;
So, hear us, our God and our Savior!
You’re the hope of all to the ends of the earth,
And of those far away on the seas.
You’re the One that made mighty mountains,
And the One that brings disturbance to the seas
(The roar of which no one can stand).
But, that’s how the nations will soon be disturbed…
It’s how those at our borders will come to know fear.
Your signs bless the comings of mornings and evenings,
And You’ve made the land drunk with Your visits.
With the river of God, You’ve enriched it…
You’ve nourished [our land] with the water You sent.
Yes, You’ve sent [much water to the land]
To saturate the rows and make them produce.
You’ve sent raindrops to make it all grow,
And we’re happy to watch as it springs from the ground.
You graciously bless the crown of the year,
When You fill our fields up with fatness.
Then the beautiful mountains will also be fat,
Along with all of the deserts.
And wrapped [in green], the hills will become,
As the rams and sheep grow much wool.
For, in the valleys, You’ve made the grain grow,
So of You, we’ll shout and sing praises.
Shout to Jehovah, all you on the earth,
And then play music to His Name!
Shout in praise of His Glory!
Tell Him, ‘We fear the things that You do;
So may Your enemies submit to Your power.
May the whole earth bow down before You,
And may they strum to You in the heights.’
Come witness the works of our God,
For they’re more to be feared than men realize…
He changed the sea to dry ground,
And He did the same to the river!
For they walked across both on their feet.
So in Him, we all should find joy,
For, He’s the master of His domain.
And through the age, He’s been watching the nations;
So, may those that enrage Him not think themselves great.
O nations; give praise to our God…
May we hear the sounds of your voices!
For, He’s the One that gave life to my soul,
And let nothing stumble my feet.
Yes, You have tried us, O God,
For, You have refined us like silver.
First, You led us into a snare,
And upon our backs, laid oppression.
Then, You assigned men to be over our heads…
But through fire and water, You led us to rest.
So, with my offerings, I’ll go to Your House
And render to You all my vows…
Those things that my lips have opened to say…
The words my mouth spoke in my distress.
I will bring burnt offerings before You,
As well as incense and marrow…
My rams, winter yearlings, and bulls.
Come listen to me and I’ll tell you
About my fear of my God,
And of the things He has done for my soul.
To Him, my mouth has cried out,
And with my tongue, I then shouted this:
‘If in my heart, You have found injustice;
O Jehovah, please overlook me.’
However, He listened to all that I said…
He heard the sounds of my prayers!
So, may our God forever be praised,
Since He didn’t overlook what I said,
Nor did He remove His mercy from me.
O God, feel pity and bless us…
Show mercy and shine Your face on us!
Throughout the whole earth, may Your ways be made known,
And may all the nations see how You save…
May everyone come to know You, O God…
May they all be aware of Your [powers].
You gentiles; be glad and cry out [in joy],
For He judges the peoples in straightness,
And He’ll lead every nation on the earth.
So, may all come to know You, O God…
May they all be aware of Your [greatness].
The earth has provided us all with her fruit…
And it was from God (our God)
That such a blessing arrived.
So, may our God continue to bless us,
And may He be feared to the ends of the earth.
May God chase away those that hate Him,
And may those that detest Him, flee far from His face.
Like smoke, may they just blow away,
And melt like beeswax in fire.
Yes, that’s how the sinners will all be destroyed
Before the face of our God.
But the righteous have reasons for joy;
So, may they happily shout in His presence…
May they all be joyful and may they be blest!
So, sing to God… yes, strum to His Name!
Open the way to the One riding west…
The One whose Name is Jehovah!
May they all shout before Him in joy,
And before His face, may they all be concerned.
For, He is a Father to orphans,
And the One that gives justice to widows…
He’s the God that dwells within our Most Holy.
He settles common people in homes,
And releases all those bound in shackles.
He [provides] for even the bitter,
And for those that dwell among tombs.
O God; as You passed by Your people,
And as You were crossing the desert,
The land was shaken and the skies dripped with dew,
Before the face of our God upon SinAi…
Before the face of IsraEl’s God.
O God;
You sent rain to Your people,
And then, You set us apart.
You also gave life to the beasts [in the fields],
And Your kindness provides for the poor.
So, the Great God Jehovah will speak
And announce the good news to our army,
That the king and his armies of loved ones
Will divide up the spoils in his palace.
Then, if you must sleep among sheep folds;
You will also sleep amidst doves…
The types that have silver wings,
With the colors of green and gold on their backs.
The Heavenly One scatters kings
Like snow when it falls on Mount SelMon
(The mountain of God and the Hill of BaShan…
The 4th great mountain of provision).
So mountains; why does God dwell upon you?
For Jehovah camps at the extremes,
And His chariots number into the millions.
Yet, from His Holy Place on Mount SinAi,
The Lord still sends His provisions.
To the highest places, he has stepped up,
And he’s taken captivity as his captive;
Then, he gives gifts to the people,
As he camps among those that resist Him!
So, praise Jehovah our God…
Yes, praise Jehovah each day!
For, He is the One that has blest us…
Our God is the One that has saved us!
Yes, our God is the God of salvation…
For, from the brink of death, He has saved [us]!
So our God will shatter our enemies’ heads…
The tops of hairy heads of those walking in sin.
For Jehovah spoke and said this:
‘I’ll bring them back from the depths of the seas…
From BaShan, I will return them.
Then I’ll dip their feet in their enemy’s blood,
And it will stain the tongues of their dogs.’
O God;
Your travels are seen from Your Holy Place…
The comings and goings of my God the King.
Rulers have traveled before You,
As women played harps and [shook] tambourines.
May God be praised in the gathering
All the way to IsraEl’s springs.
It’s the place where (to our surprise),
Young BenJamin was appointed the ruler
Of the governors and princes of Judah,
And the leaders of ZebuLun and NaphTali.
Give orders, O God, and send us Your power…
Give us the strength to accomplish
All the things that You want us to do!
Then the kings [of the earth] will bring gifts
To Your Holy Place in JeruSalem.
Scold those wild beasts that live in the reeds,
And the bulls that are mixed among heifers.
Lock away those putting trust in their silver,
And scatter the nations… all those that want war.
Yes, send ambassadors from Egypt,
With Ethiopians in front and their hands stretched toward God.
O you kingdoms throughout the whole earth;
Sing before God and play music!
Yes, strum to Jehovah who lives in the skies…
In the heavens above, toward the east.
{Look} Let them shout in a powerful voice
And give glory to IsraEl’s God,
Whose majesty and power [is seen] in the clouds.
God’s wonders are in His Most Holy Place.
And from there, IsraEl’s God sends the power
That He uses to strengthen His people.
So, all should give praise to [Jehovah]!
Save me, please, O my God,
For my soul [is drowning] in water.
It’s deep and slimy, and I have no support…
I’ve gone into the depths of the sea,
And by the winds of a gale, I’ve been sunk.
From shouting, I have become tired,
And my throat is now very sore.
But, though my eyes have started to fail,
I still have faith in my God.
My enemies number more than the hairs on my head…
Yes, there are many that hate me.
And my foes are now very strong
(Those who’ve unjustly driven me out).
And for things that I didn’t steal,
They tell me that I must repay.
O God; You know of my sins,
And You know of my foolish ways…
For from You, they’ve never been hidden.
But, may all those that put trust in You
Never feel ashamed over me.
Yes, O Jehovah of armies;
May those that are seeking IsraEl’s God
Never feel ashamed about me.
But, because of You, I am scorned,
And my face has been covered with shame.
I’ve been driven away from my brothers…
I’m a stranger to the sons of my mother.
Though zeal for Your House has consumed me,
The scorn of blasphemers has fallen on me.
So my life is now wrapped up in fasting,
And this gives them more reasons to laugh.
For, when I was covered in sackcloth,
I became a parable among them.
Thoseo sitting at the gates now think about me,
And about me, even drunks are singing songs.
But to You, O Jehovah, I’ve cried out in prayer:
‘O God, I’ll wait ‘til the time that You’ve set,
When in Your mercy, You’ll heed me once more,
And show them the truth of how You can save.’
O save me, for I’m stuck in this mud…
Pull me out of the waters of those that detest me!
May the gale not sink me in water,
Nor swallow me down in the mouth of its well.
Please listen to me, O Jehovah,
For Your mercies are all very tender.
Yes, in Your compassion, please look upon me!
Don’t turn Your face from Your servant…
In my time of affliction, please notice!
Pay attention and ransom my soul…
From my enemies, please come here and save me!
You know of my shame and remorse,
And before You, my enemies scorn me.
Though I thought they would grieve over my misery;
They didn’t, and they brought me no comfort.
As food, they offered me bile,
And gave me vinegar instead, to quench my thirst.
May [what they offered] become their own snare…
May [it keep them] from their reward.
May their eyes become dark, so they cannot see,
And may their backs be bent over double.
Please pour out Your anger upon them…
May they be caught in Your rage.
May the houses they own become empty,
And may no one ever live in their tents.
For they’ve chased this one whom You struck,
And added to the pain of my wounds.
For their lawless ways, may they see lawless ways…
May they not enter Your justice.
In the Scroll of Life, may their names not be written…
Among the righteous, may their names be erased.
I stand in Your presence, poor and in pain;
So God, please take care of me!
Then I’ll praise Your Name [every day]…
With songs, I will sing of Your glory.
So, God above, I will please You…
[I will offer] hoofed calves that are just sprouting horns.
Then, may all the poor people see it,
And may they all start rejoicing!
Inquire of God who gives life to our souls;
For Jehovah pays attention to the needy,
And He listens to those bound in shackles…
He never looks at them in contempt.
So, praise Him You heavens, you earth, and you sea,
And all the things that may crawl there;
For, Zion will be saved by our God,
And the cities of Judah will then be rebuilt,
Which the people will inherit thereafter…
Yes, that is where they will dwell.
The seed of Your servants will own it,
And those loving Your Name will all camp there.
O God, please hear me and help me…
O Jehovah, please rush to my aid!
May those seeking my life feel shame and remorse…
May those wishing me harm retreat in disgrace.
May those saying of me, ‘Well done, well done,’
Turn back and then be ashamed.
But, may those who seek You be glad and rejoice…
May those that love Your salvation
Give praise to You, O Jehovah.
Help me, O God, for I’m poor and in need…
Become my helper and Savior…
I [need You now], so do not delay!
In You, O Jehovah, I’ve put all my hope;
So, may I not be disgraced through the age.
In Your justice, please take me and save me…
Incline Your ear and deliver!
Become to me, a God of defense,
And carry me to a fortified place.
For, You are my trust and my refuge!
Then, from the hands of sinners, God saved me…
From the lawless and those that were doing me wrong.
O Jehovah; You’re the One that helped me endure…
The One whom I’ve trusted since youth.
From the womb, I have always put faith in You,
And from the belly of my mother, You watched over me.
So to You, I will always sing praises.
You’ve been a miracle to many,
And You’ve been my fortress and helper.
So, may my mouth sing in praise
Of Your glory and majesty, each day.
When I grow old, please don’t toss me away;
Don’t abandon me when my vigor is gone.
My enemies met, and against me, they spoke…
Together, those seeking my life laid their plans.
They said, ‘God’s left him, so let’s chase him down,
Since there’s no one that will come to his aid.’
So my God, don’t stay far away…
My God, pay attention and send me Your aid!
May those slandering my soul become failures…
May those wishing me bad feel shame and remorse.
In You, I will always trust,
And I will continue to praise You.
My mouth will speak of Your justice all day,
And of Your salvation, I’ll write.
I will walk in the might of Jehovah…
My Lord, I will speak of Your justice.
O God; from my youth, You have taught me,
And now, I will speak of Your wonders.
My God; don’t leave me when I’m old and grey,
Or until I’ve spoken to the next generation
Of [the power of] Your mighty arm.
O God; I will speak of Your justice and might,
And of the magnificent things that You’ve done…
For my God, to no other, can You be compared.
You once showed me hard times and affliction,
Then You turned around and gave back my life.
You brought me back from the pit…
You led me up out of the ground.
In the abundance of Your greatness, You blest me…
You returned to offer me comfort.
You led me up from the abyss,
And lifted me out of the ground.
So Jehovah, I’ll praise You to all,
And I will sing songs about Your just ways…
About IsraEl’s Most Holy, our God.
To You, I will also strum on my harp,
And as I am playing before You,
I will be shouting aloud,
Because You have ransomed my soul!
With my tongue, I’ll speak of Your justice,
And make those wrongdoers feel shame and remorse.
O God, show the king Your decisions
And teach the king’s son to be just,
So we can judge Your people uprightly,
And always be fair with the poor.
May the mountains send peace to Your people,
And may the hills send them justice that’s true.
Help [my son] to be fair with the poor…
May he save the sons of the needy
And humble all those who’d extort them.
As long as the sun, may he live…
For generations of generations, like the moon.
May he be like dew upon fleece,
And as the rain that falls to the ground.
May his days stand for justice and peace
Until the moon is no more.
From sea to sea, may he rule…
From the river to the ends of man’s home.
Before him, may all Ethiopians fall…
May his enemies all lick the dust…
May the Kings of Tharsis and the islands
Come to him bearing all of their best…
May the kings of Saba and Arabia bring gifts.
May all the earth’s kings bow before him…
May all the nations start serving him.
For he’ll save the poor from the mighty,
As wells as the needy, who have no one else.
May he spare the poor and the needy;
May he save the lives of those that have little.
From interest and injustice, may he ransom their souls,
And may his name be valued among them.
May he live a very long life,
And may he receive Arabian gold.
May he be someone that they pray for,
And may they praise his name every day.
Let grain be abundant throughout his land…
On the tops of the hills, may it sway.
May the grain grow like Lebanon’s trees…
May it thrive like grass in the fields.
May his name be praised through the ages…
May his name endure [as long as] the sun.
May the tribes of the earth praise his name,
And may all nations call him the Blest One.
Praise Jehovah, IsraEl’s God,
For, He’s the One that brings wonders!
Through the ages, praise His Name and His glory,
And on through the age of the ages…
May the earth be filled with His glory… amen!
This was the last of the hymns of David, the son of JesSe.
O how good is IsraEl’s God
To those that have hearts that are straight!
But my feet had once been unsteady,
So I slipped and fell in my tracks,
Because I was jealous for unrighteous things,
As I noticed the peace of the wicked.
I noticed that they have no fear of death,
And I’ve not seen them whipped [for their badness].
They don’t work as hard as other men do,
And they never seem to be beaten.
So because of this, they are proud to the end…
In injustice and irreverence, they’re wrapped!
Injustice pours from their fatness,
As they follow the ways of their hearts.
They think, and then speak wicked things…
In their pride, they speak of injustice.
Buy, since they have set heaven against their own mouths,
Their tongues will go under the ground,
While [from there], Your people will all be returned
And then, full days, they will know.
Yet they ask, ‘Doesn’t God ever notice?
Aren’t all these things known up above?
For {look!} the sinners continue to prosper,
And through the ages, hold onto their wealth!’
This is why my heart justified foolish things,
And from innocence, I then washed my hands.
So, I deserved to be whipped all day long,
And to be scolded each morning.
I said, ‘This is how I’ll describe what I’ve done:
{Look!} With Your sons, I’ve broken the contract,
But now, I’ve stopped and thought it all through,
And what I’ve done weighs heavily on me…
So I’ll take it before God to see what I’m due.’
Upon the deceitful, He’s appointed what’s bad,
And from their high perches, He will throw them down…
Yes, how far they’ll fall to meet with this end…
Because they are lawless, they’ll be suddenly gone.
O Jehovah; when I came to my senses,
I awoke and examined Your city,
Then I noticed how You treat the bad with contempt.
Then my heart came on fire and my kidneys were changed;
For, I was the one deserving Your contempt…
An unthinking brute, I’d become.
But You never left me, despite all I’d done…
You held me by my right hand.
You gave me correction and led me,
Then into Your glory, returned me.
Now, what do I have in the heavens…
Well, other than You, what else do I need?
O God; though my heart and flesh have both failed,
Through the age, You’ve been my portion and strength.
Look! All will perish, who stay far from You…
The unfaithful, You will destroy.
But, please keep me close to You, O my God,
For I need to trust in my Lord.
At Your gates, may I always sing praises of You
Before the daughters of Zion.
O God; You have pushed us away to the end…
But, what made You angry with the sheep in Your pasture?
Remember the ones that You purchased first…
Your inheritance and those whom You’ve ransomed
When You first arrived to camp on Mount Zion.
Please come and look at these ruins…
See what they’ve done to Your Most Holy Place.
For, those that hate You now feel they can boast,
And on Your Holy Days, claim success as their sign.
But the thing that they really don’t notice
Is that all this came from above.
So, they went to the woods and cut down the trees,
Then with axes and chisels, broke down our gates,
And they burned Your [Tent] to the ground.
They’ve profaned the Tent that carries Your Name,
And they said in their hearts to their brothers:
‘Let’s drive His Holy Days from the land!’
Now from You, we haven’t seen signs,
Nor have we had a Prophet among us,
For we’re no longer known by our God.
O God;
How much longer will [You let them] berate us?
Will they oppose Your Name through the ages?
Why have You taken Your right hand away,
And drawn it back on Your chest?
For our God and King lives through the ages,
And to our land, He’ll bring back salvation.
He’s the One whose might holds back the seas,
And who smashed the head of the dragon…
The one that rules over the waters.
Yes, You fractured the head of the beast
And fed him to the black peoples.
You tore open his rivers and springs,
And dried all the creeks that held water.
The days are Yours, and so are the nights;
For it’s You that created the sun and the moon.
You’re the One that set the earth’s borders,
And the One that made summer and spring…
So, please don’t overlook the things that You’ve made!
Our enemies speak badly of [You],
And the foolish are provoking Your Name.
So, don’t leave the praise of Your Name to wild beasts,
And [forever] forget those that need You.
Yes, we’ve overlooked Your Sacred Agreement,
And for this, our land has grown dark…
It’s covered with the homes of lawbreakers!
But, please don’t turn from the humble
And let them be brought to disgrace,
For these poor and needy still praise Your Name.
So stand up, O God, and judge Your great cause…
Then notice those fools that are laughing at You!
Don’t overlook the voices of Your servants,
Or the pride of all those that hate You
And oppose You throughout the whole day.
I will praise You, O God…
Of You, I will speak, and I’ll call on Your Name.
I will describe all Your wonders,
For, at the right time, You’ll send justice.
Now the land has just melted away,
As have [the righteous] that live there…
In that place where You once set its columns.
But I’ve spoken to the unrighteous
And warned them to stop breaking laws.
Then, to the sinners, I said:
‘Stop raising your trumpets [for battle]…
Don’t lift your horns to the heights,
Or say unrighteous things about God.
‘For, you can’t escape to the valleys,
Or into the mountains or deserts.
Since God is our judge, He humbles one,
While He’s elevating another.’
A cup is now in the hand of the Lord,
Which He has filled with pure wine.
And though He leans it this way and that,
His wine and its dregs never spill…
And from it, the sinners must drink.
Through the age, I’ll shout in praise of Jehovah,
And to Jacob’s God, I will strum.
For the trumpets of the sinners, He’ll shatter,
While the horns of the righteous, He’ll raise.
In Judah, our God is well known,
And in IsraEl, His Name’s become great.
Since His home is on Zion, this place now knows peace,
And He’s broken all the bows, shields, and swords,
So, there can be no more war.
From this mountain of the ages,
You have sent us Your light,
While You disturbed those with ignorant hearts.
For, all the rich fell asleep,
And then, in their hands, they found nothing.
The men riding horses slept also,
And the God of Jacob was laughing at them.
For, they should fear You, since none can oppose You,
And none can [survive] when You’re angry.
From the heavens, Your decisions were heard,
As the earth stood still in its fear.
But then, You stood up for justice, O God,
And You saved the meek of the land.
So, the minds of men are [singing] Your praises,
And the rest of their thoughts, celebrate You.
What you vow, you should pay to Jehovah…
And you that are living nearby
Should also bring gifts before Him!
Yes, always be in fear of Jehovah,
Because He can break the spirit of rulers…
And of Him, even kings are in terror!
With my voice, I called out to Jehovah…
I shouted to God [in hope] that He’d hear.
In the day of attack, I begged to my God,
And my hands were [folded] before Him all night.
I could not [find any comfort],
And my soul refused to find rest;
For I thought of my God and was bothered…
As I thought, my spirit grew faint.
Then, each time that I closed my eyes,
All I saw was my enemies…
Which disturbed me so much that I couldn’t speak.
So I reasoned about days of old,
And I thought of the years of the ages.
In my heart, I pondered it greatly…
And I remembered the songs that I sung in the night,
Then suddenly, my breath became still.
Has God pushed me away through the age…
Will the Lord care about me no more?
Through the age, will His mercy be gone…
Through generations, will He not reply?
Will God forget to show pity…
In His rage, will He forget His tender compassions?
Then I said, ‘I’ll now make a change…
And perhaps His right hand will change.
I’ll recall the works of Jehovah,
And think about all of His wonders.
Of the things He has done, I’ll now meditate,
And I’ll contemplate all of His works.’
O God; Your ways are all holy,
And what God is as great as our God?
You’re the One that does wonderful things,
And among all mankind, Your powers are known.
For, with Your arm, You ransomed Your people…
The sons of Jacob and JoSeph.
O God; the waters beheld You…
They looked at You and their depths were in fear.
So, rain and thunder came from the clouds,
And Your arrows shot both near and far.
From the thundering of Your wheels, there came lightning,
Which trembled and shook the home of mankind.
Your ways can be found in the seas,
And Your roads are [covered by] rivers,
So Your footsteps can never be seen.
But, You guided Your people like sheep
Through the hands of Aaron and Moses.
My people; Pay attention to my laws…
Incline your ears to the words from my mouth!
For, I will now speak illustrations,
And I’ll talk in riddles from the start.
We’ve heard about it so many times,
For our fathers told us the stories…
From their children, they never did hide it…
They told of how each generation
[Spoke] in praise of [God] and His rule,
And of the wondrous things that He’s done.
He provided a witness in Jacob,
And to IsraEl, He sent us a Law,
Which He ordered the fathers to teach to their sons,
So each generation would know,
And the sons being born would pass it along…
That they all must trust in Jehovah,
And never forget the things He has done,
Or fail to inquire about His Commandments,
So they won’t become crooks like their fathers,
Who were a crooked and a bitter generation
That never straightened their hearts
And had a spirit that God couldn’t trust.
Ephraim’s sons stretched tight their bows,
Which they shot and which saved them in the days of their wars.
But they failed to keep their Agreement with God,
And His Laws, they chose not to follow.
They forgot all the good things He’d done,
And all the wonders that He’d shown them…
The wonders that He showed to their fathers in Egypt
(In plains of Tanis, where it happened),
When He ripped open the sea,
And through its midst, led them through…
As He held back the waters as though in a bag.
Then He led them with a cloud during the day,
And by the light of a fire throughout the night.
He split open the rock in the desert,
And from a pit, gave them something to drink…
He brought water out of a stone,
And a river, thereafter flowed from it!
But then they turned and they sinned against Him…
They embittered the Most High in that dry place…
They put God to the test in their hearts
By demanding the type of food their souls craved.
And of God, they spoke ill when they asked,
‘Can’t God set a table in the desert?’
Since He struck the rock and from it flowed water
(And a stream poured across the whole land);
How could they ask if He’d provide bread,
Or set a table for His people?
So when Jehovah heard all of this,
It raised His anger against them.
Then He lit a fire within Jacob,
And He brought His rage upon IsraEl.
For they’d failed to put faith in their God
And in His power to save them.
Then He ordered the clouds up above,
And the gates of the heavens were opened.
Manna rained down for them to consume…
The bread of heaven, He gave them.
So the bread of angels was eaten by men,
And He sent enough to make them all full.
Thereafter, He sent the winds from the skies…
By His power, He brought the winds from the south,
And meat rained upon them like dust…
Feathered creatures, as the sands of the seas.
They fell in the midst of their camp,
As well as around all their tents.
So they ate and became very full,
Since He’d brought them all they desired.
No, they weren’t deprived of the things that they’d asked;
But, while the food was still in their mouths,
The rage of Jehovah came upon them,
And there amidst plenty, He killed them…
IsraEl, His chosen, He then pushed away.
For by saying these things, they had sinned,
Since they’d failed to believe in His wonders.
So in folly, they ended their days,
And their years concluded too soon.
Then, after those deaths, they turned back to Him…
They again arose early to search for their God.
They remembered that God was their helper…
The Most High God had redeemed them.
But, though with their mouths, they spoke of their love;
With their tongues, they also told lies.
With Him, their hearts had never been straight,
Nor did they trust His Agreement with them.
Yet, He felt pity and covered their sins…
He didn’t destroy them or show them His rage…
Or allow His anger to blaze.
He remembered that they were just flesh…
Like winds that blow by to never return.
Then they made Him bitter in the desert,
And provoked Him to rage in a waterless land.
They turned around and put God to the test…
The Holy One of IsraEl, they angered.
They forgot the hand that He used on that day
To buy them from their oppressors…
All the signs that He’d sent upon Egypt,
And the miracles that came upon Tanis’ plains…
How He turned their rain and rivers to blood,
So they were unable to drink it…
And of how He sent fleas there to bite them,
Followed by frogs, bringing ruin…
Or of how He appointed blight on their fruit,
And sent them the misery of locusts.
Then He killed their grapevines with hail,
And He sent killing frost to their sycamore trees.
He also brought hail on their cattle,
And burned their possessions in fire.
Then He sent them His rage to show His displeasure
By commissioning wicked angels against them…
He opened the road of His anger,
And He did not spare them from death…
Even their cattle were chosen to die.
He struck all the firstborn in Egypt…
He sent misery upon tents of Ham.
But like sheep, He set His people aside,
Then like a flock, He led them into the desert.
They weren’t afraid, so He led them;
Then He covered their enemies under the sea.
To His Holy Mountain, He brought them…
All of those whom He’d purchased
With His mighty right hand.
Then before them, He drove away nations,
And created a place for them to inherit.
He allowed them to set up their camps…
The tents of IsraEl’s tribes.
But they tested and embittered God the Most High;
For His [Laws], they chose not to keep.
They turned and annulled their [Agreement with Him],
And became crooked bows like their fathers.
In their hills, they provoked Him to rage,
And made Him jealous with things carved by hand.
Then, because God heard what they’d done,
He turned from IsraEl in contempt.
The Tent in ShiLoh, He then pushed away…
The Tent where He’d camped among men.
Then, into captivity, He handed their strength…
Their beauty, to their enemy’s hands.
He gave His people to broadswords…
His inheritance, He then overlooked.
Their young men were burned up in fires,
And for their virgins, there weren’t wedding songs.
Their Priests all fell by the sword,
And no one wept for their widows.
Then, Jehovah awakened from slumber
Like a Mighty One that was dizzy from wine.
He struck their enemies and made them retreat,
Appointing them to scorn through the ages.
But the tent of JoSeph, He rejected,
And Ephraim’s tribe, He no longer chose.
It was Judah’s tribe that He wanted,
And Mount Zion would be the place that He loved…
It’s where His Most Holy Place would be built.
So He laid its foundation out on the ground,
[As something that would last] through the ages.
Then He chose David, His servant,
And took him away from his flocks.
To tend Jacob, He left [his sheep] giving birth…
God’s inheritance… IsraEl, His servant.
David cared for them with an innocent heart,
And with hands that were skilled, he then led them.
O God;
To Your inheritance, the nations have come,
And defiled Your Temple in JeruSalem,
Turning it into a storehouse for fruit!
The decaying flesh of Your servants
Is now food for the birds in the skies…
Yes, Your holy ones have become food
For the wild beasts of the earth.
In [the streets of] JeruSalem,
Their blood has been poured out like water,
And their bodies have been left unburied.
So, we’re now the scorn of those living nearby…
We’re sneered at and taunted by neighbors.
O Lord;
How long will You let this go on…
Will You forever be angry with us?
How long will Your zeal keep burning like fire?
Please pour out Your rage on the nations instead…
On those that don’t know You and don’t bear Your Name.
For, they have swallowed down Jacob
And turned his place into a ruin.
Please forget our past lawless deeds…
Send Your compassions, for we [need Your aid]!
Help us, O our Savior, God
For the sake of Your glorious Name!
Jehovah, for the sake of Your Name,
Please save us and cover our sins,
So the nations may never have reason to ask,
‘What has become of your God?’
To the nations before us, make [Your Name] known…
Avenge the blood of Your servants!
Bring an end to the moans of the shackled…
By the might of Your arm, protect them from death!
Repay our neighbors with 7 times worse
For scorning and speaking badly of You.
O God; We are Your people,
And we are the sheep of Your pasture.
Then, through the ages, we’ll tell about You…
And praise You to coming generations!
Pay attention, O IsraEl’s Shepherd;
May the One that sends cherubs arrive,
And to JoSeph’s sheep, serve as our guide!
Awaken before Ephraim, BenJamin, and ManasSeh,
And use Your might for salvation!
O God; please return to us once again…
Show Your face and we will be saved!
O Jehovah, [the Great] God of armies;
How long will our prayers make You angry?
The bread of tears, You have fed us…
A measure of tears, we’ve been given to drink.
You’ve brought us war with our neighbors,
And allowed our enemies to sneer in disgust.
O Jehovah, God of armies;
Turn Your face toward us and we will be saved!
You removed Your grapevine from Egypt,
And in front of us, drove away nations,
To provide a place for our planting.
Before us, You opened the way,
Then You sunk our roots deep in the ground.
You gave us mountains to shade us,
As well as the branches of cedars.
To the sea, we then spread our limbs,
And we stretched our roots east toward the river.
So, why have You now torn down our fences,
And given our fruit to all that pass by?
For we’re being destroyed by boars in the woods…
You’re allowing pigs to consume us!
O God of armies, turn back…
Look down from the heavens and visit this vine!
Tend those that were planted by Your right hand…
For [sake of Your Name], give strength to these men!
For, we’ve been dug up and burned…
By reproach from Your face, we’re being destroyed.
Again, stretch Your hand toward Your people…
Toward these sons of men, please stretch out Your hand…
To these ones whom You once made mighty.
Don’t allow this separation from You…
Return our lives and we’ll call on Your Name.
O Jehovah, God of armies;
Turn Your face toward us and we will be saved!
Shout in joy to our helper, God;
Yes, call out before Jacob’s Lord.
Sing and beat on your tambourines…
Make beautiful music on harps.
Blow trumpets on all the New Moons…
On the holy days, blow your horns!
To IsraEl, He once gave these orders
(They were the decisions of Jacob’s God);
As a witness, He sent them to JoSeph
After he had been taken to Egypt,
Where he heard a language that he didn’t understand:
‘I removed the heavy loads from your backs,
And I freed your hands from serving as slaves
Who had to bear [heavy] loads.
‘It was there that you first called upon Me,
And from their oppression, I saved you…
I heard you when you had to hide from their storms,
Then I tested you at the Waters of Dispute.
‘So, listen to Me, O my people,
For, I will now testify.
Yes, O IsraEl… you should listen and hear Me!
‘No new gods may you have,
Nor may you bow before others.
For, I am Jehovah, your God…
The One that led you from Egypt.
So now, widen your mouths and I’ll fill them!
‘But My people just would not listen…
IsraEl paid no attention!
So I drove them away for the things that they did,
And for the bad they’d conceived in their hearts.
‘If only My people had listened…
If IsraEl had followed My ways,
They wouldn’t have been humbled by their enemies…
For, against their oppressors, I’d have stretched out My hand.’
But though God’s enemies lied before Him;
The time will arrive in this age,
When you will be fed on the fatness of wheat,
And out of the rocks, you’ll suck honey.
God stands in the gathering of gods,
And among them, He is passing judgment.
So, how long will You judge their injustice
And put up with the presence of sinners?
‘Please defend the orphans and poor…
To the afflicted and oppressed, please bring justice!
Rescue the weak and the needy…
From the hands of sinners, please save them!
Yet, the [sinners] don’t know, nor do they perceive,
Because they travel in darkness,
That the earth will be shaken to its foundations.
‘I said to them, You are gods…
You are sons of the Most High!
But, like men, you will perish also,
And like their rulers, you’ll fall.’
So arise, O God, and judge the whole earth,
For, You will inherit the nations!
O God; to whom can You be compared?
O God; do not remain silent.
For, {Look!} Your enemies have shouted their battle cries,
And those that hate You have now raised their heads.
Against Your people, they’ve planned treachery…
Yes, against Your holy ones, they have gathered.
They’re saying, ‘Come, let us destroy them,
So they are no longer a nation…
May IsraEl’s name be forgotten!’
But it’s against You, that they’ve met and conspired,
And now they’ve reached an agreement…
Those tent-dwellers in Edom…
Those of Hagar,AmMon, and Gebal…
The Amalekites and Philistines,
And all the peoples of Tyre.
Even Assyria has joined them,
And to the sons of Lot, they sent aid.
So, do to them as You did at the Kishon,
To SiSera, MidiAn, and JaBin.
For, You destroyed them at EnDor,
And made them like manure on the ground.
Make their rulers like Oreb and Zeb,
And like ZebeE and SalMona,
Who said, ‘We’ll inherit God’s Most Holy Place.’
Make them like whirlwinds, O God…
Like stubble that’s blown in the air…
Like fire that burns down a forest…
Like flames that consume on the mountains!
Send storms to chase them away…
Send Your rage to disturb them!
Fill their faces with dishonor,
So they’ll have to search for Your Name!
O Jehovah; make them ashamed…
Disturb them through ages of ages.
Make them all feel ashamed
Just before You destroy them!
Let them know that Your Name is Jehovah,
And that You alone are God, the Most High!
O Jehovah of armies;
I have proven my love for Your Tent,
And that I have longed for Your courtyards…
For, about my living God, my flesh shouts in joy,
Since by Him, even sparrows find homes,
And doves find nests for their young!
O Jehovah of armies…
[How I have longed for] Your Altar;
For, You are my King and my God!
Blest are those who’ve stayed close to You,
And those who’ve praised You through the ages.
Blest is the man that trusts in Your aid;
For, You will send joy to his heart.
Then, when he must enter the valley of tears,
He’ll be in line for great blessings
From the One that gave him His Laws.
For, He will be strong once again
Through the God of all gods who is dwelling on Zion.
O God, Jehovah of armies…
Please hear the things that I’m praying.
Look upon me, my defender and God…
Gaze at the face of [the one] You anointed!
For a day that is spent in Your courtyard
Is better than thousands spent elsewhere.
And I’d rather be one that’s rejected
In the House of my God,
Than to live in tents among sinners.
For Jehovah is a lover of truth,
And mercy comes from our Lord!
Because God cares, He will send glory…
To the blameless, He’ll send what is good.
O Jehovah of armies;
Blest are those that put faith in You.
O Jehovah; You have thought well of Your land,
For, You have returned Jacob’s captives…
You’ve forgiven the lawless deeds of Your sons,
And all of their sins, You have covered.
You have brought rest to Your anger,
And turned away from Your rage.
So, become a God of salvation to us…
Turn from Your anger and rage!
Will You always stay angry with us…
Will Your rage last through generations?
O God;
Return to us and make us alive…
Let Your people know joy once again!
O Jehovah; please show us Your mercy,
And send Your salvation to us!
O Jehovah;
I’ll listen to all that You say,
For, God will speak to His people in peace…
He’ll speak to those that are holy
And wish to return with their whole hearts.
For He’s close to all those that fear Him…
He saves, so in glory, we’ll camp in His land.
Now, mercy and truth have been joined,
And justice and peace have now kissed.
Truth has arisen throughout the whole land,
And justice peers down from the heavens.
Because Jehovah kindly provides,
Fruit will [grow] in our land once again.
Then from Him, justice will flow,
And in His footsteps, we’ll walk.
O Lord,
Turn Your ear and listen to me;
For, I am poor and in need.
Watch over my life, because I am pure…
Please save Your servant who’s trusting in You!
O Jehovah; show mercy upon me,
And all day long, I will call out to You.
Bring joy to the life of Your servant,
For to You, I have lifted my soul.
O Lord; you are my provider…
You are merciful and You are patient
With all those that call out to You.
So, give ear to my prayer, O Jehovah,
And heed my voice as I beg.
In the day of distress, I called out to You,
And to me, You paid close attention.
O Jehovah;
You’re unequaled among other gods…
No others can do what You do.
So You’ll make all the nations bow before You,
And they’ll glorify Your Name as their Lord.
For You’re great and You perform wonders…
You are the only [true] God.
Guide me, O Lord, in all of my ways,
And I will walk in Your truth.
Let my heart rejoice, O my God,
And I will give praise to Your Name.
Jehovah, my God, I will praise You…
With my whole heart, I’ll glorify You.
For Your mercies toward me have been great,
And from the place of the dead, You have rescued my soul.
But the lawless have risen against me, O God…
They’ve ignored You and gathered to kill me.
Yet, You are patient, Jehovah my God…
You’ve displayed Your mercy, pity, and truth.
So now, look upon me… please show mercy!
Show Your might on behalf of Your child…
Save the son of your slave girl…
Give me a sign that [You’re with] me,
And let those that hate me see it in shame…
Let them know it was You that came to my aid,
And You’re the One that provided me comfort.
Because you stand on His Holy Mountain,
The gates of Zion are more loved [by Him]
Than the rest of the tents within Jacob’s land.
So, glorious things have been said about you,
O you holy city of God.
To Babylon and RaHab, I’ll speak,
As well as to all those that know me.
{Look!} To the Philistines I will speak also,
As well as to the peoples of Tyre,
And to the Ethiopians, I’ll say:
‘There are men that call Zion their mother,
For men have been born on her heights.
This is how it’s described in the writings of men,
Which tell of the kings that were born there.’
For all of these reasons, you should rejoice…
You people that are dwelling upon her!
O Jehovah, my Savior and God;
During the night, I’m calling to You.
My prayer is ascending to You;
So, hear the things that I’m begging.
With all kinds of trouble, my soul has been filled,
And my life is approaching the grave.
Among those in the pit, I’ve been numbered…
A man with no cure, I’ve become.
I am free, like one of the dead…
Like one that’s been killed and thrown into a tomb…
I’m someone that You have forgotten…
From Your hands, they took me and threw me away.
They’ve put me into the lowest of pits…
In a place that is dark like the shadow of death.
For upon me, Your anger’s remained,
And I have received all Your rage.
You’ve driven away all my friends,
And made me disgusting to them.
From them, I’ve been taken away,
And no other place, may I go.
My eyes are now sore from crying,
As I call to You throughout the whole day.
To You, I have spread out my arms…
Toward You, they are now opened wide.
Can the dead speak to others of Your wonders…
Will the dead arise and give praise to You?
Will those in tombs tell of Your mercy,
And will the destroyed [speak of] Your truth?
Can Your wonders be seen in the darkness…
Will Your justice be known in lands that are lost?
O Lord;
In the morning, I cried out to You,
And You knew my prayer before it was said.
So why, O Lord, have You pushed me away…
When will You turn Your face toward my soul?
I’ve been poor and troubled since youth…
I was humbled and left with nothing at all.
For upon me, You’ve poured out Your rage,
And sent frightful things to disturb me.
Like water, they had me encircled all day,
And now they have me surrounded.
You’ve driven away all my dearest of friends,
And because of my miserable condition,
They’re [pretending that] they never knew me.
Your mercies, O Lord, last through ages.
So, through generations, I’ll sing about them,
And my mouth will report of Your truths.
For, through the ages, Your mercies will grow,
And Your truths will be lifted high into the skies.
‘With My anointed, I’ve made an agreement…
I’ve sworn an oath to David, My servant,
That I will watch over his seed;
And from one generation after another,
I will establish his throne.’
So the heavens will praise all your wonders, O Lord,
And among the assembly, we’ll speak of Your truths.
For, who in the clouds can be likened to [him],
And which of God’s sons is his equal?
So you councils of the holy; glorify God,
For He’s great and He should be feared by us all.
O God of armies; there’s no other like You,
For You’re the Almighty Jehovah,
And You are surrounded by truth.
Of the strength of the seas, You’re the Master;
For You can calm the waves when they rise.
You humble and kill those that have too much pride,
And Your mighty arm drives our enemies away.
Yours is the heavens and Yours is the earth…
You founded man’s home and its fullness.
It’s You that created the north and the west,
So, Tabor and Herman are shouting Your Name!
You dominate all with Your mighty arm;
So, strengthen Your hand and raise [Your arm] high.
For, justice and fairness come from Your throne,
And from Your face, comes mercy and truth.
Blest are those that are shouting in joy…
In the light of Your face, may they travel, O Lord!
May they shout in joy of Your Name every day,
For Your justice has lifted them higher.
You’re the power in which they can boast;
So may they trumpet in praise of Your goodness!
For, Jehovah God is our helper…
The Holy One of IsraEl is our King!
In a vision, You spoke of Your son and You said:
‘I’m sending them help through this great one I’ve raised…
This one whom I’ve chosen from My people.
‘For, I found David, My servant,
And with My holy oil, I anointed his head.
So, with My right hand, I’ll help him,
And with My right arm, I’ll make him strong.
‘His enemies will take nothing from him,
And the lawless will do him no harm.
Before him, I’ll cut his enemies down,
And I’ll chase away all those that hate him.
My truth and My mercy are with him,
And his battle horn will be raised in My Name.
‘I’ll set his [left] hand over the sea
And his right hand over the river.
Then he’ll call out to Me and he’ll say,
Father, You are my God…
Yes, You are my Savior and shield.
‘I’ll appoint him to be my firstborn,
And put him over the kings of the earth.
In mercy, I’ll guard him throughout the age,
And he can trust in the things that I’ve promised.
‘I’ll establish his seed throughout the ages,
And his throne, as the days of the skies.
But, if his sons should abandon My Laws
And choose not to walk in My ways…
If My rules, they choose to profane,
And My Commandments, they no longer keep…
For their lawless ways, I’ll send them My switch,
And whip them for all of their sins.
‘But in mercy, I will not wipe them away,
Nor in any way, will I wrong My truth.
To My agreements, I’ll always be true,
And I won’t annul the things that I’ve said.
So, after I’ve sworn My oath to him,
Could My holiness lie before David?
‘So, his seed will last through the ages…
His throne will stand for as long as the sun,
And it will endure like the moon…
These things I’ve prepared through the ages
As My trustworthy witness above in the skies.’
So, why have You thrust him away in contempt,
And against Your anointed, lifted [Your hand]?
Have You wiped away the promise You made,
And defiled his safe havens throughout the land?
You’ve removed the barriers around him,
And turned his forts into places of fear.
Those walking the roads have taken what’s his,
And he’s become the scorn of his neighbors.
You’ve raised the hands of those that oppress him,
And given his enemies joy.
You’ve turned Your help from his broadsword,
And refused to assist him in war.
You’ve desisted from making him clean,
And You’ve ripped his throne to the ground.
You’ve shortened the days of his reign,
And upon him, You have poured shame.
How long, O Jehovah, will You turn away…
How long will Your rage keep on burning?
Please notice these problems that I’m facing!
In folly, You made sons of men;
For, which living man will never see death?
Can he save his own soul from the grave?
So, where is Your mercy, O ancient Lord…
When You swore to David, were You telling the truth?
Notice the scorn that Your servant’s received…
The scorn that the nations have sent to my belly…
At Your anointed, Your enemies are laughing!
Amen… through the age, may Jehovah be Praised!
O Jehovah, You have been our refuge
From one generation to another.
Before the mountains existed,
And the earth (the dwelling of man) took its shape…
Through ages of ages, You’ve been there.
So, please don’t humble Your people.
For You said: ‘Return to Me, sons of men!’
Why, a thousand years in Your eyes, O Jehovah,
Are like yesterday, after they’ve passed…
They’re like a watch in the night.
But the years [of men] are looked on in scorn,
For like sprouting plants, we just pass away…
In the morning, we blossom and sprout,
And in the evening, we dry up and fall.
Now, we’ve failed in the face of Your anger,
And we’ve been disturbed by Your rage.
For the Laws that we’ve broken are all there before You…
They stand in the light of Your face.
Yes, all of our days have been failures,
And we’ve even failed when it comes to Your rage.
Our years are as brief as the time that it takes
For a spider to think [of catching its prey].
Our days may last for 70 years,
Or if You command, until 80.
But they’re mostly spent in misery and toil,
‘Til we mellow and accept [Your] correction.
Who knows the power of Your rage?
And because of the fear of Your anger,
How can we number our days?
So, please expose Your right hand to me,
And send Your wisdom into my heart,
That I may receive Your correction.
How long will it be, O Jehovah,
Until You turn back to us?
Please send comfort to Your servants!
For, in the morning, O Lord,
We were filled with Your mercy…
We shouted in joy and were happy each day.
We were grateful for even the days we were humbled,
After many years of seeing the bad.
So please, look on Your servants (Your works),
And to our sons, send Your guidance.
Send us Your light, O Jehovah our God,
And bless all things that we do with our hands…
Yes, please bless the works of our hands!
Those that live in the care of the Most High
And lodge under the God of heaven’s protection
Will say, ‘You’re my refuge and shield…
You’re my God, and You’re the One that I trust.’
From the snares of hunters, He’ll save you…
He’ll rescue you from all your problems.
With the shadow of His back, He will shield you,
And under His wings, He will hide you,
Where you’ll be surrounded by truth.
You won’t be afraid of things in the night;
Of arrows that fly during the day;
Of things that happen, which you haven’t planned;
Of things that travel in darkness;
Or of the demon at noon.
A thousand will fall at your right,
And ten thousand, you’ll hold in your hand.
You’ll see it all with your eyes and then think,
‘This is the outcome for sinners.’
O Jehovah; You’re the One that I trust.
If you’ll make the Most High your refuge,
Nothing bad will approach you
And the whip will not enter your tent.
For, to His messengers, He will give orders…
He’ll tell them to keep an eye on your ways,
So then, with their hands, they will lift you,
And no stone will stumble your feet.
You can step on an asp or a cobra,
And trample on lions or dragons.
‘Because he trusts Me, I’ll save him…
I’ll be his shelter, for he knows My Name.
He’ll cry out to Me and I’ll listen,
And during hard times, I will be there.
‘I’ll rescue and glorify him…
I’ll extend the days of his life,
And show him the many ways I can save.’
It’s good to praise You, O Most High Jehovah,
And to strum to Your Name…
To [sing] of Your mercies each morning
And about Your truths every night,
As [I strum] on my lute of 10-strings…
Playing songs of You on my harp.
O Jehovah; You bring me much joy
With all the things that You do.
So I’ll shout in praise of the works of Your hands.
How great are Your deeds, O Jehovah,
And how deep are the things that You think!
A foolish man will not understand,
And such things, the senseless can’t comprehend;
That though sinners keep arising like grass,
And the lawless keep on increasing;
Through ages of ages, they will be destroyed.
Through the ages, You’ve been the Most High!
So, when you notice Your enemies, Lord,
{Look!} You’ll scatter them and they will perish…
All those that work at doing what’s bad.
Like a great rhinoceros, I’ll raise my horn high,
And until I’m old, offer You plenty of oil.
Though my eyes must look on my enemies
(Those that are rising against me),
And though my ears must still hear of the wicked;
Soon the righteous will blossom like palms,
And grow like Lebanon’s cedars…
Those that are planted in the House of the Lord,
And those in God’s courtyard, will bloom.
There, they’ll grow old and have plenty,
And take much pleasure in proclaiming,
‘Our God, Jehovah, is righteous,
And in Him, there is no injustice.’
Jehovah reigns and brings beauty…
He’s wrapped Himself in great power…
Man’s home, He’s made steady and firm…
And your throne, He’s prepared through the ages.
O Jehovah; the rivers have risen,
And the waters have lifted their voices.
But the rivers will be taken away…
By the sounds of many waters, You’ll wear them away.
How wonderful are the tides of the sea,
As well as all the high places.
‘The witness that you’ve given can be trusted;
So to your House, will come what is clean,
Throughout the rest of your days.’
Jehovah is a God that seeks vengeance,
And this God that seeks vengeance has spoken.
So arise, O Judge of the earth,
And pay the haughty all that they’re due!
O Jehovah;
How much longer will the sinners remain…
How much longer will the sinners have reason to boast?
For, when they speak, they do so unjustly,
And they boast when they’re breaking [Your] Laws!
O Jehovah;
They’re mistreating Your people…
To Your inheritance, they’re doing what’s bad.
They’re killing the orphans and widows,
And murder the foreigners that come here.
They’ve said, ‘Jehovah can’t see…
Jacob’s God doesn’t know [what we’re doing].’
Look, you fools among [men]…
You should think it over, then stop!
Is the [maker] of ears unable to hear…
Is the shaper of eyes unable to see?
Won’t the One that corrects all the nations
And teaches knowledge to men,
Also bring correction to you?
Jehovah knows what wise men think,
[and their thoughts] are useless.
O blest is the man that’s corrected by You…
So please, Lord; teach him Your Laws.
Back him away from his evil days,
And then, he’ll dig graves for the sinners.
For, Jehovah won’t push His people away…
His inheritance, He’ll never abandon.
How long until righteous judgments return…
Until those with straight hearts receive what is fair?
Who will oppose the wicked with me…
Who will stand and oppose the law breakers?
For, if it weren’t for the help of Jehovah,
My soul would have gone to the place of the dead.
Did I ask for my feet to start shaking?
O Jehovah, show mercy and help me!
Despite all the grief in my heart;
To my soul, You’ve brought comfort and love.
Will the thrones of the lawless continue before You…
Those turning order into chaos?
Will You let them keep hunting for the souls of the righteous,
And keep on shedding innocent blood?
Jehovah has become a refuge to me…
My God is my helper and hope.
He’ll give the lawless what they deserve,
And remove them from view for their badness.
Come and shout praise to Jehovah…
About God, our Savior, we’ll yell!
We should stand in His presence and praise Him…
To Him we should sing sacred hymns!
For God, Jehovah, is great…
He is the King of the whole earth!
In His hands, He holds the ends of the earth
As well as the tops of the mountains.
His are the seas, for He made them,
And with His hands, He shaped the dry land.
So, let us all bow down before Him…
Let’s weep before Him, since He made us.
We’re the sheep of His pasture and He is our God…
We’re the sheep that He holds in His hands.
Therefore, if you should hear His voice on this day,
Do not harden your hearts…
Don’t be bitter like they were in that day
When they put Him to the test in the desert.
‘I was tested and tried by your fathers,
Though they’d already seen the things that I’d done.
So I came to loathe that generation,
And they wandered for the next 40 years.
‘In their hearts, they knew not My ways,
So I swore this oath in My rage:
They will not enter My rest.’
Sing a new song to Jehovah!
Sing to the Lord of the earth!
Yes, you should sing to Jehovah,
And shout in praise of His Name!
Proclaim the good news every day…
The good news about how He saves.
Speak of His glory to the gentiles…
Tell others about all His wonders!
Jehovah is great and worthy of praise…
He’s more to be feared than all other gods!
For the gods of the nations are demons,
But Jehovah created the heavens.
Before Him are beauty and praiseworthy things…
Clean and majestic is His Holy Place.
O you families from all of the nations;
You should offer [gifts] to Jehovah…
To the Lord, give glory and honor,
And speak in praise about His great Name!
Bring offerings to His holy courtyard,
And before the Lord, you should bow;
For, in front of His face, the earth trembles!
Say to the nations, ‘Jehovah is King…
He’s the One that established man’s home
So that it will never be shaken,
And He’ll judge the peoples in justice!’
Be glad you heavens, and earth, shout in joy…
May the seas and what’s in them be shaken!
Rejoice, O you fields and you crops;
And you trees in the forests should cry out in joy
Before the face of Jehovah.
For He’s coming to judge the whole earth,
And bring justice to man’s habitation…
All the people will be judged by His truth!
Shout in joy, O earth, because the Lord reigns!
Let all of the islands be happy!
For, though He’s surrounded by darkness and clouds,
On justice and judgments, He’s founded His throne,
And flames shoot out from before Him
To consume His enemies in fire.
The lightning that He sent was seen by [all men].
They saw it, and it shook the whole earth.
Like bee’s wax, the mountains have melted before Him…
Before the face of the Lord of the earth.
The heavens speak of His justice,
And His glory is seen by all peoples.
So those bowing to carvings are shamed,
As are those that boast of their idols.
For, before Him, the angels bow to their feet!
Zion is happy and the daughters of Judah are shouting in joy
Over Your judgments, O Lord.
For, You’re the Most High of the whole earth…
You’re higher than all other gods!
All those that are loving Jehovah
Must [learn] to hate what is bad!
For Jehovah guards the lives of the holy,
And from the hands of sinners, protects them.
Upon the righteous, light is shining,
And those with straight hearts will have reasons for joy.
So you righteous; take joy in Jehovah…
Remember and praise all His ways!
Sing a new song to Jehovah
About the wonderful things He has done.
For He brings salvation with His holy right arm.
Jehovah is known to the nations
[As a God] that can save and bring justice.
For, He remembered His mercy to Jacob,
And to the house of IsraEl, He sent His truth.
Yes, to the ends of the earth, they’ve seen how He saves,
And they know that our God can deliver!
So, shout to [Jehovah], all you on the earth!
Yes, sing… cry out and strum!
Play to Jehovah with harps,
And along with the strumming, sing psalms!
With brass trumpets and the blowing of horns,
Shout to Jehovah, our King!
Roar, O seas, and all that is in them…
Man’s home and all those that live there!
Clap your hands, O you rivers,
And mountains, cry out in joy at His face.
For He’s coming to judge the whole earth…
In fairness and justice, He will judge
Man’s home and all of its peoples.
Because Jehovah now reigns,
Many people will be very angry.
For the One that is sitting on cherubs
Is coming to shake up the earth.
Great is Jehovah on Zion,
For, He is above all the peoples.
So, may they all give praise to His Name,
Because He is holy and fearsome.
Our Mighty King is a lover of justice;
So, He has prepared righteous judgments…
Yes, He will bring justice to Jacob.
May our God Jehovah be raised…
He’s holy, so all should bow at His feet!
Among His Priests, numbered Moses and Aaron,
And SamuEl is someone that called on His Name.
They called to the Lord and He heard them,
Then He spoke to them from a column of clouds.
For, they had guarded His words
And they obeyed the orders He gave them.
Yes, O Jehovah, You heard them!
O God, You became their provider,
And You punished them for the bad things they did.
So our God Jehovah should be raised high,
And to His holy Mountain, all should bow low;
For Jehovah is the most holy God.
Shout to God, all the earth…
Yes, serve Jehovah in joy!
Go before Him with happy shouts,
And know that Jehovah is God!
For, we didn’t do it… He made us!
We’re His people… the sheep of His pasture.
So, go to His gates shouting praises,
And enter His courtyard with hymns.
Go praising His Name and confessing;
For, through the ages, He’s proven His mercy…
Through generations, He’s proven His truth.
O Jehovah, I’ll sing of Your mercy and justice…
Of Your perfect ways, I will strum.
How long will it be until You return?
For in my home, there are innocent hearts.
I’ve not set my eyes on things that are bad,
And illegal things, I have hated.
Toward things that are crooked, my heart has not turned,
And evil men, I’ve rejected.
Those that privately speak ill of friends,
I have driven away,
And I will not eat beside eyes that are proud,
Nor with those that have hungry hearts.
My eyes are on the trustworthy…
They are the ones with whom I will sit…
Those who’ve chosen to walk in pure ways,
And those that have shared in my rule.
For, no one with pride can stay in my house,
And before my eyes, the unrighteous can’t stand.
In the morning, I’ll destroy the land’s sinners,
Along with the lawless that live in the towns.
Please hear my prayer, O Jehovah…
Please listen to my cries when I come before You.
Don’t turn Your face when I need You,
But incline Your ear closer to me…
Whenever I call, please respond!
For my days have passed by like smoke,
And my bones are parched like dry twigs.
Like grass, I have been mowed down,
So my heart forgets to eat bread.
My bones stick out from my flesh,
And they’re [tired] of the sounds of my groaning.
Like a pelican, I [travel] alone…
I’ve become like the owl in its range.
Sleepless, [I lie throughout the whole night],
And I live like a sparrow alone on the roof.
All day, my enemies berate me,
And those that once praised me now swear oaths against me.
Ashes, I’ve eaten for bread,
And my drink has become my own tears.
For, with the anger and rage of Your face,
You lifted me up and then broken me down.
Like shadows, my days have declined,
And I have dried up like hay.
But You, O Lord, live through ages…
From generation to generation, You’re remembered.
So arise and feel pity for Zion,
Since the time for its pity is due.
To Your servants, her stones are all very dear,
And over her dust, they feel sorrow.
O Lord;
Among all the nations, Your Name is revered,
And all kings of the earth speak of Your glory.
For Jehovah will rebuild Zion once more,
And there, He’ll appear in His glory.
He [hears] the prayers of the humble,
And He has no contempt for the things they request.
So, let this be written for each generation,
Then those born anew will all praise the Lord.
Jehovah looks down from His home in the heights…
He sees the earth from the heavens.
From there, He hears the moans of the shackled,
And He releases the sons of the condemned.
In Zion, announce the Name of the Lord,
And shout His praises in JeruSalem!
For, all the peoples, as well as their kings,
Will soon be serving Jehovah.
Then, in His mighty way, He will speak
And tell me how few of my days yet remain.
But, please don’t [give me] just half of my days;
For Your years are through generations.
In the beginning, you founded the earth,
And the heavens are the works of your hands.
Yet, they will pass by, while you still remain,
And like clothes (an old robe), they’ll grow old.
Then you’ll wrap them up and they will be changed.
But, you’re the same, for your years don’t expire.
So the sons of your servants will live in [your] camp,
And through ages, their seed will remain.
I’ll praise Jehovah with my whole soul…
Yes I’ll praise Him with all that is in me,
And I will give praise to His Holy Name!
Praise Jehovah, my soul,
And don’t forget how He’s blest us.
For He’s covered our sins and law breaking,
And He’s cured us from all of our ills…
He’s ransomed us from life’s corruptions,
And then He crowned us with mercy.
With good things, He fulfills our desires,
And like mighty eagles, He gives back our youth.
For Jehovah freely provides,
And sends justice to those who’ve been wronged.
To Moses, His ways were revealed,
And to IsraEl’s sons, He showed His desires.
Jehovah feels pity and mercy…
He’s forgiving and filled with compassion.
To the end, you won’t make Him angry,
Nor through the ages, will He cherish wrath.
He hasn’t repaid us for our lawlessness deeds,
Nor has He kept count of our sins.
As high as the heavens are over the earth
Is His mercy toward all those that fear Him.
And as the distance between east and west,
Has He set us from the laws that we’ve broken.
As a father shows mercy upon his own sons,
Is how He feels mercy for all those that fear Him.
For, He remembers how we were once formed,
And He doesn’t forget that we are just dust.
For, the days of a man are like grass,
Or like the blossoms of flowers in a field.
So, when the wind blows, he passes away,
And his place is thereafter forgotten.
God shows ages of mercy to all those that fear Him,
And gives justice to the sons of their sons…
On all those that guard His Sacred Agreement,
And on those that obey His Commandments.
Jehovah has prepared His throne in the skies,
And in His Kingdom, He’s the Master of all.
So, praise Jehovah, you angels;
For He shows His might and His strength
To those that pay attention to His words.
Yes, praise Jehovah, His armies…
All His servant that are doing His Will.
Praise Jehovah, all of His works,
Every place within in His dominion.
Yes, praise Jehovah, my soul!
O my soul; give praise to the Lord…
Give praise to Jehovah, my God!
You’ve made Yourself great and praiseworthy,
And clothed Yourself in much beauty.
You wrap Yourself up in light like a robe,
And You stretch out the heavens like leather.
With water, You’ve filled its roof and upper rooms,
And as Your chariot, You created the clouds,
Which You ride on the wings of a breeze.
Your angels, You’ve made like the winds,
And Your servants are like flames of fire.
You’ve laid and made firm the foundations of the earth,
So through ages of ages, it will not fail.
The depths [of the seas] are Your wrap,
And on the mountains, You have piled water.
But, at Your reproach, they will all pass away…
They’ll quake at the sound of Your thunder.
Then the waters will pour down the mountains,
And descend from there to the plains…
To wherever You tell them to go.
You’ve set limits that [the seas] may not pass,
So they cannot cover the land.
You send rain as springs into valleys,
So that, from the mountains, rivers will flow.
To wild beasts in the fields, You send water,
Which wild burros use to satisfy thirst…
As do the winged creatures that live in the skies,
Which build their nests between rocks,
Where they can sound out their cries.
You send water to the mountains from Your upper rooms
To fill the lands with the fruits of Your works…
And to make grasses grow for the cattle to eat,
As well as all the young sprouts,
Which bring us food from the ground.
[You give] wine to men to make their hearts glad,
And olive oil, as a blessing to their faces…
Then, for their hearts, You provide them with bread.
The plains, You have filled up with [trees],
And the cedars of Lebanon were Your planting.
It’s there that the sparrows build nests,
Until herons take over their dwellings.
[You created] high mountains for wild goats to roam…
You made rocks as the refuge for badgers.
You made the moon to show us the seasons,
As well as the sun, which knows when to set.
You made the darkness of night,
Where beasts in the woods roam about…
It’s when lion cubs roar and attack,
Seeking by God, to find food.
But, when the sun rises, they gather
And return to their dens to lie down.
That’s when men arise and then go to work,
Continuing their toil until dusk.
So, how great are Your works, O Jehovah;
You created it all in Your wisdom…
You have filled the earth with the things that You’ve made.
You made the vast lands and great seas,
Where animals that slither may dwell.
There’s no way to count all Your creatures…
All the great and the small.
For, boats pass over [other] wild beasts,
Which You created in fun.
Yet, they all expect to be nourished by You,
And to receive it at the right time.
So, You’re the One [that they trust] to provide…
You open Your hand and they’re filled with what’s good.
But if You turn away, it upsets them;
And if you should hold back their breath,
They would die and go back to the dust.
Then, with Your Breath, You’ll create them again,
When You renew the face of the earth.
So, may God’s glory last through the ages,
And may He find joy in the things He has made.
He just looks at the earth and it trembles…
He touches the mountains and they start to smoke.
So, with my whole soul, I’ll sing to the Lord…
For as long as I live, I’ll strum to my God.
May He find my verses delightful…
May they make Jehovah’s heart glad.
May all the sinners expire from the earth,
And may all the lawless no longer exist!
Yes, praise Jehovah, my soul!
Praise Jehovah… yes, call on His Name…
Tell all the nations of the things He has done!
Sing to Him and strum well…
Try to describe all His wonders,
Then applaud His most holy Name…
May the hearts of those that seek Him find joy!
Yes, seek Jehovah and you will grow strong…
Always search for His face.
Don’t forget the wonders He’s brought…
The miracles and judgments that come from His mouth.
You seed of AbraHam… His servants;
You sons of Jacob… His chosen;
He is Jehovah our God
Whose decisions are [seen] throughout the whole earth.
He remembers His age-long Agreement…
His promise through a thousand generations…
The Agreement that He made with AbraHam,
And the oath that He gave to IsaAc.
With Jacob, He set out the rules
That IsraEl [was to follow] through the ages.
Then He said, ‘To you, I will give CanaAn’s land…
Your inheritance is a measured allotment of ground.’
[Yet, back then], their numbers were few
(Not many were visiting [the land]),
And they traveled from nation to nation…
From one kingdom on to another.
But, He allowed no one to harm them…
He sent warnings to their kings, in which He said:
‘Do not touch My anointed,
And don’t do any harm to My Prophets.’
Then, to their lands, He sent famine,
So they could not trust in their bread.
And a man named JoSeph, He sent them…
A slave who’d been purchased [with money].
He’d been humbled with shackles on his feet,
And his soul had been pierced through by iron.
But, after the Word had arrived,
Signs from the Lord purified him.
For the king sent word to release him…
By a ruler of the peoples, he was set free.
Then this man made him master over his house,
And put him in charge of all his domain.
So [JoSeph] appointed rulers, as he saw fit,
And for wisdom, he looked to the elders.
Then IsraEl traveled to Egypt…
Ham’s land was visited by Jacob.
And there, his people grew greater…
Mightier than their enemies, [God] made them.
Then [God] brought a change to [Egyptian’s] hearts,
So they would start hating His people,
And with His servants, deal badly.
So, He sent His servants, Aaron and Moses
(Those whom He’d chosen to serve Him),
And through them, He sent the [Egyptians] His signs…
To the land of Ham, He sent miracles.
[God] sent darkness and it became dark,
But against His words, [PharaOh] chose to rebel.
Into blood, He then changed their water,
And He killed off all of their fish.
Then frogs crawled onto their land,
And into the closets of kings.
He spoke, and stable flies came,
Which was followed by fleas, to their borders.
Into hail and fire, He then turned their rain,
Which burned throughout the whole land.
Thereafter, He struck their grapevines and figs…
He broke every tree in their country.
He spoke, then locusts and grasshoppers came…
So many that they couldn’t be counted,
Which devoured all their grasses and fruit.
Thereafter, He struck down their firstborn…
The first-fruits of all they’d accomplished.
And with silver and gold, He then led us away,
So our tribes were no longer poor.
The Egyptians were happy to just see us go,
For with fear, they’d been overcome.
Then He spread out a cloud to protect us,
And sent fire as our light through the night.
We asked Him for [meat], so He sent us quail,
And with bread from the sky, we were filled.
He tore open the rock and water poured out;
So a river then flowed through the desert.
For, He hadn’t forgotten His Holy Word…
What He’d promised to AbraHam, His servant.
So He led out His people shouting in joy…
His chosen, thereafter left happy!
Then He gave us the lands of great nations…
We inherited things for which others had worked.
So, we should now guard His decisions,
And always search for His Laws.
Praise Jehovah, because He provides,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
Who will tell of His mighty deeds,
And speak out loud in His praise?
Blest are those that are honest,
And do what’s righteous each season.
O Jehovah, please don’t forget us…
Remember the kindness that You’ve shown Your people…
Please come visit and save us!
Your elected find joy in seeing the good,
And Your people should loudly applaud
The inheritance that You assigned them by lots.
But, we and our fathers have sinned…
We’ve broken [Your] Laws and done wrong!
Why, even our fathers in Egypt,
Did not understand all Your wonders,
Nor did they remember Your mercies.
For, they had even rebelled,
While going down through the Red Sea.
Yet, You saved them because of Your Name,
And You let them see all Your powers.
You scolded the Sea and it dried,
Then You guided them through that abyss,
[And led them up] into the desert.
From those that disliked them, You saved them…
You ransomed them from their enemy’s hands.
Then You covered their oppressors with water,
Leaving not a single survivor.
When they trusted Your Word, they were blest…
But, they quickly forgot the things that You did,
And they failed to await Your instructions.
For, they wanted the things they desired,
And they put You to the test in the desert.
Then You gave them the things for which they had asked,
And You sent them enough to satisfy them.
But then, they provoked Moses to rage,
As well as Your holy one, Aaron.
So You opened the ground, and it swallowed Dathan!
Then it covered all of AbiRom’s group,
As a fire blazed in the midst of the camp,
Where its flames consumed all the sinners.
Then, in that dry place, they made a [gold] calf,
And they bowed to the thing that was carved.
They changed [Your] Glory to a calf that eats grass,
Forgetting the God that had saved them…
The One that did those great things in Egypt
(The wonders [that He’d sent] to Ham’s land),
And His awesome deeds at the Red Sea.
So He spoke and said He’d destroy them;
But, Moses (His chosen) just stood there
Among those whom God wished to destroy.
[Then Moses] approached and turned back His rage,
So He chose not to wipe them away.
But then, they looked with contempt
On that glorious land,
And in the things that He’d promised, they didn’t have faith.
So they stood in their tents and they grumbled,
Refusing to hear the voice of the Lord.
Thus against them, He then raised His hand,
To cut them down in the desert…
To scatter their seed to the nations,
And to spread them among many lands.
For, they also bowed to BaAl Peor,
And sacrifices to the dead, they consumed.
They did all that they could to provoke Him,
And to bring more blows on themselves.
Yet, PhineHas stood and offered atonement,
And held back [God’s plans to] destroy them.
As the result, he was thought of as righteous,
Through all generations and ages.
Then they made Him angry once more,
There at the Waters of Dispute,
Where a bad thing happened to Moses.
For they made his spirit grow bitter,
And then he drew open his lips.
Thereafter, they failed to destroy all the nations,
As Jehovah had told them to do…
They mixed with the gentiles and learned of their ways,
Bowing to their idols, to offend Him,
And offering their sons and daughters to demons!
They poured out innocent blood…
The blood of their own sons and daughters!
To the carvings of CanaAn, they sacrificed them,
And polluted the land with murder and blood.
[So the land] was defiled by the things they had done,
And they became practicing whores.
So with His people, Jehovah was angry…
His inheritance, He started to hate.
Then He gave them into their enemies’ hands…
Those that hated and ruled over them.
He allowed their enemies to oppress them,
And humble them under their hands.
Though He came back to save them time and again,
They kept on making Him angry,
And all they did was talk back.
So, they were humbled for the bad things they did.
Yet, when He saw how they were oppressed,
He listened to the things that they begged.
He remembered His Sacred Agreement,
And mercifully turned to them once again…
Before those by whom they’d been captured,
He showed deep compassion upon them.
So, Jehovah our God, please save us,
And gather us back from the nations,
So we may praise Your most Holy Name,
And boast about You once again!
O praise Jehovah through ages of ages!
To this, all should shout, ‘May it be!’
Praise Jehovah, because He provides…
His mercies endure through the ages.
About Jehovah, this has been said
By those whom He saved from their enemies’ hands…
From the places from which He had gathered them back…
From the north, south, east, and the sea.
They wandered in the desert without water,
And no town could they find as their home…
So their lives were failing from hunger and thirst.
Then in great distress, they called to the Lord,
And He rescued them from this condition.
He guided them in a straight path
To a city that they could call home.
So, may they give praise to Jehovah,
For all the mercies [He’s shown],
And the wonders that He brings to sons of men.
He sends fulfillment to empty lives,
And He fills the hungry with good things…
Those that sit in the shadow of death,
And the poor that are shackled in irons.
But, against God’s Word, they rebelled,
And counsel from above, they rejected.
So their hearts were humbled and troubled…
They were weakened and no one came to their aid!
Then, in their affliction, they called to the Lord,
And He saved them from their distress.
Thereafter, He tore off their shackles,
And led them from the shadow of death.
So, let them praise [God] for His mercy,
And the wonders that He brings to sons of men.
For He broke down all those brass gates,
And He smashed their iron bars into pieces.
Due to their lawless ways,
He kept humbling them to drive out their pride
Until they no longer could eat their own food,
And they were approaching death’s gates.
Then, in their distress, they called to the Lord,
And He saved them from their condition…
He sent them His word and it healed them,
And saved them from their corruption.
So, may they praise [God] for His mercy,
And the wonders that He sends to sons of men.
Sacrifices of praise, they should offer,
And then shout in joy for the things He has done!
The men that go down to the sea in their boats
And those that work across many waters,
Have all beheld the works of Jehovah,
And they’ve seen the wonders that He brings to the depths.
For He spoke and established the winds and the gales,
Which arise and create the tall waves
That lift them high into the sky;
Then, to the abyss, they descend…
And this melts away the bad in their lives.
For, this upsets them and shakes them,
Then they swallow their wisdom like drunks.
When they are in danger, they cry to the Lord,
And from their distress, He then leads them.
For, He sends His orders to the gales,
Which become just a breeze to quiet the waves.
Then they’re all joyful after it’s still,
And He guides them toward the harbors they seek.
So, let them praise [God] for His mercy,
And the wonders that He shows to sons of men.
Before gatherings of peoples, they should praise Him,
And before the seats of their elders.
Though He created a river in the desert,
And to a thirsty land, brought water;
The land still bore fruit that was bad,
Because of the evil of those living there.
But He turned a desert into water-filled lakes,
And into dry ground, [He put] springs,
Where He thereafter settled the hungry,
And led them to cities in which they would live.
There they planted vineyards and fields,
Which brought the produce of fruit.
He blest them, and soon they were many,
And not very few were their cattle,
After they’d been decreased and mistreated…
Afflicted with evil and grief.
Contempt had been poured on their rulers,
And they’d wandered in places without any roads.
But He removed poor conditions from their needy,
And He treated their families like His own flock.
Then, all the upright were joyful,
As the mouths of the lawless were blocked.
So, who now has enough wisdom,
To understand all the mercies of God?
My heart is prepared, O my God…
In my glory, I’ll now sing and play!
Awaken my glory, my lute, and my harp,
As I am arising at dawn.
O Lord; among all the peoples,
I will offer You praise;
About You, I’ll strum to the nations,
Because Your mercy is great…
It’s higher than even the skies,
And Your truth reaches into the clouds!
May Your glory grow higher than the heavens, O God…
Yes, far above the whole earth.
Please bring salvation to Your loved ones…
Please hear me and save me with Your mighty hand!
Then in Holiness, God spoke and said this:
‘[My Name] will be lifted high.
For, I will subdivide SheChem,
And lay out My tents in its valley.
GileAd is Mine, ManasSeh is Mine,
And Ephraim is the pillow for My head.
Judah [is the place of] My king,
And of My plans against Edom, MoAb’s the kettle.
‘So I’ll stick out My shoe [and step down],
And to Me, the Philistines will bow.
Can they save their fortified cities from Me?
Can they serve as My guide into Edom?’
However, O God, You’ve pushed us away…
So Lord, won’t You send us Your [angels]?
In this time of oppression, please send us Your aid;
For the salvation of man has no value.
Only by God do we have any strength…
On our enemies, only He can show our contempt.
O God of my praise, don’t stay silent,
For sinners and liars have spoken against me.
They speak against me with deceitful tongues,
And I’m covered with their hateful words.
They battle with me for no reason…
Instead of love, they send slander…
So to You, I will lay out my prayer!
Instead of good, they’re bringing what’s bad,
And they’re showing hate [in return for] my love.
So, send them away with the sinners,
And put the Slanderer at their right hand.
When they’re judged, may they leave as condemned,
And may their prayers be thought of as sins.
May their days no longer be many,
And may others take their positions.
May all their sons become orphans,
And may all their wives become widows.
Let their sons wander and beg…
May they be driven away from their homes.
May bankers search for the things that they own,
And may strangers loot all they’ve worked for.
May no one come to protect them,
And may no one pity their orphans.
May all their children be wiped away…
In one generation, may their names be erased.
May Jehovah remember the sins of their fathers…
May the sins of their mothers remain.
May they stand [in judgment] before You, O Lord…
May their memory be wiped from the land.
For, they forgot to show mercy,
And they chased a man that is needy and poor…
Someone whose heart has been broken.
Since they love curses, may they get them;
Since they offer no blessings, may they go far away.
They wore curses as though they were clothes,
Which poured like water within them,
And became like oil in their bones.
So, may they wear their curses like robes…
May they wear them like belts on their waists.
May this be the reward from Jehovah
For all those [guilty of] slander,
And for those speaking bad of my soul.
O Lord, Jehovah, please help me,
For the sake of Your Name and Your mercy.
Rescue me, for I’m poor and in need,
And my heart is deeply disturbed.
Like a shadow that passes, I’ve been removed…
I’ve been [eaten] away as by locusts.
My knees are now weakened from fasting,
And for lack of oil, my flesh has been changed.
To them, I’m someone to laugh at…
They look at me and just shake their heads.
So help me, Jehovah, my God;
In Your mercy, please send me your aid,
And let them know that this came by Your hand…
That it’s You, O Jehovah, that did this!
Upon themselves, may their curses fall,
But please, [my God], send [me] blessings.
May those who’ve risen against me be shamed;
But, may Your servant find joy.
On those guilty of slander, bring shame…
Wrap them in shame as though it were clothes.
Then, I will offer You praises, my Lord…
With my mouth, I will praise You to many.
Now He stands at this poor one’s right hand,
To save me from those pursuing my soul.
Jehovah said this to my lord:
‘Sit here at My right hand
Til I set your enemies as a stool for your feet.
A powerful scepter, I’ll send you from Zion,
And amidst your enemies, you’ll rule.
‘You’ll be sovereign in the day that you start to rule,
And your holy ones will then shine.
For, since the time that you came from the womb
I’ve made you the [bright] morning star.’
This oath was sworn by Jehovah,
And for it, He will never repent:
‘You will be a Priest through the ages
In the order of MelchiZedek,
And at My right hand, you will sit.
‘In the day of your rage, you will shatter kings,
And you’ll be the judge of the nations.
‘Then you’ll fill their [lands] with the dead,
And you’ll shatter many heads on the earth.
From the [Kidron] Wadi, you’ll drink,
And there, you will raise your head high.’
I’ll praise You, Jehovah, with my whole heart,
And Your instructions, [I’ll share with] the righteous.
The deeds of Jehovah are great,
And He searches for those whom He loves.
Majestic and worthy are the things that He does,
And through ages of ages, His justice endures.
He’s made His wonders to not be forgotten,
And Jehovah shows pity and great empathy.
He nourishes all those that fear Him,
And through ages, remembers what He promised.
His powerful deeds, He’s announced to His people,
And they will inherit the nations.
The works of His hands are all just and true,
And His commands are very trustworthy.
So, through the age of the ages
His truth and uprightness will stand.
He will ransom His people,
And through ages, He will give them instructions
Concerning His Holy Sacred Agreement,
And of how His Name should be feared.
Wisdom starts with the fear of Jehovah,
And those that take this [to heart]
Will be understanding and good…
They will be praised through the age
And into the age of the ages.
Blest are those that fear Jehovah
And desire to obey His Commandments.
For their seed will grow strong on the land,
And through generations, their ways will be blest.
Glory and wealth will dwell in their homes,
And through ages of ages,
The good things they do will endure.
For the upright, they’ll light up the darkness,
And show pity and mercy to the righteous.
Kind people feel compassion and lend,
And they manage their matters uprightly.
So, they will endure through the ages,
And the righteous will not be forgotten.
They won’t have to fear any bad news,
For they’ve readied their hearts to trust in the Lord.
And because their hearts are so sure;
They will not fear enemies.
For, they contribute to the needy,
And through the ages, they prove themselves just;
So their trumpets will be lifted in glory.
But in anger, the sinners will see this…
They’ll grind their teeth, and then melt away
Along with the things they desired.
His servants should all praise Jehovah…
Yes, praise the Name of the Lord.
May the Name Jehovah be praised
Both now and into the ages.
From the time the sun rises until it descends,
It praises the Name of the Lord.
For Jehovah is above all the nations,
And His glory exists in the heavens.
Who else is like Jehovah our God,
The One that dwells in high places?
To the humble, He pays close attention…
Both those in the heavens and those on the earth.
He raises the poor from the ground,
And from cesspools, He raises the needy.
Then He sits them next to the rulers…
Those that are over His people.
He provides homes for the childless,
And large houses for those that have many.
After IsraEl left Egypt,
And the house of Jacob fled the barbaric;
Judah was chosen for [God’s] Holy Place,
And IsraEl was His power to accomplish.
So, when the sea beheld them, it shied away,
And the JorDan turned around and flowed backward.
Then the mountains started leaping like rams,
And the hills were behaving like lambs.
What was it with you, O sea…
Why did you withdraw from before them…
Yes, why did you move away,
And JorDan, why did you flow backward?
You mountains; Why were you leaping like rams,
And Hills, why were you behaving like lambs?
In the presence [of the Lord], the ground rattled…
It shivered before Jacob’s God.
For, from a rock, He brought water,
And from stone, He chiseled a spring.
Don’t just do it for us, O Jehovah…
Don’t just do it for our sakes!
Do it to glorify Your Name,
And to show them all Your mercy and truth,
So the nations won’t ever have a reason to ask,
‘What has become of your God?’
Our God dwells in the heavens,
And on the earth, He does as He wishes.
Yet, the nations worship idols of silver and gold…
Things that are made by men’s hands.
These idols have mouths that can’t speak;
They also have eyes that can’t see;
Though they have ears, they cannot hear,
And their noses smell nothing at all.
They have hands with which they can’t grab things;
And though they have feet, they can’t walk,
Nor can they speak with their throats.
So, let those that made them, be like them,
Along with all that are bowing before them.
The house of IsraEl puts faith in Jehovah;
For, He’s their defender and helper.
The house of Aaron puts hope in the Lord;
For, He’s their defender and helper.
All those that are fearing Jehovah
Are those that put trust in their Lord;
For, He’s their defender and helper.
Jehovah remembered and blest us…
The house of IsraEl, He blest,
And the house of Aaron, He blest…
He has blest both the great and the small…
All that put trust in the Lord.
May the Lord provide for you and your sons…
May you all be blest by Jehovah…
The One that created the heavens and earth.
And though the heavens belong to [our God],
To the sons of men, He gave the earth.
The dead will not praise You, Jehovah,
Nor will those that are going into the grave.
It is only the living that will offer You praise,
Both now and into the ages.
I love the fact that Jehovah will listen
To the words of [my prayers].
He leans His ears down to hear [what I pray],
So I’ll call upon Him through the rest of my days.
In the pangs of death, I once had been wrapped,
And fear of the grave was around me;
So, I was afflicted and grieved.
But I called out in the Name of the Lord:
‘O Jehovah, please rescue my soul!’
Merciful and just is Jehovah,
For our God is the One who shows mercy.
And this Lord who humbles and saves me
Also keeps watch over the young.
O my soul; Return to your restful state,
For Jehovah has watched over you.
O my soul; He has saved you from death,
And He has removed the tears from your eyes
By keeping your feet from taking wrong steps.
So, to Jehovah, I wish to be pleasing,
And to stay in the land of the living.
I was too proud and that’s why I spoke;
But thereafter, I learned to be humble.
For in ecstasy, I once said
That every man is a liar.
With what can I repay Jehovah
For all that He’s done for me?
I’ll accept His cup of salvation,
And continue to call on the Name of the Lord.
I will render my vows to Jehovah
Before all of His people.
For, when His holy ones die,
They’re never forgotten by God.
O Jehovah; I am Your servant…
I’m the son of Your female slave,
And it’s You who tore off my shackles.
So I’ll offer sacrifices of praise,
As I call on the Name of the Lord.
To You, I will pay whatever I vow
There in front of Your people…
There in Your Temple courtyard
In JeruSalem’s midst.
Praise Jehovah, you nations…
May He be praised by you all.
For His mercy upon us is strong,
And His truth endures through the ages.
Praise Jehovah, because He is good,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
May the house of IsraEl say, ‘He is good,
And His mercies endure through the ages.’
May Aaron’s house say, ‘He is good,
And His mercies endure through the ages.’
May those fearing Jehovah say, ‘He is good,
And His mercies endure through the ages.’
In my time of distress, I called to the Lord,
And He answered my prayers in great ways.
Jehovah’s my helper, so I will not fear;
For, what can men do to me?
And because Jehovah’s my helper,
I will also judge those that hate me.
It is better to yield to Jehovah
Than to give in to men.
It is better to hope in the Lord
Than to trust in your rulers.
Many nations once had me surrounded,
But in the Name of the Lord, I pushed them away.
Yes, they once had me encircled;
But, though they had me surrounded,
In the Name, Jehovah, I pushed them away.
As bees on a comb, I was covered;
But, they were then burned like thorn bushes…
In the Name of the Lord, I pushed them away.
I was stabbed and fell flat on the ground,
Then the Lord took hold of my [hand].
So, Jehovah’s my strength and my song of praise…
He has become my Salvation…
He’s the voice of shouting in joy,
And the Savior of the tents of the righteous.
Jehovah’s right hand showed its power,
And by His right hand, I was lifted…
Yes, the Lord’s right hand showed its power.
So, I will not die, I will live,
And I’ll speak of the works of Jehovah.
By Jehovah, I once was corrected,
So He didn’t hand me over to death.
The gates of justice were opened to me,
So through them, I’ll walk and confess to the Lord.
Yes, this is the gate of Jehovah,
Through which the righteous will pass.
Because You heard me, I will confess,
That You are truly my Savior.
So, the stone that the builders rejected
Has become the foundation cornerstone…
It’s by Jehovah that this came to pass,
And in our eyes, it’s a beautiful thing.
This day was made by Jehovah,
And for it, we’ll cry out in joy:
‘O Jehovah, please save us!
O Lord, please bless all our ways!
And blest is this one that comes in God’s Name…
In the House of Jehovah, we’ll praise him!’
Our God Jehovah is shining on us;
So, gather for a great holiday!
Come with many sacrifices
To present them on the horns of the Altar.
You’re my God, and I will confess
That You are my Lord, and I’ll hold You high.
I’ll confess that You have listened to me,
And explain that You are my Savior.
I’ll confess to Jehovah, because He is good,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
Those that are spotless are blest…
Those that obey the Laws of Jehovah.
And blest are those that search for His [words]…
Those that seek Him with their whole hearts.
But, those that practice what’s lawless
Will never walk in His ways.
You’ve told us to follow Your orders;
So, straighten our paths to follow Your Laws,
Then we will never be shamed
By failing to keep Your Commandments.
To You I’ll confess with a pure heart,
And I’ll study Your judgments and justice.
I will always follow Your Laws,
So that You will never desert me!
How can a young man keep his ways straight?
By wholeheartedly obeying Your words.
So, from my heart, I’ve inquired of You,
And from Your Commandments, don’t push me away!
I’ve hidden Your prophecies deep in my heart,
So against You, I will not sin.
May You be praised, O Jehovah…
Please teach me [all of] Your ways!
With my lips, I’ll declare the decisions
That have come from Your mouth.
I’ve found delight in the things that You’ve said,
And I view them as greater than treasure.
On Your Commandments, I will meditate,
And I’ll contemplate all Your ways.
I’ll also think of Your Laws,
And never forget what You’ve promised.
So, bless and enliven Your servant,
And I will do as You’ve told me.
Uncover my eyes and I’ll contemplate
The wondrous ways of Your Laws.
I’m just a sojourner on earth,
So, please don’t hide Your Commandments from me.
For my soul has longed for Your judgments…
They’re the things that I’ve always desired.
You have scolded the proud,
And those that reject Your Commandments are cursed.
So, take away my scorn and contempt;
For I’ve searched through the proofs that You’ve sent.
But against Your servant, the rulers speak badly,
Though I have pondered Your ways.
I’ve thought of the proofs You’ve provided,
And Your Laws have been my advice.
Though my soul has been pushed to the ground,
Your Word has kept me alive.
My [foolish] ways, I’ve admitted to you,
And You have heard [all my prayers].
So, teach me Your rulesand show Me Your Laws…
Teach me to fully understand them,
And to contemplate all Your wonders.
My soul was asleep and indifferent;
But now, make me firm in Your words.
Remove injustice from all of my ways,
And let Your Laws teach me mercy.
The way of truth, I have chosen,
And Your decisions, I’ve never forgotten.
In Your just paths, I have always remained,
So Lord, don’t put me to shame.
Toward Your Commandments, I’ve run
From the time that You widened my heart.
So, establish Your Laws deep within me,
And I’ll follow them always, O Lord.
Please teach me to understand,
And I will search for Your Laws,
Then guard them with my whole heart.
Toward Your Commandments, please lead me;
For they’re what I’ve always desired.
Lean my heart toward Your righteous ways,
And remove my desire for wealth.
To my eyes, please give good direction,
So they’ll never desire what is foolish.
Enliven me in Your ways,
And send Your servant an omen of fear!
Remove my scorn and the things that I dread;
For, all Your decisions are kind.
Your Commandments, I’ve always desired;
So, make me alive in Your righteous ways.
Then send me Your mercies, O Lord…
And as You once promised, please save me,
So I will be able to give a reply
To those that speak ill of me,
And I can put faith in Your words.
Don’t remove Your words of truth from my mouth;
For, in Your judgments, I have raised hopes.
I’ll guard Your Laws through the ages
And into the age of the ages.
Because I have searched Your Commandments,
My life has become more important…
I have spoken of Your ways before kings,
And for this, I have never been shamed.
On Your Commandments, I have pondered,
And I’ve come to love them so dearly.
I’ve sworn to obey all Your orders…
I’ve considered and loved all Your rules.
Remember Your words to Your servant,
For, they have given me hope.
They’ve provided me comfort in times of shame,
And Your signs have given me life.
Though the proud have all been unjust;
From Your Laws, I’ve not turned away.
Through the age, I’ve remembered Your rules;
And Jehovah, they’ve brought me much comfort.
Because of the sinners, I was depressed…
By those who’ve abandoned Your Laws.
But Your rules became like music to me,
And [remain within me] wherever I go.
During the night, I think of Your Name;
And Jehovah, I’ve followed Your Laws.
All the [good] that has happened to me,
Has come because I’ve searched for Your ways.
O Lord, You’re the share I was given,
And of guarding Your Laws, I have spoken.
With my whole heart, I’ve begged to Your face,
‘Show mercy on me as You’ve promised.’
Though against Your ways, I once argued;
My feet then turned toward the things that You said.
So, I’ve prepared to keep Your Commandments,
And by them, I won’t be disturbed.
Though in the cords of the sinners, I’ve been twisted;
I’ve not forgotten Your Laws.
So at midnight, I wake up to thank You
For Your decisions and justice.
I’m a partner to all those that fear You…
To those that obey Your Commandments.
For the earth is filled with Your mercy,
And I have learned from Your rules.
You’ve used Your servant to do what is good,
According to Your Word, O Jehovah.
Now, teach me to know what is right
And to ever trust in Your judgments.
I was a sinner before I was humbled;
But since then, I’ve guarded Your words.
You’ve provided so kindly for me, O my Lord,
So in kindness, please teach me Your Laws.
The injustice of the proud is a burden to me;
But I’ll seek Your Commandments with my whole heart.
Though the hearts of such ones have curdled like milk,
I have still pondered Your Laws.
It’s good that I have been humbled by You,
So I’d learn to follow Your rules.
For to me, the Laws that come from Your mouth
Are worth more than silver and gold.
It was Your hands that made me and shaped me;
So, help me to understand better
And to comprehend Your Commandments.
Now, those that fear You, rejoice when they see me,
For I’ve raised their hopes through Your words.
O Jehovah;
Through Your judgments, I’ve learned to be just,
And by Your truth, I’ve been humbled.
May Your mercy bring comfort to me
As You’ve revealed to Your servant in signs.
Show compassion on me and I’ll live,
So I can continue to study Your Laws.
May the proud be shamed for treating me badly;
For, they have broken Your Laws,
While I’ve kept Your Commandments in mind.
May those that fear You support me…
Those who’ve heard the things that You’ve said.
So, put Your rules in my heart,
Then I will never be shamed.
Yes, Your salvation is what I have sought,
And Your words have given me hope.
My eyes have failed as I’ve searched for Your signs;
So, when will You send me some comfort?
Though I’m like a leather bag in the frost,
I haven’t forgotten Your rules.
How many more days will Your servant remain,
And when will You judge those who chase me?
For lawbreakers are plotting against me,
But not by Your Laws, O Jehovah.
Your Commandments are true… so please help me!
For, they’re chasing me down for no reason.
Yes, soon they will wipe me out of this land,
Though I’ve never left Your Commandments.
In Your mercy, please strengthen my soul,
And I’ll guard the words that have come from Your mouth.
For, through the ages, O [God],
Your Words have been in the heavens…
From one generation to another,
Your truth has always [been found] there.
You laid the foundations of the earth,
And it has continued to be…
It’s at Your choosing that each day arrives;
For, it’s all under Your power.
Had I not thought of Your Laws,
In shame, I’d have now been destroyed.
So, don’t let me forget Your rules through the age,
Since they have given me life.
Because I’m Yours, please save me;
For, I have searched for Your rules!
But sinners now wait to destroy me,
Because I have followed Your ways.
When I thought that I was seeing the end,
Your Commandments brought me [more] time.
So I’ve loved Your Laws, O Jehovah;
Throughout the whole day, they stay on my mind.
For You’ve made me wiser than my enemies,
And Your Commandments are mine through the age.
I’ve seen more than all those that taught me,
Because I’ve obeyed Your instructions.
I’ve also seen more than the elders,
Because I’ve searched for Your rules.
I’ve held back my feet from what’s evil,
So I can guard all Your words.
From Your judgments, I’ve not turned aside,
And You have established my laws.
How sweet to my throat are the things that You say…
They’re like honey inside of my mouth.
And from Your Commandments I have learned
To hate the ways of injustice.
Your Law is a lamp to my feet,
And it is a light to my paths.
So I’ve stood before You and sworn with an oath
To guard Your justice and judgments.
O Jehovah; I have been knocked down;
So, lift me back up, as You promised.
The offerings that come from my mouth
Bring pleasure to me, O my Lord.
So, teach me all Your decisions.
O Lord;
My life is now in Your hands,
And Your Laws, I haven’t forgotten.
Though sinners set snares in my paths,
From Your Commandments, I’ve never strayed.
I’ve inherited Your proofs through the age,
And they’ve made my heart leap for joy.
I’ve inclined my heart to follow Your rules
Through the age, in repayment to You.
I have detested lawbreakers,
And I have loved all Your rules.
So, You are my helper and shield,
And by Your words, I have raised other’s hopes.
Please turn me away from what’s wicked,
And for Your Commandments, I’ll search.
Take hold of me, [as You promised] in signs…
Make me strong and don’t shame my faith.
Send me help and I will be saved…
For I’ll always think of Your rules.
But, those that turned from me in contempt
Have broken Your Laws with unrighteous thoughts…
This land’s sinners are breaking Your Laws,
While I’ve loved the things that You’ve said.
Though they nailed up my flesh with no fear of You,
I continued to fear Your decisions,
Which taught me Your judgments and justice…
So don’t save those that are treating me badly.
Keep an eye on Your servant for good…
Don’t allow the proud to extort me.
For my eyes await Your salvation
And to hear the sacred words of Your justice.
Deal with Your servant in mercy
And teach me all Your righteous ways.
Help me to know, for I am Your slave;
Then, I will teach [others] Your words.
It’s now time to act, O Jehovah;
For, they’ve wiped away all Your Laws!
But, I have loved Your Commandments
More than topaz or gold.
I have also followed Your Laws,
And their unrighteous ways, I have hated!
Wondrous are the proofs that You’ve given;
So, with my whole soul, I’ll search for Your words.
For, the revealing of them sheds much light,
And they bring understanding to the simple.
I’ve opened my mouth and I’ve sighed…
And for Your Commandments, I’ve longed.
So, look upon me and show mercy…
Show mercy to those that are loving Your Name.
Please straighten my steps toward the ways I should walk,
And by lawless ways, may I never be ruled.
From men’s extortions, please save me,
And I will keep Your Commandments.
Please show Your face to Your servant
And teach me Your righteous rules.
For, streams of water will flow from my eyes
Should I find myself breaking Your Laws.
You are so righteous, Jehovah,
And all Your decisions are straight.
For You’ve told us [that we must be] fair,
And the things that we say must be true.
But Your zeal is being [overlooked],
For my enemies have forgotten the things that You said…
Though the signs that You sent them were blazing like fire,
And Your servant has loved them as truth.
Because of my youth, I am shown no respect;
But Your rules, I haven’t forgotten.
Through the ages, it has proven true,
That You and Your Laws are righteous and just.
Though distress and afflictions have found me,
About Your Commandments, I’ve pondered.
Through the ages, Your words have all proven true;
So, help me to fully understand them,
That I may continue to live.
With my whole heart, I’ve cried out to You:
‘Hear me, O Lord, and I’ll search for Your rules.’
To You, I’ve called out, ‘Please save me;
And in Your righteous ways, I will walk.’
Before midnight, I called out [to You],
And in Your words, I’ve put hope.
Then, as my eyes opened at dawn,
I noticed the signs You provided.
In mercy, O Jehovah, please hear my voice…
In Your justice, please save my life!
Turn from those who chase me unjustly;
For, they have turned from Your Laws.
You are always near me, O Lord,
And truthful are all of Your ways.
From the beginning, I’ve known of Your words,
And they’ve served as my rock through the age.
Look down and save me, so I’m not disgraced,
For I’ve not forgotten Your Laws.
Judge my case and [give justice]…
For the sake of Your Word, let me live!
Take me away from the sinners…
Those who haven’t searched for Your rules.
But, You are filled with compassion, O Lord…
With Your righteous decisions, please save my life.
Though many are trying to drive me away,
And many are those that oppress me;
I haven’t strayed from Your words.
I’ve seen others that are lacking good sense,
And because they don’t follow Your words,
They are just wasting away.
Notice how I’ve loved Your Commandments, O Lord!
So in mercy, please save my life!
For Your words have been true from the start…
Age-long are Your judgments and justice.
Without any reason, I’m being pursued,
And my heart is in dread of Your words.
But I’ll shout in praise if You’ll send me a sign,
As one that has found great rewards.
I’ve detested and abhorred all injustice,
And Your Law, I have always loved.
7 times each day, I praise Your decisions,
And I think well of Your justice.
Peace comes to those that are loving Your Laws,
And nothing can stand in their way.
So, in Your salvation, I’ve trusted, O God,
Because I have loved Your Commandments.
My soul has guarded Your words…
I can prove how I truly have loved them.
I have kept Your words and Commandments,
And my ways, O Jehovah, are open before You.
O Lord, please hear what I’m begging,
And help me to understand all Your signs.
If You find me worthy, please let me approach…
Save me, as You’ve shown me through omens.
Then, with my lips, I’ll sing hymns,
And I’ll let You teach me Your rules.
With my tongue, I will sing of Your omens,
And of how Your Commandments are righteous.
Please send Your hand down to save me,
For I’ve accepted all Your Commandments.
Your salvation is what I have longed for, O Lord,
And I’ve meditated on all of Your Laws.
So, if You’ll allow me to live,
I will [continue to] praise You,
And Your decisions will serve as my guide.
But, I have strayed like a lamb
That would have perished alone.
So, please come and search for Your servant,
For Your Commandments, I’ve never forgotten.
In my despair, I called to the Lord,
And to [my prayer], He then listened.
‘From unrighteous lips, please save me, O Lord…
[Save me] from those with deceitful tongues.
‘What can I give and what can I add
When it comes to those with tongues that tell lies?
For against me, the arrows of the mighty
Are now being sharpened in coals.
‘I’ve run far away to escape them,
And in [the Valley of] Cedars, I’ve camped.
My soul was forced to run off and hide
From these men that hate peaceful ways…
Though I’ve spoken mildly to them,
They’ve battled with me for no reason.’
I’ve lifted my eyes toward that Mountain
From which I receive all my aid.
For, my help all comes from Jehovah…
The One that made the heavens and earth.
He will never let your feet stumble,
For the One that keeps watch doesn’t sleep…
No, IsraEl’s protector never slumbers.
Jehovah’s your guard and protector…
He’s always at your right hand.
So by day, the sun won’t beat down upon you,
Nor will the moon, in the night.
Jehovah will protect you from evil,
For the Lord watches over your soul.
Jehovah will guard your comings and goings,
From now and into the ages.
I’m overjoyed when they tell me,
‘To the house of Jehovah, we’ll go,
And we’ll stand within JeruSalem’s gates.’
JeruSalem was built as a city
That we can all share together,
And the tribes of Jehovah go up there;
For, this is required by IsraEl’s Law.
There sits the throne from which judgments come…
The throne of the house of [King] David.
It’s where you can [pray] for JeruSalem’s peace,
And prosperity for all whom you love.
[Pray], ‘Let there be peace for our army,
And prosperity for our fortified towns.
On behalf of my brothers and neighbors,
I pray for peace upon all…
I’ve come to the [House] of Jehovah our God
To pray for good things [to come].’
I have lifted my eyes
To the One that lives in the heavens.
For, as the eyes of a slave look to his master,
And as the eyes of a handmaid look to her lady;
Our eyes should look to Jehovah, our God
Until He shows His pity for us.
Show mercy upon us, Jehovah…
Please extend Your mercy to us!
For, we’ve been treated with much disrespect…
Our lives have been filled with the scorn of the rich,
And with the contempt of the haughty.
Unless Jehovah is with us…
Say it, O IsraEl!
Unless Jehovah is with us,
The men that attack will swallow us down…
In their rage, we would have been drowned,
And their streams would have taken our lives…
Their raging waters would have taken our lives!
So, praise Jehovah, because He provides,
And we won’t be given as game for their teeth.
Like sparrows, our lives will be rescued
From the traps of men that are hunting us down.
Yes, their snares have been broken and we have been saved,
Since we’ve looked to the Name of Jehovah for aid…
The One that made the heavens and earth.
All those that put faith in Jehovah
Are like those [that live on] Mount Zion.
For, those that live in JeruSalem
Have remained firm through the ages.
And as [that city’s] surrounded by mountains,
The Lord will encircle His people
From now and through eons of time.
For, He won’t allow whips of sinners
To [fall on the backs] of the righteous…
They won’t be stretched out before them,
Or by their hands, be mistreated.
O Jehovah; do good for those doing good
And for those whose hearts have been straight.
But remove those that are turning toward badness…
Take them away with the lawless, O Lord;
Then in IsraEl, may there be peace!
When Jehovah returns Zion’s captives,
It will bring comfort to us.
With joyful [cries], our mouths will be filled,
And our tongues will be shouting cheers.
Then, those of the nations will say,
‘Jehovah has proven Himself to be great
By the ways that He is dealing with them.’
Yes, He will prove Himself great
By the good ways that He treats us…
Yes, He will make us all joyful!
O Jehovah, please bring back our captives,
As water returns to the streams in the south.
Then, those that are planting with tears
Will harvest with cries that are joyful.
For the ones who’ve been taken are gone,
So those scattering seeds, now do so with tears.
But, when they return, we’ll be shouting in joy
As we carry our sheaves [to Your Temple].
If the house isn’t built by Jehovah,
Its builders have [worked hard] in vain.
And if He isn’t guarding a city,
It’s in vain to stay awake and keep watch…
Though they arise early and go to bed late,
It will all be in vain.
O you that must eat bread of grief;
He will still bring rest to those whom He loves.
{Look!} The inheritance of Jehovah is sons,
And your wage is the fruit of the belly.
For the sons born to you are like arrows
In the hands of the mighty.
So, those filling their [quivers] with [sons] are the blest,
For, they will not be disgraced
When they must oppose enemies
That have arrived at their gates.
Blest are those in fear of Jehovah…
Those that walk in His ways.
For from the works of their hands, they will eat…
They will be blest and all will go well.
Your women will prosper like grape vines,
Which grow on the walls of your homes.
And your sons will be like young olive trees,
As they sit ‘round your table.
{Look!} Those that fear Jehovah are blest…
Yes, may He bless them from Zion.
May they all see good from JeruSalem
Throughout the rest of their lives…
May they live to see the sons of their sons,
And on IsraEl, may there be peace!
Many times, they’ve waged war against me
Since the time of my youth…
Say it, O IsraEl!
Many times, they’ve waged war against me
Since the time of my youth,
Yet, they’ve been unable to beat me.
Behind my back, the sinners conspired,
As they continued in their lawless ways.
But [our God Jehovah] is righteous,
For He’s chopped them off at their necks.
Let them be shamed and be forced to retreat…
All those that are hating Mount Zion.
Let them become like grass on the roofs
After it’s pulled up and dried.
Why hasn’t the harvester filled up his hands,
Or collected the sheaves to his chest?
Because, those passing by didn’t offer this blessing:
‘We bless you in the Name of the Lord.’
I cried out to You from the depths, O my Lord:
‘O Jehovah, please hear my voice…
May Your ears hear the words of my prayers!
‘If You just look upon our lawless ways;
O Lord, who’ll be able to stand?
But, though we have reason to fear You,
You have covered our sins.
‘Because of Your Name, I’ve waited for You…
O Jehovah; My soul has awaited Your word…
My soul has put hope in the Lord
From early-watches until late at night.’
Let IsraEl put faith in Jehovah,
For in mercy, He has paid our ransom…
IsraEl has been repurchased by Him
From their own lawless ways.
O Jehovah; I haven’t exalted my heart,
Nor have my eyes been too lofty.
I haven’t traveled with great ones,
Nor in the wonders of those who’re above me…
For if I’ve failed to be humble, I’ve sinned!
But now, my life has been raised
As one that’s been weaned from his mother.
So, please ransom my soul,
And may IsraEl put faith in Jehovah
From now and into the ages.
O Lord; remember [King] David,
And all of his gentle ways.
For he swore an oath to Jehovah…
To the God of Jacob, he made this vow:
‘When I get home and I go to bed,
Could I let my eyes fall asleep
Or my eyelids to slumber as I rest in my house,
Before I find a place for Jehovah…
A Tent for the God of Jacob [to dwell]?’
Look! We’ve heard it was there in EphRatha…
It was found in the plains among groves.
So we went to His Tent and we bowed there,
In the land that serves as His footstool.
Now, arise from Your rest, O Jehovah,
And visit the Chest in Your Most Holy Place.
Then Your Priests will make themselves righteous,
And Your holy ones will cry out in joy.
Then, from [King] David Your servant…
From Your anointed, You’ll not turn away.
For Jehovah swore this to David as truth,
And He will never annul it:
‘On your throne, I’ll establish the fruit of your belly.
So, if your sons guard My Sacred Agreement
And obey all the rules that I’ll teach them;
Through the ages, their sons will sit on your throne.’
Now, Jehovah has chosen [Mount] Zion…
He took it as His place to dwell when He said:
‘Here, I will rest through ages of ages…
It’s [the place that] I’ve chosen and where I will stay.
‘I will bless the blest among her wild beasts,
And with bread, I will fill up her poor.
Her Priests, I’ll clothe with salvation,
And her holy ones will sing songs of joy.
‘There, I will raise David’s trumpet,
And for My anointed, I’ll prepare a lamp.
Then I’ll clothe his enemies with shame,
And on him, I’ll make holiness blossom.’
{Look!} How good and delightful it is
When brothers can all live together.
It’s like perfumed oil that runs down the beard…
Upon Aaron’s beard and then down his clothes.
It’s like the dew on [Mount] HerMon
That runs to the mountains of Zion.
For it’s there that Jehovah gave meaning
To the blessing of life through the ages.
Praise Jehovah, His servants…
Those that stand in the House of the Lord…
Those that stand in the courtyards
Of the House of our God throughout the night.
Raise your hands to His Holy Place,
And give praise to the Lord.
May Jehovah bless you from Zion…
The One that made the lands and skies.
Praise the Name of the Lord…
Yes, praise Jehovah, His servants…
All you that stand in His Temple…
In the courtyards of the House of our God.
Praise Jehovah, because He is good…
Play music to His Glorious Name.
For, He chose Jacob as His own…
IsraEl is the Lord’s prized possession.
I know that Jehovah is great,
And our Lord is higher than all other gods.
He’s done His Will in the Heavens and earth,
As well as in the seas and their depths.
He leads the clouds from the ends of the earth…
He made the lightning and rain,
And He brings the winds from His storehouse.
He struck the firstborn of Egypt…
All those from men to their cattle.
Signs and wonders, He sent to [that land]…
Upon PharaOh and all of his servants.
He’s the One that struck many nations,
And brought death to their mightiest kings.
There was SeOn, the Amorite king,
As well as Og, king of BaShan,
And all the kingdoms of CanaAn.
Then He gave us their lands to inherit…
For IsraEl (His people) to own.
O Jehovah;
Your fame [will last] through the ages…
For generations, it’s how You’ll be known.
Jehovah will judge all His people,
And they will bring Him much comfort.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold…
They’re just the works of men’s hands.
A mouth they have, but they cannot speak;
Eyes they have, but they cannot see;
Ears they have, but they cannot hear,
Nor have they any breath in their mouths.
So, may those that made them be like them,
As well as all those that serve them.
O House of IsraEl, give praise to Jehovah!
O House of Aaron, give praise to Jehovah!
O House of Levi, give praise to Jehovah…
All those fearing the Lord, praise Jehovah!
May Jehovah be praised in JeruSalem…
Praise [the God] that tents upon Zion.
Let’s confess to Jehovah, because He is good,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
Let’s confess to the God of all gods,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
Let’s confess to the Lord of all lords,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
Only He does things that are wondrous and great,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
He crafted the skies with great skill,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
Over water, He raised solid ground,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
He alone made the lights [in the skies],
And His mercies endure through the ages.
He made the sun the ruler of day,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
The moon and stars, He made rulers of night,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
He’s the One that struck the firstborn of Egypt,
And His mercies endure through the ages.
Then, from their midst, He led IsraEl,
For His mercies endure through the ages,
With His arm and hand lifted high,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
Then He split apart the Red Sea,
For His mercies endure through the ages;
And through its midst, He led IsraEl,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
He shook PharaOh and his army into the sea,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
Then He led His people into the desert,
For His mercies endure through the ages;
And there, great kings, He struck down,
For His mercies endure through the ages…
Yes, many strong kings He destroyed there,
For His mercies endure through the ages,
Such as SeOn the Amorite king,
For His mercies endure through the ages,
As well as Og, king of BaShan,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
Then, as our inheritance, He gave us their land,
For His mercies endure through the ages…
An inheritance to IsraEl, His servant,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
He didn’t forget us when we shamed ourselves,
For His mercies endure through the ages;
He ransomed us from our enemies’ hands,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
Then, He nourished our flesh,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
So, confess to God, O you heavens,
For His mercies endure through the ages.
At Babylon’s rivers we sat,
And we wept, as we thought of [Mount] Zion.
And there in [Babylon’s] midst,
We hung our instruments on willows.
For there, our captors had asked us
To sing the words of our psalms…
Yes, those that took us away, dared to say:
‘From the odes of Zion, please sing us a song.’
But, how can we sing the songs of the Lord,
There in an alien land?
O [City of] JeruSalem;
Should I ever forget you,
May I also forget my right hand.
May my tongue stick to the [roof of my mouth]
If I ever fail to remember
And prefer the joys of JeruSalem,
Which I had known long ago.
Remember the sons of Edom, O Lord,
In JeruSalem’s day…
Those that said, ‘Make it empty…
Cut it down to its very foundations!’
O miserable daughters of Babylon;
Blest are those who’ll repay you
With the same sort of payment that you sent to us…
Yes, blest is the one who’ll grab hold of you
And dash your infants on rocks!
With my whole heart, I thank You, O Lord,
And I’ll sing Your psalms before angels…
May You hear these words that will come from my mouth.
I’ll bow toward Your Holy Temple,
And I will give thanks to Your Name.
Because of Your mercy and truth,
[I will sing] about Your Holy Name
That You have raised above all.
In whatever day that I call upon You,
Please quickly answer my prayer,
And give my soul the strength to endure.
Let all kings of the earth give thanks to You,
For they’ve heard all the words that came from Your mouth.
Then, let them sing of the ways of the Lord,
For the glory of Jehovah is great.
Though Jehovah is higher than all,
He still watches out for the lowly,
While the haughty, He sees from afar.
Though I’ve had to walk through difficult times,
It was You who gave me the strength.
And against my enemy’s rage,
You thereafter, lifted Your hands,
And with Your right hand, You saved me.
O Jehovah… repay them for me,
For Your mercy, O Lord, lasts through ages…
Don’t overlook the works of Your hands!
O Jehovah, You’ve known me and tried me.
You knew me when I got up or sat down…
From far away, You’ve known all my thoughts.
You’ve traced out my path through bent grass,
And looked ahead to the ways that I’ll go;
So, You know that there’s no deceit on my tongue.
O Jehovah; there’s nothing that You do not know…
Both the things that have past and the things that will be.
It was You who shaped me and made me…
You laid me out in [the palm] of Your hand.
So the knowledge of You brings me wonder and strength,
And no way can I fully comprehend it.
Where could I go [to hide] from Your Breath,
And where could I flee from Your presence?
If I flew to the sky, You would be there;
And I will still be in Your hand
When I must go to the place of the dead.
If I could grow wings [and fly toward] the dawn,
Or if I could camp at the ends of the seas,
Your hand would be there to guide me,
And in Your right hand, You would hold me.
I said, ‘I’ll surely be trampled by darkness,
And around me, the light will turn into night.’
But the dark isn’t darkness to You…
Night is as day and darkness as light.
For, You [have examined] my kidneys,
And it’s You that took me from my mother’s womb;
So, I will offer You praise.
The wonders of Your works, I’ve thought of in fear…
And the man within me knows this is true.
Even my bones weren’t hidden from You
When You made me in secret.
When I was conceived on the earth,
You saw me before I was finished;
For, You write the lives of all men in Your scroll
On the day they are formed and alone.
How precious are Your thoughts, O my God;
They’ve been mighty ever since the beginning.
And if I were able to count them,
They’d be more than the sands [of the seas]…
Yet, when I wake up You’re still with me.
Please destroy the sinners, O God…
Turn [Your face] from all men of blood!
For, concerning their thoughts, You have said,
‘They’ve acted like fools in My [land].’
O Lord, I hate all that hate You,
And against Your enemies, I have shown zeal.
In perfect hatred, I’ve learned to detest them,
And they are my enemies also.
So, try me, O God, and examine my heart…
Search me through and know all my paths.
See if any lawless ways are within me,
Then guide me toward the paths of the ages.
Please take me away, O Jehovah,
From all of these wicked men…
Save me from the unrighteous…
Those whose hearts are unrighteous all day,
And are always ready for war!
For like snakes, they have sharpened their tongues,
And the poison of asps is under their lips.
From the hands of sinners, please guard me, O Lord…
Remove me from the unrighteous…
Those who’ve laid plans to stumble my feet.
For against me, the proud have hidden their snares…
Ropes, they’ve held out to trip me,
And obstacles they’ve placed in my path.
I said to Jehovah, ‘You are my God;
O Lord, please hear the sounds of my prayers!
O Mighty Lord, who else can save me?
Watch over my head in the day of the war.’
O Lord; don’t grant them the things that they want…
Those sinners that are railing against me…
Don’t leave me, so they won’t grow [stronger].
Bring trouble to those that surround me,
And thereafter, close up their lips.
Into coals of fire, please throw them…
In a miserable place where they’ll not rise again!
May those slandering me never prosper…
May the unrighteous hunt them like prey
And search for great ways to harm them.
I know that Jehovah keeps watch on the poor,
And He stands up for the needy.
So, may the righteous sing songs to His Name,
And may the upright dwell in [the light] of His face.
O Jehovah, I’ve called out to You;
So, please pay attention to my cries.
May my prayers rise before You like incense,
And the raising of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
O Jehovah; set a watch for my mouth
And a fortress door for my lips.
Don’t allow wicked words to enter my heart,
Or the deeds of the lawless to become my excuse.
If I’ve ever been guilty of taking their things,
May the righteous correct and rebuke me.
May I not be considered a friend to the wicked,
And may my prayers be in opposition
To all the things they desire.
For their judges were swallowed down next to the rocks,
So they didn’t hear the sweet words I’ve spoken.
The ground beneath them ripped open,
And pulled their bones into the grave.
In You, O Jehovah my Lord,
My eyes have trusted in the hope
That You will keep watch on my life.
So, keep me away from the snares that they’ve hidden…
The obstacles that the lawless have set.
Within their own nets, may those sinners be caught,
And may they remain there until I’ve passed by.
With my voice, I cried to Jehovah…
Before Him, I [bowed down to] beg.
I poured out before Him the things that I need,
And I spoke of how I am being oppressed.
For He knows that my spirit has failed me,
And they’ve hidden their snares on the roads that I walk.
Then I looked to the right and I noticed
There was no one around whom I knew…
There was also nowhere to run,
And about my life, no one was concerned.
So I cried out to Him, ‘O Jehovah!
I’m calling to You, for You are my hope…
Since You’re all that I have in the land of the living,
Please listen to the things that I’m begging;
For before You, I’ve humbled my soul.
‘Save me from those that pursue me,
Because they are stronger than me.
Lead my soul out of this prison
So that I can keep praising Your Name.
Then the righteous will gather around me,
Because of the goodness You’ve shown.’
Please hear my prayer, O Jehovah…
In Your truth, hear the things that I beg!
Listen to me in Your justice,
And please don’t pass judgment on me.
For I know that none of the living
Can ever be righteous before You.
My enemy had chased me and humbled my soul…
My life had been cut to the ground!
And through the rest of the age,
He’d have me thrown into the darkness
That is reserved for the dead.
So the spirit within me was troubled,
And my heart was very disturbed.
Then, days of old, I remembered…
I thought of the things that You’ve done,
And I pondered the works of Your hands.
So I opened my [arms] and spread them to You,
For my life had become like a desert.
Then, quickly You heard me, Jehovah…
[Before] I had to give up my breath.
So from me, please don’t turn Your face,
Or make me like those going into the pit.
May I be heard in the morning once more;
For, I have put faith in Your mercy.
O Jehovah; please show me the way I should go,
For to You, I have lifted my soul.
From those that hate me, please save me, O Lord;
For I’ve taken refuge in You.
You are my God, so teach me Your Will;
For Your Spirit is good and will serve as my guide
To lead me in paths that are straight.
Because of Your Name, O Jehovah;
You will allow me to live,
And Your justice will lead me away
From all of this pain in my life.
To my enemies, please send destruction,
And please show mercy on me…
Wipe away those who’re trying to kill me,
For, I am Your servant, O Lord.
Praise Jehovah my God
Who has taught my hands to fight battles,
And the arts of war to my fingers.
He’s my mercy, my refuge, and shield…
He is my defender and Savior.
Since He made my people obey me,
In Him, I have put all my hope.
What is mankind to You, O Jehovah,
That to us, You’d make Yourself known,
Or the son of man, that You’d think about him?
For we really don’t have any value,
And our days pass by like the shadows.
O Jehovah; lean down from Your heavens…
Touch the mountains and cause them to smoke.
Shoot Your arrows to disturb them…
Flash lightning and drive them away.
Reach Your hand down from the heights,
Then grab me out of the water…
From the sons of strangers, please save me!
For, with their mouths, they say foolish things,
And their right hands are filled with unrighteous ways.
O God; to You, I will sing a new song,
Which I’ll play on my harp of 10 strings:
‘Please bring salvation to this king…
From the sword, save David, Your servant!
‘From these sons of strangers, please save me.
For their mouths have said foolish things,
And their right hands are filled with unrighteous ways.
‘Whose sons are these… they’re like new-planted seeds,
Which feel secure in their youth.
Their daughters are well dressed and brightly adorned…
As nicely as you’d see in a temple.
‘Their storerooms are all overflowing,
And their sheep are very prolific…
For they multiply in the streets,
While their oxen have grown thick [and strong].
‘None of their fences are broken;
None of their streams are [befouled];
And no crying is heard in their squares.
‘Rather, bless the people of whom this is true…
Bless those whose God is Jehovah!’
I’ll raise Your [Name] high, my God and my King,
And through the age and the age of the ages,
I will [sing] praises about You.
I will praise Your Name every day…
I’ll praise Your Name through the rest of the age
And into the age of the ages.
Jehovah is great and praiseworthy…
There is no end to His greatness.
To one generation after another,
I will sing in praise of Your works
And I will report of Your power.
I’ll speak of Your majesty also,
And about Your holiness and glory;
Then, I will describe all Your wonders.
I’ll speak of Your power and Your fearful deeds,
And I will describe all Your greatness,
So the memory of all the kindness You’ve shown
Will keep on growing [among them].
Then, about Your justice, they’ll shout:
‘Jehovah is very forgiving…
He’s filled with kindness and mercy.
The Lord is benevolent also…
He shows compassion in all that He does.’
May all of Your works give praise to You…
Yes, may all of Your holy ones praise You!
May they speak of Your glorious Kingdom,
And boast of the realm of Your rule.
To all sons of men, may Your rule become known,
And the glory of the majesty of Your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a kingdom of the ages,
And Your authority is through generations.
What Jehovah says can be trusted,
And the things that He does are all holy.
He gives support to the fallen,
And He builds up all of the broken.
Yes, to You, all eyes look in hope,
And at right times, You provide them their food…
You just open Your hand,
And all living things are then filled.
Jehovah is righteous in all of His ways,
And the things that He does are all holy.
Jehovah is near to those calling on Him…
To those that call upon Him in truth.
He’ll do the will of all those that fear Him…
He’ll hear their prayers and He’ll save them.
For Jehovah guards all those that love Him,
But the sinners, He will wipe away.
So my mouth will speak in praise of Jehovah…
May all flesh speak well of His Name.
Praise Him throughout the rest of this age,
And into the age of the ages!
Praise Jehovah, my soul!
With my whole life, I’ll give praise to the Lord
And I’ll strum to my God for as long as I live!
Do not put faith in your rulers;
For, sons of men cannot save you.
Their breath goes out and they’re gone from their land…
In that day, their thoughts pass away.
Blest are those that have Jacob’s God as their aid…
Those that put trust in Jehovah…
The One that made the heavens and earth…
The seas and everything in them…
The One that guards truth through the ages…
The One that brings justice to those who’ve been wronged,
And who provides food to the hungry.
For, Jehovah releases the shackled,
And to the blind, He gives wisdom.
Those who’ve been broken, Jehovah restores,
And He loves all those that are righteous.
The Lord guards foreigners, orphans, and widows;
But the ways of sinners, He wipes away.
O Zion; Jehovah reigns through the age…
Through all generations, He is your God!
Praise Jehovah, for our God is good,
And praising Him is delightful!
For our Lord will rebuild JeruSalem,
And return all of His scattered people.
He’s the One that mends broken hearts,
And wraps all those that are broken.
He has counted all of the stars,
And He calls each one by its name.
Great is our Lord and great is His strength…
There’s no way to count all the things that He knows.
Jehovah watches over the meek,
While sinners are humbled and led to the ground.
So, take the lead in praising Jehovah…
Strum to our God on your harps!
For He made the clouds that cover the skies,
And from them, sends rain to the ground,
Which makes the grass grow on the mountains,
And shoots to sprout for men [to consume].
He’s the One that gives food to their cattle,
And to the infants of crows…
To all that are calling upon Him.
He doesn’t need the strength of a horse,
Nor has He any use for men’s legs.
But, Jehovah thinks well of all those that fear Him,
And of those that trust in His mercy.
So, praise Jehovah, JeruSalem…
O Zion, give praise to your God!
For He’s strengthened the bars on your gates,
And He allows you to give your sons blessings.
He’s the One that brings peace to your borders,
And the fatness of wheat to your bellies.
He’s the One that sends His signs to the earth,
And the things that He says happen quickly.
He sends us His snow as though it were wool,
And He strews the fog as though ashes.
Like breadcrumbs, He scatters His ice,
And who can withstand His chill?
But, by His word, it will all melt…
He can blow His breath and turn it to water.
He’s the One that gave signs to Jacob…
To IsraEl, He sent His rules and decisions.
He’s done this for no other nation…
To no other lands have His judgments been shown…
So we should [sing] praises about Him!
All you in the heavens; give praise to Jehovah…
Yes, praise Him in all the high places.
All of His angels should praise Him…
Yes, praise Him, all you in His armies!
Praise Him, O sun and moon;
Yes, praise Him, all stars and all lights!
Praise Him, O heavens of heavens,
And praise Him you waters that cover the skies!
Praise the Name of the Lord,
For He just spoke and they came to be…
He gave the instructions, and then they began!
He’s established them into the ages,
And into the age of the ages.
So, since He’s the One that set them in place,
They will not pass away.
You beasts on the ground, give praise to Jehovah,
As should those that dwell in the deep!
For fire, hail, and snow, and icy wind blasts,
All arrive by His Word,
As did the mountains and hills,
And all the fruit-bearing trees.
He’s the One that made all the cedars…
All the wild beasts and slithering things,
And all the feathered, winged creatures.
He made all the kings and their subjects…
The rulers and all of the judges…
The young men and virgins, the old and the young;
So, let them all praise the Name of the Lord!
His Name alone is the highest,
And He’s higher than all the skies and the lands;
So, all should be raising their horns
And [singing] hymns to His holy ones…
Yes, to the sons of IsraEl …
A people whom He’s held so dearly.
Sing a new song to Jehovah…
In the gatherings of the holy, sing His praises.
Let IsraEl [take pride in] their maker,
And may Zion’s sons rejoice in their king.
Then, may they all dance to His Name…
May they dance to the strumming of lutes,
And to the beating of tambourines.
Jehovah finds pleasure in His people,
And the meek, He will lift up and save.
Then the holy will boast of their glory,
And shout in joy from their beds.
They will praise God with their throats;
For with a double-edged sword in His hands,
He’s coming to punish the nations,
And to scold them for the bad things they’ve done.
He’ll tie up their kings and put them in stocks,
And put shackles of iron on their nobles.
For He’s coming to bring execution
Because of the judgments that He’s written about them,
And to bring His holy ones glory.
In His Most Holy Place, praise our God…
Throughout all space, praise His power.
In His dominion, shout praises of Him…
In the expanse, give praise to His greatness.
Praise Him by the blowing of trumpets;
Praise Him with lutes and with harps;
Praise Him with tambourines,
And with the company of dancers.
Praise Him with the strings of the lyre,
Praise Him with the sounds of woodwinds.
Praise Him with the clashing of cymbals;
And along with the cymbals, add shouts…
May all that breathe praise Jehovah!
These are the proverbs of Solomon the son of David, who reigned over IsraEl.
To get to be wise and to truly learn,
You must understand intelligent words.
[You must see how] words can be shifted and turned,
And used to unlock enigmas.
You must also understand true justice…
How to make judgments that are straight,
So that all your decisions can be guileless and wise.
Yet, you must perceive and reflect like a child.
Yes, if you’ll listen, the wise will get wiser
And receive intelligent guidance.
You’ll understand dark illustrations…
The sayings of the wise and enigmas.
True wisdom starts with the fear of Jehovah;
And all who follow that rule
Will be understanding and good,
Since perception begins with reverence for God.
For, those that fail to respect Him,
Treat wisdom and learning with contempt.
Hear, O son, the laws of your father,
And don’t reject the rules of your mother.
Then, a garland of favor, you’ll get for your head,
And a gold chain for your neck.
O son;
Don’t let the godless lead you astray,
And do not follow their ways.
For they’ll offer you comforting words and then say:
‘Come with us and we will [shed] blood!
For we’ll treat the righteous unfairly,
Then we’ll hide their bodies under the ground.
‘Like the grave, we’ll swallow them down still alive,
And remove their memory from the land.
Then we’ll take all their things that have value,
And fill our houses with loot.
So, come with us and join what we do,
And we’ll each gain large sacks of money!’
But, don’t ever follow their ways…
Turn your feet from their paths!
For their feet always run to do evil,
And they are quick to shed blood.
Haven’t they wrongfully spread out their traps,
As would be done to catch birds…
Then murder to gain evil treasures?
Yes, these are the ways of the unrighteousness;
And because of their lack of respect,
They are bringing destruction upon their own lives.
But the praises of wisdom are sung in the streets…
She’s celebrated in all public places.
For she shouts aloud from the tops of the walls,
And at city gates, she courageously says:
‘As long as the honest have justice,
They will never be shamed.’
But the insolent fools who crave [what’s not theirs],
And those who do not fear [God]
Are the ones that are lacking good sense…
So, they will be disciplined.
{Look!} Now I’ll free the sayings of my spirit,
And to teach you, I’ll be speaking [wise] words.
Though I called out to you, you didn’t obey…
I explained it, but you wouldn’t listen.
You have ignored all my council,
And to my scolding, you’ve paid no attention.
So I’ll laugh when you are destroyed,
And I’ll shout in joy at your ruin.
Yes, when troublesome times come upon you,
And in a blast, you’re quickly undone…
When you’re oppressed and assaulted,
And you feel the need to cry out to me,
I will not listen to you.
For when evil men search, they can’t find me,
Because they’ve detested what’s wise,
And they’ve failed to show fear for Jehovah.
To my council, they chose not to listen,
And when they were scolded, they sneered.
So they’ll have to eat their own fruitage,
And ever after, they’ll be disrespected.
Because they’ve done wrong to the simple,
They will soon be destroyed…
Yes, after they’re tried, they’ll be slaughtered.
But, those that have chosen to listen to me
Have camped in peace, and never fear what is bad.
O son; hear the things that I’m saying…
Take them and hide them within you.
Your ears should obey these wise sayings…
Understand them and put them deep in your heart,
Then pass them along to your sons.
If you should call out for wisdom,
And if you will seek understanding…
If you’ll search for perception like treasure,
You’ll learn the fear of the Lord
And find the knowledge of God.
For, wisdom comes from Jehovah…
In His presence, you’ll find understanding and knowledge.
For those that are walking straight paths,
He has treasured away their salvation,
And He’ll shield them wherever they travel,
Since He guards the ways of the righteous,
And protects those that show Him respect.
Then, you’ll understand justice and judgments,
And set yourself on a course to do good.
Now, should you decide to make wisdom your goal…
If your soul decides to search for perception…
If you’ll choose to follow good council,
And if you’ll be careful to do holy things…
From evil ways, this will save you,
And from [the wiles] of men that tell lies.
They’re the ones who’ve abandoned straight paths,
And in ways of darkness, they’ve chosen to walk.
For, badness is what makes them happy,
And about what’s perverse, they rejoice.
All of their pathways are crooked,
And curved are all of their tracks.
Away from straight paths, they will lead you,
And from righteous plans, they’ll drive you away.
So, don’t let bad council mislead you…
Rather, [follow] the things that you’ve learned since your youth,
And don’t overlook God’s Sacred Agreement.
There are women that put death near their homes,
For the things that they do lead to the grave.
Those that approach them will never return,
For they’ll not turn back to straight paths…
From the road of life, they have strayed.
But, smooth are the roads that the righteous have found;
For the meek will inherit the land,
And the honest are those who’ll remain there.
Then, only the upright will camp in the land,
And those who’ll remain are the holy.
Disrespectful ways will be gone,
And those that break laws will be banished.
O son;
Don’t forget the laws [that I’ve shown you],
And keep the things that I’ve said in your heart;
For, this will add length to your life.
Yes, you will live [many] years,
And peace will be added to you.
May charity and faith never fail you…
If around your neck, you will tie them
And write them on the tablet of your heart,
You will find the favor [of God].
Before Jehovah and men
You should always plan to do what is good.
Wholeheartedly trust in your God,
And on your own wisdom, never rely.
Keep sight of [wisdom] in all of your ways;
For before you, she cuts a straight path.
So, in your own skills, never trust…
Fear God and turn from all that is bad.
Then, healing will come to your body,
And care will be shown to your bones.
You must always honor Jehovah…
Work hard at doing what’s good.
As first fruits, offer Him your righteousness ways,
Then with grain, your stores will be filled,
And wine will gush from your vats.
O son;
Never treat Jehovah’s instructions lightly,
Or give up when He disciplines you.
For Jehovah loves those who accept His correction,
And He whips those whom He welcomes as sons.
The man that finds wisdom is blest,
As is the mortal that’s smarter.
She’s a better trade than silver or gold,
And she’s worth more than all that’s expensive.
Nothing of value is worth more than her;
For long life and survival are in her right hand,
And in her left, is glory and wealth.
Out of her mouth flows true justice;
On her tongue, there is mercy and law.
Goodness is found in her ways,
And all of her paths lead to peace.
She’s a tree of life to all who’ll grab hold
(Those leaning on her as they do on the Lord)…
They’re the ones who’ll get away safely.
For in wisdom, God founded the earth,
And with intelligence, He assembled the skies.
By His perceptions, the valleys were formed,
As dew flowed down from the clouds.
So, don’t let my council slip by…
Pay attention and learn to gain insight;
Then, the person you are will continue to live
And [God’s] favor will be tied ‘round your neck.
For, to your flesh, this brings healing,
And comfort to all of your bones.
Then, peace will follow in all of your ways,
And your feet will never be stumbled.
When you sit, it will be without any fear;
And when you lie down, your sleep will bring rest.
You won’t tremble at terrible things,
Nor will the godless push you aside.
For Jehovah will watch all your ways
And make straight paths for your feet,
So you will never stumble and fall.
And don’t overlook those who are poor
When you have what they need in your hands.
Don’t say, ‘You should come back tomorrow…
I’ll give you what you need at some other time.’
Give them what’s good when you have it,
So you’ll never see the birth of what’s evil.
And never plot to do bad to a friend,
Or to those with whom you must travel…
Those who’ve put trust in you.
Nor should you quarrel without a good reason,
So people don’t try to get even.
Don’t follow the evil of those you despise,
Or ever be jealous of the bad things they do.
Since Jehovah considers lawbreakers unclean,
The righteous should not sit among them.
The houses of those that show no respect
Have all been cursed by the Lord,
While the homes of the righteous are blest.
For Jehovah opposes the proud,
And shows favor to those that are humble.
So the wise will inherit all glory,
While the godless will just get dishonor.
O child;
Hear the words of your father!
Listen, so you can gain insight!
For I’m going to give you a gift,
And from these instructions, don’t stray!
I was also the son of a father,
And one that was loved by his mother;
So, by them both, I was taught.
[They said], ‘Keep our words in your heart…
Do not forget our instructions!
You should seek knowledge and wisdom…
Don’t forget or ignore the words from our mouths,
Or ever turn aside from these things!
Stick with this way, do not leave it…
Love it with passion and you’ll be kept [safe].’
Wisdom is the basis for all [that is good];
So with all you acquire, gain wisdom!
And among all the things you possess,
Be sure that you gain understanding!
Build her a fort and she’ll lift you…
Hold her in esteem and she’ll watch over you…
She’ll place a garland on your head…
A luxurious crown that will shield you.
Hear, O son, and receive all my words;
For they’ll multiply the years of your life,
And many ways, you’ll then understand.
I’m teaching you the ways of the wise…
On you, I’m piling tracks that are straight,
So the ways that you go will not hem you in,
Or ever be a block to your footsteps;
Thus, when you must run, you won’t tire.
Grab my instructions and don’t let them go…
Hold them tight for yourself and your life!
Don’t follow in the ways of the godless
Or be jealous of the ways of lawbreakers.
Don’t go to places where they hang out…
Yes, alter your course and divert;
For they will not sleep until they’ve done wrong.
And since they can’t sleep, they don’t go to bed…
On the grain of irreverence, they feed,
And on the wine of lawless ways, they get drunk.
But the ways of the righteous are like light…
They illuminate and shine until morning.
While the ways of the irreverent are dark,
And they don’t know how often they stumble.
O son;
Pay attention to the things that I’m saying
And listen to my words with your ears;
For then, your wells will not fail you.
Yes, store them deep in your heart,
For those who find them will live,
And to your flesh, they’ll bring healing.
With all the things that you guard,
Pay close attention to your heart,
Because it’s the source of your life.
From your mouth, remove all that’s crooked,
And keep unrighteous lips far away.
Let your eyes always look straight ahead…
And don’t let their lids wink at injustice.
Make straight tracks for your feet,
And straighten out all of your paths.
Don’t turn aside to the right or the left…
Just turn your feet from what’s bad.
For God knows the ways that are righteous,
And those that pervert them, He puts on His left.
But if you’ll choose to make your tracks straight,
He’ll lead you in ways that bring peace.
O son; pay attention to my wisdom
And lend your ears to my words
So that you can understand clearly…
Then my lips will tell you the things I’ve perceived.
To bad women, you should pay no attention!
For the lips of a whore drip with honey,
Which may fatten the throat for a while…
But then, you’ll find them more bitter than bile
And sharper than a double-edged sword.
Foolish are the feet of those turning to her,
For this leads to death and the grave…
And the tracks aren’t easily noticed.
Her ways do not lead to life,
And the tracks that she makes are slippery and dark.
O son, please listen to me…
Don’t ignore these things that I’m saying!
From them, you should stay far away…
Don’t approach the doors to their homes
So you don’t pass your life onto others
And share your vigor with those who lack mercy.
No, don’t fill a stranger with your vigor…
Your strength shouldn’t enter [a whore]…
For you’ll then be sorry when your flesh falls away.
And you’ll say, ‘How I hated to be told…
How discipline [bothered] my heart…
So I wouldn’t accept their correction,
And my ears wouldn’t hear the things I was taught.
So, little by little, I fell into bad
And away from [God’s] congregation.’
O son;
Drink water from your own jar…
Just that which flows from your own well!
Let the waters of your springs overflow…
Carry your own water when you go to the squares!
Let it be yours all alone…
Do not share it with strangers!
Let your spring be just yours alone,
And find joy in the wife of your youth…
Your favorite filly, and your friendly hind.
Let her share conversation with you…
Hold her high and keep her nearby,
For this friendship will mean a great deal.
Do not spend time with strange women,
And never hold one that’s not yours.
For the eyes of God watch the ways of a man,
And He’s tracking the things that we do.
Unlawful acts are a snare to all men,
And for your sins, you’ll be wrapped up in chains.
Those that don’t learn this will come to their end,
And then they will lose all they own…
They’ll perish in their own foolish ways.
O son;
When you co-sign a loan for a friend,
You’ve put yourself in your enemy’s hands.
From your own lips you’ve been captured and snared…
By words that came from your own mouth.
O son;
Save yourself by heeding my words.
For, if you choose to do such a thing,
Into evil hands, you will fall.
Don’t leave yourself [in such a position];
For you’ll find that you’ll even anger your friend…
The one for whom you co-signed the loan!
So, don’t let your eyes go to sleep
Or allow your eyelids to slumber,
Before you’ve escaped like a doe from a noose,
And as wild fowl from a snare.
Lazy one; You should learn from the ant…
Feel zeal when you see what he does.
Yes, you should become just like him…
But, you should also be wiser!
For he doesn’t own his own farm,
And he has no one to urge him to work,
Nor is he under a master.
But, during the summer, he gathers much food,
As he prepares to feast in the harvest.
O lazy one;
How much longer will you continue to lie there…
Yes, when will you awaken from sleep?
You sit for a while, then rest for a while,
And after a while, you slumber
With your hands and arms on your chest,
As poverty overtakes you like a mugger,
And lack catches you like a sprinter.
A man (a fool and lawbreaker)
Will travel in ways that are evil.
He beckons with his eyes,
Makes signs with his feet,
And teaches with the motions of his fingers.
He plans to do bad, since his heart is perverse,
And he brings disturbance into his own city.
But because of this, his death will come soon…
He’ll be cut off and not be brought back,
Since he rejoices over things that God hates.
He’ll be destroyed, since his life is unclean…
Because his eyes are insulting…
Because his tongue is unrighteous…
Because his hands have shed righteous blood…
Because his heart conspires to do bad
And his feet have run to do evil.
When [a man] tells a lie [in a courtroom],
This unrighteous witness lights fires,
And between even brothers, brings lawsuits.
O son, guard the laws of your father,
And don’t cast aside the rules of your mother!
Fasten them tight to your soul…
Tie them around your neck with a cord!
Bring them along wherever you walk,
And make sure they are always nearby.
When you sleep, you should let them keep watch,
And have them remind you when you arise.
For the Law’s Commandments are a lamp and a light…
They are a complete way of life!
They’re correction and instruction to guard you
From bad women who are already married,
And from the distractions that come from strange tongues.
Don’t let their beauty entice you…
Do not get trapped by the things you can see,
Or be beguiled by their eyes.
For, less than bread is the value of a whore,
And a woman of men ensnares precious lives.
Can a man light a fire upon his own chest
Without it burning his clothes?
Can someone walk on live coals
Without them consuming his feet?
For, when you [have sex with] another man’s wife,
That’s what will happen to you,
Since none that touch her are found free from guilt.
It’s no surprise when someone’s caught stealing,
For, to fill a hungry soul, men will steal.
Then, when they’re caught, 7 times they’ll repay…
They’ll give all they own to be saved.
But by the lack of good sense,
The man that’s committing adultery,
Upon himself, brings destruction.
For he suffers both grief and dishonor,
And his scorn will not be forgotten
Through the rest of the age.
Because of the jealous rage of her man,
He won’t be spared in the day that he’s judged.
And because of the hate of this person,
He’ll not be able to bargain,
Nor will many gifts buy his freedom.
O son;
Keep my words and commandments…
Hide them inside of yourself!
Have deep respect for Jehovah,
And He will make you grow stronger…
In addition to Him, fear no other!
Keep His commands and live [a long] life…
Like the pupil of your eye, guard His words.
Wrap them around all your fingers,
And inscribe them in the depths of your heart.
Also guard wisdom as your own sister
And intelligence as your best friend,
So they’ll keep you away from strange women,
As well as from all that is wicked.
Then, about you, good things will be said.
She leans from the window of her house on the square,
And whenever she views foolish offspring
(Young men that are lacking good sense)
Passing the corner near the path to her house;
She speaks from the darkness of the evening,
When all are at rest in the dimness of night.
She meets with him and she looks like a whore,
And the young man’s heart starts to flutter.
She’s so enticing and carnal…
But, don’t let your feet stop by her [door].
At times, she’ll stray outside of her house,
And stand on the corner of the square.
There she reaches out and she fondles,
And with an impudent face she might say:
‘A sacrifice of peace, I must offer,
And today, I must render my vows…
So, that’s why I’ve met up with you.
I noticed your face [as you’re passing],
And I came over here just to find you.
‘Now, while I was sewing, I laid out my bed,
And spread it with sheets [made in] Egypt.
With saffron, I sprinkled my bed,
And cinnamon, I’ve put ‘round my house.
‘So, come and enjoy my friendship ‘til dawn…
Come, and we’ll wrap up in passion!
For, my husband isn’t at home…
He’s gone away on a journey.
He left with a bundle of silver,
And he’ll not be back for several more days.’
She leads him astray and acts like a friend,
While tying a noose ‘round his neck.
By the words from her lips, she then reels him in;
And he follows like an ox to the slaughter…
Like a dog that’s being led on a leash,
Or a stag that’s been shot in the liver.
So he hurries like fowl toward a snare,
Not knowing that he’s running for his life.
Now, hear and pay close attention
To the sayings that come from my mouth!
Don’t turn aside to her ways in your heart,
And don’t be misled by her wiles.
Many she’s stabbed through and then thrown away…
Unnumbered are those whom she’s murdered.
Her house is on the road to the grave,
And it leads to the storeroom of death.
If you will call out for wisdom,
Intelligence will also obey you!
He is higher than all of the others,
And he stands in the midst of all roads.
He is the home of the mighty,
And in their doorway, he sings:
‘O men, I will bring comfort to you,
And I’ll sing this aloud to your sons:
All you guileless should learn to be shrewd,
And the unlearned should store it deep in their hearts.
‘So, you should listen to me,
For I’m speaking of serious things…
From my lips comes something that’s true!
So my throat will be speaking truly,
Since those with lying lips, I have hated.
‘Righteous are the sayings that come from my mouth…
Nothing in them is crooked or evil.
So the discerning should stand face to face
With the one who is teaching them knowledge.
‘Seek instruction, not silver…
Put knowledge above proven gold!
And wisdom is better than most precious gems…
Nothing is worth more than it,
Since wisdom camps with counsel and knowledge!’
‘And as I’m reflecting, I’ll say this:
Those fearing Jehovah will hate all injustice,
As well as insolence and pride,
And ways that lead to what’s evil…
For He hates the perversions of those that do bad.
‘Council and safety are mine!
Intelligence and strength are mine also!
For by me, the kings start their reigns,
And the mighty write about justice.
‘By me, the great become sovereigns…
Through me, they rule the whole earth.
Those fond of me are always beloved,
And those who seek me find favor.
‘By me, wealth and glory exist,
As well as the lands of the just.
So the blest will gather my fruitage
Before seeking gold or rare gems…
For my reward is better than silver.
‘I walk in the ways of the righteous
And return in the pathways of reason.
I provide for all those that love me,
And I fill their treasuries with things that are good.
‘I’ll proclaim what happens each day,
And I’ll speak of the things of the ages.
For, by Jehovah, I came to be,
And He made the head of His ways…
I’m the one [in charge] of His works.
‘In the beginning, He made me,
Before this age came to be…
Before He decreed the creation of lands…
Before He made the abysses,
And before the springs gushed with water.
‘Yes, I was fathered by Him
Before the mountains and hills…
Before He made the places to live,
Or the ends of man’s home under the skies.
‘As He was preparing the heavens,
I’m the one who presented them to Him.
Then He placed His throne on the winds,
And moved clouds above with His strength.
‘Then He made all the springs under the skies,
And set limits for the waters of the seas,
So they couldn’t cross over their borders.
And when the foundations of the earth were made strong,
I’m the one that stood there beside Him.
‘By Him, all things worked together,
And He found joy in them all.
Each day that I stood there before Him,
In this, I also found much delight.
Then He was pleased when He finished man’s home,
And over sons of men, He was happy.’
Now, listen to me, O my son:
Blest are those that are guarding his ways!
Learn from wisdom and you will be wise…
Do not cover it over!
Blest is the man that listens to it…
The man that guards all its ways…
The one that’s awake at its entrance each day,
And that pays close attention at its doors!
For, those that seek it find life
And receive the favor of God!
But, those who are sinning against it
Are disrespecting their souls…
All who hate it are lovers of death.
Wisdom has built a house for himself,
And atop 7 columns, he’s propped it.
He has offered the needed sacrifices…
He has mixed the wine in their jars,
And he has readied his table.
Then he sends his servants to call [all the guests],
And with a grand proclamation, he says:
‘All you who are foolish; turn here to me!’
He says to those that are lacking good sense:
‘Come eat my bread and drink my wine
That I have mixed up for you!
Stop being a fool, become smarter,
So you will live a long time…
Get straight with wisdom and knowledge!’
Those that attempt to straighten the godless,
Upon themselves, bring dishonor.
For, when you scold those who have no respect,
You just make a fool of yourself.
So, don’t scold those who are evil,
For they will just start to detest you!
But, reprove the wise and they’ll love you…
Give them help and they will be wiser…
An explanation to those that are righteous,
Will thereafter, bring them much more.
Wisdom starts with the fear of Jehovah,
And counsel about holiness brings understanding.
Also, knowledge of the Law is good to consider;
For if you learn it, you’ll live a long time…
Many years, it will add to your life.
O son; if you choose to seek wisdom,
You will make yourself wise.
But, if you choose to seek evil,
You’ll just bring bad things on yourself.
A woman without food who is foolish and bold,
Has no knowledge of shame.
She sits at the door of her house in a chair
To make herself seen in the square.
Then she calls out to those that pass on the street,
And to those that are walking straight paths:
‘You who are the most foolish;
Turn aside and come here to me!’
She arouses the stupid by saying,
‘You’ll touch secret bread loaves in pleasure,
And steal sweet water to drink!’
But the thing that they don’t understand,
Is that she brings destruction upon earthly men…
That she’s perching them on the edge to the grave!
A wise son gladdens a father;
But a foolish son brings his mother distress.
Treasures bring no help to the lawless;
But, they can rescue the righteous from death.
Jehovah won’t let the righteous go hungry;
But, impious ways [lead to famine].
Poverty humbles a man;
But, hard-working hands will enrich him.
Correcting a son makes him wiser;
So the foolish, he’ll treat as his servants.
An intelligent son will be saved
And he’ll not [have to slave in] sweltering heat;
But wind will destroy all the harvest
Of the son who is a lawbreaker.
Jehovah sends blessing to the heads of the righteous,
And mourning to the mouths of the wicked.
The righteous are remembered and commended;
While the names of the irreverent will perish.
A wise heart does as it’s told;
But, back-talking lips will be stumbled.
For those who comply, things go easy;
But, resistance will not be forgotten.
The eye that winks at bad things
Is creating distress for the rest.
But, the man who openly scolds,
Is the one that is bringing them peace.
Mouths of the righteous are like springs of life;
But a mouth that curses, leads to destruction.
Hatred leads to a war;
But, those that won’t fight create friendships.
Those whose lips bring forth wisdom
Are beating the heartless with a stick.
The wise learn to hide their perceptions;
But, mouths that speak rashly, bring destruction.
The rich man’s wealth is his fortress,
While poverty brings ruin to the poor.
The deeds of the righteous bring life,
While the fruit of the irreverent brings sin.
Following instructions leads you to life;
For, without instructions, you’ll stray.
Righteous lips cover your hatred;
But, those that shout insults are fools.
A sin can’t be covered with many words;
So it’s wise for your lips to say little.
A righteous tongue is like refined silver,
But the hearts of the irreverent are worthless.
The lips of the righteous speak of high things,
While fools die for the lack of understanding.
Jehovah blesses the heads of the righteous…
He enriches and brings no distress to their hearts.
The fool will laugh when he’s doing what’s bad;
But, wisdom makes a man act much smarter.
By destruction, the impious are carried away,
While the righteous will receive the things that they crave.
A blast will come to destroy the impious;
But the righteous will turn and escape in that age.
As green grapes are bad for your teeth,
And smoke is bad for your eyes;
So are lawless ways to those that are harmed.
The fear of Jehovah adds days to your life,
While the lives of the irreverent are shortened by years.
Happiness stays with the righteous,
While the irreverent one’s hopes are destroyed.
Jehovah’s a fort of those that show mercy,
But a ruin to those that are doing what’s bad.
The righteous will live through the ages;
But the impious will not live long in the land.
From the mouths of the righteous, drips wisdom,
While unrighteous tongues lead to ruin.
From the lips of the righteous comes loving care;
But rejection comes from the mouths of the godless.
Dishonest scales are disgusting to [God]…
Fair weights are what He approves.
Those that shout insults show their dishonor,
While the mouths of the humble speak wisely.
The righteous leave no regrets when they die;
But, the irreverent are ridiculed when they’re gone.
The perfection of the righteous will guide them,
While the Godless are plundered by failure…
In the day of [God’s] rage, their possessions will fail,
As the righteous are rescued from death.
Holiness keeps the righteous on their straight paths;
But by their godless ways, the unrighteous fail.
The right ways of the good is what saves them;
But the thoughtless ways of lawbreakers
Is the thing that leads them to jail.
When a righteous man comes to his end,
The things that he’s hoped for are never destroyed.
But the boastful ways of the godless
Will soon bring about their destruction.
When the righteous are saved from a trap,
The irreverent thereafter fall in it.
The mouths of the irreverent are snares to their friends;
But the mouths of the righteous bring blessings.
By the good of the righteous, a city is born,
And the destruction of the irreverent brings it joy.
By the praises of the upright, a city is raised;
But the mouths of the impious tear it back down.
A senseless man sneers at his comrades;
But, an intelligent man leads them to rest.
A double-tongued man reveals other’s plans,
While the trustworthy keep matters hidden.
Those with no guidance will fall like the leaves;
But, salvation is found [by seeking] advice.
The wicked act badly among righteous men,
And the sounds of their safety, they hate.
A praiseworthy woman brings glory to her man,
But those hating what’s right, bring dishonor.
The lazy will never be wealthy,
While those that work hard will be rich.
A merciful man brings good to his soul,
While the merciless bring themselves ruin.
The impious receive what is wrong as their wage,
While the seed of the righteous is their reward.
A righteous son will gain life,
While an irreverent son will bring his own death.
Twisted ways are disgusting to [God]…
He just approves of those who walk in straight paths.
Those who lay hands on another for bad reasons
Will not go unpunished for their evil ways.
But, those that are fair are assured a reward.
As a gold ring in the snout of a pig
Is a pretty woman with evil desires.
The righteous will receive what is good,
While the hopes of the godless will perish.
There are those who’ll plant seeds and reap more…
But, there are some that will also reap less.
A generous man will be blest…
For, those that water will be watered.
A man that hoards grain will leave it to [others],
While the heads of those that share it are blest.
Those planning to do good, seek its blessings;
But, those that plan to do evil,
Will be captured by those who do what is good.
Those that trust in their wealth won’t succeed;
But, those that help the righteous will last.
The man that doesn’t love those in his own home
Will just inherit the wind…
To the intelligent, he’ll be just a fool and a slave.
From the tree of life, the righteous [gather] fruit,
While the souls of the lawless are lost.
If the righteous will be saved [by the skin of their teeth];
What hope is there for the impious and sinners?
Those who love to be taught, love understanding,
While those hating correction are fools.
Those who find the favor of [God]
Are the ones who’ll receive what is best,
While the lawless just get condemnation.
Those that break laws won’t endure;
While the righteous will not be uprooted.
A virtuous woman is a crown to her man;
But, one that is bad will eat him away
Like a worm that is boring through wood.
True judgments are the ways of the righteous,
And treacherous are the ways of the godless.
The impious lie in wait to shed blood,
While righteous mouths offer protection.
When the irreverent lose, they just pass away,
While the homes of the righteous remain.
The mouths of the discerning are praised by all men,
While those with dull hearts are just sneered at.
It’s best for the dishonored to be servants
Than be too proud and go without bread.
The righteous are concerned for the lives of their cattle,
While the impious feel no compassion or mercy.
Those that work their ground will eat bread,
While those that chase vain things go hungry.
There are those that drink wine as their pastime…
But they leave their honor behind.
The desires of the impious are evil;
But the roots of those that show deep respect
Will become strongly entrenched.
By the sins of his lips, a sinner is snared,
While the righteous will flee from such things.
From the fruits of his mouth, a man’s soul receives good…
He’ll be repaid for the things his lips say.
Fools will follow in their own ways,
While the wise will follow advice.
A fool bares his rage before all,
But the wise will hide his dishonor.
The righteous put trust in telling the truth;
But an unrighteous witness will lie.
There are some that speak as though stabbing with swords,
While the tongues of the wise send healing.
Lips that are straight will speak what is true,
While unrighteous lips are too hasty.
Those planning to do bad have treachery in their hearts,
While those planning peace will find joy.
Injustice displeases the righteous,
While the godless [find pleasure] in all that is bad.
Lying lips are disgusting to [God]…
He only accepts those whose lips He can trust.
The wise don’t show all the things that they know;
But the hearts of fools blurt their folly.
Hands that are honest, easily win,
While the hands of the deceitful are plundered.
Frightful words disturb hearts of men,
But a message that’s good brings them joy.
A friend is one that suggests what is right.
But, sinners support evil and impious ways.
A deceitful man won’t get what he wants,
While those with pure hearts will be wealthy.
The ways of the righteous lead them to life…
From death, it turns them away.
A wise son does as his father directs,
While those that won’t listen will meet with destruction.
From the fruit of righteous lips, good people will eat,
As the lives of the lawless are all wiped away.
Those that keep watch on the things that they say
Are also keeping watch on their lives;
While those who let their lips go
Are turning their lives into failure.
While idle men think of the things that they want,
Hardworking hands bring results.
The righteous hate words that aren’t true,
While the lies of the wicked bring themselves shame.
Righteousness guards the ways of the honest,
While the irreverent are led into sin.
There are those that seek wealth and get nothing;
And there are those who put themselves low that get rich.
A man’s wealth may be used to ransom his life,
While the poor have nothing to fear.
The righteous will always have light,
While the light of the irreverent is extinguished.
Those practicing evil, [shout] insults,
While the wise argue just with themselves.
Things gained in haste by the lawless
Will soon lose all of their value,
As things that are gathered by the righteous
Will keep on growing in worth.
Those that plan in their hearts to help others
Are better than those that just promise
And raise [false] hopes in [the poor].
A tree of life is the will to do good;
But those that hate to do what is right
Will be hated for that very same reason.
Those that deceive will get nothing good,
While the wise ways of a servant will prosper.
The Law is a well of life to the wise,
Which turns them away from death’s snares.
Understanding what’s good, brings [God’s] favor…
Knowing and considering [His] Law, is what’s good.
But the roads of all those that hate it
Are the paths that lead to destruction.
A wise man acts on the things he has learned,
While the fool continues in his evil ways.
A hasty king will find trouble…
But wise counselors can save him from this.
Poverty and dishonor are removed by instruction,
And those following correction, will be blest.
The irreverent desire whatever delights them.
But, ignorance is all they accomplish.
Those who travel with the wise will be wise,
While those traveling with fools will also be fools.
Sinners will do evil things.
While the righteous will do what is good.
A good man will inherit the sons of his sons,
And the wealth of the impious is reserved for the righteous.
The righteous will spend many years with their wealth,
While the wicked will suddenly perish.
Those who don’t spank them, dislike their sons,
While those that love them give careful correction.
The righteous will eat and make their lives full,
As the lives of the godless go lacking.
A woman that’s wise will strengthen her home;
But the foolish rips theirs down with their own hands.
Those on straight paths fear Jehovah,
While those on crooked paths [truly] hate Him.
From the mouth of a fool comes an insult,
While the lips of the wise hold it back.
Where there are no cattle, the stables are clean;
But the strength of the ox is apparent
In barns that are prospering well.
A trustworthy witness won’t lie;
But a lying witness will commit other sins.
The bad who seek wisdom, won’t find it;
But, to the discerning, it comes easily.
Whatever the foolish say will be wrong;
But wise lips are the weapons of those with good sense.
From their wisdom, the wise get direction,
While fools are misled by their own thoughtless ways.
The homes of the lawless need cleaning,
While the homes of the righteous are worthy of praise.
A man whose heart is easily hurt
Will always be in distress.
But, insults won’t bother a heart filled with joy.
The homes of the impious will meet with destruction,
While the tents of the upright will last.
There are ways that may seem straight to a man,
But they end in the depths of the grave.
Bold hearts are always filled with their ways,
While a good man is filled with his thoughts.
A gullible man believes every word,
While the wise will think it all through.
In fear, a wise man will turn from what’s bad,
While a fool gives in and breaks laws.
A man prone to rage will act without thought,
While the wise will endure many things.
A fool will share in doing what’s bad,
While the wise will maintain their good sense.
Evil men slip in among those who are good,
And the irreverent watch the doors of the righteous.
Friends dislike friends that are poor,
While many are the friends of the rich.
Those that dishonor the needy are sinners,
While those that show mercy are blest.
Those that stray, contrive evil schemes,
While the good contrive mercy and truth.
The bad have no mercy or faith,
While the good are generous and trusting.
For those that care, there’s more than enough,
While those that seek pleasure are lacking.
The crown of the wise is their wealth;
But, evil is the pastime of fools.
A trustworthy witness snatches lives from the evil,
While a deceitful man will just lie.
Those that trust in the strength of Jehovah,
Will leave an inheritance for their children.
The rules of Jehovah are life-giving springs
That lead men away from death’s snares.
A prosperous nation brings glory to its king;
But a nation in want brings him ruin.
An intelligent man forgives freely;
But a faint-hearted man [holds a grudge].
A practical man is a healer of hearts;
But a sensitive man is a moth to the bones.
The man that’s extorting the needy
Is provoking the One by whom he was made;
But, those whom He holds in esteem
Are the ones that show mercy to the poor.
For their evil, the irreverent will be shunned,
While the righteous will be looked on as holy.
In the heart of a good man, rests wisdom,
Which can’t be found in the heart of a fool.
Justice will build up a nation;
But, sinners will bring its decline.
Wise counselors are [a joy to] the king,
For they can remove his dishonor
In very ingenious ways.
Even the smart are destroyed by their rage;
For harsh words will make others angry,
While an answer that’s mild turns back rage.
Tongues of the wise bring forth knowledge;
But the mouths of fools just speak evil.
The eyes of Jehovah see all…
He watches both the good and the bad.
A tree of life, is the tongue that brings healing…
Those that have it are filled with [God’s] Breath.
A fool will sneer at his father’s instructions,
While the wise will do what he says.
Where there’s justice, [a nation] is strong,
For the irreverent will be rooted out of their land.
There is strength in the homes of the righteous,
While the fruits of the impious bring them ruin.
The lips of the wise are bound by good sense;
But, the hearts of fools can’t be trusted.
Sacrifices of the irreverent are disgusting to God…
He accepts just the vows of those who walk straight.
The ways of the irreverent are disgusting to God;
But He loves those who do what is righteous.
Those that heed the instructions of the guileless
Will be the ones that follow straight paths.
Those who dislike correction
Will come to their end in disgrace.
Of destruction and the grave, God has warned us;
So, why isn’t this in the hearts of all men?
The ignorant hate those who correct them,
And they don’t wish to stay near the wise.
A happy heart makes a face shine;
But a heart in distress makes it downcast.
An upright heart will seek understanding;
But an ignorant heart knows just evil.
Evil eyes enjoy seeing what’s evil,
While the [eyes] of the good [search for] peace.
It’s better to have little and the fear of Jehovah,
Than to have great treasures and no fear of God.
It’s better to eat vegetables in a place where there’s love,
Than to dine on calves where there’s hatred.
An outraged man is ready to fight;
But, with an apology, he can be soothed.
A forgiving man prevents lawsuits,
While the irreverent would rather create them.
The roads of the lazy lead into thorns,
As the industrious travel on busy highways.
A wise son brings joy to his father;
But a foolish son sneers at his mother.
The paths of the unthinking don’t make any sense;
But the ways of the wise lead them in a straight line.
From the hearts of advisors, there’s much to be [learned];
But a man who is bad won’t [take their advice],
Nor will he learn from what’s useful.
For to him, what’s good is mundane.
The thoughts of the discerning lead men to life,
And they’ll turn a man back from the grave.
Jehovah tears down the homes of the proud,
While He gives support to the widows.
The ways of the unrighteous are disgusting to God…
He only respects the requests of the pure.
Those that takes bribes, bring themselves ruin,
While those that hate them are saved.
Mercy and faith wipe away sins,
And the fear of Jehovah turns us from bad.
Faithful hearts think of what’s righteous,
While irreverent mouths speak of what’s evil.
The ways of the righteous are accepted by God…
By them, even enemies become friends.
From the irreverent, God stays far away;
But He hears the vows of the righteous.
It’s better to be fair and gain little
Than to gain many things through injustice.
An eye that sees good, brings joy to the heart,
And good news puts fat on the bones.
Those that heed the corrections of life
Will find themselves lodging with those who are wise.
Those who won’t listen to instruction,
Really don’t care for themselves,
While those that heed correction, love life.
The fear of Jehovah is instruction and wisdom…
Heeding Him is the sum of all glory,
And the humble will be led to this glory.
May hearts of men consider what’s righteous,
So that God can set their feet on straight paths.
The deeds of the humble are apparent to God…
But He’ll destroy the irreverent in His day.
------To God, proud hearts are unclean,
And He will never forgive
Those who lay their hands on another unjustly.
Goodness starts with doing what’s right…
It’s better than offering sacrifices.
Those seeking Jehovah find knowledge and justice…
Those that righteously seek Him, find peace.
A man’s heart is what sets his direction,
But Jehovah sets the course for his feet.
Though a curse may be on the lips of a king,
His mouth must not err in his judgments.
A scale that gives a true measure
Is something that’s righteous with God…
And His ways require honest weights.
The king is disgusted by those that are bad,
For the sovereignty of his throne is based upon justice.
Righteous lips are what the king will accept…
Your lord loves things that are straight.
The rage of a king is a messenger of death;
But a man that is wise can appease him.
The sons of a king are the light of his life,
For to Him, those he loves are like gentle rain.
Sources of wisdom are better than gold,
And understanding is worth more than silver.
The road [to long] life avoids what is bad,
And righteous ways lead to growing old.
Those willing to learn are counted as good,
And those accepting correction are thought of as wise.
The man that keeps watch on his ways
Is someone that’s protecting his soul…
So, those that love life will watch what [they say].
Insolent ways lead to destruction,
And evil thoughts lead to a downfall.
It’s better to share a little with the meek
Than to share great spoils with the haughty.
The discerning are inventers of good things,
And those yielding to God find His blessings.
Though the vile may shout to the wise and discerning,
Those with sweet words are the ones they will hear.
Understanding brings life to its seekers,
While the instruction of fools brings bad results.
From their own mouths, the hearts of wise learn,
And from their own lips, they’ll gain knowledge.
Sweet words are like combs filled with honey,
For their sweetness brings healing to the soul.
There are ways that may seem straight to a man,
But they end on the road to the grave.
A hardworking man works for himself,
And this leads him from poverty,
As the rest wear failure over their mouths.
The foolish search for what’s evil,
And to their own lips, they bring fire.
A man that is crooked spreads evil…
With treachery, he lights many fires,
And in this, he drives friends apart.
A lawbreaking man puts his friends to the test,
And he leads them into corruption.
for his eyes are fixed as he plans to do wrong,
And he confirms what’s bad with his lips…
Such a man is a furnace of evil.
Old age is a crown of which one can boast
When it’s found among those who are righteous.
It’s better to be forgiving than strong,
And smartness is better than owning much land.
But, better than taking a city,
Is the ability to keep your temper in check.
Unrighteous lips will bring what is bad;
While all that’s good comes from [God].
A scrap of food that’s eaten in peace
Is better than a house of feasting with fights.
Over foolish masters, a smart slave will win,
And he’ll divide what he takes with his brothers.
As silver and gold are refined in a furnace,
Is how Jehovah tries hearts.
A bad man obeys what lawbreakers say,
And the unrighteous will heed lying lips.
Those that make fun of the poor
Provoke the One by whom they were made.
Those that rejoice at the downfall of others
Won’t [find their sins overlooked];
For, mercy comes to those who show that they care.
The crown of old age is grandchildren,
And fathers will boast of their sons.
The arrangements of [God] can be trusted;
But the faithless won’t know how [He] did it.
Trustworthy lips aren’t enough for a fool,
Nor will lying lips pleasure the righteous.
Instruction pays well to those that will learn,
And all who use it will prosper.
Those covering offenses are looking for love;
But the unforgiving leave family and friends.
Intimidation breaks the heart of someone that’s wise;
But a fool that is whipped never learns.
All evil men like to argue;
But against them, Jehovah sends merciless angels.
An intelligent man will be anxious [for right];
But, about evil things, fools will argue.
The one that repays good things with bad,
Will never see evil removed from his home.
When a ruler supports righteous words,
There are fewer fights and divisions.
When the righteous must judge the unjust,
They’ll find them unclean and disgusting.
Value means nothing to fools;
For, in their hearts, there’s no wisdom.
As those that are building tall houses
Make plans for something that will fall…
Evil plans bring the downfall of the crooked.
Use your time to gain friends;
For in bad days, they’ll be your brothers…
It’s for such favor that they have been born!
A foolish man claps and shakes hands,
Then he [co-signs] a loan for a friend.
Those fond of sinning bring strife,
And those with hard hearts bring nothing good.
A tongue that twists words will bring evil,
And the heart of a fool brings grief to himself.
A father won’t be proud of an ignorant son…
But, smart ones bring joy to their mothers.
While a joyful heart brings good health;
A worried heart dries a man’s bones.
The unrighteous want gifts to be dropped in their laps
So that they can pervert true justice.
Faces of the discerning look wise;
But the eyes of the foolish look distant.
A foolish son angers his father
And brings grief to the [mother] that bore him.
It is wrong to penalize the righteous
And unholy to plot against a just king.
Those holding back harsh words show insight,
And a man that concedes shows his wisdom.
When an unthinking man asks a question,
He is often thought of as wise;
And when he refuses to argue,
He’ll be thought of as a person that’s smarter.
Those making excuses are rejected by friends,
And they’ll always be spoken of poorly.
Those lacking good sense have no use for wisdom;
For, by what’s foolish, they wish to be led.
When the irreverent reach the depths of their evil,
They don’t notice that they’re scorned and dishonored.
A word that touches the heart
Is like very deep water…
Like a river or a life-giving spring.
It is evil to favor the wicked,
And unholy to deny justice to the righteous.
A fool’s lips will lead him toward bad,
And the boldness of his mouth beckons his death.
The mouth of a fool will destroy him,
For his lips are snares to his own soul.
The lazy are easily frightened,
And timid souls will go hungry.
A man that won’t work for himself
Is a brother to the one that brings himself ruin.
In the Name of the Lord there is power…
It’s where the righteous can turn for their strength.
The wealth of the rich is a fortified town,
And its glory casts a long shadow.
Before his ruin, a man’s heart is proud,
And just before glory, it’s humbled.
When a man replies before hearing,
It’s foolish and it brings him much scorn.
A man can endure a [long] illness;
But, who can endure a spirit that’s worried?
The hearts of the smart gain perception
And the ears of the wise search for insight.
When a man brings a gift, he makes friends,
And he will sit beside rulers.
Before speaking, the righteous examine themselves;
For they know that they’ll be reproved
By those who do not agree.
Choosing by lottery ends a dispute
And it defines the boundaries of rulers.
A brother who is helped by his brothers
Is like a high city with fortified walls,
And a castle that’s well-built and strong.
From the fruits of his mouth, a man’s belly is filled…
From the fruits of his lips, he’ll get what he needs.
The handle of the tongue carries both life and death,
And those who fail to restrain it
Will end up eating its fruitage.
The man who’s found a good woman
Has done himself a great favor…
Joy from Jehovah is what he’s received.
The man that sends a good woman away
Doesn’t recognize things that have value;
But the one that keeps an adulteress
Is a foolish and irreverent man.
Though those in need make many requests,
The rich will respond very harshly.
A man should seek many friendships,
For some friends will stick closer than brothers.
A poor person who is sincere,
is better than someone unthinking and untrustworthy.
It’s not good for someone to be ignorant,
and whoever rushes into something, sins.
Doing what’s foolish lays waste to men’s ways;
But in their hearts, they’ll blame it on God.
Wealth will bring many friends;
But, friends will be few when you’re poor.
A lying witness will not go unpunished,
And a false accuser will never escape.
Many will seek the king’s favor,
And all that bring gifts are his friends.
Those that hate a brother that is poor
Will never be good at making friends.
Insight is good for all those who seek it,
And an intelligent man will soon find it.
The evil are good at doing what’s bad,
And those that aggravate won’t be saved.
Those [willing to learn], love themselves;
For those seeking what’s wise will find what is good.
A lying witness will not go unpunished,
And those bringing evil will perish by it.
Luxury is no advantage to the fool;
And it’s wrong for a servant who’s been given some power
To use it in ways that are haughty.
A merciful man is forgiving,
And he triumphs over those that have sinned against him.
Intimidation from a king is like a lion’s [roar];
But, bringing him joy is like dew on the grass.
A foolish son will bring shame to his father.
Impure, are all of the vows
That are paid with the wage of a whore.
Though fathers may leave us homes and possessions,
A sensible wife comes from [God].
Worry holds back a cowardly man,
And the lives of the idle go hungry.
Those keeping the Commandments are protecting their souls,
While those hating its ways will soon perish.
God lends to those showing mercy to the poor,
And He repays them according to the gifts that they give.
Though correction builds confidence in sons,
You can’t make them better with insults.
An evil-minded man will be punished;
And if he [kills], he must pay with his life.
Listen, O son, to the words of your father,
So that in your last days, you will be wise.
There are many choices in a man’s heart;
But counsel from God lasts through ages.
Charity is what is desired of a man;
And it’s better to be righteous and poor
Than to be rich and a liar.
The fear of Jehovah brings life to a man;
But, those that have no such fear
Will lodge where no knowledge is found.
The unrighteous hide their hands behind folded arms,
So they can’t bring [what’s good] to their mouths.
When you whip a foolish man for his mischief,
It will make all simple men wiser;
But an intelligent man will understand more,
And he’ll make the needed corrections.
Those that show their fathers disrespect
And push their mothers away,
Will always be reviled and disgraced.
Sons that disobey their father’s instructions
Will focus on the evil that they hear.
The man that [co-signs] a loan
Is the same as a child that is foolish.
The mouths of the irreverent will swallow
All those that show disrespect for the Law.
Whips are prepared for all those
Who fail to watch what they say,
And for the backs of the foolish.
Wine and strong drink can make you drunk,
And fools will get involved in such things.
The intimidation of a king is like a lion’s rage,
And those who dare to provoke him
Are sinning against their own lives.
It’s glory for a man to avoid shouting insults;
But a fool stays involved in such matters.
If you scold the lazy, he’ll never be shamed…
He even borrows grain in the harvest.
Instruction is deep water within a man’s heart
From which the intelligent can draw.
A respected man has much value,
And a merciful man isn’t easily found…
But it’s harder to find one that’s faithful.
Those who offer true justice
Will leave many blessings for their children.
When a just king sits on a throne,
He won’t abide evil in his presence.
Who can boast that he has a pure heart,
And openly say that he’s clean from all sins?
One speaking evil of father or mother, his light will be extinguished,
and the pupils of his eyes will see darkness. (similar to verse 20)
Something hastily obtained at first,
will not be spoken well of in the end. (similar to verse 21)
Don’t say ‘I fear the enemy,’
but be patient, the Lord will help you. (similar to verse 22)
An untrue weight, whether large or small,
Is something unclean to Jehovah…
So, both the weights and their makers
Will be bound hand and foot for using such things.
A young man who’s [a friend] to the holy
Will surely find his ways straight.
Ears can hear and the eyes see;
For they’re both the works of Jehovah.
Do not love too much sleep,
So that you don’t end up as poor;
Rather, open your eyes and be filled with bread!
The barterer says, ‘It’s bad, it’s bad!’
But, after he [buys it], he’ll boast.
There [are treasures] of gold and of precious gems;
But understanding lips have more value.
If you should offer all of your clothes
As security for the loan of a stranger;
May that stranger thereafter reclaim them.
The bread of deceit may seem good to a man;
But he’ll find his mouth filled up with gravel.
Make plans with discussion, counsel, and guidance,
Before you go to fight battles.
Double-tongued is the man who reveals someone’s plan
When he is speaking to others;
For his lips shouldn’t speak of things that aren’t his.
The man that speaks badly to his father or mother
Will find that his torch is extinguished,
And the pupils of his eyes will see darkness.
Whenever a thing is easily gained,
In the end, it will have little value.
Don’t ever say you’ll get even…
Just wait on Jehovah to help you.
Two different weights are disgusting to [God],
And a balance that’s off is evil to Him.
A man’s steps must be set straight by [God];
For, how can mortals know the right ways to go?
It’s a snare to offer something as holy too quickly;
For, after you vow, you might change your mind.
A wise king rejects those who don’t show respect,
And he’ll have them put on the wheel.
The spirit of men is a light to Jehovah,
Which He uses to see what’s inside them.
Mercy and truth safeguard a king;
For, to his throne, they’ll bring justice.
The glory of young men is their strength,
And the glory of old age is gray hair.
The bad will have bruises and broken [bones],
And illness will come to their bellies.
The heart of a king is like waves [of the sea]
When it’s in the hand of our God.
For, wherever He wishes, He nods,
And that’s the way he will go.
All men like to think themselves righteous;
But, Jehovah’s the One that weighs all their hearts.
Telling the truth and doing what’s right
Is more pleasing to God than a blood sacrifice.
A high-minded man is insolent and bold,
And the torch of the impious is sin.
The thoughts of hard-workers are of [gaining much] more;
But, those who’re too hasty will end up with less.
Those who seek treasures by lying
Are really pursuing in vain;
For, in death’s snares, they’ll be caught.
The ruin of the irreverent is welcomed as a guest
By those that prefer righteous ways.
To the crooked, God sends what is crooked;
For His ways are all straight and pure.
It’s better to live on the corner of a roof
Than in a house whitewashed with injustice,
Or to live in one that’s unclean.
Since the godless prefer to do what is bad,
They’ll never see mercy from others.
When you discipline men for their lack of restraint,
You make the guileless more clever;
For, by his insight, the wise man will learn.
Impious hearts are examined by the righteous
Who treat their evil ways with contempt.
Those that close their ears to the weak
Will call out and no one will listen.
A gift that is given in private
Will soothe [a person that’s angry];
But, where there’s no gift, the rage may remain.
The pure are joyful when the righteous get justice;
But this terrifies those that do evil.
A person who travels in righteous ways,
Will rest among gatherings of great ones.
A man that loves pleasure won’t end up with much;
And those fond of wine and [olive] oil
Will never [find themselves] wealthy.
To the righteous, the wicked are trash…
And that’s also how they view the Law-breakers.
It’s better to live in the desert
Than with a wife that argues and fights,
Or with one that is prone to be angry.
Treasure rests in the mouths of the wise,
For the foolish just swallow theirs down.
Those who seek charity and justice,
Will also find glory and life.
A wise man can attack a fortified city,
And he can demolish the forts
In which the irreverent put trust.
Those who keep watch on their mouths and their tongues
Are saving their souls from the problems they cause.
A bold, self-willed, and presumptuous man,
Is one that’s considered a plague;
For, all resent those that live without law.
Lazy desires bring death to a man,
For his hands will choose to do nothing.
The irreverent just want to do evil,
While the righteous show pity and mercy.
The sacrifices that the irreverent bring
Are viewed as disgusting by [God];
For, whatever they bring is not by the Law.
Since a witness that lies deserves death;
A [wise man] will watch what he says.
The irreverent impudently stand in the front,
But the upright know what they’re planning.
The godless have no wisdom or courage,
And the advice that they offer is bad.
Though a horse is prepared for the day of the war,
Help really comes from Jehovah.
A good name is better than wealth,
And good favor is better than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor should meet with each other;
For, both were made by Jehovah.
When a clever man sees the bad being punished,
He makes corrections in himself…
But this escapes the fools that pass by.
The fear of Jehovah is the father of wisdom…
Its rewards are wealth, glory, and life.
Thistles and snares line ways of the crooked;
But those guarding their souls will avoid them.
Raise your child [in good] ways,
And when he grows old, he won’t leave them.
The rich are in control of the poor…
They’re the masters of all those that borrow.
Those planting evil will harvest what’s bad…
Calamity is what they will reap
From all the bad things that they sow.
God loves those that are cheerful givers,
And overlooks the foolish things that they do.
Those that show mercy to the poor
Will eat the same bread that they give them.
Gift-givers buy victory and honor,
While those that withhold them may lose their lives.
If you keep mischief-makers out of your group,
Their unpleasantness also goes with them.
For, you’re dishonored when they sit in your midst.
Jehovah loves hearts that are holy…
Those with pure ways, He accepts.
The eyes of Jehovah keep guard on good sense,
And He treats lawbreakers as [refuse].
The lazy make many excuses…
They say, ‘There’s a lion out in the street;
So, I could be killed in the square.’
The mouths of the lawless are cesspools,
Into which those whom God hates will fall.
Foolish ways delight the hearts of the young;
But instruction and spankings will drive them away.
Those who swindle the needy,
Upon themselves, bring what’s evil…
And they’ll give all they’ve gained to the wealthy.
Lean your ears toward these wise words from my mouth…
Pay attention to the things that I’m saying.
Yes, prepare your heart to fully comprehend;
For, what I am saying is good!
If you’ll store it all deep in your heart,
You’ll see that it will bring joy to your lips.
Put your hope in Jehovah,
And He will show you His ways.
Write them down three times for yourself,
For your own instruction and knowledge.
I’m teaching you words that are true;
So, listen closely and learn.
Then, you can reply with words that are true,
When people are asking you questions.
Don’t push away the needy and poor,
And don’t dishonor the weak at your gates.
Since it’s Jehovah who argues their cause,
You’ll save your soul from reprisal.
Don’t be a friend to a man prone to rage,
And don’t lodge men prone to anger,
So that you don’t learn from their ways,
And bring a noose to your life.
Don’t shame your face by ensuring a loan;
For, if [your friend] can’t repay it,
They’ll take the bed that’s under your back.
Never move the markers of the ages,
Which were set in place by your fathers.
An observant man who is sharp in his ways
Will also stand beside kings…
He won’t stand beside the dull witted.
If you’re invited to dine with a ruler,
Pay attention to all that’s around you.
Especially pay attention to your hands…
Have them prepared at such [times].
And though you may be very hungry,
Don’t be too fond of his meal,
For that will not save your life.
And should you find yourself in great need,
Do not reach out to the wealthy…
Use insight and stay at a distance.
For, though you keep watch, they will not appear,
Since they have the wings of an eagle,
Or they can stay in their homes.
Don’t dine with a man prone to envy,
Nor should you desire his food…
Eat and drink like you’re swallowing hair.
And don’t bring him into your house for a meal;
For, he will just vomit it out
And lay waste to the things you’ve prepared.
Don’t speak into the ears of a fool,
So he doesn’t sneer at your wisdom.
Don’t move the markers of the ages,
And never take an orphan’s possessions,
Since their ransom is paid by Jehovah…
He’s mighty and He’ll argue their case.
Open your hearts to great learning,
And prepare your ears for sensible words!
Don’t avoid correcting the young…
For, if you spank him, no way will he die.
And if you give him a spanking;
From death, you may rescue his soul.
Son;
If you teach yourself to be wise,
You’ll bring much joy to my heart.
And if [what you say] should prove to be straight,
We’ll spend time sharing the words from our lips.
Don’t let your heart be jealous of sinners…
Fear Jehovah all day!
For, if you choose to take this advice,
You will have many descendants,
And you will get all that you’ve hoped for.
Hear me O son and be wise…
Straighten the thoughts in your heart!
Don’t be a person who drinks too much wine,
Or reclines with the meat in the markets!
For, whoremongers and drunks will be poor…
The nightgowns they wear will be ragged and torn.
O son, pay attention to your father,
And don’t disrespect your old mother.
With all you have, [search for] the truth…
And don’t reject wisdom, instruction, or knowledge!
A righteous father is one that provides,
And a son that is wise brings joy to his soul.
So, please bring joy to your father and mother…
May the one that bore you, rejoice!
Lend me your heart and your eyes…
O son, pay attention to my words!
The house of a [whore] is a keg with a hole…
It’s a well that is narrow and strange,
And all [who enter] will perish!
For, those that break laws are destroyed.
Who is the one that has problems and woes…
For whom are there many disputes…
For whom is there intrigue and rancor…
Who is destroyed for no reason…>
And who’s the one with dark eyes?
It is those that linger with wine,
And those that go looking for parties!
So, don’t be a man that drinks too much wine,
Or hangs out with [the unrighteous]…
Don’t go around [with those that are bad]!
For, if you search for [the contents of] cups,
You’ll end up as bare as a pestle…
Stretched out like one that’s been struck by a snake,
Or one poisoned by the bite of horned vipers.
When your eyes behold a strange woman,
And your mouth starts to speak perverse things;
For if you lie with her, you will then be
Like one that has fallen in the depths of the sea…
As a sailor that’s been covered by waves!
(You’ll say): ‘They beat me, but I felt no pain;
They mocked me, but I didn’t know it.
How long will it be ‘til it’s dawn
So I can go back and do it again?’
Son;
Never be jealous of evil men,
Or desire to go along with them.
For their hearts just think about lies,
And misery is found in their lips.
Wisdom has built a house for himself,
And it was erected with skill.
Its storerooms are filled with good sense…
Things of value, goodness, and wealth.
Gaining wisdom is better than gaining strength,
And being smart is better than owning much land.
Seek guidance before going to war;
For from the hearts of advisors, comes aid.
Wisdom and insight are good,
And they’re found in the gates of the wise.
The wise won’t turn from the Laws of Jehovah,
And they consider His things in their meetings.
Those that fail to learn this will die,
Since the fool will fail because of his sins.
With what’s dirty, do not get involved;
For when a day of trouble arrives,
You’ll see how such things have worked out.
Rescue those being led to their deaths,
And ransom those about to be slain!
Don’t say that you never knew them,
For the Lord knows what’s in the hearts of all men,
Since He’s the One that put breath in them all.
So, He’s aware of all that we do,
And He pays us back for the [sins] we commit.
Son;
To eat honey from the comb is delightful;
For into your throat, this brings sweetness…
And that’s how wisdom should be in your life;
For, if you find it, your death will be good,
And your hopes will not be abandoned.
Never lead the irreverent into the field
Of any man that is righteous,
Or join with them in deception.
For, though the righteous may fall 7 times,
They will also stand up again,
While the irreverent will be plagued for their badness.
Do not rejoice if your enemy falls,
And after his fall, he can’t rise.
For, Jehovah will see this and He’ll be displeased,
Then He’ll send His rage upon you.
And do not rejoice over those doing evil,
Or ever be jealous of sinners!
For the lives of the wicked will come to an end,
And the torch of the irreverent will be extinguished.
Fear God, O son, as well as the king…
Never resist their persuasion!
For they both can bring sudden death
Upon those that show no respect.
So, who can know how they’ll punish?
I’m saying this to the wise and to you:
If you’re in awe of a person you’re judging,
That’s a poor way to start out a trial.
For a man that declares the irreverent just
Will be cursed among all his people
And detested within every nation.
But, those that reprove will look better,
And upon such one will come praise…
Lips will kiss his righteous decisions.
Now, prepare to stop what you’re doing,
And let’s go out to work in your field…
Then, follow me, and we’ll work on your house!
Don’t ever be a witness that lies,
And don’t be too quick to open your lips.
Don’t say, ‘I’ll do what he did to me…
I’ll get even with the one that has wronged me!’
A foolish man is much like a farm,
And one lacking good sense, like a vineyard.
For, if you just leave them alone,
They each will become overgrown…
Their stone fences will fail and fall down.
I once decided to change…
I planned to just [sit back] and learn.
Then I started to doze and fell fast asleep
With my hands folded over my chest.
And if you allow this to happen to you,
Poorness will soon overtake you,
And lack will pass you like a sprinter.
These are the [proverbs] of Solomon that were recorded by friends of HezekiAh, the king of Judah.
God’s glory covers a matter;
But, kings view all things as important.
As the heavens are high over the earth…
So is the heart of a king.
Beating out unrefined silver
Is one way to make it more [pure].
Slay the impious surrounding the king,
And you’ll make his throne one of justice.
Don’t boast when you’re standing in front of the king,
Nor do it in gatherings of the mighty.
It’s better if [a king] says, ‘You may approach,’
Than to be humbled in the presence of the mighty.
Tell the king only those things
That you have seen with your eyes.
Don’t be too quick to start fights;
Or in the end, you’ll wish you had not.
Whenever a friend wants to scold you,
Don’t pull away or get angry.
For, if his scolding makes you hate him,
It’s the same as bringing his death.
Since favor and friendships bring freedom,
Pay close attention to the things that you do,
And give him no reasons to scold you…
Do not do things that cause trouble!
As a gold apple in a pendant of rubies
Is the value of words that are wise.
And as a gold earring with a setting of [gems]
Are wise words to ears that will listen.
A trustworthy messenger is like falling snow
In the heat of the harvest;
For he benefits the lives of all whom he tells.
As winds, clouds, and rain are apparent;
So is the man that chooses to boast
Of gifts that he didn’t give.
Patience before a king brings success,
And a mild reply will break bones.
When you find honey, just eat what’s enough,
Lest you should get filled and vomit it out.
Be sparing in the ways that you [visit] your friends
So they don’t get tired and start to detest you.
The same as clubs, swords, and arrows,
Is the person that slanders a friend.
For their evil, the lawless will die
In the bad days that are [coming].
As vinegar on a [cut] will bring [pain]
Is a heart in distress to its body.
Like a moth in [wool] clothes and as worms inside wood
Is how worry [will eat] a man’s heart.
If your enemy is hungry, you should feed him,
And if he’s thirsty, you should give him a drink!
By this, you’ll pile burning coals on his head,
And Jehovah will repay you for the good things you did.
As a wind from the north will bring clouds…
An impudent tongue will cause aggravation.
It’s better to live on the corner of a roof
Than with a woman that likes to complain.
As cold water is enjoyed by the thirsty;
So is good news that comes from afar.
As unbecoming as plugging a spring,
Which results in wasting the water,
Is the fall of someone that’s righteous
Before those whose ways are impious.
As eating too much honey isn’t good;
Kind words can also give too much praise.
As a city without walls and protection
Is the person that won’t take advice.
As snow in the summer and rain in the harvest;
It’s wrong for a fool to be honored.
As sparrows and other winged creatures
May spread [their wings, but not] fly;
An undeserved curse will not happen.
Like a whip to a horse or a spur to a mule;
A nation of the lawless must be beaten.
Don’t answer a fool in his same foolish way
So you’re not thought of being just like him.
Rather, reply to show how he’s foolish,
So he doesn’t think himself wise.
The man that sends a foolish report
Heaps scorn upon all his ways.
Remove from fools their reasons [to speak],
And take their proverbs out of their mouths.
For, as a man that ties a stone to a sling,
Is the person that gives glory to a fool.
As thorns will grow in the hands of a drunk;
Slavery grows in the hands of a fool.
As a bad storm may cause damage;
The flesh of fools will meet with destruction
Over things in which they find pleasure.
As a dog returns to its vomit;
A fool will return to the evil he’s done
And commit same sins again.
I’ve seen men who thought themselves wise,
Yet, they were no better than fools.
When you send out the lazy, they’ll say:
‘There are lions in the roads and murderers in the squares.’
The lazy one rolls in his bed
Like a door that’s swinging on hinges.
When the lazy one hides his hands in [his robe],
He’s unable to bring them up to his mouth.
The lazy one thinks himself wiser
When something he says appears to be true.
As one that grabs hold of the tail of a dog
Is the man that joins in a quarrel not his.
As doctors also need healing;
Those that give council will stumble.
When a man is caught stealing from friends,
He’ll claim that it was a joke.
Where there’s plenty of wood, a fire will grow;
But, when there’s no reason to disagree,
There’s also no reason to fight.
As a grate filled with coals or wood on a fire;
A man that shouts insults is seeking a fight.
The words of those who are bad may sound soft;
But they beat the insides of the bowels.
Silver that you get from treacherous deeds
Is the same as a fine pot that’s cracked.
Comforting [words] will bring rest
To hearts that are deeply distressed.
An enemy that cries will always agree,
As he makes wicked plans in his heart.
When an enemy is calling to you,
Don’t pay him any attention;
For, there are 7 kinds of evil in his heart.
Treacherous are those that hide hatred;
But in a court, their sins are revealed.
The man that digs a pit for his neighbor
Will be the one that falls in it;
And the one that’s rolling a boulder
Will roll it back on himself.
A lying tongue hates the truth,
And an open mouth can bring problems.
Don’t boast of the things that you’ll do tomorrow;
For, [no one] knows what tomorrow will bring.
Let your praises come from your friends (not from you)…
Let them come from the lips of strangers (not yours).
Rocks and sand are heavy to bear;
But the rage of a fool is greater than both.
Rage has no mercy and anger is sharp;
But, before the zealous, no one can stand.
It is better to offer correction
Than to use many flattering words.
The wounds of a friend can be trusted
More than an enemy’s kisses.
At honeycombs, the foolish will laugh;
And to the starving, what’s bitter tastes sweet.
Like a bird that flies from its nest,
Is the man that strays from his home.
Perfume, incense, and wine
Can make the heart very happy;
But, things that go wrong will shatter a soul.
Don’t leave a friend or a friend of your father,
And in hard times, don’t go to the house of your brother.
For a friend that is near is much better
Than a brother who lives far away.
Become wise, my son, and make my heart glad…
Do not shout hateful words!
When the clever see evil, they flee;
But a fool passing by gets involved.
Take the clothes from the man who shouts insults
And from one who destroys the goods of a stranger.
Shouting praises of a friend too early in the day
Is the same as when you shout curses.
As a house leaking rain in the winter;
A nagging wife drives a man from his home.
Since wind from the north blows so hard,
It is fittingly called the north wind.
As iron is sharpened by iron;
A man can sharpen the face of a friend.
The man that is planting a fig tree
Is the one who will gather its fruit;
And the man who guards [the life of] his master
Is the one who’ll be held in esteem.
As faces aren’t like other faces;
Men’s hearts are also quite different.
As the grave and destruction can never be filled;
The eyes of men can’t be satisfied.
But the [desires] of the eyes are disgusting to [God],
As are the stupid that don’t mind their tongues.
As silver and gold are refined in a fire;
A man is refined by correction.
You can dishonor a fool with a whip before crowds,
But you can’t drive his foolishness from him.
Know the condition of the lives of your flock,
And keep your herd in your heart.
A man’s might and strength won’t last through the ages…
Through generations, he cannot retain them.
If you tend the greens that grow in your field,
You’ll take their cuttings for food.
And if you’ll gather hay from the hills,
You’ll also have wool for your clothes.
Therefore, hold your fields in high esteem,
So you can own many lambs.
O son;
All of these proverbs that I’ve spoken
Will add many years to your life…
And they’ll also bring life to your servants.
The godless will flee when they’re not being chased;
But, as secure as lions, are the righteous.
From the sins of the irreverent come lawsuits;
But a clever man can avoid them.
An energetic man who does evil things
Can damage the poor like a storm.
Those leaving the Law will praise godless ways;
But for those that love it, the Law is a wall.
The evil don’t understand fairness…
But those seeking Jehovah know what it means.
It’s better to be poor and walking in truth
Than to be rich and a liar.
A discerning son will follow the Law;
But those driven by lust dishonor their parents.
Those that gain wealth from interest on loans
Will [pay it] to those who are kind to the poor.
[God] hates the prayers of any man
Who turn his ears from the Law.
Those that lead the righteous toward evil
Will also fall into corruption.
Then the honest will claim all their good things,
And won’t let them enter among them again.
A rich man thinks himself wise;
But, an intelligent poor man sees through him.
When the righteous triumph, there’s glory;
But when the wicked succeed, men will hide.
Those who excuse their ungodly ways
Won’t live to see prosperous times.
But, those that admit and make the correction
Will find themselves truly loved.
Blest is the man who worships in awe
When those with hard hearts see only what’s bad.
Like a thirsty wolf or a lion that’s starved
Is the king that rules a poor nation.
A king who doesn’t tax learns to extort;
But those hating corruption will live a long life.
The man that stands good for a loan
Is the same as a man blamed for murder;
For, he will be sent into exile,
Where he won’t find a safe place to hide.
The one who travels right ways will be helped,
While those walking crooked paths will get tangled.
The man that works his land will eat bread;
But, the lazy will always be poor.
A trustworthy man will be praised over much;
But, any evil will not go unpunished.
The evil look down on the righteous…
For a scrap of food, I’d sell such a man.
Though evil eyes quickly want to get rich;
They don’t know that poverty awaits them.
Those offering correction will be loved
More than those that just flatter.
Those that throw out their fathers and mothers
Assume that they have not sinned…
But, to the godless, they’ve become partners.
A dissatisfied man makes bad choices;
But those trusting in God find His [love].
Fools will yield to rash ways in their hearts,
While those that act wisely stay safe.
Those who give to the poor will not be in want,
While those passing them by will never be filled.
Where the rulers are godless, the righteous will moan;
And the righteous will prosper when they are destroyed.
It’s better to accept your correction
Than to be someone that’s proud.
For, upon the proud will come flames
From which they will never be healed.
When the righteous are honored, the people rejoice;
But, when the godless rule, people moan.
Lovers of wisdom bring joy to their parents;
But, those that seek whores destroy wealth.
A righteous king makes his land firm,
While a lawless king tears it down.
The one that sets a snare for a friend,
Wraps it around his own feet.
A snare is set for those who choose sin…
Which brings gladness and joy to the righteous.
The righteous give justice to the poor…
But, because the godless don’t understand justice;
To the poor, they’re very bad judges.
Those fond of mischief will burn their own city;
But the wise can turn back their rage.
A wise man will judge many nations,
While the ignorant will only bring rage,
Along with ridicule and disrespect.
Partners in blood hate the holy and upright,
So they’re always seeking their lives.
A fool will show all his rage,
While the wise will hold it within.
A king who will listen to unrighteous things
Brings joy to [the hearts] of the lawless.
In meetings between lenders and debtors;
Jehovah observes their agreements.
When a king gives justice to the poor,
He brings good reports to his throne.
Spanking and scolding brings wisdom;
But a child who is left to his own ways
Will soon bring shame to his parents.
When the godless are many, many will sin.
But, when they fall, the righteous learn fear.
Correct your son and he’ll bring you rest…
He’ll be a decoration throughout your whole life.
No one can save a lawbreaking nation;
But, those that obey the laws will be blest.
You can’t correct stubborn servants with words;
For, if they understand, they still won’t obey.
When you see a man that speaks hasty words,
Know that he shares the same hopes as a fool.
A man who is raised without purpose
Will soon become somebody’s servant,
And he’ll grieve for himself in the end.
An angry man looks for reasons to fight,
And a man who’s enraged will seek ways to sin.
Insolence tears down a man;
But, meekness brings glory from God.
The man that shares with a thief
Is a man that hates his own life.
And if he should hear public cursing,
He will never report it.
Those who fear men will be stumbled;
But those yielding to God will find joy.
Disrespect is what stumbles a man;
But the one that yields to his lord will be saved.
Though many come to stand before rulers,
True justice comes from Jehovah.
To the wicked, the righteous are foolish;
And to the lawless, those walking in straight paths [are fools].
Thus says this man to those trusting in God:
‘I’m weary,for I’m the most foolish of men,
And the intelligence of man isn’t in me.
Yet, God has taught me much wisdom,
And the holiest of knowledge, I know.’
Who’s gone up into the sky and returned?
Who has gathered the winds to His chest?
Who has bundled the seas in His robe?
Who has held the ends of the earth?
Yes, what is the name by which He is known,
And by what names has He called His sons?
All of God’s words are truly pure,
And He’s a shield to those showing respect.
But don’t add to His words or He’ll whip you,
And He will prove you a liar.
These are the things that I’ve asked Him to do:
· May I find Your favor [throughout my life].
· Please take away my vain, foolish words.
· Don’t give me poverty or wealth…
Just give me the things that I need
So I can remain self-sufficient.
· Don’t leave me in need, so I’d steal,
And thereby profane the Name of my God.
Don’t return a [slave] to his master
So he’ll have no reason to curse you.
A bad son curses his father
And doesn’t speak in praise of his mother.
A bad son is one who judges himself
And refuses to clean up his ways.
A bad son is one that is [proud]
And holds himself high in his own eyes.
A bad son has teeth that are swords
And molars that are like pruning knives,
Which he uses to consume the weak of the land
And to take from the needy.
To the leech was [born] three beloved daughters;
But, with the three, she wasn’t satisfied,
So she also [gave birth to] a 4th,
Since she couldn’t say, ‘That’s enough!’
For, the desires of a woman and the grave can’t be filled,
As the ground never gets too much water…
As with fire and water, it’s never enough!
May the eyes of those that make fun of their fathers
And dishonor their mothers in their old age
Be removed by crows in ravines,
And be devoured by the chicks of vultures.
There are three things that I can’t comprehend,
And there’s a fourth that I do not know:
· The tracks of the flight of an eagle
· The ways of a snake on a rock
· The path of a ship as it travels the seas
· And the ways of men in their youth.
As an adulterous wife is still washing herself,
She’ll claim that she has done nothing wrong.
These three things shake the ground,
And the fourth it’s unable to bear:
· When someone’s servant becomes king
· When a fool has plenty of food
· When a handmaid’s released by her lady
· When a hateful woman gets a good man.
There are 4 lesser things on the earth,
And these are wiser than the wise:
· The ants that are weak,
But spend their summers storing food.
· Rabbits that form a weak nation,
But make their houses in rocks.
· Locusts that live all alone,
But march in order when given the command.
· And the lizard with hands that are sticky…
For, though they are easily caught,
They live in the castles of kings.
There are three things that continue to prosper,
And a fourth that is best overlooked:
· The cub of a lion; for though it’s not strong,
It won’t turn away and it doesn’t know fear.
· A rooster that struts among hens.
· A male goat that takes the lead of his flock.
· And a king that addresses his nation.
When you lose your joy and raise fists to fight,
You have lost all your honor.
If you churn cream, you’ll get butter;
If you squeeze your nose, it will bleed;
And if you just keep on talking,
Arguing and fights will result.
These words [that I’ve written] were spoken by God…
Through a king came an answer divine.
He was once asked by his mother:
‘What, O my child, what should I tell you…
Which saying of God should I tell my firstborn?
What, O child of my belly…
What, O child of my vows?
‘Don’t [waste] your money on bad women,
Nor your abilities and mind seeking pleasure.
Think it all over and follow [my] words…
And [do not] drink [too much] wine!
‘Since the mighty are easy to anger;
Never offer them wine,
Lest they lose their wisdom in drink.
For they make poor decisions when they’re weak.
‘Give liquor to those in distress;
Offer wine to those that are grieving,
So they can forget their condition,
And remember their misery no more.
‘O son;
Open your mouth to speak Godly words,
And offer fair judgments to all.
Open your mouth with righteous decisions…
Stand up for the needy and weak!
‘Who can find an industrious wife?
More than precious gems, is her value!
If the heart of her man courageously guards her,
He’ll never be lacking good treasures;
For, she’ll uses her strength to support him,
And she’ll not waste her life in doing what’s bad!
She’ll work with her hands spinning linen and wool,
And act like a ship that trades far away…
For, that’s how she’ll gather her money.
‘She gets up while it is still dark,
Along with her female attendants,
To ready the food for her household.
She may see a farm and then buy it…
From the fruits of her hands, she’ll gain more.
‘She wraps her waist to give it support,
And readies her arms to do work.
She’s tasted and found work to be good,
And keeps her lamp lit all night long.
‘She reaches for things advantageous,
And applies her hands to the spindle.
She opens her hands to the needy,
And stretches her arms toward the poor.
‘She wouldn’t consider using what’s yours
Whenever you’re gone for a while;
And all that are hers will have enough clothes.
‘A doubled coat made of goat’s hair,
She has sewn for her man;
And from the bolt-ends of linen and purple,
She’s also made one for herself.
So, her man is admired when he sits at the gate,
And meets with the rest of the elders.
‘She takes fine linen to make loincloths
For all of her CanaAnite [servants].
She’s [proud] of her strength and her beauty,
And is happy throughout the rest of her days.
‘She opens her mouth to speak wisdom and Law,
And charity rests on her tongue.
Her pastimes are things that shelter her home,
And the grain of laziness, she doesn’t eat.
‘She raises her sons so they will grow rich,
And her man sings praises of her.
Her many daughters will also be rich
By doing the things that she’s [taught them].
‘But, you are still the first [in her eyes]…
Above all the rest, she holds you.
‘For, beauty and allurement are false;
So, that isn’t what you should seek.
Rather, find a woman that’s praised and discerning…
One that’s known for her fear of God.
Take from her, the fruit of her lips,
And you’ll always be praised at the gates.’
These are the sayings of the great congregator, the son of David, the king of IsraEl in JeruSalem.
‘All is foolishness and waste,’
Said the great congregator.
‘Foolishness and waste… all that’s done is in vain.
What value does man gain from the things he has done,
And the things he’s worked hard for under the sun?’
‘For, one generation passes away,
And then another arrives…
Yet, the earth remains through the ages.
‘The sun keeps on rising and setting
As it draws to it’s place,
And the winds blow in from the south,
As they move north in a circle…
Then they go back and come ‘round again.
‘Though all the rivers flow into the sea,
The sea does not become filled.
For, to the places from which they all came,
They return and flow back again.
‘So, no man can speak all the words he might say,
And his eyes can’t be filled with all he can see,
Nor can his ears handle all that they hear.
‘What is this thing that [just] happened?
The same thing will happen again!
What is this thing being done?
The same will be done in the future…
For there’s nothing that’s new under the sun!
‘Who can say, Look, here’s something new!
For the same thing has happened for ages
To those who have lived before us.
But the things that they did were forgotten,
And those who are born in the future
Won’t remember the things that we’re doing now.'
The great congregator is the king
Over all of IsraEl from JeruSalem.
So I set my heart to survey and inquire
About all that has happened under the sky.
God gave me this to distract me from bad,
And to lead sons of men back to Him.
I’ve seen all that’s done under the sun,
And I find it to be a waste of [good] breath.
For, things that go wrong are never made right,
And there’s too much that’s wrong to be counted.
Once I spoke in my heart and I said:
‘Look how great I’ve become!
For, I’ve been given more wisdom
Than all who have lived before me!’
So, I set my heart to learn wisdom and knowledge;
And wisdom and knowledge, my heart then beheld,
As well as higher learning and proverbs.
So, it became the resolve of my spirit
To gain an abundance of wisdom,
Along with vast volumes of knowledge.
But, those who gain knowledge also gain pain.
Then I said to my heart, ‘Well come now;
I’ll [fill] you with joy and then you’ll know good!’
But, even that was just folly.
To laughter, I said, ‘You’re a burden!’
And to joy, I asked, ‘What have you achieved?’
So I thought in my heart,
‘I’ll drink wine for my flesh!’
But my heart then led me toward wisdom.
Next, I decided to hold onto joy
Until I could see just what kind of good
There is to be found among sons of men,
And what they can do in their short years of life.
So thereafter, I went into action…
I planted vineyards and built many homes.
I made myself gardens and parks,
Which I planted with all sorts of fruit.
Around them, I dug ponds and lakes
To water the groves filled with trees.
I acquired many slaves (both women and men),
And many native servants were born.
I also acquired great herds and flocks…
More than all who had come before me.
I collected much silver and gold for myself…
The possessions of kings and estates.
I prepared for myself, many singers…
Men and women, I brought to amuse me.
I had men and women who just served me wine;
Then, I became great as my wisdom increased
(More than all who had come before me);
And indeed, my wisdom was proven.
Everything that I could ask for
Was there in front of my eyes,
And no joy was withheld from my heart.
But, though these efforts of my heart brought me joy;
This was the sum of all I’d achieved.
For, when I looked at the things I had done,
And the things that I’d made with my hands…
When I considered the effort it took,
I saw that it all was just folly.
Since, no matter what our spirits may choose to do;
It brings no advantage under the sun.
So thereafter, I examined my wisdom,
And I saw that it too was just folly.
For, who under the sun will follow my words…
Which man will do [what I’ve said]?
And though the wise may have eyes in their heads,
The fools will still travel in darkness.
I also realized that both them and I
Will eventually all meet together.
So, in my heart I said this:
‘Since the fate of fools will also take me;
What value is there in my wisdom?’
And I also said this in my heart:
‘The things that I’ve said about being a fool
Are also just [wasted breath];
For, both the wise the fools are forgotten,
And what they do will not be remembered.
So, how are the wise any better than fools?’
Then, I became disgusted with life;
For, all that I’ve done under the sun
Will eventually end up as bad…
It is all foolish and a waste [of good] breath.
I became disgusted with all of the things
That I had accomplished under the sun,
For I’ll leave it to the one who comes next…
And who knows if he’s wise or another poor fool…
Who knows if he’ll care for the things I have made,
Or the things I have learned under the sun?
So, all of this is just folly!
Thus I turned to dismiss it all from my heart…
All the results of my efforts,
And all that I’d made under the sun.
For there’s a man who worked hard to gain wisdom,
As well as knowledge and courage.
But, there’s also a man who made no such effort,
And he will receive the same fate.
So, this is a great wicked folly.
What happens to a man and his efforts,
And the resolves of his heart under the sun?
During all of his days there is pain,
And rage over things that are being destroyed;
So, during the night, his heart knows no rest…
Indeed, this too is just folly.
Nothing worthwhile comes to a man
But eating, drinking, and searching for good…
These things truly come from God’s hands;
For, without Him, who’s able to eat or to drink?
To those whom He declares to be good,
He bequeaths wisdom, knowledge, and joy…
But, from the sinners, He rips this away!
They’re just given to those whom He finds to be good,
And to those who can stand before Him.
Yet, this is also just folly,
And just a waste of [good] breath.
For all that’s under the sky
There is a season and time…
There are times to give birth and times that bring death;
There are times to plant and to harvest;
There are times to heal and times to destroy;
There are times to build and tear down;
There are times to laugh and to cry;
There are times for mourning and dancing;
There are times to pick stones and to throw them;
There are times to hug and times to reject;
There are times to lose and to find;
There are times to collect and discard;
There are times to plant and times to rip out;
There are times to speak or be quiet;
There are times to love and times to show hate;
There are times for peace and for war…
So, what can your efforts accomplish?
I’ve seen the amusements God’s given
To the sons of men to distract them…
Yes, all that God’s made is good in its time.
And though He’s put the ages into our hearts,
No man can know all that’s been done
From the most ancient times to the present.
So, when a man has it all
(All that he needs to eat and to drink),
He’ll know that his ways have been blest,
And he’ll know that these gifts came from God.
All that God does lasts through ages;
So to them, you can add nothing more,
Nor can you take it away.
For, all that God has accomplished
Was done so we’d live before Him in fear.
And all that is, has been before…
Yes, it’s all happened before,
And God searches to see what we’ve chosen.
I’ve also noticed that under the sun,
There’s a place where the godless are judged
And a place where the righteous are judged.
So, in my heart, I’ve concluded
That both the unrighteous and just will be judged.
Yes, there is a season for all,
And for every deed, there is a right time.
I said in my heart what sons of men say…
That God views us like we are cattle.
For, man’s outcome is the same as his herds…
As this one dies, so dies the other,
Since we all share the very same breath.
So, how are men better than cattle… they aren’t,
And it is all just a joke!
For we all return to the very same place…
We come from the dust and return to the dust.
So, who knows if man’s breath goes upward,
Or the breath of his cattle goes into the ground?
In all of this, I saw [little] that’s good,
Except to find joy in the things that we do…
Yes, this is all we’ve been given.
For, who will lead us to see
The things that will happen after [we’re gone]?
Yes, I’ve turned and I’ve seen it all…
The extortions and other such things
That will happen to all under the sun.
I’ve seen power in the hands of extorters,
And I’ve seen the tears of the swindled…
Then, no one arrived to bring comfort.
I’ve also praised the things of the dead;
For, more have died than have lived,
And the best of these two is the one not yet born…
The one who has not seen the evil
In what will be done under the sun.
I beheld all their efforts and acts of great courage…
Men’s rivalries with their companions.
And I see that it all is just foolish…
It’s all a huge waste of breath.
The fool folds his hands… then he eats his own flesh.
But it’s better to enjoy a handful in peace
Than to have twice as much in distress;
For, this is also a waste of good breath.
I turned and noticed man’s foolish ways…
All that he’s done under the sun.
For, there are those who live all alone,
And who have had no dependents.
But, though they have no brothers or sons,
They deprive their lives of things that are good.
And indeed, this too is just folly…
It’s just a distraction from evil.
Two are better than living alone,
For the efforts of two return a good wage…
If he stumbles, his partner will lift him.
But, woe to the one who stumbles and falls,
And has no partner to raise him.
When two share a bed, they’ll be warm…
But, one alone can’t keep himself warm.
And a person alone can be beaten,
While two make a better defense…
Yet a 3-corded rope is harder to break.
It’s better to be a poor but wise child
Than a king who is foolish and old…
One who no longer listens [to council].
For he reigns within his own prison,
And in his own kingdom, has nothing.
I’ve gazed upon all of the living
(All who are walking under the sun),
And I see the next generation
That will soon become their replacements.
There’s no limit to all of the people,
Or to those who have come before.
And since the last take no joy in the first;
This too is foolish and a waste of good breath.
Watch your feet as you enter God’s House
(Whenever you go there to listen),
And bring an offering that is better
Than the rest of the gifts of the foolish
Who are unaware of the evil that comes.
Don’t let your mouths speak too quickly
Or let your hearts be too hasty
When making [a vow] in the presence of God.
For, God is up in the heavens,
And you are here on the earth;
So, let your words remain few.
As many [concerns] bring [bad] dreams;
Many words are heard from the voices of fools.
So, when you make a vow to [your] God,
Don’t waste any time to repay it,
Since He doesn’t like vows that are foolishly made.
So, whatever you vow, you should bring!
And it’s best that you don’t make a vow
Than to vow and then fail to pay it!
Don’t let your mouth lead your flesh into sin,
And don’t say too much in the presence of God.
[Do not say] stupid things,
And don’t make Him angry with your words,
Or He’ll bring destruction to the works of your hands.
So, though you may have many daydreams and follies,
Fear to say many words,
Whenever you stand before God.
If you see the needy extorted and robbed
By lawsuits or other legal actions;
Don’t give this too much attention.
For, from above, the High One keeps watch…
He sees all that happens under [the sky].
And though the land’s bounty is there for us all,
Even a king needs his fields to be worked.
But for those who love silver, there’s never enough,
And with plenty comes even more young…
And indeed, this too is just folly.
For, when you have many good things,
There will also be many to eat it.
So what value is there in getting much more,
When it’s just to be seen by your eyes?
Sleep is always sweet to a slave,
Whether he has little or much…
But the rich never get enough sleep.
I’ve seen all this illness under the sun…
For there are those who store up much treasure,
Which is thereafter lost in hard times.
So, wealth is just a distraction from bad.
When a man fathers a son,
The child arrives here with nothing at all.
Naked he comes from his mother’s womb,
And when he dies, he leaves the same way…
With nothing to show for his efforts,
And nothing to carry back in his hands.
Indeed, this is illness that’s evil;
For, as he arrives is how he returns.
And what advantage has he gained from his efforts,
When they’re [blown away] in the wind?
In darkness and mourning, men fill their days…
In anger, illness, and rage.
Yet, I’ve seen good in the things that we eat and drink,
And I’ve also seen good from man’s efforts…
In the things he’s accomplished under the sun,
And in the portion that God has allowed him.
For, those who gain wealth and possessions from God,
Are allowed to own them and eat them.
Thus, they reap the joy of their efforts…
And these are [the true] gifts from God!
So, though they’ll forget most days of their lives,
God amuses them with the joy in their hearts.
There is something bad that I have beheld,
Which is common to all under the sun.
It’s when God gives a man wealth,
Along with possessions, and glory,
So that he lacks nothing his soul could desire…
Then he’s not allowed the time to [enjoy] it,
And thereafter, it’s given to strangers…
Yes, this is a sickness and folly.
If a man should live to 100
(No matter how long the days of his years),
And his life has never known good things;
Before he’s buried, I’d say:
‘It would have been better if he’d been miscarried.’
For, from darkness he came and in darkness he left,
And in darkness his name will be covered.
Indeed, he knew not the sun,
And none would know him from others.
And if he came back and lived thousands [of years],
But he still never saw any good;
Wouldn’t things still be the same?
So, all men can do is just fill their mouths,
Since their lives never reach their fulfillment.
And what advantage have the wise over fools?
For, only the poor put just living first.
It’s better to have a dream in your eyes
Than to see what will really happen in life;
So, all of that is just folly…
It’s just a waste of good breath.
Whenever something new comes along,
It was already named [in the past].
And though a man may know his own [strength],
He can’t know when someone is stronger.
There’s so much that makes foolishness grow,
And what does this mean for a man?
Who knows what will be the best parts in his life,
Or how many of his days will be foolish?
For, his life is much like a shadow,
And who can report to a man
What under the sun will succeed him?
A good name is better than oil,
And the day that you die is much greater
Than the day you were born.
So it’s better to go to a funeral
Than to spend time at a banquet…
For, that is the end of all men,
And it’s good for all who are living
To take such good warnings to heart.
Indignant rage is better than laughter;
For a face that’s been hurt creates a good heart.
So the wise at heart are at funerals,
While the foolish heart [searches for] pleasure.
It’s better to hear the scolding of the wise
Than to listen to the [praising] of fools.
As the [crackling] of tinder under a pot,
Is the sound of the laughter of fools;
For, this is also just folly.
Extortion makes wise people crazy;
For it destroys the greatest plans of their hearts.
The way that a matter turns out
Is [more important] than how it began.
It’s better [for a man] to forgive
Than to have a high-minded spirit.
Do not get angry too quickly;
For, rage rests in the bosoms of fools.
Don’t ask why past days were better;
For in asking such things, there’s no wisdom.
True wisdom brings plenty of good
To those who can still see the sun;
For, wisdom is in the sun’s shadow,
And in the shadow of silver.
The advantage of those who have wisdom
Is that those who have found it will live [longer] lives.
Behold the actions of God;
For, who can add to the things that He brings?
Enjoy the good life during good days,
For you know that bad days will come!
Look! Harmonious words, God sent through this man,
So people will need nothing more!
I’ve seen it all in my foolish days…
I’ve seen the righteous unjustly destroyed,
And the irreverent allowed to keep doing what’s bad.
Don’t be too discerning or righteous,
So you won’t overwhelm all the others.
Nor should you be disrespectful of them,
Lest you harden and die before it’s your time.
It’s best to hang on to all that is good
And not to get your hands dirty;
For, everything comes to those who fear God.
Wisdom has much greater power
Than 10 mighty men in a city.
There’s no man on earth that is righteous…
There are none who are good and free from all sins.
Don’t keep all bad that is said in your heart,
And don’t notice when you’re cursed by your servants.
For, against you, they’ll say wicked things,
And often they’ll hurt you at heart…
Just as you’ve often cursed others.
All of these things, I’ve tested as wisdom;
But, though I may say that I understand,
It has stayed too far from my grasp…
It’s too high above me and too deep below;
So, who is able to find it?
To understand, I’ve searched my heart through…
I’ve looked it all over and sought what is wise.
I have reasoned and seen how the godless are fools,
And of how they’re misled to do wrong.
I find her more bitter than death…
The woman with snares and nets in her heart,
And who creates slaves with her hands.
Only those who are found to be good before God
Will be delivered from her,
While those who sin will be captured.
‘Look! This is what I have found,’
Says the great congregator.
‘I’ve counted and carefully searched…
Seeking for such ones with my whole soul…
But, I was unable to find
A man in a thousand who’s [righteous],
And none at all among women!
‘Yet, this is the one thing I’ve found:
God deals with the man who is upright,
And He searches for ways to reward him.’
But, who knows who truly is wise,
And who understands the meanings of proverbs?
Wisdom will make faces brighter,
While impudent faces are hated.
Watch the mouth of a king
Because of the oath that God swore!
Don’t depart from his face in a hurry,
And don’t go to him for wrong reasons;
For, he’ll do whatever he pleases,
And then, who can ask of the king:
‘Why did you make [that decision]?’
Those who keep the Commandments don’t contemplate evil;
For, wise hearts discern right ways and right times.
There’s a time and a ruling for all,
And the knowledge of men ranges widely.
But, since no one knows what will happen,
Who can foretell what the future will hold?
No man controls [his own] spirit,
Nor is he able to keep it in check.
None can avoid the day of their deaths,
And none can avoid days of war…
Nor can the irreverent avoid what they’re due.
I have now seen it all…
I’ve given my heart to all under the sun…
And I’ve found that all men can do,
Is just bring to bad on themselves.
I’ve seen the irreverent carried to tombs
From a place that is Holy.
They were also praised in the city
For the things they had done…
And this is also just folly.
When no one opposes the wicked,
Men’s hearts feel safe in turning toward bad.
And those who are guilty of sins,
Just go on living their lives.
But, I know that good comes to those who fear God,
And before Him, the rest should feel fear.
For, good doesn’t really come to the godless,
And what they do doesn’t lengthen their days.
So, they are nothing but shadows [that pass],
Because they’ve shown no fear of God.
There is even more folly that’s done on the earth…
As when the righteous receive what the guilty deserve,
And the godless receive what the righteous deserve…
Yes, this is also just folly!
So, though I may sing their praises in joy,
There’s nothing good that happens to men
Anywhere under the sun,
Other than eating, drinking, and pleasure…
Yes, that’s all there is to man’s efforts…
It’s what he’s been given by God
As [his portion] under the sun.
So I turned my heart to learn wisdom
And to overlook what’s done on the earth.
For, both day and night, men sleep with [closed] eyes,
So they cannot see all that happens.
Then I started to observe the actions of God,
Which men under the sun haven’t noticed.
For, despite all the efforts they put in their search,
They’ve been unable to find it.
And though the wise speak of knowledge,
They too are unable to find it.
But because I gave my heart to discernment;
These are the things that my heart came to see.
The deeds of the righteous and wise
Are in the hands of our God.
And with all of their loves and dislikes,
Man cannot really comprehend it…
For, foolish are the ways of all men!
There are things that happen to the righteous,
And things that happen to the godless…
And to either, can come good or evil.
There are also the clean and unclean;
There are those who bring sacrifices,
And those who offer God nothing.
Yet, the same things [can happen to] both…
To the good as well as the sinners…
To those who choose to swear oaths,
And to those who fear to swear oaths.
In all of this, there is evil
In what is done under the sun…
For the same things can happen to both.
Indeed; men’s hearts are filled with what’s bad,
And it leads them to madness throughout their lives…
Then they go to the grave.
But, for the living, there is still hope,
Since a living dog is much greater
Than a mighty lion that has died.
For the living know that they’ll die,
While the dead know nothing at all,
Nor do they have a reward,
Since the memory of them is forgotten.
Their loves and dislikes are both gone,
And their zeal has already perished.
Then, through the age they’ll not be involved
In whatever is done under the sun.
So, eat your bread in contentment,
And drink to your heart with fine wines…
And God will think well of your actions.
May your clothes always be white,
And may there be plenty of oil for your head.
Share what you have with the woman you’ve loved
All the days of your wasted life.
For it’s all that you’ll get under the sun,
Since the days of your life are a folly…
Yes, this is the sum of your life
For all of your efforts under the sun.
So whatever your hands find to do,
Do it with all of your power!
For, there’s no doing, thinking, wisdom, or knowledge
In the place of the dead where you’re going.
I turned and I saw that under the sun,
The race isn’t won by those fleet of foot,
Nor are battles all won by the mighty.
The wise aren’t always those who eat bread,
And the discerning aren’t always the rich;
Nor are those with knowledge shown favor.
Yet, there’s a time and a meeting for all,
And no one knows when this time will arrive.
As fish being caught in a net,
And as birds being trapped in a snare;
The sons of men will be swiftly caught
In a bad time that arrives all too quickly.
I’ve beheld all this wisdom under sun,
And it rests heavily upon me.
If a city is small with just a few men,
And a mighty king comes to attack,
Building high siege mounds around it;
And if a wise man who’s poor can be found there,
And his wisdom results in saving that town;
All will forget that he had been poor.
So, this is what I can tell you:
‘Wisdom is better than power.’
But the wisdom of the poor is treated with contempt,
And none pay attention to their words.
Yet, the words of the wise who have nothing
Should be heeded over the words of the foolish
Who may have been given the power,
Since wisdom is better than weapons of war,
And a single error can wipe out the good.
As a dead fly can spoil a good ointment;
A little folly can conquer great wisdom.
The hearts of the wise are at their right hands,
But the hearts of fools stay on their left.
So, whichever way a fool chooses to go;
In his heart, he is sure that he’ll fail,
Since he thinks that he can’t succeed.
If the spirit of a ruler flares against you,
Don’t turn away from your place;
For, [patience] heals all great sins.
I’ve observed a wickedness under the sun…
It’s when a ruler does something in haste,
And puts a fool over important things,
While those who’ve proven their worth are put low…
I’ve seen slaves who are riding on horses,
And princes who are walking like slaves on the ground.
The one who is digging a cesspool
Is also the one who’ll fall in it;
And those who move boundary markers,
Will find themselves bitten by snakes.
Quarry workers may be harmed by the rocks,
And those who split logs are in danger.
If the axe isn’t sharp, you’ll work harder;
So, doing what’s wise paves the way to success.
If a snake-charmer whispers and the serpent still bites;
All of his charming is worthless.
Words from a wise mouth bring favor,
While foolish lips rip it away.
And if foolish words are accepted;
It will end in what’s wicked and crazy.
The fool often speaks many words,
Though he doesn’t really know what will happen,
Or what will soon come to be.
So, who’ll walk behind and announce him?
The efforts of fools bring them trouble…
For, they know not the right ways to enter a town.
Woe to you, O great city,
Where your king is just a young [man],
And your princes eat meals in the mornings.
Rather, blest is the land
Where the king has been born of nobles,
And whose princes eat at the right times.
For, the things that they eat makes them strong,
So they will never be shamed.
By sloth and neglect a home [falls apart],
And with idle hands, [its roof] starts to leak.
Bread, wine, and oil are made to cause laughter,
And to bring joy to the living…
But, they must also be [paid for].
Never curse a king in your mind,
Nor curse the rich in your bedrooms or closets.
For your words will be carried by birds in the skies,
And those with wings will report what you’ve said.
Scatter your [seeds] on the water,
And after some time, you will find them.
Yes, share what you have with 7 or 8,
Since you don’t know what bad may come to the land.
If clouds become filled, they’ll send rain to the ground.
And if a tree falls toward the north of the south,
Wherever it falls, it will stay.
So, those who look to the wind may not plant,
And those who look to the clouds may not reap.
For, attempting to know which way the wind blows,
Is like knowing the bones in the womb of a mother…
You don’t know the actions of God,
Or any of the things He will do.
So, start your planting in the morning,
And don’t stay your hand ‘til the evening;
For, you never know what will grow over there,
Or what will grow best over here…
Or if the two will grow well together.
Daylight is sweet and it’s good for the eyes
To be able to see by the sun.
But, though a man’s years may bring him much joy,
He’ll also know many days that are dark…
And all that will come is just folly.
Take joy, young man, in your youth;
And may your heart do good while you’re young.
May your heart walk in ways that are pure,
Not in the ways that you see with your eyes…
For, know that this leads to God’s judgment.
So, remove all the rage from your heart,
And all the wicked ways from your flesh;
For, youth’s thoughtless ways are all folly!
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth;
For, bad days will come [all too soon],
And the years will arrive when you’ll say,
‘I never really wanted [to see] them!’
[It’s a time when] the sun becomes dark,
And you’ll not see the light of the moon or the stars,
Or the clouds passing by after rain.
It’s a day when the watchman starts to tremble…
When the powerful man is bent double,
And the grinders cease, because they are few.
Then, women will stare from their windows at darkness,
And they will lock all their doors
In fear of the sounds of those grinding in the market.
Then the sound of a sparrow will wake you,
And the daughters of song will be humbled.
From above, you’ll look down and see
Frightening things on the road.
Then, at the time when almonds should blossom,
The locusts will grow to be many,
And capers will drop on the ground…
For, you’ll have gone to your home of the ages.
Then, people will circle the market,
Beating their chests in mourning for you.
For the silver cord has been severed;
The gold decoration is broken;
The bucket at the well has been shattered;
And the wheel has rolled into the pit.
For, that which is dust went back to the ground
From which it once had been taken;
And the breath has also returned
To the God from whom it was given.
‘Oh how silly and foolish,’
Says the great congregator.
Yet to him, came even more wisdom,
And he taught all his knowledge to men…
He traced it all out and composed it as proverbs.
The great congregator searched for the words,
And he wrote them as right ways of truth…
As words to the wise and as ox goads…
As nails that are hammered in tight.
They’re agreeable things from a shepherd;
So, carefully guard them, my son!
For, many scrolls have been written
(Yes, to them, there’s no end),
And spending much time thinking about them
Is just a weariness to the flesh.
But listen, for this is what I’ve concluded:
Fear God and keep His Commandments…
This is all that there is for a man!
The rest just leads to judgment by God,
Who decides whether we have been bad or good.
The song of all songs by Solomon.
May you kiss me with kisses from your mouth;
For, [the feel] of your chest is better than wine.
And the smell of your scent is much better
Than the odor of all the perfumes
That have been poured in your name…
And because of this, young women have loved you.
For, they are the ones who drew me toward you,
And toward the scent of your fragrance, we ran.
Though the king has carried me off
Into his private apartments;
I shout in joy and am glad over you,
For I love your chest more than wine,
And what I have for you is [pure] love.
O daughters of JeruSalem;
I am as pretty and tan
As the tents in the Valley of Cedars,
And as [King] Solomon’s leathers.
Yet, don’t bother to look, for I’m very dark,
Because [I’ve worked hard] in the sun.
For the sons of my mother quarreled with me
And made me work hard in a vineyard…
Yes, I tended to vines not my own.
So, tell me, O love by my life;
Where is the place that you tend [your sheep],
And where are you napping at noon?
For I wish to be wrapped all around you
There among your companions of flocks.
Well, if you don’t know, O my fair one,
Follow at the heels of the flocks;
For I tend my kids near the tents of the Shepherds.
As my horse from the chariots of PharaOh,
Is how I [view] you, my dear one.
Your cheeks are as pretty as doves,
And your neck is much like the pendant
That I’ll make for you out of gold accented with silver.
When the king came here to lie down with me,
The oils I was wearing gave off their scent.
But for me, the man that I truly love
Is like a bundle of balsam,
And between my breasts, I want him to stay.
For my love is a cluster of cypress…
And like the vineyards of EnGedi.
Look… you’re so pretty, my dear one,
And your eyes are like those of doves.
And look… you’re so handsome, my dearly-loved man;
And beautiful will be our bed in the shade,
Where the beams of our house will be cedar,
And our barns will be made out of cypress.
I am a flower of the fields…
Yes, I am a lily of the valley.
As a lily in the midst of thorn bushes,
Is my dear one among many daughters.
And as apples among other trees in the grove,
Is my loved one amidst other sons.
To rest in his shadow, is what I desire,
For I’ve found his fruit to be sweet.
So, carry me away to the tavern,
And when we get there, order me love!
Then rub me with fragrant oils,
And pile apples upon me…
For, I’ve been pierced through with love.
Now, his left hand is under my head,
And with his right, he’s drawing me near.
O you daughters of JeruSalem;
Swear by the powers and strengths of the fields
That you won’t arise and awaken your love
Until [the time] it’s desired.
O hear the voice of my dearly-loved man…
{Look!} He’s coming, springing over the mountains,
And leaping above all the hills.
For my dearly-loved man is [a fawn],
And a stag among many hinds!
{Look!} He’s standing outside of my window,
And peeking at me through the shades.
The man that I love is calling and says,
Get up and come here, my dear one…
Yes, my fair one and dove;
For look, the winter has passed,
And the rains have poured down and ended.
Flowers have blossomed throughout the whole land,
And the time for pruning’s arrived.
You can hear the voices of doves calling out;
The fig trees are putting out buds;
And you can smell the blossoms on grape vines.
So, arise and come here, my dear one…
Get up and come here, my dove!
Come, my dove, and stay near the rocks
That are piled outside of the wall.
Please let me see what you look like,
And let me hear your voice once again
For I love the way that you speak,
And I [love to gaze at] your beauty.
So, grab hold of the foxes destroying the vines;
For my grapevines are now in full bloom!’
Yes, my dearly-loved man is for me,
And I am his one and only.
But he’s [outside] tending the lilies,
Until a new day when the clouds will be gone.
O my dearly-loved man;
Be like the fawn or a buck among hinds,
And [stay nearby] in the mountains.
During the nights, there in my bed;
Whole-souled, I searched for the one that I love.
But though I searched, I was unable to find him…
I called to him, but he didn’t reply.
So I’ll get up and go through the city,
Then I’ll search the markets and squares
For the one that I love with my whole soul.
Well, I searched, but I couldn’t find him.
And then they found me… the ones keeping guard…
Those who do rounds in the city.
[And I asked], ‘Have you seen the love of my life?’
But, shortly after I passed them,
I found the love of my life.
I grabbed hold of him and didn’t let go,
Then I took him to the house of my mother…
To the bedroom of the one who conceived me.
O daughters of JeruSalem;
Swear by the powers and strengths of the fields
That you won’t arise and awaken your love
Until [the time] it’s desired.
Who is this woman that comes from the desert
Like smoke arising from the odor
Of myrrh, frankincense, and the powders of all the perfumers?
{Look!} There is King Solomon’s bed
With 60 mighty men standing ‘round it
From among all of IsraEl’s great ones.
Each one is holding his broadsword,
And in ways of war, they all have been trained.
They wear their swords on their hips,
[As they keep watch] throughout the night.
King Solomon has a carriage made from Lebanon’s cedars,
Which has columns of silver, couches of gold,
And purple carpets that line all its steps…
Gifts of love from JeruSalem’s daughters.
So, come and behold, O daughters of Zion…
See Solomon and the garland he got from his mother
On the day that he took me,
And when his heart was so filled with joy!
{Look!} You’re so pretty my dear one…
See how pretty you are!
Your eyes look like doves inside of your veil;
Your hair is as herds of GileAd’s goats.
Your teeth [are as white] as freshly-sheared sheep
After they’ve come from the bath…
All of whom have born twins,
And none are childless among them.
Your lips are like scarlet ribbons,
And the way that you talk is so pretty.
Your cheeks, when they’re outside your veil,
Are red like pomegranate skins.
Your neck is like the tower of David
(The one that was built for protection),
In which hangs the shields of a thousand,
As well as the arrows of his mighty.
And your breasts are just like twin fawns,
Which are feeding there among the lilies.
But until a new day arrives,
When all the shadows are gone,
I’ll go to the mountain of myrrh,
And wait for you at the frankincense hill.
For, entirely fair is my dear one…
Yes, she is totally perfect.
So, come from Lebanon, my bride…
From Lebanon, please come here to me!
Come to me through the Archway of Trust…
From the peaks of Shinar and HerMon…
From the mountains of leopards and lions.
For, you have captured my heart,
O my sister and bride…
You’ve captured my heart with your eyes
And your neck of garlands [and flowers].
Pretty are both your breasts,
O my sister and bride.
They are better than the finest of wines,
And the scent of your clothes exceeds all perfumes.
Your lips are like honey as it drips from the comb…
Honey and milk are under your tongue,
And like frankincense, is the smell of your clothes.
But you’re locked in a garden, my sister and bride…
Like a well that’s been covered and sealed.
All the messages that you have sent
Are like pomegranate gardens to me…
They are like the fruit from the trees…
They’re like the scent of cypress and nard…
Yes, cypress, nard, calamus and saffron…
The smell of cinnamon and Lebanon's cedars,
Along with aloes and the best of perfumes.
They’re like life-giving wells in a garden,
And the springs of life-saving waters,
Which from Lebanon, still pour down to us.
So wake up, O north wind… come now!
And south wind, breathe life to my garden…
Come and let its scents flow!
May the man that I love enter his garden,
And may he eat the fruit from its trees!
Yes, I’ll go to my garden, my sister and bride,
And I’ll gather my harvest of spices and myrrh.
For I’ve eaten my bread and its honey,
And I’ve drunk its milk and its wine.
Please eat, my dear one, and drink…
Let’s both get drunk, my dearly-loved man!
Though I [want to] sleep, my heart tells me no;
For my loved one knocked on my door, then he said:
‘Open to me, O my sister…
Yes open, my dear one… my perfect dove.
For my head is covered with dew,
And my curls [are wet] with the mist of the night.
I've removed all of my underclothes…
So now, must I put them back on?
I have also washed off my feet…
Must I run and get them dirty again?’
Then my dearly-loved man stuck his hand through [my door],
And he was aroused [by the touch of my skin].
So I got up and opened to him,
As my hands were dripping with myrrh…
My fingers dripped with myrrh on the lock.
But, when I opened for the one that I love;
The man that I love wasn’t there.
With my whole soul, I yearned for his voice;
So I searched, but I couldn’t find him…
I called for him, but he couldn’t hear me.
Then they found me (the guards who make rounds through the town)…
They struck me and hurt me, and took off my wrap
(Those who keep watch at the walls).
So, O JeruSalem’s daughters;
Swear by the powers and strengths of the fields…
Please tell me if you've seen my dearly-loved man,
For, I’ve been pierced through by love!
Who is this man that you love above all,
O prettiest one among women?
Who is this one whom you so dearly love
That you’ve bound us with such an oath?
My man has white skin and red cheeks…
He's the choicest and my one and only.
His head is like gold from Kephas;
His curls are flowing like fir trees,
And they are as black as a crow.
His eyes are like doves near deep pools…
As though bathed in milk over water.
His mouth is like a bowl filled with spice,
Which is set out to give a fresh smell.
His lips are also like lilies,
Dripping with full-bodied myrrh;
And his hands are like gold from Tharsis and gems.
His belly is a tablet of ivory,
Upon which is mounted a sapphire.
His legs are like columns of marble,
Resting on bases of gold.
He looks like the finest of Lebanon's cedars,
And his [voice] is desirable and sweet.
O daughters of JeruSalem;
He’s my dearest and the man that I love!
O prettiest one among women;
Where has he wandered… yes, where has he gone,
So we can go search on your behalf?
My loved one has gone to his garden
To gather his bowls filled with spices.
He’s gone to tend to his garden,
And to gather his lilies.
I belong to my dearly-loved man,
And my dearly-loved man is [just] mine…
This one who is tending his lilies.
You’re so pretty, my dear one…
As pleasing [to me] as JeruSalem.
But you are also as disturbing
As [men] preparing for war.
So, turn your eyes from before me,
Because they excite me too much.
For your hair is like that of GileAd’s goats,
And your teeth [are as white] as freshly-sheared sheep
That have just come from the bath,
All of which have born twins,
And none are childless among them.
Your lips are like scarlet ribbons,
And the way that you talk is so pretty.
Your cheeks that show through your veil,
Are as red as pomegranate skins.
Yet, there are now 60 queens,
And 80 concubines more,
As well as unnumbered young women…
And one of them is my perfect dove!
She’s the only daughter of her mother…
The most-loved one of the mother who gave birth.
The daughters and queens call her blest,
And the concubines all [sing] her praises.
‘Who is this one that looks like the dawn
And is as fair as the moon…
The chosen one of the sun,
Who's as disturbing as men preparing for war?’
To the grove of walnuts, I traveled…
I went down to gaze on their fruits,
Which are there by the stream in the valley.
I went there to see if grapevines had flowered,
And to view the pomegranate blossoms.
For my soul had made me like the chariots of nobles.
Please return, O Shulamite girl!
Return, return, for I’m searching for you!
How would you know it’s the Shulamite girl?
She arrives like an army in the camp.
How pretty are your feet in your sandals,
O you daughter of nobles.
Your thighs are shaped like fine pendants…
The works of the hands of a craftsman.
Your navel is like a finely-shaped bowl,
Not lacking a mixture of wines.
Your belly is like a mound of best grain,
That’s wrapped within fields of lilies.
Your breasts are like two young fawns…
A pair of twins of the doe.
Your neck is a tower of ivory,
And your eyes are like HeshBon’s lakes
(Those by the Gates of Many Daughters).
Like Lebanon’s Tower, is your nose…
The one overlooking Damascus.
Your head [has the beauty of] CarMel,
And its braids are like the purple cloth
In which the king’s wrapped as he passes.
How beautiful and delicious you are, O my love,
In the luxurious things you possess.
In greatness, you’re much like a palm tree,
And your breasts are as clusters of grapes.
So I said that I’d climb up that palm tree,
And to its top, I would cling.
For your breasts are like clusters of grapes on the vine;
The scent of your nose is like apples;
And [the taste] of your [mouth] is like finest wines.
I’m going to my dearly-loved man straight away,
For [I need him close] to my lips and my teeth.
I’ll turn to the man that I love,
And he will then turn toward me.
Come, O man that I love;
We’ll run to the fields and lodge in the towns!
We’ll get up early [and go into] the vineyards,
To see if the grapevines have bloomed;
To see if the flowers have blossomed;
To see if the pomegranates have budded;
And there, I’ll give you my breasts.
The mandrakes have given their odor,
And new and old fruit trees are outside our doors.
O man that I love; I’ve saved them for you!
O man that I love
Whom I’d grant to nurse at my mother’s breasts;
If I found you outside, I’d kiss you,
And let none ever be disrespectful.
Yes, I would come there and take you…
I’d bring you to the house of my mother,
And into the room where I was conceived,
Where I’d allow you to drink the spiced wine
That comes from my pomegranate nectar.
O… his left hand is under my head,
And with his right hand, he’s holding me close.
O daughters of JeruSalem;
Swear by the powers and strengths of the fields
That you won’t arise and awaken your love
Until [the time] it's desired.
Who is this that ascends from the desert,
Hanging onto the man that she loves?
From under apple trees, I awoke you,
And there was your mother beside you…
The one who through pain, gave you birth.
Please set me as a seal on your heart,
And as a seal on your arm!
For, as strong as death is [my] love for you,
And [my] zeal is as hard as the grave.
It sparks with the fire of [love’s] flames,
Which can't be extinguished with water,
Nor can the rivers engulf it.
But, should a man give all he owns for his love,
[Most] others would think him [a fool].
‘Our sister is [young] and she still has no breasts;
So, what should we do on the day she's engaged?
If she should be like a wall,
We’d build a silver parapet around her.
But, if she should be like a door,
With cedar planks, we would board her.’
I'm a wall and my breasts are like towers;
So, in their eyes, I let them find peace.
In BaAl HerMon, there once was a vineyard,
Which was owned by Solomon, [the king].
Then to others, he entrusted his vineyard,
Who would thereafter maintain it.
And all men had to pay for its fruit,
With 1,000 pieces of silver.
[For he said:]
‘The vineyard before me is mine!
So to Solomon, you must pay your thousands,
And 200 more to those tending his fruit.’
O you who now sit in the garden;
My companions have noticed your voice,
And the things that you’ve said to me.
So, man that I love, you must now run away…
Be like the doe or the fawn of the hinds,
And [hide] in the mountain of spices!
These are the visions that IsaiAh (the son of Amoz) saw during the reigns of UzziAh, JoTham, Ahaz, and HezekiAh, the kings of Judah about things that were to come upon Judah and JeruSalem.
Hear, O heavens, and [pay attention] O earth,
For Jehovah spoke and said this:
‘I fathered sons and I raised them,
But, they’ve paid no attention to Me.
‘Though every ox knows its owner
And every burro knows its own master’s barn;
By IsraEl, I am unknown,
And My people do not understand.’
So, woe to you, sinful nation;
For, you’re a people that is filled with its sins…
You’re an evil seed and lawless sons,
Since you have abandoned Jehovah,
And IsraEl’s Holy One, you have provoked…
So now, you’ve been pushed to the rear!
Why be struck down for [your] lawless ways?
For your head is in a miserable condition
And your heart is in great distress…
Nothing is healthy from your head to your feet.
Your wounds and contusions are inflamed and unhealed,
Since no one has dressed them or applied oil,
Nor have they come here to wrap them.
Your land has been completely destroyed
And all of your cities are burned.
They’ve devoured the [land] that’s before you…
By strangers, it has been destroyed,
And foreign peoples have wiped it away.
For, the daughter of Zion has now been abandoned
Like an old shack in a vineyard
Or a shed in a cucumber garden,
Or like a city that is under attack.
So unless Jehovah of Armies
Should choose to leave us a seed…
Like Sodom and GomorRah, we will be!
Therefore, hear the word of Jehovah
O you rulers of Sodom
And you people of GomorRah…
Pay attention to the Laws of our God;
Because, He is asking you this:
‘What good are the things that you offer to Me?
For, of your whole-burnt-offerings of rams,
I’ve received more than enough…
And too much fat from your lambs!
‘Yet, I never asked for the blood of your bulls,
Or the blood of your goats…
And I don’t want you coming to stand before Me!
Who asked for your hands to contribute such things?
‘So I’ll not let you trample My courtyard again;
And if you should bring fine flour to Me,
You will do it in vain…
Since I find your incense disgusting!
Nor will I accept your New Moons,
Or your Sabbaths or holiday feasts.
‘With My whole soul, I’ve come to detest
All of your fasts and your Sabbaths…
As well as your holidays and your New Moons!
For with you, I am filled [to the brim],
So I’ll not [overlook] your sins anymore.
‘Then I’ll turn My eyes when you hold out your hands
And not listen, no matter how often you pray,
Because your hands are so filled with blood!
‘Why not bathe yourselves and get clean…
Then, remove your wicked [ways] from My eyes?
Stop being bad andlearn to do good…
Insist on [judgments that are] fair!
‘If you’ll rescue those who’ve been wronged,
Decide [in favor of] orphans,
And give justice to widows…
Only then, can you come and plead before Me,’
says Jehovah!
And if your sins should be crimson red,
As white as snow, [I will make them].
Even if they are like scarlet,
I’ll make them as white as fine wool!
‘If you should choose to listen to Me,
You’ll eat good things that come from the ground.
But if you choose to not listen and to rebel,
I’ll send the sword to consume you.’
[Yes, Jehovah actually] said these things.
‘How did Zion, that city of faith,
Become a whore so worthy of judgment?
For, murderers exist where justice once slept;
All of your silver is tainted;
And your merchants all water their wine.
‘Your rulers resist all persuasion
And they serve as partners to thieves.
They are also lovers of bribes…
None will stand up for orphans,
And none will give justice to widows!
‘Because of this,’ says Jehovah of Armies;
‘Woe to you, O IsraEl’s mighty!
For My rage against the contrary won’t cease,
And on My enemies, I’m now passing judgment!
‘Against you, I’ll be raising My hand,
And I’ll scrub you until you get clean!
I’ll destroy those resisting persuasion;
I’ll remove all the lawless among you;
And I will cut down your proud.
‘Then I’ll give you judges like those in the past,
And counselors like those that lived long ago.
Then, the Righteous City, you will be called…
The trusted mother-city of Zion.
‘Through justice and mercy, she will be saved,
When I break the lawless and sinners
And those leaving Jehovah are gone.
‘Of the idols that they have preferred
And those [sacred] gardens, which they have loved,
They will then be ashamed.
For they’ll be like fallen pine needles…
Like parks that don’t have any water.
‘Their strength [will be weak] like the stubble of hemp,
And the things that they do will then be the sparks
That burn the lawless and sinners…
Flames that no one can extinguish.’
These are the words that came to IsaiAh (the son of Amoz) regarding Judah and JeruSalem.
In the last days,
The Mountain of Jehovah will be seen,
And the House of God will be over the hills,
Raised above the highest of mountains,
And all the nations will go there.
Many nations will go there and say,
‘Come, let’s ascend the mountain of Jah…
Let’s go to the [Temple] of Jacob’s God,
For there, He will show us His way,
And that’s the way we will go.’
Then, Law will come out of Zion,
And the Word of the Lord from JeruSalem.
He’ll judge in the midst of the nations,
And he will correct many peoples.
Then they’ll cut their swords into plow shears,
And [shape] their spears into sickles…
[Against other] nations, they won’t raise their swords,
Nor will they learn war anymore.
O House of Jacob;
Return to the light of Jehovah!
For, from Jacob’s house, He’s now turned [His face],
Since it’s become like it was at the start…
A [land] that is filled up with takers,
And where Philistine children are born.
They’ve filled their [land] with silver and gold,
And there is no limit to all of their wealth.
They’ve also filled it with horses,
And chariots they have, beyond numbers.
With the disgusting works of their hands,
They’ve also filled up their land…
They bow before things made by their fingers…
Yes, to such things, the people bow low,
Bringing disgrace to each person.
So, now there’s no way I can spare them!
Therefore, go to the rocks and hide in the ground
In fear of Jehovah and the glory of His Might;
For He’s coming to wipe out the land!
The eyes of Jehovah are lofty,
While the eyes of men are debased;
So, in that day, these men will be low,
And Jehovah will be lifted high.
For the day of Jehovah of Armies
Is coming upon the insulting and proud.
And those that are high and important
Will soon be brought [to the ground].
Then, all of Lebanon’s great cedars,
And every tall oak tree of BaShan…
Yes, every high mountain and every high hill…
Every high tower and every high wall…
All ships in the seas and their beauty,
And every man will be small.
For the pride of men will [fall] in that day,
And Jehovah alone will be high.
When He arises to wipe out the land,
Men will then hide [all the idols]
That they have made with their hands.
They’ll hide them in caves and in cracks between rocks,
As well as in burrows under the ground,
Because of their fear of Jehovah,
And before the might of His glory.
Then the disgusting things that they’ve made with their hands
(Those worthless things made of silver and gold,
Which they’ve made to bow down before)
Will be tossed before bats in their caves
And in the cracks between rocks,
In fear of Jehovah and the might of His glory,
When He arises to wipe out the land.
So stop acting like men that breathe through their nose,
For [what value] do they really have?
Consider Jehovah of Armies (our Lord);
For, throughout Judah and JeruSalem,
He’ll remove the men and the women,
Along with the strength of [their] bread
And all the strength of [their] water…
Their giants, their strong, their soldiers and judges…
Their prophets, their thinkers and elders…
Their generals and finest of counselors,
As well as their wisest of builders…
Yes, the most discerning among them.
Then He’ll appoint young men as their rulers
In order to make them look foolish
And to make the people act like they’re drunk.
The men will all be rebellious
And arise against their own neighbors;
Young boys will be attacking the old,
And by those without any honor,
Their mighty ones will be shamed.
Then, men will grab hold of their brothers,
And families will go to their fathers and say,
‘You have clothes; so, you be our leader…
Then you can provide us with food!’
But, in that day, such men will reply:
‘I will not act as your leader…
Since I have no bread or clothes in my home,
I don’t choose to serve as your ruler.’
Yes, JeruSalem has been forsaken,
And Judah has now been debased!
For the tongues of their people speak against [God]…
They just discuss what is lawless
And refuse to make any changes.
Their glory is also debased,
For their faces no longer show any shame,
And they publicly announce and admit
To sins that are as those of Sodom.
So now, woe to their souls;
For they have sought wicked council!
They say, ‘Let’s [lock] up the righteous
Because they’ve become inconvenient.’
So, they’ll reap the fruitage of their bad deeds,
And woe will come to the lawless.
For the evil that their hands are now doing
Will soon be brought back upon them!
‘O my people;
Those whom you owe are gleaning from you,
And those whom you owe are your masters!
‘O my people;
Those who say you are blest, are misleading you,
And they’re [clouding] the paths for your feet.
For, you’re being judged by Jehovah…
Yes, against His own, He’s arisen as judge.
Jehovah Himself is judging the elders,
As well as those ruling His people.
‘And you, [O elders and rulers];
Why are you burning My vineyard,
And why are the poor [now slaves] in your homes?
Yes, why are you wronging My people,
And disgracing the faces of the poor?’
This was asked by Jehovah of Armies (our Lord).
And Jehovah said:
‘Because the daughters of Zion are proud
And walk with their [noses] held high,
As they beckon with their eyes and walk tiny steps
Then drag their underwear with their feet;
I’ll bring down the daughters of Zion,
And expose their true state in that day.
I’ll remove the glory of their clothes…
The fringes, crescents,and necklaces that they wear,
As well as their facial adornments.
‘[I’ll remove] their armlets and bracelets…
Their wreaths, their rings, and right armbands…
Their earrings, purple fringes, and all decorations,
As well as the cloths for their homes…
Their coverings through which you can see…
Their fine linens interwoven with scarlet and blue…
The linens embroidered with gold and blue threads,
And the lightweight covers for their divans.
‘Then instead of pleasant odors, there’ll be only dust…
Instead of belts, they’ll tie ropes on their [waists].
Yes, because of the things that they’re doing,
Instead of gold [combs], they’ll be bald…
And instead of their purple underclothes,
They will be forced to wear sackcloth.
‘Then the sons you most love will fall by the sword,
As your mighty are disgraced and cut down.
You’ll mourn [the loss] of your [most precious things],
And then, you’ll be left all alone,
Beaten down to the ground.’
‘In that day;
7 women will reach for one man,
And this is what they will say:
We’ll [make] our own bread and wear our own clothes;
But, let us be called by your name
In order to remove all our scorn!
‘In that day;
The glory of the council of God
Will shine upon the whole earth
In order to raise and bring glory
To those few in IsraEl that still remain.
‘And the few in JeruSalem and Zion
Will then be called Holy Ones…
This will happen to those in JeruSalem
[Whose names] have been written for life.’
Then Jehovah will wash away all the filth
Of the sons and daughters of Zion.
He’ll remove all the blood from JeruSalem’s midst
With the spirit of judgment and fire.
When He comes, every place on Mount Zion
Will stand in the shade of a cloud every day,
And the light of a fire each night…
So, His glory will then be their shelter.
It’ll be a shade of protection from heat,
And a shelter from rain and bad weather.
I’ll now sing [a song] to the One that I love…
A song of my loved One concerning His vineyard.
‘A vineyard belonged to One that was loved…
A horn of plenty in a bountiful land.
Around it, He built a fence and palisade,
Then the choicest of grapevines, He planted.
‘In its midst, He then built a tower,
And thereafter, He dug out a winepress.
Then he waited for grapes to start growing,
But, all that grew was thorn bushes.’
Now, you that dwell in JeruSalem…
Yes, you men of Judea…
Judge between Him and His vineyard!
What can He do for His vineyard
That hasn’t already been done?
He waited for it to grow grapes,
But all it produced was thorn bushes.
So I’ll tell you what He’ll do to His vineyard:
He’ll remove its gate and let it be ravaged…
He’ll demolish its walls and let it be trampled.
He’ll abandon His vineyard, so it won’t be pruned,
Nor will it be hoed anymore.
He’ll return it [to the way it once was]…
An uncultivated land of thorn bushes.
And to the clouds, He’ll then give the order
To not provide it with rain.
The house of IsraEl is the vineyard
Of Jehovah of Armies,
And Judah’s people are His beloved plants,
On whom He waited to give Him what’s due.
But they just produced lawless ways…
Instead of a tower of justice,
Cries of distress is all that they’ve brought.
So, woe to those that gather in homes
And in the fields roundabout.
For, after your neighbors are taken away,
You’ll live all alone in the land,
Since Jehovah of Armies has heard what you’ve done!
So, where there were once many houses,
There will just be desolation,
And no one will live there again.
Then, though you’ll plow with 10 teams of oxen,
You’ll harvest just enough to fill one clay pot.
And though you may plant 6 large measures,
Just 3 measures will grow.
So, woe to those that rise early
To spend their days chasing liquor
And stay up late as they drink it;
For, they will burn along with their wine.
They drink to [the sounds] of the harp and the lute
As well as pipes and tambourines,
As they fail to think of the works of Jehovah…
The works of His hands, they have failed to consider.
So, my people will all become captives
Because they’ve forgotten their Lord.
Many will die from hunger and thirst;
For the place of the dead has widened its soul
And opened its mouth to consume them.
Then, the glorious will fall with the great and the rich,
And all of those that respect them.
My people will then be cut down,
And their men will all be dishonored…
Yes, those that [walked proud] will be shamed.
Then the justice of Jehovah of Armies will arise…
And because He will have [proven His] justice,
Our Holy God will be glorified.
Then, there will come those that will rip you apart,
And on your bulls, they will graze…
Yes, those that will come to wipe out your land
Will also be eating your lambs.
So, woe to those drawing sins as with ropes,
And lawless ways as the yoke on a bull…
Those saying,
‘Let Him come and do whatever He wants…
Let Him do it soon, so we’ll see it…
Let the Holy One’s Will come to pass,
So we can all know what it is!’
Yes, woe to those that call evil good
And those that are calling good bad…
Those that turn what’s dark into light
And turn what’s light into darkness…
Those that make bitter sound sweet
And those that turn sweet into bitter.
Woe to those that think themselves wise,
And think that they have greater knowledge.
Woe to your strong ones and those drinking wine…
The mighty that are mixing their liquor…
Those that favor the wicked, because they’ve been bribed,
And from the righteous, snatch justice.
For this, they’ll be burned up like stubble…
They’ll be burned like coals leaping with flames.
Their roots and flowers will be turned into dust
For rejecting the Laws of Jehovah of Armies…
They’ve despised IsraEl’s Holy One’s words.
For with His people, Jehovah of Armies is angry,
And to strike them, He’s lifted His hand.
[The smell] of rotting flesh will drive mountains to rage…
For, like manure on the roads, they’ll became.
Yet, even this won’t [soften] His rage
Or still the raising of His hand.
So He’ll lift a sign to nations far away …
He’ll whistle to them from the ends of the earth,
And they’ll take quick notice and come here.
They won’t get hungry or tired,
Nor will they slumber or sleep.
They’ll not untie their belts from their waists,
Nor will they loosen their sandals.
With stretched-tight bows [they will come],
And with the arrows they’ve sharpened.
The feet of their horses will be like hard rocks,
And blasts will come from their chariot wheels.
Like lions, they will then advance
With their cubs all walking beside them…
They’ll snatch you and yell like wild beasts,
As they carry you off…
When no one will be there to save you.
Yes, because of you, they’ll yell in that day
Like the sounds of the roar of the seas.
Then you’ll look to the heavens above,
And [to the ground] underneath you,
And all you will see is hard darkness
In your terrible time of distress.
It was in the year King UzziAh died, that I saw Jehovah sitting on a high, lofty throne, and the [Temple] was filled with His glory.The seraphim stood all around Him, each of whom had 6 wings that touched the wings next to them. Their first [pair of] 2 wings covered their front sides, the second [pair of] 2 wings covered their feet, and they flew with their third [pair of] 2 wings.They were shouting to each other and saying:
‘Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of Armies…
The whole earth is filled with His glory!’
Well, the threshold of the [Temple shook] at the sound of their shouting, and the [Temple] became filled with smoke.And I said: ‘Oh, I’m so unworthy and hurt by this, because I’m just an unclean man that lives among people with unclean lips. Yet, now I have beheld the King, Jehovah of Armies… I’ve seen Him with my own eyes!’
Then one of the seraphim was sent to me; and in his hand, he carried a [live] coal that he had taken from the Altar with tongs.So touched it to my mouth and said:
‘{Look!} Now that your lips have been touched by this coal,
It has removed all of your lawless deeds
And it has purged you of all your sins.’
Then I heard the voice of Jehovah ask:
‘Whom shall I send…
Yes, who will go to these people?’
And I replied: ‘Look! Here I am, send me!’
And He said,
‘Then, go to these people and say,
When it comes to hearing, you’ll hear,
But no way will you comprehend.
And when it comes to seeing, you’ll see,
But no way will you understand!
‘Since the hearts of these people have hardened,
Their ears now listen too slowly,
And their eyes cannot see, since their eyelids are closed.
Thus, they will not hear with their ears
Nor will they see with their eyes.
So their hearts will not understand
And make them turn back, so I’d heal them.’
And I asked, ‘How long [will this be true], O Lord?’
And He answered:
‘Until all the cities lie wasted
And there are no people living there anymore…
Until no one is left in their homes
And until the whole land has been ravaged.
‘Then, God will stay far from these people,
As those that survive multiply.
But, only 1/10th will remain there,
For the rest will be [cut down] like pine trees.
‘However; like an acorn that stays in its shell,
The holy seed will remain in the stump.’
It was in the days of Ahaz (the son of JoTham and the grandson of UzziAh) the king of Judah, that Rezin (the king of Aram) and PekAh (the son of RemaliAh) the king of IsraEl came to JeruSalem to wage war against it… however, they were unable to conquer it.But when the house of David was told that Aram had joined forces with Ephraim, they were startled and the souls of the people were shaken like a forest of trees in a windstorm.
Then the Lord said this to IsaiAh:
‘You and your son JaSub (the one whom you left behind) must now go to meet with [King] Ahaz at the upper pool of the washer women,and you must tell him:
Do nothing at all and don’t be afraid…
Don’t let those two pieces of smoking wood
Make you feel weak [in your knees].
For, when I [send] them My rage,
You will be saved once again.
‘And as for the sons of RemaliAh and Aram; Because they met and wickedly agreedto come to Judah together so as to conquer and rule over you by setting TabeAl’s son [on the throne]…tell him that Jehovah of Armies said this:
‘There’s no way that your plan will succeed…
It will never take place.
‘For the head of Aram is Damascus,
And the head of Damascus is Rezin.
Thus in 6, plus another 5 years,
These people will destroy Ephraim.
‘For the head of Ephraim is Samaria,
And the head of Samaria is the son of RemaliAh…
But, none will understand, unless they believe.’
Then Jehovah [sent a message to] Ahaz, that said:
‘Ask for a sign from Jehovah your God,
Whether from the depths or the heights.’
And Ahaz replied:
‘There’s no way that I’ll ask, nor will I put Jehovah to the test!’
So [the messenger] said,
‘Listen to this, O house of David…
If it’s too unimportant a thing
To supply enough men for a battle;
How can you fight a war for the Lord?
‘Now, Jehovah will give you a sign…
{Look!} A virgin will get pregnant and then bear a son
Whom you must call, ImManuEl.
He’ll eat butter and honey before he is sure
Whether he wants to be wicked or good.
‘But, before the boy can know good from bad;
By resisting wicked persuasions,
He will choose to do what is right.
Then the land of two kings of which you’re afraid
Will be totally abandoned!
But first, God will bring Assyria’s king
Upon you, your people, and the house of your father…
These will be unlike any days that have come
Since Ephraim split off from Judah.
‘For, in that day, Jehovah will whistle
And call for the flies on the [Nile],
As well as for Assyria’s bees.
Then they’ll come and settle in your valleys…
In the burrows, rocks, and in caves…
In every hole and in all the trees.
‘In that day, Jehovah will speak,
And He’ll tell Assyria’s king
To bring his razor and shave off those drunks
[Who live] on the river’s [east banks].
Then he’ll shave their heads and the hair on their feet,
Before he cuts off their beards.
‘But, in that day, each man that is left
Will have a cow and two sheep.
So, there will be milk for those that remain,
And [plenty of] butter and honey.
‘Yet, in that day;
Where once grew thousands of grapevines
Valued at thousands in silver,
Only thorn bushes will grow.
For, grape cultivation will have ceased.
Then, with bows and arrows they’ll [hunt] there;
For the land will be wild and covered with thorns.
‘But thereafter, they’ll plow up the mountains,
And they won’t be afraid anymore;
For that uncultivated land of thorn bushes
Will then become a pasture for sheep,
And a land that is trampled by oxen.’
Then the Lord said this to me:
‘Go [buy] a large, new scroll of papyrus,
And write on it with the pen of a man
About the plundering and looting
That will be coming upon them!
‘Then appoint these two trustworthy men
Who will serve as witnesses on my behalf:
Choose UriAh the Priest,
And ZechariAh, the son of BarachiAh.’
Well after that, I [had sex] with Prophetess, and she got pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then the Lord said to me:
‘Call his name, Quick Gloom and Swift Looting;
For, before the child learns how to call out
To his father and mother,
Someone will carry the power of Damascus
And Samaria’s spoils to Assyria’s king.’
Then the Lord spoke to me again and said:
‘Because these people have refused to return
To SiloaAm’s waters in peace,
But prefer Rezin (the son of RemeliAh)
To serve instead as their king;
{Look!} Jehovah will be bringing against them
The waters of a great mighty river…
The king of Assyria and his glory.
For, he will then enter their valleys
And walk right up to their walls.
‘Thereafter, he’ll sweep into Judah
And overrun it up to its neck.
So then, the out-spread wings of his camp
Will fill the whole [land] of ImManuEl!
‘Know this, O nations, and then be nailed shut!
Pay attention, all you peoples to the ends of the earth…
Ready yourselves to be nailed down tight!
And if you should ever grow strong after that,
Once more, you’ll be nailed down tight!
‘Then, no matter whom you ask for solutions;
Jehovah will wipe them away.
And no matter what you say you’ll accomplish;
Because Jehovah’s [against] you,
Nothing that you do will succeed!
‘For, this is what Jehovah has said:
These people have resisted [My] persuasion
About the ways they should go.
And they say,What You’ve told us is too hard [to do]!
‘Yet, whatever they’ve said is too hard to do
Should not be feared or disturbing.
Just treat Jehovah of Armies as holy,
And only Him, should they fear…
If they’ll yield to Him, He’ll be their Most Holy,
And upon no stones will they stumble,
Nor upon any rocks will they trip!
‘But the house of Jacob is [now] in the trap
Of those lying in wait in their valleys.
Since many of their people are already weak,
They’re about to fall and be broken.
Then [those armies] will come and carry the people
Away from the land where they’ve lived so securely!
‘Then, it will be easy to see
Which ones were [the chosen and] sealed,
And which wouldn’t [follow] the Law.
For, one will say, I’ll wait on The God
From whom Jacob’s house has now turned its face,
And in Him, I will put all my trust…
{Look} Both the children God gave me and I!
‘Then, to the house of IsraEl, they will serve
As the miracles and signs of Jehovah of Armies…
The One that dwells on Mount Zion.
‘And if, at that time, they should tell you
To seek those that interpret omens
That are sent by those that speak from the ground,
Or to those that speak empty words from their guts…
[You should say this to them]:
Shouldn’t a nation first ask of its God?’
‘Why ask the dead on behalf of the living?
For He gave us His Law as our helper.
So we shouldn’t be turning to those that can’t help.
This is why a great famine is coming to you!
‘So, when you’re hungry and worried,
And speak wicked things of your fathers and kings…
When you look to the sky up above you,
And to the ground underneath you,
What you’ll see is darkness, distress, and hard times…
A darkness that will last a long time.
‘Drink this first and fast… do it quickly,
O lands of ZebuLun and NaphTali…
You on the coasts and the JorDan’s east shore,
And you, O GaliLee of the gentiles!
‘The people that were traveling in darkness
Then saw a [very] bright light.
For a light will then shine upon those
Who live in the place of the shadow of death.
‘To a time of joy, He will lead them,
And they’ll all be as happy before Him
As those that take joy in the harvest,
Or as those who’re dividing up loot.
For they’ll not be wearing a yoke anymore,
Nor [will they feel] the whip on their backs.
‘He’ll destroy the [whip] of all those that use it
As He did in the days of MidiAn’s war.
Then, those that did this must pay for the clothes
That they, through treachery, have taken;
For the people will [demand] the return of their clothes,
Even if they have been scorched!
‘But to us, a child has been born,
And to us, a son has been given
Upon whose shoulders the kingdom will come…
And these are the names by which he’ll be known:
The Angel of Great Understanding;
The Wonderful Councilor and Mighty God;
The Powerful One and Prince of Peace;
And the Father of the Age that is Coming.’
‘Then, to this prince, I’ll bring peace and good health;
And from the throne of David, his rule will be great.
There will be no end to his peace,
For his kingdom will be founded on justice and judgments
Both now and into the age…
Which will come through the zeal of Jehovah of Armies.
‘But now, upon IsraEl and Jacob,
Jehovah is just sending death.
And all the peoples of Ephraim
(Those with haughty and insolent hearts
Who within Samaria, have settled),
Will realize this and then say:
Since all our bricks have now fallen,
Please come and help us shape stones;
Then we’ll cut down some cedars and sycamore trees,
And we’ll build ourselves a great tower.
‘But, God will knock down all those
Who will come against Zion and Him.
He’ll wipe all His enemies away…
The Syrians from where the sun dawns
To the Greeks in the place where it sets…
Those who’ve swallowed IsraEl down with their mouths.
‘But, this won’t bring an end to His rage;
For His hand will still be held high…
Because His people refused to repent
Or to search for Jehovah of Armies
Until [the day] they were struck.
For the Lord will remove the head and the tail…
All of IsraEl’s small and great in one day.
‘Their head is the elders and highly regarded,
And the prophets (those teaching lawless ways) are the tail.
They’re the ones that say, These people are blest,
And mislead them to swallow them down.
‘Yes, it is because of these things
That God won’t show favor upon their young men,
Nor will He show mercy on their orphans or widows…
Because they’re all lawless and wicked,
And every mouth is unrighteous.
Yet, none of these things will turn back His rage,
For His hand will still be raised high.
‘Then the lawless will be burned as in fire…
They’ll be devoured like flames through dry grass…
They’ll be burned like thickets in the woods,
And consumed like hay in the hills.
‘Because of Jehovah’s anger and rage,
All of their land will be burned,
And its people will be as those burned in fire;
For a man won’t show mercy to even his brother.
‘Then they’ll look at their right hands in hunger,
And they will eat their left [arms]…
But the flesh of their arms will not fill them.
‘ManasSeh will gnaw upon Ephraim,
And Ephraim will chew on ManasSeh…
Then together, they’ll come against Judah.
Yet, none of these things will turn back [God’s] rage,
For His arm will still be held high.
‘Woe to those that write wicked [laws];
For the reasons that they write them are evil…
To deny equal rights to the poor,
And snatch away justice from the needy…
To loot the orphans and ravage the widows!
‘So, what will you do in the day of inspection…
When hard times come from afar?
Yes, whom will you run to for aid,
And to whom will you give all your wealth…
For, won’t you be forced to be slaves?
‘And if you should hide under those that are killed,
You’ll see that this won’t bring an end to His rage…
For His hand will still be held high.
‘Woe to Assyria (the rod of My wrath)…
Those that hold My rage in their hands.
But, on that lawless nation, I’ll also send rage…
I’ll order My people to plunder and loot them,
Then trample their cities and turn them to dust.
‘But now, they aren’t thinking about this,
For their souls have failed to reflect.
[No, Assyria’s king] doesn’t know…
He just wants to destroy many nations.
‘He’ll ask, Am I not your sole ruler?
Isn’t all above Babylon mine,
As well as CalNeh, where the tower was built?
‘Haven’t I conquered Arabia,
As well as Samaria and Damascus?
Thus, in the same way that I’ve taken all these,
I will conquer the rest!
‘So shriek, O carvings in JeruSalem;
For, as I did to Samaria and her idols
(Those things that they made with their hands),
I’ll also do to JeruSalem
And to all of the idols that are there!
‘But, after Jehovah completes all these things
That He’ll do to JeruSalem and Zion;
He’ll arise and strike that great mind…
Yes, the mind of Assyria’s king,
And the haughty glory of his eyes.
‘For, [this great ruler] has dared to say:
I will act in a very strong way.
And in my wisdom and great understanding,
I’ll remove the boundaries of nations
And bring an end to their powers.
‘I’ll shake the cities in which they all live,
And grab hold of the people that live there
As I’d take a bird’s nest in My hands…
And then, I’ll deport the survivors.
‘No, none will evade or oppose me…
They’ll just open their mouths and let out a chirp.
‘Does the axe really have any glory
Unless there is someone to swing it?
Does the saw really have any value
Unless there is someone to draw it…
And can a rod swing itself?
‘So, dishonor will replace all his honor…
And this will be done by Jehovah of Armies.
Upon his glory, He’ll send fire,
And [that king] will be consumed by its flames…
Then this fire will serve as IsraEl’s light.
‘For He’ll make her holy through fire,
Which will eat her like grass in the woods in that day.
It will burn through her mountains, forests, and hills,
And devour all the life from her flesh.
‘Then, those that flee will be running from flames,
And very few will remain…
An infant could write down their numbers!
‘But in that day, those that remain in JeruSalem
Won’t go along [with what’s bad] anymore.
For [the sons] of Jacob who then will be saved
Won’t put up with those that have wronged them.
They will only be yielding to God,
And to the truths of IsraEl’s Most Holy One.
‘Then, those of Jacob that survive
Will return to their Almighty God.
And the people of IsraEl will then grow to be
As many as the sands of the seas
From the very few that were left.
‘So, this matter will be finished in justice;
For, Jehovah is the One that is drawing the line.
Yes, Jehovah of Armies will act
Throughout the world [of mankind].
‘For this reason, Jehovah of Armies has said:
Don’t fear the Assyrians, My people…
Yes, you who are dwelling in Zion.
Though they will strike with a rod
And distress you as they’re [marching] toward Egypt;
In a very short time, My anger will end,
And I’ll turn My rage toward their plans.
‘The God of Armies, Jehovah, will rise
And bring calamity upon them
As He did to MidiAn’s people
In the Place of Oppression.
‘For His rage [will be expressed] by the sea
As they are traveling toward Egypt.
Their terrible yoke, He’ll lift from your shoulders,
After He has destroyed them.
‘They’ll enter the City of AngAi;
But, they will bypass MegidDo…
Then they’ll drop their weapons at MichMash.
‘They’ll enter the valley at AngAi;
So, those in Rama will be gripped with fear,
And the city of Saul will then flee.
‘At that time, O daughter of GalLim;
Your voice will sound just like snorting.
And be careful [O you] at LachIsh…
And you at AnathOth must also be wary.
‘There’ll be fear in Gebim and MadMenah…
To survive, you must all band together
As [Assyria] is marching your way!
‘O daughter of Zion;
You must then flee to the mountains,
And gather upon JeruSalem’s hills!’
O Lord, Jehovah of Armies;
How Your strength has scattered the famous
And broken the insolence of the haughty
To teach them the need to be humble!
For the haughty will all be cut down with swords,
And Lebanon will fall with the rest of the proud!
From the root of JesSe, a [shoot] will then sprout,
And a flower will grow from his root.
The Spirit of Jehovah will rest upon him…
The spirit of wisdom and understanding…
The spirit of purpose and strength…
The spirit of reverence and knowledge.
The Spirit will fill him with fear of The God,
And he won’t judge men by their wealth,
Nor scold them for the things that they’ve said.
He’ll judge the case of the lowly,
And [give justice to] the poor of the land.
He’ll strike the earth with the words from his mouth,
And wipe the godless away with the breath from his lips.
Justice will be wrapped ‘round his waist
And his sides will be girdled in truth.
Then the wolf and the lamb, together will feed;
The leopard will nap with the kid;
Bulls, calves, and lions will all graze together,
And by a small child, they’ll be led.
Together, the ox and the bear will eat grass,
And together, their young ones [will play];
For then, the lion will eat straw like the ox.
On the burrow of an asp, an infant will play,
And lay his hands in a bed of young cobras.
For, on My holy mountain, none will destroy,
Nor will they not do any harm,
Since the earth will be filled with the knowledge of [God]
As the seas are covered by water.
In that day, the root of JesSe [will sprout]…
He’ll arise to rule [all] the nations.
In him, the gentiles will trust,
And upon him, honor will rest.
In that day, God will show the zeal of His hands
On behalf of the few that remain…
The remnants of the few who’ll return
From Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt,
As well as Ethiopia and ElAm…
Those that will come back from the sunrise
And from Arabian lands.
For He’ll raise a sign to the nations
And collect the IsraElites that were being destroyed…
He’ll gather the scattered of Judah
From the 4 [corners] of the earth.
Then, at that time, Ephraim’s envy,
And the enemies of Judah will all be destroyed.
For, Ephraim will no longer be jealous of Judah,
And Judah will oppress them no more.
At that time, they will all get together
To [attack] the Philistines that live in the west,
And plunder the Edomites at the sunrise.
MoAb will be conquered first,
But the sons of AmMon are first to submit.
Then the Lord will [split] Egypt’s Sea,
And He’ll lay His hands on their River…
He’ll send gales to its 7 ravines,
So it can be walked through in sandals.
Then, it will serve as a road for His people…
A path for those left behind,
And for those in Assyria that have yet to return.
Then for IsraEl, it’ll be the same as that day
When they first came out of Egypt.’
And in that day, they will say:
‘O Jehovah, we praise You!
For, though You were angry with us,
Your rage has now turned away
And You have shown mercy upon us.
‘Look… my God and my Savior!
I’ll do what You say and not be afraid!
For, Jehovah’s my glory and praise,
And He has become my salvation.’
Then, water will be drawn from life-giving springs,
And in that day, you will say:
‘Sing in praise to Jehovah…
Yes, yell aloud about His great Name!
To the nations, announce His honorable deeds…
Say that His Name has been raised!
‘Sing in praise to the Name of the Lord
For all of the great things He’s done…
Yes, announce these things throughout the whole earth!
‘Shout aloud and be joyful,
All who you are living in Zion;
For the Most Holy One of IsraEl,
Has now been raised in her midst!’
This is the vision that IsaiAh (the son of Amoz) saw against Babylon.
‘Raise a flag on top of the mountains.
Then, don’t be afraid, shout it loudly.
Open [your mouths], O you rulers…
Put your hands [to your mouths] and call out for aid!
‘For I’m in command and I’ve given the order
To giants that are coming to fulfill My rage…
Together they’re coming, shouting insults.’
There’s a voice like the sound of great crowds
That [you’ll hear from the tops of] the mountains.
It’s the sound of a gathering of kings,
And a great assembly of troops.
For, Jehovah of Armies has given the order
To a nation of warriors with weapons
That are coming from a faraway land…
From the pillars of the skies they’ll arrive.
Yes, the Lord and His warriors are coming
To bring ruin to the place where you dwell.
So shriek, for the day of the Lord is at hand,
And destruction from God will come quickly!
So, all of their hands will go limp
And the soul of each man will know fear.
Their elders will all be disturbed
And have pains like women about to give birth.
They’ll discuss it and they will be sad for each other,
And together, they’ll all be in shock…
Their faces will be changed into flames!
For {Look!} the day of the Lord is about to arrive…
It’s a day of incurable anger…
The rage to destroy the place where you live
And wipe away all the sinners.
Then the stars in the skies (including Orion)
And the heaven’s arrangement will no longer shine.
The rising sun will be darkened,
And the moon won’t give out its light.
‘I’ll punish this world for its evil,
And the irreverent, I’ll destroy for their sins…
I’ll end the insolence of the lawless,
And bring the haughty ways of the proud to the ground.
‘Then, those left behind will be rarer than gold…
They’ll be rarer than gold from Ophir.
For the skies will then be enraged,
And the foundations of the earth will be shaken
By the anger and rage of Jehovah of Armies
On the day that He sends His wrath.
‘Then, those that remain will be fleeing like deer…
Like sheep, they will all run away…
No way will a man return to his house,
For they’ll all be fleeing their homes.
‘The captured will then all be [slaughtered]…
Yes, those that are caught will fall by the sword.
Before them, their young will be dashed to the ground,
All of their homes will be ruined,
And their women will all be dishonored.
‘{Look!} For against you, I’m arousing the Medes…
Those that think nothing of silver
And those that have no need for your gold!
‘They’ll break the bows of your young men,
And on your young, show no mercy…
Their eyes will not spare your children!
‘Then Babylon (the home of the king of Chaldea)
Will be wiped away by our God,
As He did to Sodom and GomorRah.
And through ages, no one will live there again,
For generations, no one will [want to] go there…
No Arabs will go there, and shepherds won’t stop there to rest.
But wild beasts will surely be found there,
And fill all the houses with growling.
‘It’ll be a place where demons will dance…
A place where vultures will dwell,
And where hedgehogs build nests in the homes.’
This will all happen quite quickly…
It won’t take very much time
And the days [‘til it comes] won’t drag on.
But, [God] will show mercy on Jacob,
For IsraEl will still be His chosen,
And they will find rest in His land.
To them, foreign peoples will come
(To the house of Jacob, they’ll come),
And they’ll accept the gentiles among them…
As an inheritance, they’ll all then be welcomed.
At that time, within the land of our God,
There’ll be many servants (both women and men).
For, those that once took them as captives
Will, in turn, be their [slaves]…
They’ll dominate those that once ruled them.
In that day, the Lord will send rest
And an end to your anger and grief,
As well as to the hard labor
Under which you had once slaved.
Then you’ll take up this wail against Babylon’s king…
In that day, you’ll say this about him:
‘O how much rest [we now can enjoy]
From this one that once demanded so much…
How much rest [we now have from] our masters!
‘For, Jehovah broke the yoke of those sinners,
As well as the yoke of their rulers.
In His rage, He struck down a nation…
He brought calamity upon them…
He didn’t spare any and He didn’t hold back!
‘So now, our land is shouting in joy…
The trees of Lebanon are happy and say:
From the time that you were laid low,
No one has come here to cut us!
‘From below, the grave has arisen to meet them;
And all the giants that once ruled the earth
(Those that stood and opposed you)
Have now been gathered down there.’
Then the kings of those nations will rise from their thrones,
And they will say [to those giants]:
‘Now, you have been captured as we were…
So, are you now considered to be one of us?
For your glories and joys have gone down to the grave,
And beneath you, they’ll make a bed of decay
Where you will be covered with worms!’
O how the bright one has fallen
(The [star] that arises at dawn);
For this one that [once conquered] nations,
Has been broken down to the ground.
You’re the one that once said in his heart:
‘I will ascend to the heavens
And I’ll put my throne above all the stars.
Then I’ll sit upon a high mountain…
On the highest one in the north.
Yes, I will ascend above all the clouds,
And I will be like the Most High!’
But now, you’ll go down to the grave…
Down to the foundations of the earth.
Then, those who see you will wonder and ask:
‘Isn’t he the one that provoked the whole earth…
Isn’t he the one that once shook its kings…
Isn’t he the one that brought desolation
Upon mankind’s habitation…
The one that demolished its cities
And the one that set no slaves free?’
So, while all the kings of the nations
Will go to sleep in full honor
(As will every man within his own house);
You’ll be tossed in the mountains along with the slain.
Yes, you’ll be abhorred the same as the rest
Who have been run through with swords
And gone down to the place of the dead.
‘Like clothes that are dirtied by blood,
You won’t be pure or clean anymore;
For, to My land, you brought desolation,
And you have murdered My people.
So, no way will you last through the age,
O you seed of all that is evil!
‘Prepare your young to be slaughtered
Because of the sins of their fathers!
So, they won’t arise and inherit the land,
Nor again fill the whole earth with wars!
‘For, I will rise up against them,’
Says Jehovah of Armies;
‘I’ll destroy their names, their remains, and their seed.’
And Jehovah said:
‘The land of Babylon, I will destroy…
I’ll make it a place where hedgehogs will dwell.
I will bring it to nothing…
It’ll be just a pit of destruction.’
Then Jehovah of Armies said:
‘This is how it will happen…
Yes, this is the way it will be;
For this is what I’ve decided:
‘I’ll allow [Babylon] to remain
For just a little while longer,
So that it can wipe the Assyrians away
From My land and My Holy Mountain.
They’ll be trampled and their yoke will then be removed,
As their dignity is cut from their shoulders.’
Yes, this is the plan that Jehovah laid out
For the rest of man’s habitation,
As His hand is raised over the gentiles.
For, who can erase the Holy One’s plans,
Or hold back His hand once it’s been raised?
In the year that King Ahaz died, these words came [to IsaiAh]:
‘O Philistines; do not be joyful,
For He’s breaking the yoke of those you’ve attacked.
And from the snake’s seed, young asps will arrive,
Which will then become flying serpents.
‘While God will feed all the poor
And peace will rest on the paupers;
Your seed will starve and be wiped away…
Yes, those that are left will be gone.
‘So, shriek, O you city of gates,
And may your towns start crying aloud!
For the Philistines will all be disturbed
As they see smoke arise in the north…
And no one there, will be left alive.
‘Now, what answer can the kings of the nations supply?
For though the Lord will destroy the foundations of Zion;
He’ll still bring salvation to His people!’
This is the word against MoAb:
‘In one night, MoAb’s land will be wiped away…
In the dark, its walls will be broken.
In Dibon, your altars will all be destroyed,
And then, you’ll just go there to weep.
‘In MoAb, there’ll be shrieking on Nebo;
For, every head will be shaved,
And you’ll all wear chains on your arms.
‘In your squares, you all will wear sackcloth,
And under every roof, there’ll be mourning;
For, you will be shrieking and crying
In your squares and in all your streets!
‘In HeshBon, there will also be shouting,
As well as in EliAleh…
As far as JaHaz, the sounds will be heard.
‘In MoAb’s land, the mothers will cry;
For, in their souls, they will know…
In their hearts, they’ll know there’ll be screaming
All the way up to ZoAr.
‘Then they’ll be like 3-year-old heifers
[That are being led to the slaughter];
For there’ll be much weeping in LuHith,
And yelling on the road to HoroNaim,
Where they’ll tremble before they’re defeated!
‘At NimRim, the waters will dry,
So her crops will fail and there’ll be no green grass,
And then, how will they save her?
For, I will send Arabs into her valleys
And everyone there will be captured.
‘Yes, there will be screaming and shrieking
In the lands of MoAb and EglaIm.
There will also be screams at their wells,
For the waters of Dibon will be filled with blood.
‘Yes, against Dimon, I’m bringing the Arabs,
And they will remove MoAb’s seed…
Those remaining in AriEl and Adama.
‘Then I’ll send a male lamb to be lord of their land…
For Mount Zion’s daughter is not just bare rock.
Then you, O daughter of MoAb,
Will become like a bird that flies all about
After her young have been carried away!
‘O Arnon; sit down and discuss it,
Then prepare for continuous mourning.
For at noon, everything will go dark,
And [your people] will be startled and flee.
‘So, do not start celebrating;
For, with exiles of MoAb, you’ll flee
From the faces of those that pursue you.
They will then be your only protectors,
Since your allies will all have been lifted away,
And your rulers will have been crushed to the ground.
‘Then, from a throne [based on] mercy,
[This lamb] will make all things right.
For a man from the tent of David
Will thereafter sit [on a throne]
From which, he will judge righteously.
He’ll demand to know what is true…
Then swift justice, he’ll bring [to the land].
‘For I’ve heard the insults of MoAb…
And they have been very insulting.
[I’ve noticed] their pride, their insults, and rage…
And there was no reason for this.
‘So, there will be shrieking in MoAb…
Throughout the land, there’ll be screaming.
But you’ll think of those that were dwelling in Seth,
And then, you’ll feel less ashamed.
‘In the plains of HeshBon, you’ll mourn
Over the grapevines of SibMah;
For the nations will swallow you down…
And as far as JaZer, they’ll trample your vines.
‘Then no way will you get back together;
But, through the desert, you’ll wander!
And those that were carried away will be lost
Like those that were carried over the sea.
‘And I will cry over this,
As will [the people] of JaZer
Who are weeping for the grapevines of SibMah.
‘O HeshBon and EliAleh;
Your trees will all be cut down,
And I’ll trample your harvests and crops…
Yes, all of these things will soon fail!
Then in your vineyards, there will be no leaping for joy,
Since the reasons for joy will be gone…
And none will be treading your wine vats,
For the [growing of grapes] will have ceased.
‘Then my belly will sound like a harp over MoAb,
And I’ll [groan for her cities of bricks].
‘This should bring shame on them all;
For, MoAb’s shrines will no longer be strong…
Those places where they go to pray
Before the things that they’ve made with their hands…
Which won’t be able to save them!’
This is what Jehovah proclaimed against MoAb.
Then the Lord spoke again and said this:
‘In just three years
(In the length of someone’s employment),
MoAb will meet with dishonor…
All of her wealth [will be gone],
And just a few peasants will live there.’
This is the word against Damascus.
‘{Look!} Damascus will be lifted away
From among the rest of the cities…
It will [soon] meet its downfall.
‘Then, through the ages, it’ll serve as a bed…
A resting place and safe haven for flocks.
No more will it be a fortified city
(A place of Ephraim’s refuge);
For, the kingdom in Damascus will be gone,
And the Syrians will no longer dwell there.
‘But, it will be better for [those in that city]
Than for IsraEl’s sons and their glory,’
Said Jehovah of Armies.
‘For the glory of Jacob will end in that day…
His bountiful glory will be shaken.
‘It’ll be as it is in a harvest
Where someone reaps grain in a valley of rocks.
For, stubble will be all that’s left…
Just two or three olive pits
On the tops of very tall trees
That only have 4 or 5 branches.’
This is what The God of IsraEl said:
‘In that day, all the people will have to rely
On the One by whom they were made…
To the Holy One of IsraEl, their eyes should then turn.
‘They shouldn’t rely on their shrines
Or on the things that they’ve made with their hands.
In that day, they’ll not look to their trees,
Or to the disgusting things [that they’ve made].
‘For their cities will all be abandoned,
As were the cities of the Amorites and Hivites
Before the faces of IsraEl’s sons.
‘Desolate places, they will become,
For they have forsaken their Savior…
Yes, they have forgotten their God!
‘So, when they are planting, they’ll do so unsurely,
For they’ll be unsure of their seeds.
And about the right day to do planting,
They will then be misled.
So, though they may sow in the morning,
Their seeds will rot before harvest.
‘Then fathers will be forced to choose
Which of their sons they will [feed],
By casting lots on their behalf.
‘And woe to you, the rest of the nations;
For, you will also be shaken…
You’ll be disturbed like the sea [in a storm],
And by raging floods, you’ll be carried away.
‘For I’ll scold them all and then they will flee…
Yes, I’ll chase them a very long way,
And they’ll be like dust on the mountains
That is [blown about] by the winds,
Or like clouds of dust raised by wheels.
‘In the evening, there will be much mourning,
And by dawn, they’ll no longer exist.’
This is what will happen to those who’ve brought ruin…
It’s the inheritance of those that inherited us.
‘Woe to you, O land of winged boats
Beyond Ethiopia’s rivers…
Those sending paper treaties and letters
Across the waters [to us].
‘For, messengers will be sent by a nation
Of strange and ill-tempered people
By whom you don’t want to be trampled.
‘They live in a land divided by rivers,
And their place will [soon] be a flag
That is lifted above the tall mountains…
Like a signal of the blowing of trumpets.’
Then, this is what I was told by the Lord):
‘Though I have protected My city
From the afternoon heat
And by clouds of dew before harvest;
When the flowers have blossomed and young grapes have formed,
I’ll remove their clusters with a sickle…
Yes, I’ll cut the small branches off of the vines,
Then leave them behind for the birds of the skies
And for the wild beasts of the earth.
‘So then, all winged creatures that fly in the skies
And all the wild beasts of the earth
Will gather there to consume them.
‘Then those people who’ve been afflicted and plucked
Will offer gifts to Jehovah of Armies.
They’re a people who’ve been great [through] the ages…
But they’re a nation whose hopes will be trampled.
‘They live in a place that runs from a river
To where the Name Jehovah of Armies
Is found upon His Holy Mountain.’
This is the vision against Egypt.
{Look!} The Lord will arrive upon a swift cloud,
And down to Egypt, He’ll go.
There He’ll shake the idols that they’ve made with their hands
(Those that stand in front of His face),
And then, their hearts will be pierced.
Egyptians will [war] with Egyptians…
Against their own brothers and neighbors, they’ll fight.
City will rise against city,
And houses [will rise] against houses.
The Egyptian’s spirits will all be disturbed,
And He will wipe out their plans.
Then they’ll ask their statues, their prophets, and gods,
And those that speak from the ground.
But, over the Egyptians, He will assign
Men that will make them work hard…
Bad kings, He’ll appoint over them.
For, this was said by Jehovah of Armies:
‘Egyptians will be drinking sea water,
Because their rivers will dry up and fail…
Their aqueducts and their rivers will fail,
And all their water will dry.
‘Then, papyrus marshes and reeds,
As well as what’s green by the rivers
(Including the crops that are planted nearby),
Will dry up and be blown away.
‘So, those that go fishing with hooks,
Those that catch fish with dragnets,
And those that cast nets in the rivers
Will all start mourning and moaning.
‘Also, those that shred flax and weave linen
Will all be grieved and ashamed.
There’ll also be great concern
Among the ones that brew beer,
As the lives of all become painful.
‘Then, fools will be appointed their rulers;
And those that speak stupid things
Will be the king’s councilors in Tanis.
‘For, they will say to the king:
We are the sons of the wise…
Yes, as sons of kings, [we were born]!
‘But, where will all your wise men have gone?
Yes, let them return and explain
What Jehovah of Armies has planned against Egypt.
‘Then the princes in Tanis will fail,
And the haughty rulers in Memphis
Will cause Egypt and its tribes to wander.
For the Lord has concocted for them
The spirit of addiction to delusions,
Which will cause the Egyptians to [stagger]
Like a drunk that goes outside to vomit.
‘Egypt won’t know its head from its tail,
Or discern a beginning or end.
In that day, Egypt’s men will be acting like girls,
And they’ll tremble before the hand of Jehovah…
He’s the One that will cause this to happen.
‘Then Egyptians will fear the Judeans…
Yes they’ll fear those that call themselves Jews;
For against them, Jehovah of Armies has plans.
‘In that day, in 5 cities of Egypt,
They’ll speak the CanaAnite tongue
And swear oaths in the Name of Jehovah of Armies.
Then the City of [the Sun] will be called
The City of the [Living God].
‘There’ll be an Altar to Jehovah in Egypt,
And a monument to the Lord at their border,
Which will serve as a sign through the ages
That, to Jehovah, Egypt belongs.
‘Then they’ll call to [Him] when they are oppressed,
And He will send someone to save them…
He’ll save them and He’ll bring them justice.
‘So, to the Egyptians, our God will be famous…
All Egypt will know who is Lord in that day.
Sacrifices and gifts, they’ll offer to Him…
They’ll make vows to Jehovah and pay them.
‘For, after He brings bad things upon Egypt,
He’ll heal them, and then, they’ll turn to Jehovah…
He’ll listen to them and He’ll cure them!
‘In that day, between Assyria and Egypt,
There will then be a road
Where the Assyrians will travel to Egypt,
And to Assyria, the Egyptians will go…
For Assyrians will then serve the Egyptians.
‘In that day, along with Assyria and Egypt,
IsraEl will then be the 3rd
When it comes to their land being blest.
‘For Jehovah of Armies will offer this blessing:
Praise My people in Egypt,
And praise those who live in Assyria…
And praise My inheritance, IsraEl.’
It was in the year that Tartan entered AshDod (when he was sent by Sargon the king of the Assyrians to wage war against AshDod and captured it)that the Lord spoke to IsaiAh (the son of Amoz) and said this:
‘Now, remove the sackcloth from your loins,
And untie the sandals from your feet.’
So thereafter, that’s what IsaiAh did… he started walking naked and barefoot!
And the Lord said:
‘As My servant, IsaiAh, walks barefoot and naked;
The same signs and miracles will be sent
Throughout Ethiopia and Egypt
In the coming three years.
‘For the king of Assyria will lead you as captives
(Ethiopians and Egyptians, both young and old)
Naked and barefoot, to show Egypt’s shame.
‘The Ethiopians that rely on Egyptians
Will then be vanquished and shamed;
For their [only] glory was [Egypt].
‘And they’ll say to those in the islands:
{Look!} Though we thought we could turn to you to protect us,
You couldn’t save us from Assyria’s king…
And since even you couldn’t save us,
How can we now be delivered?’
The Desert Vision.
As a blast of wind from the desert
Blows through a land that is dry;
I received a frightening hard vision
Concerning those that have no regard…
Those that have no respect for the Law.
[I dreamed] that the Persians attacked me;
So I moaned and tried to find comfort.
And because of this, my loins became weak
As though I was going through birth pangs.
Unrighteously, I chose not to hear,
And I rushed away, so I couldn’t see it.
For, in my heart I had strayed,
And in lawlessness, I had been wrapped…
Then my soul became covered with fear.
So, prepare the table to eat and to drink…
Awaken the rulers and ready the shields!
For, this is what I was told by the Lord:
‘You must go and stand as a watchman,
And you must announce all that you see!’
Well at that, I looked up and I saw two riders approaching; one [was riding] a burro, and the other [was riding] a camel.
[And then I was told that] I should listen and that I should call out to UriAh from Jehovah’s watchtower. So I stood there throughout that whole day, and I kept watch over the camp all through that night.And then, look! I saw someone riding on a double chariot, and he was shouting that Babylon had fallen along with all of her idols… yes, all of her idols had been dashed to the ground!
So listen, all of you who’ve survived,
And all of you that are grieving…
Hear what Jehovah of Armies has said…
Hear what IsraEl’s God is announcing to you!
The vision of Edom.
From SeIr, He called out to me and He said:
‘Now, you must keep watch on the walls…
Stand there from morning ‘til night…
Keep watch with Me and you’ll live!
‘Then, you should bed down in the evening
In the woods on the road to DeDan.
And bring some water for the thirsty you’ll meet…
Those that are coming from TeMan!
‘Also bring bread for the fleeing…
Because of those being slaughtered…
Because of all that must wander…
Because of those that are brandishing swords…
Because of those with tightly-stretched bows…
And because of those that have fallen in war!’
Then the Lord said this to me:
‘In a year (in the time of someone that’s hired)
The glory of Kedar will end,
And few will remain of their bowmen;
For the Lord God of IsraEl has spoken.’
The matter of the valley of Zion.
‘O what has happened to you
That made you foolishly climb to your roofs?
‘Though your city is now filled with screaming,
Your slain were not killed by the broadsword
And your people haven’t died because of a war.
‘But your rulers all fled [in fear of] the bow,
And now they’re all tied up together…
Yes your mighty have all run away.’
Well, because of this, I said:
‘Now, please let me go and find someplace to cry…and don’t try to offer me any comfort over the destruction of the daughters of my people,for this has been a very disturbing day… it’s been a day of trampling and destruction and a day of addiction to delusions that has come to us from Jehovah of Armies!
‘But, in the valleys of Zion, they wander…
All from the small to the great…
Yes, between the mountains, they wander.
‘For the people of ElAm have collected [their arrows]
And their men have mounted their horses,
Then they gathered in battle array.
So with their chariots, our valleys will be filled,
And their horsemen will block all our gates.
‘In that day, they’ll reveal Judah’s gates
And survey the city’s best homes.
Through the palace of David, they’ll search,
And they’ll see how much they can find there.
‘You’ll divert the water to the city’s ancient pool
And demolish the outsides of your homes
To strengthen the walls of JeruSalem.
Yes, between the two walls, you’ll bring water
And send it inside to that ancient pool.
But to the One that made it, you’ll still fail to look…
To its Creator, you will fail to turn.
‘For this, Jehovah of Armies
Has called for tears in that day…
For the beating of chests,
For the shaving [of heads],
And for the wearing of sackcloth.
Yet, they were all happy and leaping for joy…
Slaughtering calves and offering sheep,
Then eating the meat and drinking the wine,
And saying, ‘We should all eat and drink,
For tomorrow we’re going to die!’
Since this reached to the ears of Jehovah of Armies,
These sins will not be forgiven
Until the day that you truly die!
For Jehovah of Armies said this:
‘Now, go and enter My [Holy Place]…
Go to the store-keeper ShevNa and ask,
Just what are you doing here…
What [business] have you been conducting?
Why did you carve a memorial for yourself,
And why have you made an engraving
Of yourself in the stones of this Temple?
‘{Look!} Jehovah of Armies will now throw you out…
He’ll wipe away such a man!
Your [official] clothes, He’ll remove,
Along with your garland of honor!
‘Then He’ll throw you into a dungeon,
And that is where you will die!
On your chariot, He will bring dishonor,
And He’ll trample the homes of your princes…
[He’ll] remove your position and station!
‘In that day, I will call to My servant
(EliAkim the son of HelkiAh),
And I’ll put your garments on him…
Yes, I will give him your garland…
Your duties, I’ll put in his hands…
And then he’ll become like a father
To those in Judah and JeruSalem.
‘And around his shoulders, I’ll also put
The key to the palace of David…
Yes, he’ll be the one that unlocks it!
‘To him, I’ll give the glory of David…
He’ll rule and no one will argue with him.
For I’ll make him the ruler of a place that’s secure,
And he’ll sit on a glorious throne
Within the house of his father.
‘Then the honorable ones of his father’s house
(Those from the least to the greatest)
Will thereafter rely upon him…
Yes, all the small vessels and cups
Will depend on him in that day.
‘Jehovah of Armies also said:
This man will now be removed
And another will then be entrenched
Within that trustworthy place.
‘He’ll be removed and he’ll fall,
And all of his glory will just waste away.
For, Jehovah [of Armies] has spoken!’
The matter of Tyre.
Now shriek, you on boats out of Carthage;
For, [Tyre] has been wiped away,
And they won’t be [sailing] from Cyprus again,
Since [the people of Tyre] are all captives!
To whom can I liken their [people]…
To Phoenician traders that pass through the seas,
Or to the seed of those traders
Who transport the harvests of nations.
‘And you, O Sidon, be ashamed,’ said the sea!
Then the power of the sea told them this:
‘I have no pains and I’ve not given birth,
Nor have I fed young or raised virgins.
But when Egypt hears what has happened to Tyre,
They’ll be overtaken by grief.’
So, travel to Carthage and shriek,
All you that live on the islands!
For, she was the source of your insolent ways
Back before she had fallen.
Who was it that planned these things against Tyre…
For, isn’t she the strongest and best…
Aren’t her merchants the glorious rulers of nations?
It was Jehovah of Armies that laid out the plans
To end the insolence of these glorious ones…
To dishonor the glories of the whole earth!
So now, you’ll be forced to be farmers,
Since boats won’t be sailing from Carthage again,
And your hands won’t control the seas anymore,
O you provokers of kings.
Yes, it was Jehovah of Armies
Who ordered the destruction of CanaAn’s strength,
So that you would not keep on insulting
And wronging the daughter of Zion.
Then, if you should travel to Cyprus,
You will not find any rest there.
And if you should go to Chaldea,
You won’t find rest, for her walls will soon fall…
The Assyrians will come and destroy it.
So Shriek, you on boats that are coming from Carthage,
Because your fort will soon be destroyed!
This is how it will be in that day:
Tyre will remain in that state
For the next 70 years…
The length of the lives of both men and kings.
Then, after the 70 years have elapsed,
Tyre will become like the song of a whore.
So, pick up your harp and wander away,
O whore that will soon be forgotten!
Play your harp and sing very well,
So there’ll be someone that doesn’t forget you!
Then, after those 70 years have elapsed,
God will come and revisit Tyre…
He’ll restore her as she’d once been…
She’ll be a market for all kingdoms again
Throughout man’s home on the face of the earth.
Then her trading will pay a holy wage to the Lord;
For their [profits] will not be carried to them…
[They’ll be sent] to those that dwell before [God]…
All [the wealth of] her trading [will then go to them],
Which they’ll use to eat and drink ‘til they’re full,
As a compact memorial before God.
{Look!} The Lord will lay waste to the place where you live…
He will totally destroy it!
Yes, He will uncover its face
And scatter those living within it.
Then, [common] people will serve as the priests;
The servants will then be the masters;
The handmaids will then be the ladies;
Those that buy will be those that sell;
Those that borrow will be lenders,
And the debtors will be the ones that are owed.
‘With corruption, your land will be wasted,
And by looting, your place will be plundered!’
Yes, these things were said by the mouth of the Lord.
‘Then your land will go into mourning,
For your system of things will be ruined.
‘The land’s most important will mourn
For [the place] that’s considered so lawless…
They’ll wail for the people that lived there…
Those that have broken [God’s] Laws…
Those who’ve wiped out and traded away
The Sacred Agreement of the ages!
‘This curse will then devour [your] land;
For, those who live there have sinned!
Then, only the poor will be left …
Just a few men will remain.
‘So the wine will mourn and the grapevines will moan
Over the souls of all those
To whom they once brought great joy.
‘Happy sounds of tambourines will have ceased,
And those pleased with themselves will be gone,
Along with the wealth of the godless,
Who’ll no longer hear the sounds of the harp.
‘And because they’ll be shamed, they won’t drink the wine…
For the liquor will be bitter to even the drunks!
‘Your cities will then become empty,
And the houses will all be locked up,
So that no one will enter thereafter.
‘Therefore, shriek for the wine everywhere,
Since the joy of the land will have ceased…
Yes, it will be taken away,
And all that will be left behind
Is desolate cities and empty homes,
Which thereafter, will just waste away.
Yes, all of these things will come to that land
There in the midst of the nations.
‘In the same way that you would glean olives,
Is how such ones will be gleaned…
As though the harvest of crops will have ceased.
‘So, they will cry out in loud voices…
But, those that remain in the land
Will rejoice to the glory of God.
‘Then the waters of the seas will be shaken,
And the glory of Jehovah will be [seen]
On all the islands throughout the seas…
And the Name of the Lord will be honored.
‘[For, all the peoples will say]:
O God of IsraEl, Jehovah;
Of [Your] miracles, we’ve heard, throughout the whole earth,
And there’s hope for those that respect You.
‘And once again, they will say,
Woe to those who’ve annulled…
Yes, those who’ve ignored the Laws [of our God],
Since fear, the pit, and a snare
Have come upon those that lived in that land.
For those fleeing in fear fell into the pit,
And those climbing out were captured in snares.
‘Then the windows of the heavens will open,
And the foundations of the earth will be shaken.
Disturbance will come to the ground,
And perplexity will grip the whole land.
‘For, it will be shaken and tipped
As [a horn] that’s filled with the fruits of the earth…
Yes, it will topple and fall
Like someone that’s dizzy and drunk,
And never be able to stand up again
[In that land] where the lawless grew strong.
‘For, God will raise His hand in that day
Against the arrangement of the heavens,
And against the kings of the earth.
They’ll be gathered as one congregation,
And in castle dungeons, they’ll be locked away,
Where they’ll stay through many generations.
‘Then the bricks will melt and the walls will all fall;
The moon will be sad and the sun will be shamed;
For the Lord will start reigning in JeruSalem…
And before Zion’s elders, he’ll be glorified.’
O Jehovah, my God, I’ll glorify You,
And to Your Name, I’ll sing praises,
Because of the wonderful things You have done,
And because [Your] ancient council proved true…
May it ever be so!
The towns have been turned into rubble,
As have the foundations of cities…
And these cities of the godless will not be rebuilt
Throughout the rest of the age.
Because of this, I offer You praise…
With the poor and the wronged, I praise You!
For to cities of the meek, You sent aid,
And You’ve rescued all the depressed…
Those whom You saved from the wicked.
To the thirsty, You are a protector…
You’re an inviting breeze to those who’ve been wronged.
For You’ve rescued Zion’s worried and thirsty…
From godless men, You have saved us!
At that time, Jehovah of Armies
Will hold a great feast for the nations…
Yes, on this mountain, they’ll drink wine in joy,
And with perfumed oil, they’ll anoint on this hill.
Then, even for the gentiles, You’ll do this,
Since this is a plan for all nations.
And from the mouth of the Lord came these words:
‘Then death, which prevails, will be swallowed;
Yes, Jehovah will wipe the tears from each face,
And remove the disgrace from earth’s peoples.’
And in that day, they will say:
‘{Look!} This is our God in whom we have hoped…
The One that brought us salvation.
This is Jehovah… we’ve waited for Him!
And because He has brought us salvation,
We’ll joyfully shout praises of Him!’
Then, on this mountain, God will bring rest,
While the land of MoAb is trampled
Like a threshing floor rolled on by wagons.
He’ll unfold His hands and snatch up the haughty…
For their insolence, He will destroy them…
And the high walls of their homes will be broken.
In that day, in Judah, they’ll be singing this song:
‘Look! [Ours is now] a fortified city…
To save us, He made our walls strong!
So, open the gates and let all those enter
Who have guarded justice and truth…
Those that grabbed truth and guarded the peace!
‘Upon You, we’ve hoped through the ages,
O Jehovah, God of ages.
For You’ve humbled and brought down those that lived high…
Fortified cities, You have thrown down…
You’ve torn them down to the ground,
And as footstools, You’ve set them under Your feet.
‘The road for the righteous, You’ve straightened…
You’ve prepared a way for the Godly;
For, just are the paths of Jehovah!
‘We have put hope in Your Name,
And You, we have never forgotten,
Since You’re what our souls have desired!
‘In the [morning], my God, I’ll rise early to You,
For Your orders bring light to the land.
‘So, learn justice, all you that live on the earth!
For the irreverent will soon all be gone,
Because they’ve never learned to be fair,
Nor have they ever been truthful.
So, please remove the ungodly,
That they may not gaze on Your glory!
‘O Jehovah;
Though You’ve always held Your arm high,
They’ve been unable to see it…
But, when they see it, they all will be shamed.
Then You’ll snatch up those ignorant ones in Your zeal,
And send fire to consume our oppressors.
‘O Jehovah our God, send us peace;
For, all that we have was given by You!
Please own us, O Jehovah our God;
For, we have known no other as Lord…
We have only called on Your Name.
‘But those dead ones will never see life,
Nor will any doctors revive them,
Because You attacked and destroyed them…
From among them, You took every man.
‘O Jehovah;
Add to them all that is bad,
And bring evil upon their glorious ones!
‘O Jehovah;
We thought of You when we were oppressed,
And Your instructions were with us during hard times.
‘Just like a woman with birth pangs
(One that screams before she gives birth),
Is how we are in Your presence, O Lord.
For we fear You, Jehovah [our God].
‘In fear of You, we conceived in the womb…
We went into labor and then we gave birth
To the spirit of salvation that You’ve brought to our land.
‘So, we will not stumble… though others may fall,
And our dead will be raised from their tombs.
Then, all in our land will be joyful;
For like morning dew, You’ll send them a cure,
While those in the lands of the godless will fail.
‘O my people;
When you awaken, just stay in your bedrooms…
Remain inside and lock all your doors,
Then hide in [your homes] for a while!
For, this will happen, then that;
And the rage of Jehovah will pass.
‘Look… from His Most Holy Place,
Jehovah sends rage to those on the earth.
For, He’s uncovered all of the blood,
And He won’t allow the killers to hide.’
So in that day;
God will forbid the swords of the mighty…
The Dragon’s great ones that will then flee
(Those [that belong to] the crooked-back Beast).
Then, in that day, there will be a good vineyard,
And about it, we’ll be singing this song:
‘She’s a fortress that’s under attack,
So it’s foolish to [offer her] water,
Since she will be captured during the night,
And her walls will fall before morning.
‘Because none have failed to have [sex with] her,
Jehovah will do as He promised…
For, she’s about to be burned!
‘Then, those that live there will be yelling this:
We should make peace with Him…
Yes, let us make peace [with Him]!
‘Then, Jacob’s seed will return,
And IsraEl will burst forth and blossom…
So their homes will be filled with its fruitage.
‘It won’t be the same as when He struck others;
For, He would be striking Himself!
No, it won’t be as when He destroyed them;
For, He’d be destroying Himself!
‘He’s been their warrior and caretaker.
But, did you study the harsh spirit they showed?
And then, didn’t He embody the spirit of rage?
‘On account of this;
The lawless will be taken from Jacob,
And then, [God] will offer this blessing:
I will remove all your sins,
When you rip down the stones of their shrines
And grind them to powder and dust…
When their poles and idols are gone,
Like a far-away forest that’s being [erased].
‘Then, any flocks that remain will dwell there…
Any flocks that have been left behind.
They will spend time in your pastures,
And there, they will have time to rest.
But, they won’t be eating green grass,
Because it all will have dried [into hay].
‘So come, you women, who’ve seen all this happen;
For you’re a people that did not [believe].
He’ll show no mercy on those that made [idols]…
Nor feel pity for those that have shaped them!
‘In that day, Jehovah will lock them together,
From the aqueducts to the RhinoCorura,
As one by one, IsraEl’s sons are returned,
Blowing their horns on that day!
‘For, those lost to Assyria will then be returned,
As well as those that went down to Egypt…
They’ll all come back and bow to Jehovah
On His Holy Mountain in JeruSalem.’
Woe to that insolent garland…
Ephraim’s faded flower and those whom he hired…
Those that have fallen from glory
There on their mount of thick branches…
Yes, those that get drunk without wine.
For {Look!} the rage of Jehovah is both strong and hard…
It’s like hail that falls with great force
In a place where there’s nowhere to [hide].
It’s like a flood that drags away [homes]
In the land where He once sent rest to your hands.
Then the feet of Ephraim’s hired
Will trample their insolent garland,
And its flowers (its hope of glory) will fall
Like the shoots of figs on their mountains.
Then, all that see it in front of their hands,
Will wish to take it and swallow it down.
In that day, Jehovah of Armies
Will be the only true garland…
A crown of glory for His people.
For by the spirit of fairness, they will survive…
By justice and the strength of destruction withheld.
But there are also those that will stagger and reel
Because of their liquor and wine.
Yes, it is because of the liquor
And because they’ve swallowed the wine
That the priests and prophets are out of their minds.
And then, when they sober, they’ll stagger…
Which will be witnessed by all.
A curse will thereafter devour their plans;
For the plans that they have are just to get rich.
To whom have we announced all this evil?
To whom have we spoken this message?
To those being weaned from the milk,
And to those being drawn from the breast.
Problems on problems, hope after hope…
Still a little, and then a bit more!
For in foreign tongues, they’ll speak these foul words:
‘Since those that are starved are unworthy,
We will have to destroy them’
(Which is something that no one wishes to hear).
Then this oracle from God is what they’ll receive:
‘Problems on problems, hope after hope;
Still a little, and then a bit more.’
And thereafter, they’ll be faced with great danger.
For, first they will have to retreat,
And then they’ll be broken and captured.
Thus, hear these words of Jehovah:
‘O men who are being attacked
And you rulers of JeruSalem;
You say that you’ve made a pact with the grave…
That you’ve made a treaty with death,
And that, if a windstorm should blow,
It won’t be blowing on you.
So, you have put hope in [your] lies…
And do you [think] that these lies will protect you?
‘Because of this,’ says Jehovah;
‘{Look!} Upon the foundation of Zion
I’ll place a valuable stone…
A costly, select cornerstone,
In order to serve as its base…
And those trusting in him will never be shamed.
‘Then, in place of hope, will come judgments;
And to My charity, I’ll attach weights.
So those trusting in vain in the lie
Will not be passed by the storm.
For, your treaty with death will be gone,
Along with your pact with the grave.
‘Then, by a blast, you’ll be crushed…
When it’s passing by, it will take you.
Morning after morning, it will blow upon you,
And it will blow throughout the nights…
So, what happens to you will be bad.
‘Learn how to hear, O you who’ve been squeezed…
There’s no way you’ll be able to fight it!
For, you will be weakened, then captured.
‘From the godless, the Lord will make hills,
When to GibeOn’s valley, He brings His rage…
That’s where His bitter deed will be done.
‘His rage will be brought in strange ways…
Yes, these rotten deeds will be odd.
And for you, there’ll no longer be joy,
Since you won’t have strength, in your chains.’
Yes, all these things will come soon…
It’s what He will bring to this land…
It’s what Jehovah of Armies has said.
So give ear and listen to all that I say…
Pay attention and hear all my words!
Doesn’t it take a full day
To get things ready for plowing?
And doesn’t the planter have to prepare
Before he starts working the ground?
Doesn’t he level its face
Before he plants pepperwort or cumin,
At the borders of wheat, barley, and spelt?
So, that’s how you’ll be corrected…
In the fair ways of your God…
Then once more, you’ll [have reasons] for joy.
‘You don’t scrub Pepperwort to clean it,
And you don’t run wagons over cumin!
You beat out pepperwort’s [seeds],
And cumin should be eaten with bread.
‘So I won’t stay angry with you through the age,
Or with bitter words, will I trample you down.
Rather, from Jehovah of Armies,
Miracles will [be sent to your land]!
So, you should accept all this counsel,
And not raise hopes of comfort in vain!
‘Woe to the City of the Altar of God,
On which King David waged war.
‘Gather your crops year after year,
And share them with the people of MoAb.
Then I’ll squeeze the City of the Altar of God,
And all her strength and wealth will be Mine.
‘I’ll encircle [your city] like David,
And throw up a siege mound against it.
With siege towers, I will surround it,
And your words will be brought to the ground…
Yes, your words will go down to the ground!
Then you’ll speak like those that speak from the grave,
And from the ground, your voices will get weaker.
‘Then the wealth that you gained from your godless ways,
Like clouds of dust, will become…
As that which is raised by the passing of wheels.
For then, all those that oppress you
Will be as many as pieces of dust.
‘It will happen right away (in a moment);
Then Jehovah of Armies will arrive
And consume you with thunder, shakings, and noise,
As well as with wind blasts and flames.
‘It will be like a nightmare to you,
When the wealth of many nations come marching
Against the City of the Altar of God.
For the armies of all her oppressors
Will gather against JeruSalem.
‘Then, to all those that are sleeping,
And to those that are eating and drinking,
It will seem as though it’s a dream…
And this is what they’ll be dreaming:
‘Those that get thirsty and drink
Will still be thirsty when they awake.
And there’ll be no more hope in their lives
When the wealth of many nations marches on Zion.
‘Be tipsy, be dizzy, and then be amazed…
But not from liquor or wine;
For the Lord will send you frustration to drink!
‘Then He’ll close the eyes of your prophets,
As well as the eyes of your seers and rulers.
And all that’s written in this sealed-up scroll
Will be given to a man that knows how to read.
’Then you’ll say to him, Please read these things!
But he will reply, I can’t read it,
Because the scroll has been sealed!
‘Then you’ll hand this scroll to a man that can’t read,
And you’ll also ask him to read it;
But he’ll answer and say, I can’t read.’
For, this is what was said by the Lord:
‘With their mouths, these people approach Me,
And with their lips, they offer Me praise…
But they’re far away from Me in their hearts.
So they’re wasting their time when they bow before Me,
Since they’re teaching the ideas and instructions of men!
‘And it’s because of this, that I’m coming
To bring a change to these people…
Yes, I will come and transpose them!
The wisdom of their wise, I’ll destroy,
And the understanding of their discerning, I’ll hide.
‘So, woe to those who’ve come up with plans
That haven’t been approved by Jehovah!
And woe to those that make them in secret,
As they do things in darkness and ask:
Since no one can see us or recognize us,
Who can know what we’re doing?
‘Aren’t you just clay in the hands of a potter?
So can the thing that is shaped say to its shaper:
You’re not the one that has shaped me?
Or can something that’s made say to its maker,
I don’t like the way that you made me?
‘Soon Lebanon will meet with a change…
Her mountains will be changed into crop fields,
And the crops on her mountains, into forests.
‘Then, in that day, even those that are deaf
Will hear the words of this scroll.
And those in the darkness and those in the fog,
And the eyes of the blind ones will see it!
‘So the poor will cheer because of the Lord,
And those without hope will be joyful.
For the lawless and evil will then have all failed…
The proud will all be destroyed…
And those that break laws will be gone,
With those whose words led them to sin.
‘Then, all that reprove at the gates
Will be known as those that have stumbled;
For, they have twisted [the law],
And the righteous ones, they have wronged.
‘And concerning the house of Jacob,’ said the Lord…
‘Those whom I have selected
From among AbraHam’s sons…
Jacob’s [seed] will not come to shame,
Nor will their faces be saddened again.
‘For, when their young see the things that I’ll do;
{Look!} They’ll treat God’s Name as holy once more…
They’ll [praise] the Holy One of Jacob,
And learn to fear IsraEl’s God.
‘Then, those with wandering spirits
Will have to gain understanding…
Yes, those that complain must learn to obey,
And stuttering tongues will learn to speak peace.’
The Lord said:
‘And woe to you children of apostates…
You who’ve looked for direction from others
And made treaties that were not by My Spirit.
For by this, you have added to your sins!
‘You [sent ambassadors] to Egypt
And asked for help from their PharaOh…
Yes, you sought shelter from Egypt…
But, you failed to ask Me!
‘So, because you sought PharaOh’s protection,
You will come to know shame.
And because you’re relying on Egypt,
You will also know scorn…
For, the envoys from Tanis are evil.
‘You are foolish to labor for others
Who won’t bring help or send any aid,
While upon you, they heap shame and scorn.’
This is the vision of the four-footed creatures in the desert:
‘In difficult times of distress,
[There stands] the lion and its cub,
As well as asps and the young of winged asps.
‘These are the ones that are bearing your wealth
On the backs of camels and burros
To a nation that will bring you no help,
Rather, that will just bring shame and scorn.
For, all that Egypt can send
Is waste and [words] that are empty…
So the comfort they send is in vain!’
[Then the Lord told me}:
‘You must now sit down and write this…
Record these words in the tablet of a scroll.
For these are the days and times I’ve appointed…
[They’re the things that will happen] in this age:
‘You people have resisted my persuasion…
You are liars that won’t listen to God’s Law.
You’re the ones that say to the Prophets:
Don’t bring His pronouncements to us!
And to those that see visions, you say:
Don’t tell us the things that you’ve seen!
But, if you must give us a message,
Tell us an addictive delusion!
Turn us away from this road…
Yes, shift us away from this course,
And bring an end to these curses upon IsraEl!’
‘It’s because of this, that thus says the Holy One of IsraEl:
Since you’ve chosen to resist My persuasions
And preferred to put hope in a lie…
Because you’ve grumbled and failed to have faith,
This is what will happen to you:
‘Your sins will be like the walls of a city
That fall and lead to a capture…
For your downfall is now close at hand.
‘And like the breaking of a thin vase,
This crash won’t lead to a breaking of parts…
Pieces you can find and pick from the coals
With which you can hold little water.
‘This is what the Lord Jehovah proclaimed…
It’s what IsraEl’s Holy One said:
You should moan, then turn back and be saved!
‘Think about all of these foolish things
In which you’ve been putting your hope…
Think of how you chose not to hear,
And then, about how weak you became!
‘But you say that you will escape
From those coming against you on horses…
You think that you’ll flee and then say,
We are very light riders!
But those chasing you will be faster.
‘For, thousands will flee at the voice of one man,
And ten thousand will flee at the voices of five.
So, you will be left all alone
Like a pole on top of a mountain,
Or a banner flying high on a hill.
‘Then, once again, you’ll [turn back] to God
And [hope] that He will feel pity.
And because of this; He will show mercy upon you,
Since your judge is Jehovah, your God.
‘Blest are those that stick close to Him;
For the holy will live upon Zion once more!
‘JeruSalem will cry, Show mercy on me!
And He will show mercy upon her.
For, when He hears the sounds of your cries,
Once more, He’ll pay attention to you.
‘Then Jehovah will provide you with water and bread,
And those that misled you will no longer be.
You’ll remember those that tried to mislead you,
And those that followed to trick you…
Those that said, This is the way you should go…
Yes, you should go this way or that!
‘Then, you’ll get rid of your silver-plate idols,
As well as those that are gilded with gold,
And crush them into fine powder,
Then toss it into the wind.
You’ll reject them like a [menstruation rag],
And throw them away like manure.
‘Then, rain will fall on your ground to sprout seeds…
There’ll be plenty of bread and fat in your land.
Your cattle will graze in large fertile fields,
And your bulls will work the ground and eat straw,
As you prepare to harvest the barley.
‘And in that day;
After many people have been destroyed
And the towers have all been knocked down;
Water will flow from the mountains and hills.
‘Then the moon will be as bright as the sun,
And the sun will be 7 times brighter,
In that day when Jehovah brings healing
To His people who’ve been broken down,
There’ll be an end to the grief of disaster.
‘{Look!} Then, after a while, the Name of the Lord
Will arrive in glory and in burning rage…
For, the omens from His lips are omens of rage,
And the flames of His rage are consuming!
‘His Breath is like water that races through valleys,
Then comes to the neck and divides.
So, for their addictions to delusions,
He will disturb all the nations
And [allow] their delusions to trap them.
‘Then, whenever you enter [God’s] Holy Place,
You’ll do so thereafter in joy…
As though it were a great holiday!
And as you do this, you’ll be happy…
Singing songs as you travel to the Mountain of [God]!
‘Yes you’ll sing to Jehovah with the glory of your voice;
For by His arm, He can send both His anger and rage…
Like lightning, He violently strikes,
And as flames [of fire], He can consume…
Like rain and hail being driven by storms.
‘By the voice of Jehovah, Assyria will fall…
He’ll strike and bring calamity to them.
For, He is always nearby
To aid those that put faith in Him…
Those playing their harps and shaking tambourines.
‘He’ll wage war with those that revolt…
But, after some days, He’ll let them return.
For, He’s prepared His Kingdom for them.
‘As a ravine that is very deep
And as piles of wood near a fire,
Is the rage of Jehovah…
Like a ravine that is burning with sulfur.
‘Woe to those that seek help from Egypt…
Those trusting in their chariots and horses
Because their chariots are many,
And because they have many horses.
‘These are people that just will not listen…
In IsraEl’s Holy One, they’ve not put faith
And they haven’t searched for their God!
‘Thus He’ll wisely bring evil upon them,
So His Word will not be annulled.
Against their houses, He will arise,
And oppose their vain, wicked hopes.
‘Egyptians are men… they aren’t Gods;
And their horses are no help at all,
Because they too are just flesh!
So against them, Jehovah will soon raise His hand
And make those that are helping them tired…
And thereafter, they’ll perish together.’
Then the Lord told me this:
‘In the same way that a lion or its cub
Will roar over game that it’s taken,
And then continue to roar over it
Until the mountains are filled with its voice
And all the prey has been scattered,
Because they’ve been frightened away;
That’s how Jehovah of Armies will be
In the time that He comes against Zion.
‘But Jehovah of Armies can be like a bird
That flies above JeruSalem,
In order to rescue, save, and protect.
‘O you sons of IsraEl that have gathered
So as to discuss lawless things;
It’s time for you to turn back!
For, the day will come when you’ll turn from your idols…
Those things that you’ve molded from silver and gold…
The things that you’ve made with your hands!
‘Then [Assyria] will fall, but not by men’s swords…
No, she’ll not be devoured by swords,
Nor will she flee before daggers!
But her young men will all have been conquered…
They’ll be picked up and beaten like rocks for a siege,
And those that flee will be captured.
And this is what Jehovah said:
‘Blest are those that have seeds in Zion,
And those with families in JeruSalem.’
‘{Look!} Then a righteous king will start reigning,
And in justice, his princes will rule.
Each man will be like a shelter from wind
And a place to run from the storms…
Like streams of water in a dry land,
And the shade of a rock in the desert.
‘Then, men will no longer put trust in men,
And ears they’ll be given to hear.
Hearts of the weak will be paying attention,
And stammering tongues will learn to speak peace.
‘They’ll not [appoint] morons to rule anymore,
Or tell their officials not to speak!
But now, the morons just say foolish things,
And in their hearts, they’re just planning what’s wasteful.
‘They are doing things that are lawless,
And against the Lord, they’re speaking delusions
To scatter the souls of the hungry,
And bring waste to the lives of the thirsty.
‘What the wicked recommend are plans to do evil…
They speak of taking advantage of the meek,
And they overrule with unrighteous words
Any judgments that would favor the lowly.
‘But, those that love God will then consult
With those that have understanding,
And the things they suggest are the things that will last.
‘Hey, all of you wealthy women…
Wake up and hear what I’m saying!
O you daughters that still live in hope;
To My words, you should pay close attention!
‘Speak of each day in grief… but with hope.
For the crops have all been consumed,
And the planting has come to an end,
So, things are not getting any better.
‘Now, be amazed, and then start to worry,
O you that have tried to mislead!
Strip off your clothes ‘til you’re naked,
Then wrap your waists and beat on your breasts
On behalf of the crops in the fields,
As well as for the produce of vines!
‘For the land of My people has now become thorns…
Even the grass will soon dry,
And joy will be gone from each home.
‘The houses will then be abandoned,
As wealth [flows] out of your towns,
And all the best cities and homes
Will exist as caves through the ages…
Places of joy for wild burros,
As well as pastures for shepherds.
‘But when [God’s] Breath flows from the heavens again,
The deserts will become fruitful fields,
And the fields will be thought of as forests.
‘Then, judgment will rest in the deserts,
Yes, justice will dwell on [Mount] CarMel,
And of peace and righteous ways, there’ll be plenty.
‘This righteousness will thereafter be spread,
And bring rest to the faithful through ages.
So, God’s people will live in cities of peace,
And those that are saved will rest and live well.
‘Then if hail should fall, it won’t fall on you;
And the meek that dwell in the forests
Will be as those that live in the plains…
For, those that plant crops will be blest.
And in places where only wild burros could live,
There will be water again.
‘Woe to those that bring misery,
But, who are made miserable by no one,
As well as those that show no respect,
But who are highly regarded.
For, those that don’t show respect
Will then be captured and [squashed]
Like a moth that’s caught in a robe and destroyed.’
O Jehovah; show mercy upon us,
For we are relying on You.
Destroy the seed of those that oppose us,
But save us in our time of oppression!
Your fearful sounds will startle the people,
And in fear, the nations will scatter.
But then, You will gather Your spoils great and small
As though You were picking up locusts.
Holy is The God that lives in the skies;
For, He will fill Zion with fairness and justice.
In that time, He’ll become a foundation that’s firm…
A source of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
For in Him, all wisdom and knowledge exists…
And fear of God [is the key] to this treasure.
{Look!} Yes, those fearing You will be frightened…
They’ll scream in fear over You!
For, You will send angels that will bring peace,
And this will cause the unrighteous to weep,
Since that will bring an end to their [evil] ways.
‘And the nations will also have reasons for fear,
Because of the treaties they’ve broken,
And because they’ve [not shown You] respect.
So the lands will all go into mourning,
And Lebanon will be brought to shame.
But our marshes will then be like ShaRon,
And like GaliLee and CarMel, they’ll shine.
‘Yes, that’s when I will stand tall,’ says Jehovah…
‘I’ll be glorified and respected.
When you see it, you’ll then understand
That their other efforts have all been in vain.
‘For their spirits will be burned as by fire…
By the gentiles, they will be consumed
Like thorn bushes out in the fields,
Which have been tossed in the flames.
‘Then, from far away, they’ll hear what I’ve done;
And those that come here will know of My might.
For, when the lawless are taken from Zion,
The irreverent will all start to shake.
‘So, who will make the announcement…
The announcement that the fire has been lit?
Yes, who will speak of such things
In this ancient place of the ages?
Just the one that is walking uprightly;
The one that tells things just as they are;
The one that hates lawless ways and injustice;
The one whose hands shake off bribes;
The one that won’t listen to judgments of blood
And whose eyelids are closed to injustice.
‘At that time, he will stay in a cave in the heights,
Which is surrounded by boulders.
His bread will also be given to him,
And he can trust [that he will have] water.
‘Then your eyes will see a glorious king
Coming from a far-away land…
And your souls will contemplate fear.
‘Then, what will happen to all of the scribes…
What will happen to all the advisors…
What will happen to the accountants and their records?
‘From the small to the great, they don’t take advice,
Nor do they heed any warnings
About the ways they’re mistreating the people…
So, none understand what [I’m saying].
‘O great city on Zion;
Look and see your salvation…
See JeruSalem as a city of wealth,
Filled with unshakable tents.
‘There the tent poles will last through the ages,
So their cords won’t have to be pulled,
And they’ll be called by the Name of Jehovah.
‘There’ll be aqueducts and wide rivers;
But, you will not travel upon them,
For boats will never be rowed there.’
So my God, Jehovah, won’t pass me by,
Because the Lord is our judge…
Yes, He is our ruler and king,
And He will bring us salvation!
But now, all their ropes will be pulled up,
And the masts on their boats will be weak…
They’ll lean, so their sails cannot be unfurled,
And their flags will never be raised
Until all that they have has been plundered…
Yes, taken by even the lame!
But those who are left won’t say they are tired,
For their sins will have all been forgiven.
‘So, listen to this, O you nations…
And your rulers should pay close attention!
Yes, hear, O earth and its dwellers…
The habitation of man and all those that live here;
For Jehovah is bringing His rage to the nations…
His rage upon all of their numbers,
To destroy and hand them to slaughter.
‘Their slain and dead will be just thrown away;
Their smell will ascend [to the heavens];
And their blood will pour down the mountains.
‘Then the powers of the heavens will melt;
The sky will be wrapped like a scroll;
And all the stars will then fall
Like the leaves of a grapevine or fig.
‘For My sword will then become drunk in the sky,
And {Look!} upon Edom’s land, it will fall…
Upon people who’ve been judged for destruction.
‘In BozRah, My sword will become thick with blood
And with the fat of the lambs, goats, and rams
That to God, will be sacrificed,
When this great slaughter comes to Edom.
‘Then, even the stout will be cut down and killed,
Along with the rams and the bulls.
So the ground will then be drunk on their blood,
And it will be filled with their fat
All the way to the ends of their borders.
‘For this is the great Judgment Day of the Lord…
It’s a year of judgment and payback for Zion.
Their valleys will then be filled up with pitch
And their ground [will be covered with] sulfur.
‘Through the ages, it’ll burn with pitch day and night,
And the flames will not be extinguished.
For generations, her smoke will ascend,
And it will all be desolation…
Then, it will lie barren for a very long time.
‘Only crows will be able to dwell there,
Along with ibis, hedgehogs, and birds.
A surveyor’s line will mark her destruction,
And she’ll be inhabited [by demons].
‘Then, she will be without rulers,
Since her kings and great men will be gone.
So, thorns will grow in her cities and forts,
And they will be owned by chained demons…
A place where ostriches roam.
‘Then, [loose] demons will meet with the chained ones,
And they will yell to each other.
Chained [spirits] will also find rest there,
And they’ll find a place to retire.
‘There, hedgehogs too, will build their nests,
And in safety, their young will play on the ground.
It’s where stags will all meet together,
Then stare face to face at each other.
‘They’ll pass in large numbers and none will be lost…
They’ll not have to search for each other,
Since Jehovah will give them instructions,
And by His Breath, they’ll be gathered.
‘Then, on their behalf, He will cast lots,
And divide up the land for their grazing,
Which they will inherit through the ages…
So, from one generation to another,
They will find rest in this place.’
So, thirsty desert, you should be glad…
Yes, shout in joy and blossom with lilies!
For the desert by the JorDan will cry out and bloom,
And the beauty of Lebanon will be given to it,
Along with the honor of CarMel.
For, at that time, my people will see
The glory of Jehovah their God,
And come to know the full stature of Him.
So be strong, forsaken hands and weak knees…
Take comfort, O you with faint-hearts!
Be strong and don’t be afraid,
For {Look!} the judgments of our God will [bring] justice…
Yes, He will come here and save us!
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
And the ears of the deaf will be able to hear.
The lame will be leaping like stags,
And stammering tongues will speak clearly.
Then springs will burst forth in the desert,
And through thirsty lands, water will flow.
For, deserts will be turned into marshes;
In the dry lands, there’ll be springs;
And among reeds and marshes, birds will find joy.
Then, there will be a pure road
That’s called, ‘The Way of the Holy.’
And nothing unclean will pass on it;
So, it will always be pure.
Those that were scattered will travel that way,
And from it, they won’t stray again.
No lions or fierce beasts will roam there,
Nor will they even be found there.
There’ll just be those who’ve been ransomed…
Just those gathered by the Lord will walk there.
‘They’ll return to Zion in joy
Feeling the glee of the ages.
For, blessings will come upon all their heads…
They’ll be happy and leaping for joy,
Since, from distress, moaning, and grief,
They will then have escaped.’
It was in the 14th year of the reign of HezekiAh that SenNaCherib, the king of Assyria, [marched against] the fortified cities of Judah and took them.Then the king of Assyria sent RabShakeh from LachIsh to King HezekiAh in JeruSalem with a huge army, and he [set up camp] by the aqueduct to the upper pool, which is on the road to the field of the washerwomen.
So, EliAkim (the son of HilkiAh) [the King’s] house manager, the scribe ShebNa, and JoAh (the son of Asaph) the recorder, went out to meet with him.And RabShakeh said to them:
‘Speak to HezekiAh and tell him that this is what the great king of Assyria has said:
On what are you really relying?Have you worked out a plan with the words from your lips about how you’re going to fight this battle? On whom are you relying so that you’re resisting my persuasion?Look! If you’re relying on that fractured reed cane Egypt… if a man should put his weight on [that reed], it will go all the way through his hand. Yes, this is all that PharaOh (the king of Egypt) and those that are relying on him amount to.
‘And if you should say that you’re relying on your God Jehovah… isn’t He the same One whose high places and altars were removed by HezekiAh, and who then told Judah and JeruSalem that they had to come and bow before the Altar here in this place?
‘Why not rather join with my lord the king of Assyria? For if you do, I’ll give you 2,000 horses… that is, if you’re able to provide enough riders for them.Can your governors who are relying on the Egyptians provide you with that many horses and riders?
‘And do you think that we were able to come up to this place and wage war against it without [the aid of] Jehovah? It was Jehovah that told us to come to this land and destroy it!’
Well, EliAkim, ShebNa, and JoAh then said to RabShakeh:
‘Please speak to your servants in Syriac, so we alone can [understand] what you’re saying. Don’t speak to us in the Judean tongue! Why must you speak so that all the men along the walls can hear you?’
And RabShakeh replied:
‘Do you think that my lord sent me to speak these words to just your lord? For, aren’t these men that are sitting along the walls the ones that will have to eat their own poop and drink their own pee?’
And at that, RabShakeh stood up and yelled in a loud voice in the Judean language:
‘Pay attention to the words of the great king of the Assyrians!For this is what the king said:
Don’t be fooled by what HezekiAh has told you, because there’s no way that he can save you!And don’t let HezekiAh tell you that his God will rescue you; for there’s no way that He can save this city from the hands of the king of Assyria!
‘The king of Assyria says:
‘Don’t listen to HezekiAh! If you want to receive his blessings, come here to me and you’ll each eat from your own grapevines and fig trees, and drink water from your own wells.Because, when I come here, I will carry you to a land that will become yours… a land of grain, wine, bread, and vineyards!
‘So, don’t let HezekiAh deceive you and say,
Our God will come and save us!
Have any of the gods of the nations been able to rescue their own places from the hands of the king of Assyria?Where are the gods of HaMath or ArPhad? Where is the god of the Cities of Scrolls… was he able to rescue Samaria from my hands?Since none of these gods of the nations could rescue their lands from my hands, how can Jehovah save JeruSalem from my hands?’
Well, everyone stayed silent and no one replied with a word, because the king had decreed that no one was to answer him.
Then EliAkim (the son of HelkiAh) the house manager, ShebNa the scribe, and JoAh (the son of Asaph) the recorder ripped their clothes and returned to HezekiAh to tell him what RabShakeh had said.
Well, when King HezekiAh heard this, he tore off his clothes and put on sackcloth, then he went to the [Temple] of Jehovah.He also sent EliAkim his house manager, ShebNa the scribe, and all the elders among the priests (that were each wearing sack cloth) to the Prophet IsaiAh (the son of Amoz).For he told them to say,
‘These are the words of HezekiAh:
This is a day of affliction, scorning, scolding, and rage… it’s a day of all the pain of a woman that doesn’t have enough strength to give birth!So, may Jehovah your God hear the words of RabShakeh who was sent by his lord the king of Assyria to berate the living God… may Jehovah your God hear the words that he said to berate Him! Please go to Jehovah your God to beg before Him concerning those of us that are still left here!’
So the servants of King HezekiAh went to IsaiAh, and this is what IsaiAh said to them:
‘Tell your lord that Jehovah says you shouldn’t be afraid of the words that you heard the ambassador of the king of Assyria say to berate Him,for {Look!} He is going to send a spirit against him, and when he hears its message, he’ll just go back to his own place, where he’ll fall by the sword within his own land!’
Well at the time, RabShakeh had returned to the king of Assyria, who was busy attacking LibNah. He was no longer at LachIsh,because he was told that TirHakah, the king of Ethiopia, was coming to fight him.
Then [SenNaCherib] sent his people back to HezekiAh with a message that said this:
‘Tell HezekiAh the king of Judah not to allow his God upon whom he is relying to deceive him when He says there’s no way that JeruSalem will be given into the hands of the king of the Assyrians.{Look!} Haven’t you heard what the kings of Assyria have done throughout the whole earth and of the destruction that they’ve brought? Who is really going to save you now?Have the gods of any of the nations that my father destroyed been able to rescue them… those of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph in the region of Tel AsSar?Where are the kings of HaMath, and where is ArPhad? Where are the cities of SepharVaim, Henah, and Hivah?’
Well, after HezekiAh took the proclamation from [SenNaCherib’s] messengers and read it, he went up to the [Temple] of Jehovah again and unrolled [the scroll] before the Lord,and he prayed to Jehovah, saying:
‘O Jehovah of Armies, God of IsraEl… the One that rests upon cherubs; You’re the only God over all the kingdoms of the habitation of mankind, for You’re the One that made the lands and the skies.So, O Jehovah; lean Your ear toward me and please listen O Lord! O Jehovah, open Your eyes! Look down, O Jehovah, then hear and understand all the words that SenNaCherib sent to berate the living God!
‘It’s a fact, O Jehovah, that the kings of the Assyrians have conquered the entire habitation of mankind everywhere.And there amidst all the flames, they’ve erected their idols to replace those that were never gods but are just the works of men’s hands – things made of wood and stone – after they did all their destroying.
‘But now, O Jehovah our God; please rescue us from his hands, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that You are the only God!’
Well thereafter, [God sent] IsaiAh (the son of Amoz) to HezekiAh, and he told HezekiAh that Jehovah the God of IsraEl said that He’d heard everything that he’d prayed concerning SenNaCherib the king of Assyria, and that this was Jehovah’s reply to him:
‘You’ve sneered at the virgin daughter of Zion,
And you’ve treated her with disrespect.
So, [the virgin] daughter of JeruSalem
Has nodded her head against you!
‘Do you know whom you’ve provoked and berated,
Or against whom you have raised your voice
And against whom you’ve lifted your eyes to the heights?
It’s against the Holy One of IsraEl!
‘Through messengers, you’ve berated Jehovah
When you said,
I’ll climb over their mountains
With huge numbers of chariots behind me
That will stretch to Lebanon’s borders.
Then, on their heights, I’ll cut down their cedars
And the beauty of their cypress trees.
Then I’ll climb to the tops of their forests,
And I will dam up their [rivers].
‘Haven’t you heard of the things I can do,
And of the things that I ordered to be done long ago?
For I’ve shown how I can destroy
Nations and fortified cities,
As well as those in their towns and their forts.
I’ve weakened and dried up their hands,
Turning them into dry hay…
Like the grass that grows on their roofs.
‘I know that you have been resting
From all of your comings and goings.
And now, all your hatred and rage
Is being directed toward Me!
So I’ll put a rein ‘round your nose,
And a bit in your lips,
Then I’ll send you back by the way that you came.
‘This is the sign that I’ll do it:
This year, you’ll eat what you’ve planted,
Then in the 2nd, you’ll eat what is left.
And in the 3rd, you’ll plant and you’ll reap…
Once more you’ll plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
‘The same will also be true of all those
Who still remain in Judea…
They will sprout roots from below,
And from above, they’ll reap grain.
‘Then, those that are left in JeruSalem
(Those that remain on Mount Zion)
Will thereafter be brought to the fore
Through the zeal of Jehovah of Armies.’
Then, concerning the king of Assyria, Jehovah said this:
‘There’s no way that he’ll enter this city…
[His men] won’t shoot arrows against it,
Nor will any even lift up their shields
Or build a siege mound around it.
They’ll just return by the way that they came,
And they will not enter this city!’
Jehovah said:
‘I will shield this city and save it
Because of Myself and My servant David.’
Well thereafter, a messenger came from Jehovah and he destroyed the camp of the Assyrians… 185,000 of them! So when the [people] awoke the next morning, all they found was just dead bodies!
Then SenNaCherib (the king of the Assyrians) [packed up] and left for Nineveh, where he went to live.And it was while he was there bowing to the ground in the temple of his god Nisroch, that AdramMelech and ShaRezer (his sons) struck him with swords and fled to Armenia. So, another son, EsarHaddon, started reigning in his place.
Well, it was shortly after this that HezekiAh became ill to the point of death. And the Prophet IsaiAh (the son of Amoz) went to him and told him,
‘This is what Jehovah has said:
Give orders regarding your house,
Because you won’t live… you will die.’
Then HezekiAh turned his face to the wall and started praying to Jehovah, saying:
‘O Jehovah; Remember that I’ve walked before You in truth and with a true heart, and remember all the things that I’ve done to please You.’
And at that, HezekiAh broke down and cried.
Well,the Word of Jehovah then came to IsaiAh and said:
‘Go tell HezekiAh that Jehovah said this:
The God of your ancestor David
Has heard your prayer and seen your tears.
So, {Look!} 15 more years, I will add to your [life]…
And I will also save you and this city
From the hands of Assyria’s king.
For, around this city, I am putting a shield.
‘And Jehovah says that this is your sign that He’s going to do all these things. He said:
{Look!} I will cause the shadow of the sun
That moves down 10 stairs in the house of your fathers,
To go up the 10 stairs it went down.’
Well, this is the prayer that HezekiAh the king of Judah prayed after [learning that he would] recover from his illness:
‘I prayed to the heavens concerning my days,
For I’d approached the gate to the place of the dead,
And I had been robbed of the rest of my years.
‘So I said:
I’ll not look to Jehovah again
Within the land of the living.
And no way will I [be seen] anymore
By any of those that are living.
‘My family, I had forsaken,
And I’d [written off] the rest of my life.
For my life was ending and leaving like those
Who [that spend just a night] in a tent,
And my breath had become like the end of the weave,
To be cut off like wool from a loom.
‘In that day, I was spared through the morning;
Then, like a lion, He broke all my bones…
From morning ‘til night I was conquered.
So, should I call out like a swallow,
Or like a dove, just take time to think?
‘When my eyes could no longer see into the heights,
Jehovah became my salvation…
He acted and removed the grief from my soul.
‘Yes, to Jehovah, I [prayed] about this,
And then He awakened my spirit…
I’m alive, because He sent comfort to me.
‘{Look!} The thought of resting in peace
Was something truly bitter for me…
But You gave back my life, so I’d live,
And You pushed all my sins to the rear.
So, those in the grave should all praise You,
And those that are dying should bless You.
‘But, it’s too late for those in the grave,
Since only the living can praise You.
So, from this day, I’ll raise many children
Who will shout in praise of Your justice.
‘O [Jehovah] my Savior;
For the rest of my life, I will praise You…
I’ll not cease to strum on my harp about You
In the [Temple] of my God.’
Then IsaiAh said to HezekiAh:
‘Now, take a cluster of dried figs and grind them up to make a plaster [for your chest], and thereafter, your health will return.’
And that’s when HezekiAh asked,
‘What is the sign that I’ll be able to go up to the [Temple] of my God once again?’
Well, at the time, MeroDach Baladan (the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon) had sent letters, ambassadors, and gifts to HezekiAh, because he’d heard that he was ill to the point of death and that he’d been [granted a recovery],and this made HezekiAh very joyful. As the result, he showed them his storehouses that were filled with spices, silver, gold, balsam, incense, and perfumes, as well as his treasury buildings and everything that was in his treasuries… there wasn’t anything that HezekiAh failed to show them.
And thereafter, the Prophet IsaiAh went to King HezekiAh and asked:
‘What did you say to those men, and from where did they come to visit you?’
And HezekiAh replied:
‘They came from a faraway land… from the land of Babylon.’
Then IsaiAh asked:
‘Did they see your [palace]?’
And HezekiAh said:
‘Yes, they saw everything in my house… there isn’t anything that I failed to show them, including everything in my treasuries.’
Then IsaiAh said,
‘Hear the word of Jehovah of Armies:
Look! The day will soon come
When all that your fathers have collected
Down to this very day,
Will be carried off to Babylon…
They will leave nothing behind!’
‘God also said:
They will take your children (those whom you have fathered)
And in the houses of Babylon, they will be eunuchs.’
Then HezekiAh said to IsaiAh:
‘The word of Jehovah that you spoke to me is good… but may there be peace and justice during the days [of my reign]!’
‘Take comfort, take comfort, My people,’
Says [Jehovah], Your God!
‘O Priests, you must speak and bring comfort
To JeruSalem’s heart;
For the humbling of her has now been fulfilled,
And all of her sins are untied.
Yet, it was because of her sins
That she received twice as much from His hand.’
Then I heard a voice that was calling from the desert. It said,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord…
Straighten the roads for our God!
Fill the valleys and flatten the mountains and hills…
All crooked paths must be straightened
And the ruts in the fields must be smoothed!
Then the glory and salvation of God will be seen;
For Jehovah has told you to do this.’
Then the voice again shouted,
‘Now, yell!’
And I asked,
‘What should I yell?’
‘Yell that all flesh is just grass
And man’s glory is like the flowers of grass.
But now, the grass has all dried,
And all of their flowers have dropped;
For upon them, God has blown His Breath.
‘The people are really the grass…
And though grass may dry and its flowers may drop;
God’s Word endures through the ages.
‘So, climb to the top of that mountain,
O you who are bringing good news to Zion,
And shout it as loud as you can!
Yes, those bringing good news to JeruSalem
Must shout it out loud and not be afraid!
‘To the cities of Judah, you must shout this:
Look and see… for here comes Your God!
Your Lord, Jehovah, is coming in strength,
And to conquer, His arm has been raised!
‘Look… He’s bringing the wages
For the things being done here before Him!
Like a shepherd, He’s arrived to tend to His flock;
Then He’ll gather His lambs in His arms,
And within His womb, bring them comfort.
‘Who can measure all the water in the skies
With just the span of His hand,
And who holds the whole earth as a handful?
Who established the weight of the mountains,
And weighs the forests in the yoke of a scale?
‘Who knows the mind of Jehovah…
Who has become His advisor
And who can give Him instructions?
Whom has He asked for advice,
And who’s told Him the things He should do?
‘Who taught Him how to be just,
Or shown Him the right ways to think?
For the nations are like drops from a bucket
That are [weighed] in the yoke on a scale
And found to be [no more than] spit.
‘To Him, all of Lebanon is unfit to burn,
And unfit for sacrifice are its four-footed beasts.
Before Him, the nations are also unfit…
For He views them as nothing at all.
‘To whom can our Lord be compared?
How would you [make an image] of Him?
Aren’t statues created by [artists]…
Aren’t they each carefully designed,
Then cast and gilded by smiths?
‘Doesn’t the maker choose durable wood,
And wisely choose the best place
To stand it where it cannot fall?
‘Don’t you know, and haven’t you heard…
Weren’t you told this from the beginning…
Do you know how the earth was established?
He’s the One that holds fast the curve of the earth,
And those dwelling upon it are like locusts.
He’s the One that established the skies like a veil,
And stretched it like a tent in which we can dwell.
Then He made our rulers from nothing,
And from nothing, He brought forth their lands.
‘[Without Him], we can’t plant or sow,
Nor can plants spread their roots in the ground.
For, He can just breathe and they’ll wither…
With a blast, like twigs, they’ll just blow away.
‘And this Most Holy One is asking you this:
Whom can you liken to Me…
Can you make Me look more important?
Look high in the sky [and then tell Me]
Who introduced all these things?
‘He’s the One that assembled them all…
All the things within His arrangement!
Then, in His great glory and strength,
He named it before you had seen it!
‘Would you dare to say before Jacob,
O IsraEl, why have you spoken to me,
For my ways have been hidden from God,
So I won’t stand in judgment before Him?
‘Don’t you know… yes, haven’t you heard?
God [exists] through the ages!
He’s the One that prepared the ends of the earth,
Yet He doesn’t get hungry or tired,
Nor can His wisdom be fathomed.
‘He’s the One that gives strength to the famished,
And brings comfort to those that are grieving.
‘While the youngest of men will get hungry and tired,
And the best of men will lose all their strength;
Those that wait on Jehovah will grow stronger,
And like eagles, they will grow wings.
Then they’ll run without getting tired…
They’ll keep going without getting hungry.’
O [you gentiles that live] in the islands;
You should start holding feasts to His [Name]…
For the powers that be will be altered!
So now, let them come and confer,
Then announce what they have decided!
For [He’s] stirred up one in the east
Who’ll bring justice and call it to walk on its feet.
To him, those gentiles will be given,
And before him, their kings will all be removed.
He’ll force them to bury their swords,
And like twigs, he will shatter their bows.
But, though he’s the one that will chase them,
His feet will walk peaceful paths.
By whose might will he accomplish these things?
By the One that called for this generation
Back in the very beginning…
By the One that said, ‘I am God…
I’m the first, and I’m into [the future]!
‘Nations will see Me and fear…
They’ll be startled to the ends of the earth,
And then, they’ll be gathered together.
‘At that time, all their neighbors will choose
To help their brothers, and they’ll say:
The one that brought us together is strong
(The blacksmith that forged it with a hammer);
But how long can [this unity] last?
‘And He will give this reply:
The bond [between them] is good;
For I’ve made it stronger with rivets…
I’ve made it so it can’t be broken!
‘But you, O IsraEl, My servant…
Yes, Jacob, the one that I’ve chosen…
AbraHam’s seed whom I’ve loved…
Those whom I’ve snatched from the ends of the earth…
Those whom I’ve called from the heights…
Those to whom I said this:
‘To be My servant, I chose you,
And you, I’ve never abandoned.
So, don’t be afraid, for I’m with you…
Don’t stray from Me, for I am your God…
I’m the One that gives you your strength,
And sends aid with My righteous right hand.
‘Look! Your enemies will all come to shame,
And no more will they fail to respect you;
For, they won’t exist anymore,
Since all that oppose you will perish!
‘Then you’ll search and you will not find them…
Those drunks who’ve been shouting insults at you,
Because they will no longer be…
There’ll be none to wage war against you,
For, I am your God who is at your right hand!
‘I’m the One that is saying to you,
O Jacob, don’t be afraid…
O IsraEl’s remnants, don’t [tremble],
Because, I’m your helper… your God.’
‘O IsraEl;
I’m the One that paid the ransom for you,
{Look!} And I’ve made you like a threshing device
That’s been fitted with many new teeth.
So, you’ll thresh the mountains and thin out the hills…
Then, into dust, you will turn them.
‘Yes, you will winnow them all,
And the winds will blow them away…
By a windstorm, they will be scattered.
And among IsraEl’s holy, there will be joy.
‘Then the poor and needy will start to rejoice,
As will those who’ve been searching for water
But haven’t been able to find it…
Those whose tongues have dried out from thirst.
‘For, I am Jehovah, IsraEl’s God…
I’ll pay attention and I’ll not desert you.
From the mountains, I’ll open up rivers,
And into the plains, I’ll put springs.
‘Deserts, I’ll turn into marshes,
And into thirsty ground, I’ll put canals.
In the waterless land, I’ll plant boxwoods and cedars,
Along with white poplars, myrtles, and cypress.
‘Then, all that see them will know
That it came by the hand of Jehovah…
By IsraEl’s Holy One, they were planted.
‘But now, your time of judgment has come…
Yes, the time for deciding is now,’
Says the King over Jacob.
‘So, let all [your idols] step forward
And tell you the things that will happen.
For, they’re the ones to whom you have said,
We’ll pay close attention you,
So we can know what will happen,
And how it will be [in the end].
‘Therefore, ask [your idols] to tell you…
Yes, have them announce the things that will come!
Then we’ll know if they truly are gods
Who can choose good or bad for themselves…
We’ll wonder and see it at the same time.
‘Then we’ll know the places from which they have come
And we’ll see the source of the things they can do…
These ones that the people have chosen…
These disgusting things that they have preferred.
‘But, from the north, I’ll be raising one man,
And I’ll raise another from the sun in the east…
And they will be called by My Name.
‘Then, both of these rulers will come here,
And like the clay of a potter
(The clay that he works [with his feet]),
They will trample you down.
‘Now, which [of your idols] can tell you
How, in the beginning, it all came to be,
So we can know how it started…
Yes, have them tell us how it began!
‘Aren’t any of them able to speak?
For, no one has heard a reply!
‘I am the One that raised Zion…
The One that sent comfort to JeruSalem.
Yet, {Look!} the nations have heard nothing at all…
No announcements have come from their idols!
‘So, if I should ask where they came from,
No way could they give a reply.
But you say that you were created by them…
How foolish are the ways in which you’ve been led!’
‘Jacob, My child, I’ll hold onto you…
O IsraEl, you’re the one that I’ve chosen.
So [I’m sending someone] who will pour out My Breath
And who will pass judgment on the gentiles.
He won’t cry out or raise his voice,
And his words won’t be heard out of doors.
‘No crushed reed will he break,
And no smoking flax wick will he snuff.
But, he will truly bring what is fair…
He’ll endure and not be destroyed
Until he brings justice to the earth.
‘In his name, the nations will hope,’
Said [Jehovah our] God,
The One that made and assembled the skies,
Who founded the earth and everything in it,
And that poured out His Breath
On those that choose to walk [in His ways].
‘I’m Jehovah, who called you in justice…
I’ll grab hold of your hand and I’ll give you strength.
For with you, I made a Sacred Agreement
To make you a light to the nations…
To open the eyes of the blind…
To lead out those that are shackled,
And those that now sit in dark dungeons.
‘I’m [Jehovah your] God; yes, that is My Name!
And My glory, I’ll give to no other…
I won’t give My glory to things that are carved!
‘Look! The ancient things have all come to pass,
And now, the new things that I will announce
Will happen before I pronounce them!
‘So, sing a new hymn to Jehovah…
Glorify His Name to the ends of the earth,
O you that sail and go down to the seas,
And you that live on the islands!
‘And you in the deserts, be joyful,
As should you in the cities and lands,
And those that dwell among cedars…
Yes, those living in [caves] should be joyful,
And from the tops of the mountains, be shouting in joy.
‘For they’ll all give glory to God,
And the Islands will speak of His virtues.
Then the God of Armies, Jehovah, will come
And bring an end to all wars.
‘He’ll awaken His zeal and His strength,
And against His enemies, He will say this:
Through the age, I have remained silent;
But must I always be patient and quiet…
Must I endure like a woman with birth pangs?
‘I’ll amaze you by making them wither away…
I’ll destroy their mountains and hills,
And I will dry up their grass.
Then, into their rivers, I will put islands
And I’ll turn their marshes into dry ground.
‘I’ll lead these blind ones in ways they don’t know,
And make them walk on roads they can’t see.
Then their darkness, I’ll turn into light,
And their crooked ways, I will straighten.
‘Yes, these are the things that I’ll do,
For, I will not abandon [my people]…
Though they will be forced to retreat.
‘So, be ashamed (yes, you should feel shame),
O you who put faith in carved [idols]…
You who say to things that were formed by your hands,
You are [truly] our gods!
‘Listen to Me, you deaf mutes…
Yes, look and see, all you blind ones!
For, who are as blind as My servants,
And who can hear less than their rulers…
Yes, who are as blind as those who’ve had all?
For God’s servants have now all gone blind!
‘How many times have you looked, but not seen,
And with opened ears, been unable to hear?’
Yet, the Will of Jehovah is righteous,
And it will be praised and held high again!
Then I saw that it all came to pass…
The people were plundered and looted,
And in all their stores, there were snares.
So they gathered to hide inside of their homes,
Since they had all become plunder…
There was no one to save all the captured,
And no one to say, ‘Give them back!’
Therefore, who will listen to what’s being said…
Who’ll pay attention to the things that will be?
Yes, who gave Jacob to be ravaged,
And who gave IsraEl to serve as their loot?
Hadn’t they sinned against God?
Didn’t they choose not to walk in His ways
And to ignore all His Laws?
So He sent upon them His anger and rage…
He sent their neighbors to burn them in war.
Yet, none understood or took it to heart.
So, thus says Jehovah, [your] God
(The One that made you, O Jacob;
The One that shaped you, IsraEl):
‘Don’t be afraid, for I’ve paid your ransom…
I called you for My Name, and now you are Mine!
‘So, if you must pass through the waters,
I will be there [to guard] you,
And the rivers won’t swallow you down.
Or if you should travel through fire,
It won’t be able to burn you…
You won’t be consumed by its flames.
‘For, I am Jehovah your God…
I’m IsraEl’s Holy One and their Savior…
I’m the One that bargained for you
With Egypt, Ethiopia, and SheBah.
‘I’ve viewed you with value and esteem…
You were glorious and loved [in My eyes].
For you, I traded other peoples,
And for your heads, I gave rulers away.
‘So, don’t be afraid, for I’m with you,
And from the east, I’ll lead back your seed…
From the [east and the] west, I’ll return them.
‘Then, I will say to the north:
Send them back to the south…
Do not try to restrain them!
Return My sons from your faraway lands,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth…
Release all those who’ve been called by My Name!
‘For I made them to glorify Me…
I’m the One that shaped them and formed them.
But I sent them away because they were blind…
They couldn’t see, although they had eyes,
And they were deaf, although they had ears.
I’m also the One that gathered their rulers.
‘So, who will announce all these things…
Who’ll explain the things that have happened?
Bring on those that will witness for them,
And they must [now speak the truth]…
Let’s hear them explain what has happened!
‘But, about Me, you must also testify,’
Says Jehovah.
‘Then, I’ll be a witness [for you]…
I’ll say that you’re the servant I’ve chosen.…
But, you must know and believe that I am!
‘For, no other gods came before Me,
And none will come after Me!
Yes, I am the only true God…
Other than Me there are none…
I’m the only One that can save!
‘I’ve announced, delivered, and berated,
When no alien God was among you.
So, you are the ones that must now testify
That I [alone] am The God!
‘Even in the most ancient times,
No one could wrest you out of My hands,
And no one could change the things that I did!’
Thus says Jehovah, IsraEl’s God…
The Holy One who has paid your ransom:
‘I’ll send to Babylon on your behalf
To arouse all those that carried you off,
And in boats, the Chaldeans will then bring you back.
‘So, I am [your] Most Holy God…
IsraEl’s defender and king!’
Thus says Jehovah,
The One that put roads in the seas,
And through mighty waters, made paths…
The One that led chariots and horses,
Along with many strong [men],
To a sleep from which they’ll never awake,
And who snuffed them out like flax wicks:
‘You can forget the things that came first,
And you don’t have to consider what happened before.
For {Look!} now, I will bring about new things…
And you all will know what they are!
‘I’ll make a road through the desert,
And through waterless lands, I’ll cut rivers.
Then, all the wild beasts will give praise to Me…
Even ostrich daughters and those that are chained.
‘For, into their deserts, I will bring water…
Yes, rivers into [all the] dry places
For My chosen people to drink.
For, they are the people I purchased,
And they should describe all My virtues!
‘O IsraEl and [people of] Jacob:
I am the One that has called you,
And I’ve done nothing at all to wear you out.
‘Yet, you brought Me no sheep or [burnt] offerings…
No sacrifices to glorify Me.
So to offerings, you were never enslaved,
And by frankincense, you were not wearied.
‘You offered no silver to Me,
And I didn’t desire the sacrificed fat…
But before Me, you stood in your sins,
And in all of your unrighteous ways.
‘I am… I’m the One that wiped them away…
All of your lawless deeds.
Because of Myself, I’ll forget all your sins;
But, you must remember all that you did!
So, come here and let us discuss them!
Yes, come and confess all of your lawless ways,
So you can be righteous again!
‘For your fathers were the first to have sinned,
And your rulers were lawless against Me…
My holy things were defiled by your kings,
So to destruction, I then handed Jacob…
Yes IsraEl, I gave to be scorned!’
‘Now hear Me, O Jacob, My child;
Yes IsraEl, the one that I’ve chosen!
For Jehovah, your God
(The One that made you and shaped you) says this:
‘Don’t be afraid, for I’ll help you,
O Jacob, My dearly-loved servant…
IsraEl, the one whom I’ve chosen.
‘To your thirsty, I’ll provide water
As they enter a waterless land.
Then I’ll place My Breath on your seed,
And I will bless all your children.
They’ll grow like grass near [a river],
And like willows next to a stream.
‘This one will say, I’m God’s [servant];
That one will say, I am Jacob’s;
Another will write, I am God’s;
And they’ll call themselves by IsraEl’s name.’
‘This was said by your God, Jehovah of armies…
IsraEl’s Savior and King:
I am the first and the last,
And there are no Gods other than Me!
‘Who else [can claim] that he’s like Me?
Let him arise and announce it…
Let him stand up and tell
How man was made in that age!
‘And have them tell you the future…
Don’t let them [hide] or wander away!
‘For, didn’t you hear these things long ago…
Didn’t I give a report?
So, you are the ones that can now testify
That there are no gods other than Me!
‘But they failed to listen back then…
Those that carved and shaped worthless things…
Those that did whatever they pleased…
Things that did them no good.
So, against themselves, they have testified!
‘For, they didn’t see and they didn’t know
That by their bad deeds, they were shamed,
When they formed the things that they thought of as gods,
And cast moldings of things that are worthless!
‘{Look!} Those sharing in this will be shamed
(Those that shaped gods and carved worthless things),
For the places that they came from will wither away.
‘So, let these dumb ones now gather
Then stand together and feel some remorse…
Together, let them all feel ashamed!
‘For the smith sharpens his tools,
And with a hammer, he works it in coals…
Then he drills holes for [its handles].
‘He shapes it with the might of his arm,
As he grows hungry and weak,
Because he won’t drink any water.
‘And the carver selects a good piece of wood,
Then he measures, before he starts carving
It into the shape of a man.
‘He cuts down an oak tree or cedar…
Yes, he takes a tree that was planted by Me
And which I made grow with the rain.
Then part, he burns to get warm;
Part, he burns to bake bread;
And with what’s left, he shapes into a god,
To which he thereafter bows!
‘He carves it and then bows before it…
Yet, half he burned to cook meat
To prepare a roast that would fill him.
And as he sat there warming himself,
He said, Ah, this is so good,
For I’ve seen the fire and now I am warm!
Then the rest, he carves into a god,
And to it, he then bows and prays,
Please save me, for you are my god!
‘He doesn’t realize, nor does he think…
For his eyes are just too blind to see,
And he doesn’t comprehend in his heart…
Yes, He’s just too stupid to see…
Half was burned in a fire to bake bread;
Then, over the flames, roasted meat that he ate,
And with the rest, he made something disgusting
Before which, he bowed with his face to the ground!
‘Know that these [men] have all erred;
For the hearts [of their gods] are just ashes,
And none are able to save them!
‘{Look!} Don’t say that My right hand has lied
About the things it’s accomplished.
And, O IsraEl and Jacob;
Don’t forget the things that I’ve done!
For, you [alone] are My servant…
I shaped you and you are My slave!
So IsraEl, do not forget Me!
‘{Look!} Your lawless deeds, I’ve wiped out like clouds,
And I’ve thrown all your sins in the shadows.
So, return to Me and I’ll buy you back!’
Now, shout in joy, O you heavens;
For IsraEl’s God has shown mercy upon you!
And foundations of the earth, blow a trumpet…
Yes, yell in joy, you mountains and hills,
As well as the trees that live on them;
For, Jehovah’s made IsraEl glorious,
And He’s [paid the] ransom for Jacob!
So says the Lord (the One that shaped you in the belly, and the One that ransomed you back):
‘I am Jehovah… I’m the One who accomplished it all!
I’m the One that stretched out the sky,
And the One that made solid ground!
‘I’m the One that wipes away the conclusions
Of the signs and omens men that bring from their hearts.
And I cause the intelligent to backtrack
By making their counsel look stupid.
‘I’m the One that causes to happen
Whatever My servants ask in their prayers,
And that makes the council of My messengers true.
‘I’m the One that says to JeruSalem,
You will be lived in again…
To the cities of Judah, You’ll be rebuilt…
And to her desolate places, I’ll raise you!
‘I tell the abyss, You’ll be empty,
And I say to the rivers, I’ll make you dry.’
‘I’m the One who’ll say this to Cyrus:
Think first and then you must do
All the things that I’ll tell you to do.
For JeruSalem must be rebuilt,
And My [Temple’s] foundation must be laid.’
This is what God is saying to Cyrus
([The one whom He] will anoint…
The one to whose hand He will grab,
And who’ll cause the nations to listen):
‘[For you], I will rip strength from kings,
And no doors or gates will be closed before you!
I will travel before you,
And before you, I’ll level the mountains!
Doors of brass, I will break,
And their iron bars will be shattered.
‘I’ll give you treasures unfathomed
And open to you what’s concealed and unseen,
So you’ll know that I am Jehovah, The God…
The God of IsraEl, who called you by name.
‘Because of My servant Jacob…
Yes, because of IsraEl, My chosen,
I’ve accepted you and called you by name,
Although you have never known Me.
‘I am Jehovah, The God…
And there are no gods other than Me!
‘I’m the One that gave you your power
Before you knew who I was,
So that those from the sun in the east
And those from where it sets in the west
Will know that there are no others beside Me.
‘I am Jehovah, The God,
And other than Me, there are none!
I’m the One that prepared both the light and the darkness…
I’m the One that created peace and hard times.
‘I’m Jehovah, The God who accomplished it all;
So be glad you heavens above,
And let the clouds sprinkle justice…
Let the ground arise and grow mercy,
And together, let justice burst forth!
‘I’m the Lord who made all there is,
And what excellent things I did make,
As though it was done with the clay of a potter.
‘Will those that plow land, plow in one day,
And will the [thing made of] clay ask the potter:
What is it that you’ve really accomplished?
For, you don’t do any work,
And you don’t really have any hands!
‘Woe to those who would ask of their fathers,
Why did you sire me?
And those who would ask of their mothers,
Why did you give me birth?’
Thus says IsraEl’s Most Holy Lord…
The One that created it all:
‘Ask Me concerning My sons
And about the works of My hands…
Yes, just go on and ask Me!
‘I made the earth and put man upon it,
And I established the skies with My hands.
I’m the One that instructed the stars,
And the One that raised a just king.
‘I’m the One that made his ways straight
So that he would rebuild My city
And allow the return of My people…
But, not for a ransom or gifts,’
So says Jehovah of Armies!
Thus says Jehovah of Armies:
‘I’ll wear out Egypt before you,
And Ethiopians and Sabean traders…
You’ll pass over men that were proud before you,
And they will then be your servants.
‘Thereafter, they’ll follow behind you,
Shackled and walking in chains.
I will hand them over to you,
And before you, they must then bow.
‘To you, they will pray [as though] you’re a god,
And to them, there won’t be any other.
Yet, [I am] a God whom you’ve never known…
IsraEl’s God and your Savior.
‘So your enemies will be shamed and remorseful
Before they’re led off in dishonor.
‘O islands, dedicate yourselves to My [cause],
For IsraEl will be freed by Jehovah
And [remain that way] through the age…
Through the ages, they’ll not feel shame or regret.’
Yes, this was what was said by Jehovah,
The One that created the heavens…
Who [formed] the earth and made it distinct…
Who did not leave it empty or void,
But shaped it as a dwelling [for man]):
‘I alone am Jehovah…
And other than Me, there are none.
I’ve never spoken in secret,
Nor explained things in earth’s darkest places.
And I never told Jacob’s seed
That they should seek what is foolish!
‘I’m Jehovah, the One who speaks what is just,
And the One who announces the truth.
So, all should gather and come here…
Yes, come here and let’s meet together,
O you who’ve been rescued from the nations!
‘Yet, they still do not understand…
Those that [cut] wood and shape it,
Then pray to gods that can’t save them.
‘Let all the announcers approach
So the whole congregation may know
Who it was that accomplished these things.
‘From ancient times, it has been announced
That I am [Jehovah], The God!
There are none others that are truly righteous,
And there are none others that can save them…
Yes, other than Me, there are none!
‘So, turn to Me and I’ll rescue
All those who’ve been scattered to the ends of the earth…
Yes, I’m the only God, and there aren’t any others!
‘Now I’ve sworn an oath by Myself
That what comes from My mouth will be righteous…
None of My words will be twisted.
‘So to Me, every knee should bend low,
And by Me, every tongue should swear oaths.
Justice and glory should be offered before Me,
And those leaving Jehovah should feel shame.
For, IsraEl’s seed must be righteous
And [speak] gloriously of their [most holy] God.’
‘Bel has fallen and Dagon is broken;
For their images were bound to wild beasts and cattle,
And the load proved to be just too heavy,
So they tired and fainted from hunger.
Thus, they were unable to save them in war,
And they too were taken as captives.
‘Listen to Me, O house of Jacob!
O house of IsraEl, listen to this!
You’re the ones that I raised from the belly
And the ones I’ve corrected since childhood
Until the time you grew up.
‘I am and [will be] until you grow old…
I am and I’ve had to endure you.
But because I made [you], I’ve spared [you];
And once more, I’ll remake you and save you!
‘To whom can I be compared?
{Look!} Contrive [and answer], O you who mislead.
You’re the ones that take gold from a bag
And weigh out silver on the yoke of a scale,
Then hire smiths to make idols by hand,
Before which, you bow to your faces.
‘If you carry them on your shoulders, they’ll move;
But, when you put them down, they just sit there.
For, they cannot move by themselves…
And if you should yell, they can’t hear you;
So, they are unable to save you!
‘Consider these things and start moaning.
Then, change your minds, O you the misled…
Yes, turn around in your hearts!
Remember all the things that have happened
Before this age came to be!
‘I am the only true God,
And there are no others like Me!
For, only I can tell you what happens
Before it ever takes place
And before it comes to an end.
‘Now, I’ve [told you] that My purpose will stand
And all that I’ve planned, I’m going to do.
So I’ve summoned the [eagle] out of the east
To do the things that I’ve [told you about]…
Yes, I made him, I’ll lead him, and he’ll do it…
I’m the One that will send him and prosper his ways.
‘So hear Me, O you heartbreakers,
And you who’ve strayed so far from true justice!
I’m the One that sent you My justice,
And it has never been far away.
‘So I’ll not be slow about your salvation,
For Zion was appointed by Me
To be IsraEl’s savior and glory!’
‘Now, get down and sit on the ground
You virgin daughter of Babylon!
Yes, you should sit on the ground,
O virgin daughter of Chaldea;
For, you won’t always [sit on] a throne…
Delicate and soft, you won’t always be called.
‘Rather, get a millstone and start grinding flour…
Remove the veil from your face,
Then expose your gray hairs and uncover your legs!
For, that’s what you’ll do when you’re crossing your rivers,
And showing everyone your shame and your scorn.
‘I’ll remove My righteous from among you,
And no more will I hand My people to you.
For their Savior’s Name is Jehovah of Armies…
IsraEl’s Most Holy One!
‘So sit down and then be stabbed through…
Yes, enter the darkness, O daughter of Chaldea!
For you’ll be called a mighty kingdom no more!
‘Because My inheritance provoked Me,
I allowed you to dirty My people
And I gave them into your hands…
But you showed no mercy upon them.
‘For, you then oppressed their old men
And made them work hard under yokes.
Then you said, Through ages, I’ll rule them.
‘Yet, in your hearts, you had failed
To understand why this all came to be
And how this situation will end.
‘Hear [what I’m saying], O delicate one…
Yes, you that are now sitting [so proudly]…
The one that so easily yields…
The one that says in her heart,
I am, and there are no others [like me],
So I’ll never sit as a widow
And I will never know sorrow!
‘But, these two things will happen to you
Suddenly and in just one day:
· You will be childless and widowed
· And they’ll instantly come upon you,
Despite your sorcery and enchantments.
‘For you’ve trusted in your own wicked ways,
And you said, I am…
And other than me, there are none!
But, you should know and understand this:
Your whoring will soon bring you shame,
Because you said [these words] in your heart:
I am… and other than me, there are none!
‘So, instant destruction will come upon you,
And into a cesspool, you’ll fall,
Where you’ll know misery and never get clean.
Yes, sudden destruction will happen;
And you’ll not be aware until it arrives!
‘Now, stand there in your enchantments
And in the witchcraft you’ve learned since your youth.
Then, see if it does any good…
For your magic words have grown tired.
‘So, let your astrologers who gaze at the skies
(Those that examine the stars)
Now arise and announce what’s coming to you!
‘{Look!} Like torches of sticks, your people will burn…
No way will they save their lives from the flames.
Then, you’ll be forced to sit on the coals
Of those that looked to you for their aid.
‘For you’ve worn yourself out with the traffic of youth,
And now that the men have all wandered away,
No one will be there to save you!’
‘So, pay attention, O house of Jacob…
Yes, you that are called by IsraEl’s name…
You who’ve come from the waters of Judah…
You who swear oaths by IsraEl’s God…
You who’ve forgotten justice and truth…
You who view your city as holy
And lean upon IsraEl’s God,
Whose Name is Jehovah of Armies!
‘For I’m saying the same things that I’ve said before…
I’m saying the same things that came from my mouth…
The things that you heard and then happened…
The things that I spoke and then came to be!
‘I know that you’re a hard [people]…
That the nerves in your necks are like iron
And your heads are [as solid as] bronze.
‘I told you in the past what would happen
Long before it all came to be.
I shouted it loudly, so you couldn’t say,
This was done by my idols;
Yes, my carved idols foretold it!
‘But, though you heard it, you didn’t understand,
And now that I’m telling you new things;
You’ve not spoken a word in reply.
‘For the things that I’ve said will happen to you
Won’t be the same as were done in the past…
They’ll not be the same as they were long ago
Or the same as I told you before,
So you cannot say that you already knew.
‘Yes, these are things that you haven’t known
Since the time that I opened your ears long ago,
And which I already knew that you’d disregard.
For, since you were called from the belly,
You’ve continued in your lawless ways.
‘[For Jehovah says]:
Because of My Name, I’m sending My rage…
My noble deeds, I’ll be bringing upon you…
Yet, I won’t completely wipe you away.
‘{Look!} With silver, I’ve never bartered for you,
But I saved you from poverty’s furnace.
And now, because of Myself, I will act…
Because My Name is being profaned,
And My glory I’ll not give to others!
‘So, hear Me, O Jacob, O IsraEl…
Yes you, the ones whom I’ve called…
I’m from the beginning and into the ages!
‘The foundation of the earth, I laid with my hands,
And with my right hand, I fixed the skies.
So I’ll call to them and they’ll gather…
They’ll assemble and listen together!
‘But now, I’ll also speak of the things
That I’m bringing against Babylon
Because of my love for you…
For I’ll lift away the seed of Chaldea!
‘I’m the one that spoke and called out to you…
I’m the one that prospered your ways.
So, turn your ears and hear what I’m saying!
‘What I said long ago wasn’t a secret,
For I was there when it happened.
But now, I’ve been sent by Jehovah, the Lord
Along with His [Holy] Spirit.
And thus says Jehovah, your Savior…
IsraEl’s Most Holy One:
‘I am Jehovah your God,
I’m the One that showed you the right ways to go.
And if you’d obeyed My Commandments,
Your peace would have flowed like a river,
And your righteous ways as the waves of the seas.
‘Your seed would have been like the sands…
Those from your bellies, as the dust on the ground.
You would never have met with destruction,
And your names would not be erased.
‘But, after all of this has happened to you,
You’ll get up and leave Babylon…
Yes, you will flee from Chaldea!
Thus, in joy, announce this out loud
So that all will know what will happen!
Yes, send the report to the ends of the earth
That Jehovah will save Jacob, His servant!
And when they get thirsty in their trek through the desert,
He’ll bring them water out of a rock!
‘For I’ll split the rock and water will flow,
And then, My people will drink it…
But the godless will not rejoice over this,
Says Jehovah, [your God].’
‘O islands; listen to this!
Yes, pay attention O nations;
For after some time, it will happen,’ said the Lord.
‘From the belly of my mother, He called me by name
And He made my mouth a sharp sword.
In the protection of His hand, He then hid me;
Yes, I’m the one He selected
As the favored arrow in His quiver.
Then He said, You are My servant!
And through you, I’ll be glorified.
‘But I replied, I’m useless and tired.
So, it will all be in vain,
Since I’ve used all my strength and gained nothing.
I have been judged by Jehovah,
And all my works [were examined] by God.
‘But now, says Jehovah
(The One that shaped me as His servant from the belly),
You must collect Jacob for Me
So that IsraEl will all be returned.
‘He said that before Him, I’ll be glorified,
And in my God, I’ll gain strength.
He said, To be called My servant
Is truly the greatest of things;
For the tribes of Jacob, you will return,
And you’ll bring back the scattered of IsraEl.
‘{Look!} I’ve made a Sacred Agreement with them
To be a race that will serve
As a light to the nations,
And I’ll bring them salvation to the ends of the earth.
‘Yes Jehovah, IsraEl’s God
(The One that will bring them salvation) says this:
You must treat [this person] as holy
Who views his life as having no value…
The one whom the nations will hate,
And be abhorred by the servants of rulers.
‘But, kings will see him and rulers will rise;
Then before him, they all will bow low,
Because this Lord is trustworthy…
He’s My chosen and IsraEl’s most holy one!
Yes this most holy one can be trusted,
And he’s the one that I’ve chosen,said Jehovah.
‘So at a time that I have appointed,
I’ll pay attention to you,
And I’ll save you on the Day of Salvation.
‘For, I’m the one by whom you were formed,
And now I have promised the nations
That I’ll reestablish your land…
You’ll inherit an inheritance that’s been wiped away.
‘So, tell those in chains that they can now leave,
And tell those in the darkness to walk toward [the light]!
For in all your paths, there’ll be grazing,
And along all your roads, there’ll be pastures.
‘There, you’ll no longer be hungry or thirsty,
And you won’t be burned by the sun or hot winds.
For My merciful one will send comfort to you
And lead you beside springs of water…
He’ll flatten the mountains that stand in your way,
And the roads will serve as your pastures.
‘{Look!} [My people] will come from a distance…
Some from the north and some from the west,
And others from the land of the Persians.
‘So be glad, you heavens…
Yes, cry out in joy, O you earth…
And mountains, be splitting with glee!
For on His people, our God has shown mercy,
And to those that are meek, He brought comfort.
‘For in Zion, these words have been spoken:
By Jehovah, I had been abandoned…
By the Lord, I had been forgotten!
‘But, Jehovah replied and said this:
Will a woman forget her own child…
Will she forget to show mercy
On the one that sprang from her belly?
‘Yet, if a woman could ever forget;
I will never forget you.
For {Look!} I’ve sketched your walls on My hands,
So that you are always before Me.
Thus, what was demolished will soon be rebuilt,
And those that destroyed you will soon be destroyed.
‘Look up, look around, and see it with your eyes!
{Look!} They’ve all been gathered and returned!’
‘As I live, says Jehovah;
You’ll wear them as ornaments over your clothes…
You’ll wear them as the jewels of a bride.
‘Now, all of your desolate places
(Those that had once been destroyed,
As well as those that had fallen)
Will then become too confining
For all of those that will dwell there;
Since, those that once swallowed you down
Will then be sent far away.
‘And at that, my [people] will say in your ears:
This place is too cramped for the sons we had lost;
So, please make new places where they can live!
‘And then you will ask in your hearts:
Who made me a father to them?
For I’m childless, widowed, and an unwelcome stranger.
But these… who told me to feed them?
Yes, I had been left all alone…
But these… from where did I get them?’
‘Look, says Jehovah, the Lord;
I’ll be lifting My hand to the nations,
And on the islands, I’ll be raising My sign.
Then they’ll lift your sons to their chests,
And your daughters, they’ll lift on their shoulders.
‘Their kings will then serve as your [butlers],
And their queens will be your wet nurses.
Before you, they’ll bow to the ground,
And they’ll lick the dust from your feet.
‘Then you’ll know that I am Jehovah,
And those waiting for Me will never be shamed.
‘Can someone take loot from a giant,
And will the captured be saved without ransom?
No, for thus says Jehovah:
If someone can capture a giant,
He can take all the things that he owns…
In safety, he can loot from the strong.
‘Now, I’m the One who is pleading your case,
And I’m the One who will rescue your sons.
So, those who oppress you will eat their own flesh,
And the wine that they drink will be their own blood.
‘Then, they will get drunk and all flesh will see
That I am Jehovah, your Savior…
The One that gives Jacob his power.’
And then the Lord said this to me:
‘What kind of divorce certificate is this,
By which I sent you back to your mother…
Yes, whom did I owe that I’ve sold you?
‘{Look!} You were sold because of your sins,
And I sent you home to your mother
Because of your lawless ways!
‘When I was there, was there no man?
Yet, when I called you, no one replied.
‘And now, aren’t my hands strong enough
To rescue you and return you…
Am I unable to save you?
‘{Look!} I can scold the seas and wipe them away,
And I can desolate rivers,
Leaving their fish without water,
So they will die in their thirst!
‘With darkness, I can clothe skies,
And wrap them in robes made of sackcloth!’
‘Jehovah gave me a tongue to instruct
And a knowledge of when to speak the right words.
Morning after morning, He stood there by me
And gave me ears, so I’d listen…
[He] opened my ears to instructions,
And I didn’t resist Him or argue.
‘So my back, I gave to be whipped,
And my jaws, [I left open] to slaps.
Then to shame those that were spitting on me,
I did not turn my face.
‘For the Lord Jehovah is my helper,
And for this, I won’t let them shame me.
Then I set my face as solid as rock
So that I would not bring [Him] dishonor.
For the One who’s declared me righteous is close…
And by Him alone, am I judged.
‘So, which [of you] would now judge me?
Let him [stand up and] oppose me!
Yes, who is the one that would judge me?
Let him come and resist me!
‘{Look!} Since Jehovah will come to my aid,
Who is able to harm me?
{Look!} For like an old robe, such ones will wear out,
And then they’ll be eaten by moths!
‘Who among you has fear of Jehovah?
If you do; obey the voice of His servant!
So, may those that travel in darkness
(Those for whom there has been no light)
Yield to the name of the Lord,
And lean upon their God for support!
‘{Look!} Though you’ve lit a fire and helped the flames grow,
You were then [drawn] to its light…
Toward the very same flame that you kindled!
And because of me, this has happened,
So in anguish, you’ll spend the rest of your nights!’
‘Listen to me, O you righteous…
You who are seeking Jehovah;
Look to the rock that you’ve quarried
And into the pit of the well that you’ve dug!
Look to AbraHam, your father,
And to SarAh, who bore you!
‘Though he was just [flesh], I called out to him…
Yes, I loved him and blest him,
And I prospered his [ways].
‘So, I will bring comfort to Zion…
To your desolate places, I will [bring rest]…
A paradise of God, I will make them.
‘Then, your western lands will be gardens,
And those dwelling there will be happy…
They will be leaping for joy,
And [raising] their voices in praise.
‘Listen… yes, hear me, my people;
And kings, give an ear to the things that I say!
For, I will send you my laws
And my judgments will enlighten the nations.
‘My justice will come to them swiftly,
And my saving light will quickly arrive.
Then, they will put faith in my arm…
Yes, even the islands will wait upon me,
And they will trust in [the might of] my arms.
‘So, lift your eyes to the skies,
Then look to the ground underneath you!
For the skies [will be filled with] smoke,
And the earth will wear out like old clothes…
And though those that live there will die;
My salvation will last through the age…
There’s no way that my justice will fail!
‘Hear me, O you that know justice;
For you people have my laws in your hearts.
So, don’t fear the scorning of men,
And don’t let their bad words defeat you!
‘Though clothes will wear out with time,
And wool will be eaten by moths;
My justice will last through the ages,
And my salvation is through generations.
‘Wake up… wake up, O JeruSalem,
And put on the might of your arm!
Wake up as you did in past days…
Like generations that lived in past ages!
‘Haven’t you [people] been dug up
And ripped apart by the dragon?
But, for your sake, I parted the sea
(All that abundant, deep water),
And then I made a road through its depths
To create a ford for those being saved…
For those whose ransom I paid!
‘So it’s by Jehovah that they’ll be returned…
They’ll go back to Zion in gladness…
Through the ages, they’ll be leaping for joy!
‘Upon their heads, there’ll be blessings,
And with great joy, they’ll be overcome,
Since their anguish, grief, and moaning will have ceased.
‘I am… I am the one that brings comfort!
So, know who it is that you should fear,
Since men and their sons will dry up like grass!
‘For, you’ve forgotten your Maker, your God…
The One that created the skies
And that laid the foundations of the earth!
You should fear Him throughout all your days,
Before the oppressor [arrives]…
The one that [has plans to] carry you off!
‘[But don’t fear] the rage of your oppressor;
For, when it comes to bringing salvation,
[Your God] won’t stop or waste time.
He’s the One that jostles the seas…
The One that makes its waves roar…
His Name is Jehovah of Armies.
‘He’s the One that puts His words in your mouths
And shelters you inside His hand.
He’s the One that established the heavens…
The One that founded the earth…
And the One that said, You’re My people, to Zion,
‘So wake up… yes arise, O JeruSalem…
You that will drink the rage from the cup
That comes from the hand of Jehovah!
Receive your blows from that cup,
And drink them until they’re all gone!
‘For no others gave comfort to the children you bore,
And no others held the hands of the sons that you raised.
So, when all these bad things come upon you,
Who will share in your grief…
When downfall, defeat, and hunger arrive,
Along with the edge of the sword…
Whom do you think will bring comfort?
‘At that time, your sons will all be confused,
And like half-boiled beets, they’ll sleep in the streets…
They’ll feel the rage of the Lord,
And before Jehovah, they’ll faint.
‘So, you who’ve been humbled should listen
(Yes, you that are drunk, but not from the wine)!
For, thus says [Jehovah your] God…
The One that is judging His people:
‘{Look!} I’ve taken the cup of blows from your hands,
Which is the cup of My rage,
So that you must no longer drink it!
‘For then, I’ll put it into the hands
Of those who’ve been doing you wrong…
Those who are humbling you…
Those telling your souls to bow as they pass…
Those who’ve cut all your things to the ground,
And laid them outside for all passing by.’
‘Wake up… yes, wake up, O Zion!
O Zion, put on all your strength!
O holy city of JeruSalem,
Put on [all of] your glory!
For the uncircumcised and unclean
Will no longer be passing through you.
‘So, shake off the dust and arise…
Sit down and remove the chains from your neck,
O captive daughter of Zion!
For, thus says Jehovah [your God]:
Since you were not sold for money,
You won’t be ransomed with silver.
‘Yes, thus says Jehovah, your Lord:
My people once went down to Egypt
And they stayed in that place for a while…
But then, to Assyria, they were taken by force…
Do you know why all these things happened?’
Then the Lord told me this:
‘Since my people were taken without money,
[All should] wonder and shriek!
For, this was said by Jehovah:
‘It’s because My Name was being blasphemed
By you, among all the rest of the nations.
But then, you’ll remember My Name once again…
Yes, in that day, you’ll know who I am…
For this One that is speaking will come there!
‘As a time of beauty on the mountains…
As welcome as the feet of those bringing good news…
As joyful as a message of peace
When good things are being announced,
Will be the day when I save you,
And your God is reigning on Zion again.
‘Then the voices of those keeping watch will be raised,
And all their shouts will be joyful.
For they’ll see it happen with their own eyes…
When Jehovah shows mercy on Zion.
‘Then JeruSalem’s desolate places
Will applaud together in joy,
Because Jehovah’s shown mercy on them,
And brought salvation to JeruSalem!
‘Jehovah will bare His great holy arm
Before all of the nations,
And it will be seen to the ends of the earth…
This salvation that comes from our God.
‘So, leave… get out… get away,
And stop touching the thing that’s unclean!
Get out of its midst and stay far away,
You who bear the Lord’s [holy things]!
‘For you’ll leave without any trouble,
And as you go, you won’t have to run,
Since your Lord will travel before you,
And IsraEl’s God will cover your rear.
‘{Look!} My servant will then understand…
He’ll be glorified and exalted…
He’ll be raised exceedingly high
To the amazement of all.
‘Though men will despise his appearance,
And his glory will be hated by sons of men;
The nations will wonder at him,
And at him, [their] kings [will cover] their mouths.
For, things untold, they’ll see about him…
Things they’ve not heard or understood.’
‘O Jehovah;
Who has trusted the report of the Lord
And to whom has Jehovah’s arm been revealed?
‘We’ve announced that a boy has appeared before Him
As a root in land that is dry.
He doesn’t have glory or looks…
We’ve seen him, and he doesn’t have beauty.
‘He’s appeared as one that’s dishonored,
And by sons of men, he seemed lacking.
He’s a man [that was born] for disaster,
And he knows how to bear the illness of men.
Since he turned his face in dishonor,
He wasn’t [thought of as great].
But, he has carried our sins;
And because of us, he came to know grief.
‘He came here to know misery…
For calamity and ill treatment by God.
He was wounded because of our sins,
And for our lawless deeds, he was bruised.
‘[To bring us] peace, he was whipped,
And by his stripes, we were healed.
For, just like sheep, we’ve all strayed,
And in our own ways, we have wandered.
‘So [God] sent him to [cover] our sins;
And when evil was inflicted upon him,
He did not open his mouth…
He was led like a sheep to the slaughter.
And like a lamb with no voice before shearers,
He did not open his mouth.
‘In humiliation, his justice was taken away…
Who can speak of the evil of that generation?
His life was lifted away from the land,
And he was led to his death
For the lawless ways of My people.
‘Though they made his grave with the wicked,
Among the rich, [he was buried].
For, he had broken no Laws,
Nor was treachery found in his mouth.
‘It was [God’s] Will to cleanse him [with stripes].
But [because he] was brought as an offering for sins,
Your seed will live very long lives.
It was the Will of Jehovah…
It was by His hand that He would remove
The misery that his life came to know…
As well as to show him the light…
To give him great understanding…
And to prove this righteous one just…
This good one that would serve for so many
In order to bear all their sins.
‘For this, he inherited many,
And he’ll share his spoils with his mighty,
Because his soul was handed to death
And among the lawless, was numbered.
For, the sins of many, he bore…
And for their lawless deeds, he was given.
‘So be glad, all you that are sterile,
And yell, O you that haven’t given birth…
Yes you, the ones without birth pains!
For the children of the barren will be many…
More than those that have [their own] man!
For the Lord Jehovah spoke and said this:
‘Widen the place for your tent,
And hang leather upon all [its walls]!
Don’t scrimp… take plenty of land,
And then, you should strengthen your tent pegs…
Spread out [your tent] to the right and the left!
For your seed will inherit the nations,
And in their empty cities, you’ll dwell.
‘So, don’t be afraid that you’ve been disgraced
Or be ashamed that you have been scolded;
For you’ll soon forget all this shame,
And the scorn of the widows will pass,
Because the Lord has remade you…
The One whose Name is Jehovah of Armies.
Yes, you’ve been saved by IsraEl’s God,
And He will be called, the God of the earth.
‘[He] didn’t call you as a woman forsaken…
One broken-hearted and hated since youth.
For, this is what was said by your God:
‘Though I left you alone for a while;
Upon you, I’ll now show great mercy.
‘This has long been My plan
Since the waters fell upon Noah.
For the oath that I swore toward the earth at that time
Was to send My rage against it no more…
I no longer want you to fear Me.
‘So your mountains [will never] be changed,
And your hills will not be taken away.
My mercy on you will not fail,
And My Agreement for peace will not be removed.
Yes, that’s how Jehovah spoke kindly of you.
‘Though I’ve humbled you and I’ve confused you,
And you’ve not received any comfort from Me,
{Look!} I’ve prepared garnets as your building stones
And sapphires for your foundations.
I’ll make your parapets of jasper;
With crystal stones, I’ll build your gates;
And I’ll use the choicest of [gems] for your doors.
‘Then, all of your sons will be taught about God,
And much peace will be sent to your children.
You’ll be established on justice
Far away from all the unrighteous.
For then, you’ll have nothing to fear,
And trembling will never approach you.
‘{Look!} Because of Me, strangers will come,
And with you, they will then wish to stay…
For they’ll run to you as their refuge.
‘{Look!} I did not make you a forge to blow coals,
Nor did I buy you as tools to do work.
For corruption or destruction, you were not made;
So no weapons that they bring against you will win.
‘Then the voices of those who’ve condemned you will end…
This is what God’s servants will inherit.
And before Me, you will be found righteous, says Jehovah.’
‘So you thirsty, now come to the water…
Come buy and eat without money…
Yes, come here and buy without paying
For even fat calves and the finest of wines!
‘Why place money higher than bread…
Your efforts into things that won’t fill you?
Listen to Me and eat good things…
Yes, your souls will find joy in things that are good!
‘So your ears must pay close attention,
And then you must walk in My ways…
Yes, come and listen to Me,
And your souls will receive all that is good!
‘I’ll proclaim an Agreement with him through the age
For the sacred, trusted things of [King] David.
{Look!} I’ll seat him as a proof to the nations…
As a ruler and signal to the peoples.
‘{Look!} Nations you don’t know will call upon him…
Those you don’t know will seek refuge in him,
Because of your God Jehovah…
Because of IsraEl’s Most Holy One…
For by Him, you’ll be glorified.
‘So you each must search for Jehovah,
And when you find Him, you must call out to Him…
Then, He will draw close to you.
‘The irreverent should leave their bad ways,
And the lawless should abandon their evil plans!
For, if they’ll return to Jehovah,
Our God will show mercy upon them…
He’ll even forgive the worst of their sins!
‘Your plans are not like My plans,
And your ways are not like My ways, says Jehovah.
As far as the heavens are over the earth,
Are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.
‘For as rain and snow fall from the skies
And do not return ‘til they soak the ground,
And the earth gives birth and sprouts [plants],
Which give seeds to the planters and bread as their food;
So are the words that come from My mouth…
To Me, they won’t return empty,
Until they complete whatever I wish…
So I’ll prosper your ways in ways I see fit.
‘Then, you will travel in joy,
And you will be led out in gladness.
For the mountains and hills will be leaping
And be ready to receive you in favor and care,
As the trees in the fields clap their branches.
‘Instead of brush piles, cypress will grow,
And instead of briars, myrtles will sprout.
Then Jehovah’s Name will be known,
And through the ages, it will serve as a sign
That will never come to an end.
‘Jehovah says:
Guard right decisions and justice,
For salvation from Me has approached…
Yes, you will soon witness My mercy.
‘Blest is the man that is doing these things,
As well as the one that is holding them [dear]…
The one that is guarding the Sabbaths
And is careful not to profane them,
As well as the one that keeps watch on his hands,
So he never does what’s unrighteous.
‘Don’t let the foreigners say
(Those who’ve come to be joined to the Lord),
Jehovah has set me apart from His people.
And may the eunuch not say,
I am just a dry tree!
‘For, thus says Jehovah to eunuchs
And to those that are keeping His Sabbaths…
To all that choose to do as He wills
And live by His Sacred Agreement:
‘I’ll give you something better than daughters and sons…
From My [Temple] and famous walled [city],
I’ll give you a name through the ages…
[A name] that will never expire.
‘I’ll give it to those foreign peoples
Who come to be joined to the Lord…
To those that love him and bow to his name…
To those women and men that will serve him,
And to all that are keeping My Sabbaths
(To those that do not profane them),
And to those that hold onto My Sacred Agreement.
‘To My Holy Mountain, I’ll bring them,
And I’ll give them joy in My House of Prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings
And all that they bring to My Altar.
For, at that time, My [Temple] will be called
A House of Prayer for all Nations.’
‘Yes, this was all said by Jehovah…
The One who’ll return IsraEl’s scattered.
He’ll call them for an assembly
To which the wild beasts are invited…
The wild beasts of the woods will go there and eat!
‘See how they all have been blinded…
Those dumb dogs that don’t know how to bark…
Those dreaming of beds and those fond of slumber…
Those impudent dogs with unfulfilled lives.
‘Because they’re wicked, they don’t understand,
So they’ve followed the ways that they’ve chosen
To gain an unfair advantage…
Those that say,Come here and get wine;
Then, let’s all drink ‘til we’re drunk.
For tomorrow will be a much better day!’
‘See how the righteous ones perish
Because they don’t keep watch on their hearts.
So the righteous are lifted away,
And no one gives it a thought.
‘Yes the just are lifted away
Before the face of injustice.
And though they’ll find peace in their graves,
They’ve been lifted away from your midst.
‘Then the sons [of the] lawless are led before Me…
The seed of adulterers and whores!
‘In what have you found such enjoyment?
Against whom have you opened your mouths
To say wicked things with your tongues?
Aren’t you the sons of destruction…
A seed without any honor?
‘Aren’t you the ones that call out to idols
From under all the bushes and trees?
Aren’t you the ones that kill your own babies
Between the rocks in the valleys?
‘Yes, this is your portion… this is your lot;
For to [idols], you’ve poured out drink offerings,
And to them, you’ve brought sacrifices…
Wouldn’t such things provoke Me to rage?
‘You make your beds on the tops of high hills,
And you carry sacrifices up there.
Then, behind your doors, you place [idols]…
Do you think that if you leave Me, you’ll prosper?
‘You’ve loved all those with whom you have slept…
Those with whom you’ve been whoring…
O how many [lovers] have you left behind?
‘You’ve sent ambassadors across all your borders;
And for this, you’ve been [cursed] to the place of the dead.
But, though you’ve tired of your many [bad] ways,
You’ve never said, I’ll repent!
Yes, you have done all these bad things;
And for this, I won’t listen to the things that you beg!
‘You’ve held sacred those things that you fear,
And against Me, you have all lied…
You’ve never stopped to consider
Or to think of Me in your hearts!
So, I will report your [in]justice,
And your evils won’t benefit you.
‘Then, in your [time of] affliction,
And when you must call out [for aid],
Ask [your idols] to save you!
For the wind will take all your things,
And a gale will blow them away.
‘But, those that choose to hold onto Me
Are the ones who’ll inherit [the] land,
As well as My Holy Mountain.
‘Then, at that time, I will say:
Come and smooth out the roads…
Take the rocks from the paths of My people!’
Thus says the Most High God in the heights…
The One that rests in His Most Holy Place…
That place where He dwells through the ages,
In His Most-Holy of Holies…
Jehovah is His [great] Name.
He’s the One that is patient with the meek
And gives life to those who have broken hearts:
‘I’ll not punish you [again] through this age,
Nor will I remain angry with you.
I will pour My Spirit upon you;
For I’m the One that gave you your breath!
‘Because of their sins, I grieved them a while…
I turned My face and I struck them…
I brought them grief and they traveled in gloom.
‘But I saw all their ways and I healed them;
I gave them comfort… comfort that’s true.
Yes, I brought peace upon peace
To those that are near and those far away.’
And Jehovah said:
‘As the result, I will heal them!
But the unrighteous will roll like the waves,
And they’ll be unable to rest…
There’ll be no peace for the godless,’ said God.
‘Yell it out loud… don’t hold it back!
Raise your voices like trumpets,
And announce the sins of My people…
Tell the house of Jacob how lawless they’ve been!
‘But the day will come when they’ll seek Me
And wish to know all My ways.
For they’ll be a righteous people again,
And they won’t abandon the justice of God.
‘Even now, they ask for My righteous decisions,
And they want to come closer to God.
They have repeatedly asked Me:
Why haven’t You looked when we fasted…
Why didn’t You notice when we humbled our souls?
‘[But, this is what you should tell them]:
On the days that you fast, you do as you please…
And you oppress those whom [you employ].
‘You fast [to win] lawsuits and battles,
As you beat the humble with your fists.
So, why are you fasting to Me
In the ways that you’re doing today…
Just to hear the sounds of your voices?
‘I never chose fasts for such reasons;
For, when you fast, you should humble your souls.
So don’t bend your necks in a crook,
Or wear sackcloth with ashes beneath you;
For, when you call fasts for such reasons,
I will refuse to accept them.’
Jehovah says:
‘I’ve not asked you to fast for such things.
I’ve asked you to loosen the bonds of injustice,
And to end your violent exchanges.
‘Send away freely, those who’ve been wronged,
And tear up your unrighteous [contracts]!
Break bread with those that are hungry,
And accept the homeless and poor in your homes!
‘If you see someone naked, provide him with clothes!
And concerning the seed of your family;
You should dislike them no more!
Then, the next morning, light will break through,
And the things that need cures will be gone.’
[Then, if you should choose to do all these things],
The righteousness will travel with you,
And the glory of God will protect you.
When you call to Jehovah, He’ll listen,
And while you’re still speaking, He’ll say, ‘Here I am!’
If you’ll get rid of your evil plans,
[And happily] stretch out your hands…
If you will open your hearts
And give bread to the hungry
Until the souls of the humble are filled;
Your light will arise from the darkness,
And your darkness will be as midday;
Your God will always be with you,
And you’ll [get] all the things that you want.
Like well-watered gardens, your bones will grow fat,
And you’ll be like springs in a desert.
Your desolate places will all be rebuilt…
For generations of generations, their foundations will last.
You’ll be called a builder of walls,
And there’ll be no stones in your paths.
If you’ll turn your feet toward the Sabbaths,
And not do as you wish on this holy day;
If you’ll call the Sabbaths delightful
(Things that are holy to God);
If you won’t lift a foot to do work,
Nor let angry words flow from your mouths,
And you just rely on Jehovah;
To your land, He will send blessings…
He’ll feed the inheritance of Jacob (your father).
From the mouth of the Lord, these things were all said.
Is the hand of Jehovah too weak to save…
Are His ears too heavy to listen?
It’s your sins that have brought this division
Between yourselves and your God…
It’s because of your sins that He’s turned away
So as not to show mercy upon you.
For your hands are tainted with blood,
And your fingers [are covered with] sins.
Your lips speak about lawless things,
And your tongues discuss what’s unrighteous.
Of righteous things, you no longer talk,
Nor is there any true justice.
You’re relying on things that are foolish,
And the words that you speak are all empty.
To things that are lawless, you’ve given birth,
And to misery, you are a father.
You hatch eggs of asps and weave spider’s webs;
But before they can be devoured,
A rotten egg breaks and out comes a cobra.
So, they won’t weave your webs into clothes,
And you’ll not wear the rest of the things that you’ve made;
For, all that you’re doing is lawless.
Your feet now run toward what’s wicked,
And you’re quick to shed innocent blood.
Your thoughts are all about murder…
In your paths, are misery and destruction.
The ways of peace, you’ve not known,
And in your roads, there’s injustice.
The paths that you walk are all twisted,
And peaceful ways, you’ve forgotten.
Yes, things that are fair have all left you…
There’s no way that you will be just.
So, as these people are waiting for light
(As they’re awaiting the sunrise),
All that comes will be darkness,
And they’ll walk as though it were midnight.
Along the walls, like blind men, they’ll grope
(They’ll grope like men with no eyes),
And they’ll stumble at noon as at midnight…
Then, moan like those that are dying…
They’ll travel like a bear with a dove.
So although we have waited for justice,
Our salvation is still far away,
Since our lawless ways before Him are great,
And our sins haven’t been left behind.
Yes, our lawless ways are still in us,
And we’re aware of all our offenses.
We’ve lied and we have been godless…
We have departed from God.
We’ve spoken unjustly and don’t wish to change…
Of unrighteous things, we think in our hearts.
We’ve left behind all that is fair,
And justice is now far away.
Truth is being consumed in our ways,
And we’re unable to walk in straight paths.
Yes, truth has been lifted away,
And the thoughts of the knowing are twisted.
Jehovah saw this and He wasn’t pleased;
For nowhere could fairness be found.
He thought and beheld that there’s no one…
Not a man who’ll give aid [to another].
So, with His arm, He became their defender…
In His mercy, He gave them support.
He put on the chest plate of justice,
And the helmet of salvation, He raised to His head.
In the coat of vengeance, He then wrapped Himself
(In the robe of deserved retribution)
To repay the scorn of His enemies.
So, Jehovah’s Name will be feared in the west,
And in the east, He’ll be honored and respected.
For the anger of the Lord is now blazing
Like the rage of a river.
‘Then a savior will come out of Zion
Who’ll remove the irreverence from Jacob,’ said Jehovah.
‘And this is My Promise to him:
My Spirit will rest upon you
And I’ll put My words in your mouth.
At that time, your mouth will not fail you,
Nor will the mouths of your seed
From now and into the ages.’
So now, you should walk toward the light…
O JeruSalem, be lighted once more!
For His light is shining upon you,
Since the glory of Jehovah has risen!
{Look!} Though darkness will cover the earth
And the nations will be covered with gloom;
Over you, the Lord will appear,
And His glory will shine down upon you.
Then the nations will be drawn to your light,
And their kings will [head toward] your brightness.
So, lift your eyes and look all around,
For you’ll see your children being gathered…
From far-away places, your sons will return,
And your daughters will be carried on shoulders.
You’ll see it in fear and your hearts will [skip beats];
For the wealth of the seas will then turn toward you,
And to you, the nations and peoples will stream.
Then, you will own teams of camels!
For the camels of MidiAn, Ephah, and SheBa
Will arrive bearing gold and frankincense…
And with the good news of Jehovah’s salvation.
‘The sheep of Cypress will be gathered to you,
And NebAiOth’s rams will come also
To be sacrificed on My Altar,
And My House of Prayer will be glorified.
‘Who are these that fly by like clouds…
Passing by like doves with their young?
‘Islands have waited upon Me…
But first, the boats of TarShish must come
To return your children from faraway lands,
Along with much silver and gold,
To honor the Name of the Lord…
To glorify IsraEl’s Most Holy One.
‘Then, foreigners will come to rebuild your walls,
And their kings will be standing beside you.
‘And though I struck you because of My rage;
It’s because of My mercy that you will be loved.
‘Then your gates will always be open
(Both day and night they’ll never be locked)
To bring in the might of the nations…
And their kings will be leading the way!
‘The nations and kings that won’t serve you will die…
They’ll be wiped away and destroyed.
But to you, the glories of Lebanon will come…
They’ll bring cypress, pine lumber, and cedars
In order to glorify My Holy Place…
I’ll glorify the Place where you stand.
‘Then the sons of those that once humbled you
Will stand before you in awe.
And those that provoked you will bow
With their heads at the soles of your feet.
You’ll be called the City of [God]…
And IsraEl’s Most Holy Place, Zion.
‘Because you were abandoned and hated,
And no one came to your aid;
Through the ages, I’ll make you a leaping for joy,
And a gladness throughout generations.
‘You’ll drink the milk of the nations,
And from the wealth of kings, you will eat.
Then you’ll know that I am Jehovah…
Jacob’s God, who rescues and saves.
‘Then instead of bronze, I’ll bring gold;
Instead of iron, I’ll bring silver;
Instead of wood, I’ll bring bronze;
And instead of stones, I’ll bring iron.
‘I’ll appoint your rulers for peace,
And your overseers for justice.
No more will injustice be heard in your land…
No misery or destruction within your borders.
For your walls will be known as Salvation,
And your gates will be called Shouts of Joy.
‘No longer will your days be lit by the sun
And the moon won’t be the light for your nights.
For through ages, Jehovah will serve as your light…
Yes, God will then be your glory!
‘Upon you, the sun will not set,
And the moon will never subside.
For the Lord is your light through the ages,
And your reasons to mourn will be gone.
‘Then, all your people will be righteous
And they’ll inherit the land through the ages.
They will keep all the things that they plant,
And the works of their hands, they will own.
‘The remnant will then become thousands,
And the least will become a great nation;
For in time, Jehovah will bring them all back.’
‘The Breath of Jehovah is upon me,
And I’ve been anointed by Him
To announce good news to the poor.
‘He sent me to heal broken hearts,
To proclaim a freedom to captives
And a recovery of sight to the blind…
To call for a year of Jehovah’s favor,
As well as a day of vengeance,
And to comfort those who are sad.
‘Instead of ashes, I’m bringing glory
To those that are mourning for Zion…
An anointing of gladness to all those that mourn
That will serve as glorious clothing,
Instead of the spirit of being unclean.
‘They’ll be called, A Generation of the Righteous…
A Planting to the Glory of [God].
Then, through the ages, they’ll build in the deserts…
In places that were once desolation.
‘They’ll arise and revive desert cities,
Which, through generations, lay wasted.
Foreign peoples will come there to tend your sheep,
And Philistines will be your vinedressers and plowmen.
‘Then, Priests of Jehovah, you will be called…
They’ll say you’re the servants of God.
You’ll devour the strength of the nations,
And be admired because of your wealth.
So, once again, you’ll inherit the land,
With ages of joy over your heads.
‘For, I am the Lord… a lover of justice,
And one that hates unrighteous seizures.
So, to the righteous, I will return
The things for which they’ve worked hard,
And I’ll make an age-long Agreement with them.
‘Then their seed will be known by the nations,
And their descendants will be known by all people.
Yes, all that see them will recognize them,
For they’ll be a seed that is blest by God
And find joy in the joy of the Lord.
‘May my soul shout in praise of Jehovah,
For He’s wrapped me in a coat of salvation
And in an inner garment of joy!
A garland, He’s placed on my head, like a groom,
And like a bride, He’s adorned me with jewels.
‘As flowers that grow from the ground
And as seeds that sprout in a garden,
The Lord Jehovah will raise what is righteous,
And bring joy to all of the nations.
‘For Zion, I will not stay silent,
And for JeruSalem, I will spare none
Until my justice goes forth like the light,
And my salvation burns like a lamp.
‘Then the nations will look at your justice,
And their kings will see all your glory.
They will then call you by your new name…
A name that will come from the mouth of Jehovah.
For, in His hand, you’ll be a crown…
A royal turban in the hand of our God.
‘You’ll no longer be called The Forsaken,
And your land won’t be called Desolation.
My Will, is what you’ll be called,
And your land will be called Habitation.
For the Lord has found pleasure in you,
And with him, you’ll dwell in your land.
‘As a young man joins with a virgin
Is how your sons will stick close to you.
For as happy as a groom with his bride
Is how the Lord will find joy in you.
‘O JeruSalem;
Upon your walls, I’ll place guards
Who will not stay silent throughout days and nights…
And to the end, they will speak of Jehovah.
‘For to you, there’ll be no other like Him,
Because He will set matters straight,
And JeruSalem will be the earth’s navel.
‘For, Jehovah swore this by His right hand
And by the strength of His arm:
Your enemies won’t eat your food or your grain,
Nor will foreigner’s sons drink your wine.
Only the harvesters will eat it,
And they will give praise to Jehovah…
And those that pick [grapes] will drink their [own wine]
Within My Holy estates.
‘So, get up and open My gates…
Open the way for My people!
Remove the stones from their roads,
And raise a sign that the nations will see.
‘Then, to the ends of the earth,
The Lord will broadcast these words.
He’ll, say to the daughter of Zion:
Look, your Savior has come,
And before his face is his work and reward!
‘Then He’ll call you, A Most Holy People
Who have been Ransomed by [God].
And you’ll be called, The City We’ve Searched For,
And no longer, The One that’s Abandoned.’
Who is this that’s coming from Edom
(From BozRah, wearing clothes with red stains)…
This handsome one with that great, mighty arm?
‘I have [arrived to bring] justice
And [to plead] your case for salvation.’
But, why are you wearing red clothes,
As though you’ve been treading a vat?
‘I’m covered with the things that I’ve trampled,
And none from the nations are with me;
For I’ve trampled them all in my rage.
‘I broke them [like plowing] the ground,
And I’ve poured their blood out over the land…
So, that’s why my clothes are defiled.
‘For the day of retribution has come
And the year for paying the ransom is here.
‘But I searched and found no one to help me…
I noticed that no one would come to my aid.
So I brought salvation with my own mighty arm…
I attended to it in my rage.
‘I trampled them down in my anger,
And I led their blood into the ground!’
I’ve considered the mercies of [God],
And the virtues of His retribution.
[I found His] judgments on IsraEl just,
For what He brings is justice and mercy.
He said, ‘If My children will show Me respect;
From their opposers, I’ll save them…
Yes Me, not My angel or envoy!’
Because He loves them, He’ll save them…
He’ll spare them, and [He’ll pay] their ransom.
But, though He once took them and raised them;
Throughout the days of that age
They still refused to listen to Him,
And by this, they provoked His Spirit.
So Jehovah turned against them in hatred,
And then He waged war against them.
But He thought about days of old,
And then, He raised a man from the ground
Who would shepherd His sheep.
So, where is this one that poured out [God’s] Breath…
The one that led Moses with his right hand…
This one with the glorious arm?
Before [Moses], he conquered the waters,
And through ages, he made a name for himself.
For he led them through the deep [sea];
Then like horses in the desert, they didn’t wear out.
Thereafter, as though they were cattle,
[They traveled from there through] the plains…
For the Spirit of the Lord came to guide them.
And once more, this is how he will lead them,
And make a glorious name for himself.
So, turn and look down from the heavens…
Look down from your holy, glorious place!
Where is your zeal and your strength…
Where is the mercy and compassion
That you’ve been withholding from us?
Our father, you have become;
For by AbraHam, we wouldn’t be known,
Nor would IsraEl be able to recognize us.
So Lord, please come to our aid;
For you have become our [true] father!
From ancient times, we’ve carried [God’s] Name;
So, why did He let us stray from His ways
And harden our hearts not to fear Him?
Please return to us, because we’re Your servants…
We’re the tribes that You have chosen by lot
To inherit Your Most Holy Mountain.
Your enemies have trampled on Your Holy Place,
And we’ve returned to what we once were
Before You became our Ruler
And when we were not called by Your Name.
If You should choose to open the skies,
The mountains would tremble and melt
As though they were beeswax in fire.
So, You will send flames to consume [our oppressors],
And [among us], Your Name will then shine…
Before You, the nations will quiver.
And when You do Your honorable deeds,
The mountains will all start to tremble.
Through the ages, no one has ever heard,
Nor have their eyes seen a god that’s like You…
None that have done the deeds You’ve done
On behalf of those seeking Your mercy.
You will meet with the righteous,
And remember how we had been just.
{Look!} But now, we have sinned and provoked You to rage,
And for this, we’ve been forced to wander.
For we’ve pushed aside what is righteous
Like a rag of menstruation.
Into lawless ways, we have fallen like leaves,
So the wind will blow us away.
Now, none among us call on Your Name,
Nor have any remembered to grab hold of You.
So from us, You have turned Your face,
And You’ve handed us over because of our sins.
But Jehovah; You are our [true] Father,
And we are just [clay]… the works of Your hands.
So [please] don’t stay angry with us…
Don’t always remember our sins!
O Jehovah, please look down upon us,
Because, we are your people!
Your Holy City Zion, is now desolation,
For JeruSalem has been destroyed.
Your House and its Glorious Most Holy
By which our fathers were blest,
Lies scorched, and its honorable things are torn down.
All of this, You’ve had to endure, O Lord…
As You’ve been silent and let us be humbled.
‘I was seen by those not searching for Me
And found by those not asking for Me…
I said, Here I am, to a nation
That had never called on My Name.
‘For I’ve held out My hands all day long
To a people that just wouldn’t listen,
And to those that only talked back…
Those that have not followed in good ways,
But who’ve kept on [walking] in sin.
‘Before Me, they stand and [do evil things]…
For they sacrifice in their gardens
And burn incense on bricks before demons;
They sleep in tombs and in caves to have dreams,
Then eat pig flesh and [offer Me] gravy.
‘So, all that [they offer] is tainted;
Yet, they say, Stay away… don’t approach me!
For, I have made myself clean!
‘Such things will bring them the smoke of My rage,
And a fire that will burn through the rest of their days.
‘Look! It’s written that here in My presence,
I won’t stay silent until I’ve repaid
And [raked] all their sins onto their chests,
As well as the sins of their fathers,’ says Jehovah.
‘So on those that burn incense on the mountains
And speak ill of Me in the hills;
I’ll [rake] their [bad] deeds onto their chests!’
Jehovah says:
‘When they find seeds in grapes, they often say,
Do not throw them away,
For they will bring us good luck!
And that’s how I’ll deal with My servants…
It’s what I’ll do, so I don’t destroy all.
‘From Jacob and Judah, I’ll pick out one seed
Who’ll inherit my Holy Mountain.
My elected, he’ll also inherit,
And they will dwell with him there.
‘Then, flocks will live in their groves,
And in the Valley of Achor,
My people’s herds will find rest…
Yes, the [sheep among those] that are searching for Me.
‘But, you are the ones that have left Me…
From My Holy Mountain, you’ve turned away,
As you’ve prepared tables for demons,
And mixed [magic potions] to bring you good luck.
‘So, to the sword, I’ll now hand you,
And you will fall in the slaughter.
For I called out, but you wouldn’t listen…
I spoke, but you paid no attention…
You kept doing what’s wicked before Me,
And the things I don’t want are the things that you chose.
‘So because of this,’ says Jehovah,
‘{Look!} My servants will eat, while you starve;
{Look!} My servants will drink, while you’re thirsty;
{Look!} And those serving Me will be happy,
While you will be filled with shame.
‘Yes, those serving Me will cry out in joy,
While you cry out in misery of heart…
And you’ll shriek as you’re being destroyed!
‘Then the names that you’ll leave behind
Will be a glut to My chosen ones.
For the Lord will do away with you all,
And I’ll give a new name to My servants.
‘Throughout the whole earth, they’ll be blest,
And they will give praise to Jehovah.
Then, those on the earth that swear oaths,
Will swear them by the true God.
They’ll forget the trials that they had to endure…
Such things won’t enter their hearts.
‘For there’ll be new lands and new skies,
And past things will not be remembered,
Nor will they enter their hearts.
Then, all will be leaping for joy
Because of the happiness they’ll find there!
‘{Look!} I’ll make JeruSalem a leaping for joy
And a source of glee to My people.
About that city, I’ll shout in praise,
And be happy along with My people.
‘No more will you hear sounds of weeping
Or the sounds of crying among them.
No way will there be a miscarriage,
Or the old that don’t live out their days.
For a man will be young at 100,
And at 100, the sinners will be cursed and die.
‘The rest will build houses in which they will live…
They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit,
And they will drink their own wine.
No way will they then build for others,
And no way will they plant what others will eat.
‘Then the days of My people will be like a tree,
And what they make with their hands will grow old.
‘My elected won’t labor for nothing,
Nor will they give birth to cursed children;
For their seed and all their descendants
Will then be blessings from God.
‘Before they call, I will hear them,
And when they speak, I’ll ask what they want.
‘Then wolves and lambs will all graze together,
And lions will eat straw like the ox.
The snake will eat the ground as its bread,
And none will harm or destroy
On My Holy Mountain,’ says Jehovah.
Jehovah said:
‘Since the heavens are My Throne and the earth is My footstool;
What kind of House can you build for Me…
What kind of place [can you build] for My rest?
For, since it all was made by My hands,
These things are [already] Mine!’
Then Jehovah said:
‘Upon whom will I look [in favor]?
Just the unassuming and humble…
Just those who tremble at the things that I say.
‘But a calf that is offered by the lawless
Is to Me, like the slaps of a man.
And when they sacrifice from the flock,
I view it as though they are offering dogs.
‘[I consider] their offerings of fine flour
The same as the blood of a pig…
And the frankincense that they offer
As shouting blasphemies against Me.
‘For they’ve each selected their own ways to go,
And what they’ve chosen has proven disgusting.
So I’ll choose My own ways to mock them,
And I’ll pay them back for their sins.
‘For I called out to them and they chose not to hear…
I spoke and they just wouldn’t listen.
Before Me, they’ve acted wickedly,
And done things that I didn’t want.’
So, hear the word of Jehovah,
O you that tremble when you hear His voice!
Tell your brothers that hate and detest you
To glorify the Name of Jehovah –
[A Name] that should be looked on in joy
And of which they should not feel ashamed!
There’s a voice crying out from the city…
From the Temple, a voice can be heard…
It is the voice of Jehovah,
And concerning His retribution, He said:
‘Before her labor to give birth
And before the misery of birth pangs,
She fled and gave birth to a son.’
Who has ever heard such a thing…
Who’s ever seen anything like it?
Has the earth given birth in a day…
Has a nation given birth all at once,
As Zion will labor and bring forth [a son]?
Jehovah said:
‘I told them what they should expect,
But they failed to remember [My words].
For {Look!} I made the ones that give birth,
As well as those that are sterile.’
And your God says:
‘So JeruSalem; you should be glad…
Those that love her should all celebrate.
Yes, celebrate in joy, you who live there,
And all of you who have mourned her!
‘For, you can now nurse and be filled
With the comfort that comes from her breasts…
In sucking, you too may indulge,
When her glory is finally shown.’
Jehovah said:
‘{Look!} Toward them, I’ll divert a river of peace,
And they’ll be covered with the glory of the nations
Who’ll carry your children on their shoulders,
And on their knees, [your young] will find comfort,
As any [good] mother gives comfort.
‘This is how I will then bring comfort to you…
And JeruSalem; you’ll find comfort.
You’ll see it and rejoice in your heart and your bones…
Then you’ll flourish like grass in a pasture!’
Then, all will know that this came from [God’s] hand…
Yes, all those that fear Him will know it.
But, He will threaten all those
Who choose to resist His persuasion.
For {Look!} the Lord will come like a fire…
As a blast from his chariot wheels, in his rage,
To pay back and punish in flames
All those who’ve turned from [God] in contempt.
‘Then the lands will be judged by his fire,
And all flesh [will be judged] by his sword.
Many will be slain by the Lord in that day…
Those who’ve gone to their gardens for cleansing
And those that ate pork on their thresholds
(The disgusting things and the mouse)…
Together, they’ll all be consumed,’ said Jehovah.
‘I know of their works and their ways,
And I’ve come to gather all nations and tongues…
To see My glory, they’ll gather,
And I will give them a sign.
‘I’ll bring back those that I gave to the nations…
From TarShish, Pul, MeShach, and Lud…
From Tubal, Greece, and the islands…
From those far away who’ve not heard of My Name
And from those who’ve not witnessed My glory.
‘They’ll announce My glory to the nations…
And then, as a gift from the Lord;
From the nations, I’ll bring back your brothers,
Along with horses and wagons,
And royal chariots with awnings, drawn by mules.’
And Jehovah said:
‘Then the sons of IsraEl will bring sacrifices
And sing songs in the [Temple] of God.
And from them, I’ll choose Levites and Priests,’ said Jehovah.
‘For, as the new lands and new skies that I’ll make
Have been waiting before Me,’ says Jehovah;
‘I’ll establish your seed and your name.
‘Then, there in JeruSalem;
From New Moon to New Moon and Sabbath to Sabbath,
All flesh will come and bow before Me,’ said Jehovah.
‘They’ll go out and see the bodies of men
(Those who’ve rebelled against Me)
Whose worms won’t come to an end,
And whose fire will not be extinguished…
It’ll be a sight for all flesh [to see].’
These are the words of God that came to JeremiAh (the son of HilkiAh), a Priest that lived in AnathOth in the land of BenJamin.
God’s words came to him in the days of JosiAh (the son of AmMon) the king of Judah in the 13th year of his reign.All of this happened from the time of JehoiAkim (the son of JosiAh) the king of Judah, until the 11th year of ZedekiAh (the son of JosiAh) the king of Judah and [the beginning of] the captivity of JeruSalem, [which happened] in the 5th month.
The Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘I knew you before you were formed in the womb
And before you came from the belly.
So I chose you and I made you holy
To serve as a Prophet to the nations.’
But I said,
‘O Great Being… O Lord… O Jehovah; {Look!} I don’t know how to speak, for I’m just a young man.’
And the Lord told me:
‘Don’t say that you’re just a young man;
For you’ll go to whomever I send you
And you’ll speak whatever I tell you to say!
So, don’t be afraid when you go before them,
Since I’m with you and I will protect you.’
Then the Lord stuck his hand out toward me and touched my mouth, and said:
‘Look! I’m putting my words in your mouth.
For I’ve appointed you over nations and kingdoms
To root out, cut down, and set free,
And then to rebuild and replant.’
Thereafter, the Word of Jehovah came to me again and asked,
‘What do you see now, JeremiAh?’
And I said,
‘I see a walnut walking stick.’
Then the Lord said to me:
‘You are [very observant];
And I’m [watching to see if you’ll] do as I [say].’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me a second time and asked,
‘What do you see now?’
And I replied:
‘I see a kettle over a fire, and the front side of it is facing the north.’
Then the Lord said to me:
‘Thus, from the face of the north,
All those that are bad will be burned away
From among those that live in the land.
For, {Look!} this is what was said by Jehovah:
From the north, I’ll be gathering kingdoms
That will come, and then, they’ll each place their thrones
On the thresholds of JeruSalem’s gates,
And on the walls of the cities of Judah.
‘Then I’ll speak My judgments against them
For all the bad things they’ve done…
[I’ll speak of] how they have left Me
And sacrificed to gods that they’ve never known,
Then they bowed before the works of their hands.
‘So arise and wrap up your waist,
And say to them what I’ll tell you to say!
Don’t be afraid when you go there,
Nor be in terror before them;
For, this was said by Jehovah:
I’m with you and I will [protect] you.
‘{Look!} So today, I’ve turned you into a fort…
A fortified wall made of brass
To resist Judah’s rulers and kings,
And to oppose the people of your land.’
And the Lord said:
‘Although they will wage war against you,
There’s no way that they will be able to win;
For I’m with you and I will [protect] you.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me again and said,
‘Go and yell in JeruSalem’s ears…
Tell them that thus says Jehovah:
I remembered the mercy you had in your youth
And the love that you had for perfection
When you obeyed IsraEl’s Most Holy One.
‘Yes, this was said by Jehovah,
IsraEl’s Most Holy Lord.
For, IsraEl is Holy to Jehovah,
And because they are His first born,
He’s offended by those that are chewing them up,
And on those doing this, He’s bringing bad things.
‘O house of Jacob (you families of the house of IsraEl);
Hear the word of Jehovah!
For Jehovah is asking you this:
What defect in Me, did your fathers find
That they’d leave Me to act in this way
And start following after such foolish things?
‘They no longer ask, Where’s Jehovah…
The One that led us through the desert from Egypt…
Through that vast land of no water or fruit…
A land through which no man can travel…
A land where none can survive?
‘For I led you to CarMel, where you ate its fruits,
As well as its other good things…
Then you entered My land and defiled it,
And My inheritance, you turned into something that’s foul.
‘But the priests don’t ask, Where’s Jehovah?
So, those that were resisting the Law
Weren’t prompted to turn back to Me.
Your shepherds also showed no respect,
And your prophets spoke prophecies by BaAl,
So they followed after things that were worthless!
‘But, despite all of this, I still chose them, says Jehovah;
And the sons of their sons, I’ve [accepted].
‘Now, go to the Island of Cyprus and see…
Yes, send to Kedar and you’ll understand!
See if the gods of those nations
Have ever had any effect…
Then you’ll know that they really aren’t gods!
‘Yet, My people have left all their glory
For things that do them no good!
And by this, the heavens were amazed…
[It caused them to] shudder, says Jehovah.
‘To Me, My people did two wicked things:
· They abandoned the spring of the waters of life,
· And they dug cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.
‘Is IsraEl a slave or a native-born son;
For, why did he choose to be plundered?
Now, lions are roaring before him
That are ordered to wipe out his land.
So his cities will be cut to the ground,
Then no one can live there again!
‘The sons of Memphis and TahPanhes…
Those that know you, are laughing at you!
And this happened because you have left Me,
Says Jehovah, your God.
‘Now, what are the ways of Egypt to you
That you would [long for] their waters?
And what are the ways of Assyria to you
That you’d wish to drink from their rivers?
‘So because you’ve left Me, I’ll discipline you…
For your evil ways, I will scold You…
You’ll see it happen and then you will know
How bitter are the ways of turning from Me,
Says Jehovah, your God!
‘I’ve come to think [poorly] of you,
Says Jehovah your God.
For, through the ages, you’ve broken My yoke
And you have ripped off My bonds.
‘You said, I won’t be [Your] servant;
But I’ll climb up every high hill
And bow beneath every shade tree…
And there is where I’ll go whoring!
‘Yet I planted you to be My grapevine
For the purpose of bearing the fruitage of truth.
So, why did you then turn so bitter
And become a grapevine that’s strange?
‘Now, if I would wash you in lye,
And if I’d use plenty of soap,
You’d still be spotted in your sins before Me.
‘How can you say you’re not dirty
And that you’ve not chased after BaAl?
See how you’re acting in graveyards…
Yes, you know all the things that you’ve done!
‘Upon desert waters, her ways have been spread,
And she’s driven by the winds of desires.
So to them, she’s been handed over,
To turn her away from her [evil].
‘Now those searching for her won’t get tired,
And she will be humbled when they arrive.
‘Though she should divert her feet from this path
And turn her throat from this thirst,
This is what she’s still saying:
I will act like a man;
So, I will chase after strangers,
And with them, I will make love!
‘As a thief is shamed when he’s caught,
Is how IsraEl’s sons will be shamed…
Yes they, their kings, and their rulers,
As well as their prophets and priests.
‘For they’ve said to a tree, You’re my father;
And they’ve said to a stone, You gave me life.
‘Yet, though they have all turned their backs
(But not their faces) toward Me;
When hard times arrive, they’ll still say:
O Jehovah, please save us!
‘Will [your idols] still save you in difficult times,
And will [you turn] to these gods that you’ve made?
‘In Judah, each city now has its own gods,
And in all of JeruSalem’s streets
They offer sacrifices to BaAl.
So, why are you even talking to me?
‘Jehovah says:
You’ve been irreverent and lawless toward Me,
And it’s in vain that I’ve spanked you like children;
For, from My correction, you’ve failed to learn!
‘So, though your prophets were devoured by swords,
And though lions came and wiped them away,
This hasn’t [taught you] to fear Me.
‘Therefore, hear the Word of Jehovah,
For Jehovah is asking you this:
To IsraEl, am I now a desert…
Am I a land that’s barren to you?
‘Why is it that My people say,
Because you aren’t our Lord anymore,
We’ll no longer be coming before You?
‘Will the bride forget her tiara,
And will virgins forget the bands for their breasts?
Yet, I’ve been forgotten by you
Through too many days to be counted.
‘What good can you make of your ways,
So that you can seek [My] affection again?
It just won’t do any good,
Because you’ve made yourselves wicked.
‘All of your ways are now dirty,
And innocent blood is found in your hands.
No, I don’t find [their bodies] in ditches,
But [hanging] from every [tall] tree.
Yet you still say, I’m not guilty…
So, please turn back You rage!
‘{Look!} I’m the One that’s passing judgment on you
When you say that you have not sinned!
And for you, I’ve come to feel great disdain
Because of the things that you’re doing.
‘Therefore, by Egypt, you will be disgraced,
As Assyria has disgraced you before.
You’ll be taken from here with your hands on your heads,
For Jehovah has thrust you away…
And then, none of your hopes will succeed.
‘If a man releases his woman
And she [then moves in with] another…
Then, if she thereafter [also leaves him],
Can she return [to first one] again?
For, once she has been defiled,
Isn’t she always defiled?
‘Yet, after [you’ve had] many shepherds,
You want to come back to Me, said Jehovah.
So now, raise your eyes to see the right way…
See how you’ve been defiled!
‘For you sat by the road [and waited] for them
Alone and defiled like a crow
In this land of your evil and whoring.
‘You’ve stumbled and had many shepherds,
And because you looked like a whore,
You have brought shame on them all.
‘Yet, didn’t you call Me [your] Father…
The One that founded your virgin condition!
[And wasn’t it you that once said],
Through the age, I’ll still be a virgin…
I’ll guard this state ‘til I’ve won?
{Look!} Yet, though you made such a vow,
You went and did this vile thing!’
Well, it was during the days of King JosiAh that the Lord came and said this to me:
‘You saw what the house of IsraEl has done…
For she’s climbed upon every high mountain
And crawled under every tree in the woods,
And there, she’s committing [adultery].
‘Then, after she does all her whoring;
Though I’ve told her to turn from this badness,
She still refuses to stop.
‘So when I saw that Judah had broken [her vows];
I knew that in order to benefit all,
I had to stand up [for what’s right].
‘For the house of IsraEl fell into seduction,
And then she committed adultery.
So with a certificate of divorce I sent her away.
‘But the [vow]-breaker Judah wasn’t bothered by this,
And she continued in her whoring ways.
For, whoring was nothing to her…
She even did it with wood and stone things…
Her heart refused to turn back,
And all she offered was lies.’
Then the Lord said this to me:
‘Even IsraEl was better than this [vow]-breaker Judah;
So, go to the north and then read these words…
Tell [those in the north] that thus says Jehovah:
‘O house of IsraEl, if you’ll come back to Me,
Against you, I’ll not set My face…
I will show mercy upon you, says Jehovah,
And through the age, I won’t be outraged.
‘Just be aware of your sins!
For you’ve shown disrespect to Jehovah your God…
[Your love] you’ve given to strangers
Beneath every tree in the woods,
And you chose not to do what I said, says Jehovah.
‘So return, you sons who’ve revolted, says God,
And I’ll be your Lord once again.
I’ll choose one man from each city,
And I will choose two from each family;
Then, I will take them to Zion
And appoint these ones that My heart has chosen
To serve as shepherds for you,
And with higher knowledge, they’ll watch over you.
‘Then, as you grow and spread in the land, says Jehovah;
In those days, they’ll not speak anymore
Of IsraEl’s Holy Chest of the Sacred Agreement…
No, it won’t come into their hearts…
It won’t be named or examined…
This won’t be done anymore!
‘For, in those days and during that time,
JeruSalem will everafter be known
As the place of the Throne of Jehovah,
And it’s where all the nations will gather
With no wicked thoughts in their hearts.
‘And in those days, the houses of IsraEl and Judah
Will become one [nation] again.
They’ll be gathered from the lands of the north
To the place that I gave to their fathers.’
Well at that, I shouted:
‘May it happen, O Lord! For You told me that You will let me have children again, and that I will receive a choice piece of land… the inheritance of the Almighty God… [the God] that will be over all the nations! Yes, Father; You’ve called me, and now I’ll never turn away from You!’
But the Lord said:
‘The house of IsraEl has left me,
Like a woman that’s rejected her man.
And for this, her lips will thereafter weep.
‘So, tell IsraEl’s sons to turn back and beg,
Because their ways have led them to sin,
And they’ve forgotten their Most Holy God.
So sons; it is time to turn back…
Turn back and I’ll heal your broken condition!’
[And I said]:
‘Look… that’s how we’ll be with You then, for You are our God Jehovah,and all the powers of the hills and mountains are really the powers of our Lord… our God who is IsraEl’s Savior!However, the efforts of our fathers have been eaten away by shame since the time of their youth, and now all their calves and sheep (their sons and daughters)go to bed in shame and they’re covered by their dishonor. Yes, like our fathers, we have sinned before God from the time of our youth down to this day, and we’ve failed to pay attention to the voice of our God Jehovah!’
Then the Lord said:
‘If IsraEl should [choose to] return,
I’ll also turn back to them.
If they’ll wash the disgusting things from their mouths…
If they’ll show that they will respect me,
And if they’ll swear As Jehovah is living in oaths;
I’ll bless them with equity, justice, and truth.
Then the rest of the nations will praise them,
And in JeruSalem, all will praise God.
‘So to the men of Judah and JeruSalem
Jehovah gave these instructions:
Prepare your [hearts]… yes, get them ready to plow…
Don’t allow thorn bushes to grow here again!
‘O men of Judah and JeruSalem;
Circumcise yourselves to your God…
Snip the hardness out of your hearts
So He doesn’t send the fire of His rage…
[A fire] that can’t be extinguished
Because of the bad things you’re doing!
‘Announce [this message] to Judah,
And let them hear it in JeruSalem:
Blow trumpets throughout the whole land,
And then, cry out in loud voices!
‘Say, All should gather inside the walled cities…
Gather your things and run to Mount Zion!
Do this quickly, don’t wait,
For from the north, bad things will arrive…
A terrible destruction is heading your way!
‘Now the lion has come from his lair,
And he is wiping out nations.
He’s arisen and now he’s come from his place
To desolate lands and destroy them!
‘So your cities will all be demolished,
And you’ll no longer be living within them.
Because of this, put on sackcloth…
Yes, be sad, and then start to bawl!
For the anger and rage of Jehovah
Will not be diverted from you.
‘And in that day,’ said the Lord,
‘There’ll be no heart in the king…
The hearts of the rulers and priests will be shocked
And the prophets will all be confused.’
Then I replied:
‘O Almighty Lord; You must surely be joking… aren’t you misleading these people? Aren’t you saying that there’ll really be peace for JeruSalem and that the sword won’t be coming into our lives?’
[But He replied]:
‘At that time, I’ll say to these people
(To those that live in JeruSalem):
An addiction to delusions has come from the desert;
For the ways of the daughters of my people
Can no longer be thought of as pure…
None have kept themselves holy.
So the spirit of fulfillment is coming from me,
And I’m now speaking judgments against them.’
‘Look! Like a cloud, someone has arisen
Whose chariots are sending out blasts,
And whose horses are lighter than eagles.
So woe, for misery is headed your way!
‘Therefore, O JeruSalem;
Rinse the evil out of your hearts
So that somehow, you might be saved!
For, how long did you think you can do all those things
That are [the root] of your [problems]?
‘So from Dan, you’ll start hearing voices,
And from Ephraim will come misery.
‘{Look!} Remind your nation of this,
And shout this aloud in JeruSalem:
From a far-away land will come an alliance
That’s speaking against the cities of Judah!
‘For Jehovah had told me this:
They’ll [camp] around her and guard all her fields
Because I’ve been neglected by you.
It’s because of your [bad] ways and [evil] deeds
That they are coming against you…
Because your evil is now so bitter
That it has reached into your hearts!
‘This [thought] brings pain to My belly…
It causes My heart to feel spasms and ache…
But My Soul has been forced to take action!
‘So, since I’ll no longer stay silent,
My Soul now hears trumpet blasts
And the cries of misery and war.
‘This conflict is something that’s called for,
And misery will come to your land.
For, you have abandoned My Tent,
And its covering of skins you have parted.
‘Why must I watch [people] fleeing
And hear the blowing of trumpets?
Yet, this will all happen because,
The leaders of My people don’t know Me…
They’ve become undiscerning, foolish sons…
They’re just wise when it comes to doing what’s bad,
And they don’t remember how to do what is good.’
Well at that, I looked down at the ground and I couldn’t see anything, then I looked up into the sky, and its lights weren’t there.I also noticed that the mountains were shaking and all the hills were being disturbed.So I looked around and I couldn’t see anyone, for even the birds in the skies had been frightened away. Then I noticed that CarMel was bare and all of its cities were burning… they had been set on fire by the face of Jehovah.For, due to His anger and rage, He had removed them from His view.
And at that, the Lord said:
‘Though the whole land will soon lie in ruins;
No way will it all be destroyed.
‘But the land should now start to mourn,
Because the skies above will grow dark…
I’ve spoken, and I won’t change my mind.
No I won’t be dissuaded… it will happen!
‘So from the sounds of horsemen with tightly stretched bows,
In every place, they will run…
They’ll hide in caves and in sacred groves…
Down among rocks, they’ll descend.
Then their cities will all be abandoned…
No one will be living there.
‘So now, what will they do…
Will they wrap themselves in scarlet and gold?
If they rub antimony on their eyelids,
It will all be in vain!
For, though they may dress in their finest of clothes,
Their lovers have already pushed them away…
And now they are seeking their lives!
‘So I hear the sounds of a woman in labor
And the moans of one that is giving first birth.
But the voice of the daughter of Zion grows faint,
And her hands grow weak as she says:
Woe to me, for my life has now failed
And I am being destroyed!’
‘Now, run through JeruSalem’s streets…
Yes, seek and search in her squares…
See if you can find just one righteous man…
A single trustworthy person.
Then to such a one, I’ll be kind,’ said the Lord.
‘As Jehovah lives, they often say,
But, when they swear oaths, aren’t they lying?’
[And I said], ‘O Jehovah;
Your eyes have searched for those that are true;
But, when You whipped them, they felt no pain…
Even when You brought destruction on them,
They had still failed to learn…
Their faces remained as solid as rocks,
And they refused to turn back to You.
‘But perhaps it’s only the poor
Who don’t understand the ways of the Lord,
Or comprehend the fairness of God.
So I’ll go and speak to the wealthy…
For they’ll recognize the ways of the Lord
And [trust in] the fairness of God.
‘But look! Together, they’ve broken their yokes
And they have torn off their bonds.
And because of this, lions have attacked…
Then, out of the woods came a wolf,
Which entered their homes and [consumed] them,
As leopards kept watch in their cities.
‘That’s how those that leave Him are hunted,
Since none have shown Him respect,
And their rejection [of God] has grown worse.’
[And the Lord said]:
‘What sort of kindness should they expect
Now that their sons have all left me?
Because they swear oaths by those that aren’t gods,
I’ve become filled with [their disrespect].
For they’re even committing adultery,
And whores find rest in their homes!
‘Like horses, they snort and are sex crazed…
Each one for the wife of his neighbor.
So for this, shouldn’t I come to visit,’ asked the Lord?
‘Shouldn’t my soul now take vengeance
Upon a nation that’s acting this way?
‘So her battle towers, they will scale,
And they’ll knock them down until none remain…
Yes, these are the ones that will do it!
They’ll destroy everything that supports them,
For [their badness] didn’t come from Jehovah!
‘Jehovah says:
They have not shown Me any respect…
Not the houses of IsraEl or of Judah.
And about their Lord, they have lied;
For they’ve said, These things will not happen…
What’s bad won’t really come upon us…
Neither famine nor sword will we see.
‘For [His] Prophets are really just windbags,
And they don’t [speak] the word of Jehovah;
So it will happen to them, not to us!’
‘But because of this, says Jehovah the Almighty…
Because you have said all these things,
I’ve put My words like flames in your mouths,
And they’ll consume you like wood [on a fire].
‘O house of IsraEl, pay attention:
For, from a far-away land
I’m bringing a nation against you,’ said the Lord,
‘Which speaks a tongue that you won’t understand.
‘The quivers of their mighty are like open tombs,
And they’ll consume your harvests and bread,
As well as your sons and your daughters.
‘They’ll eat your sheep and your calves…
They’ll devour your vineyards and fig groves,
As well as all of your olives.
They’ll thresh your fortified cities with swords
(Those places that you have relied on).
‘And in that day,’ said the Lord;
‘God won’t allow you to come to fulfillment.
And when you ask why this happened,
Jehovah will give this reply:
I did it because you have left Me
And served strange gods in My land.
So, you will now have to serve strangers
In a land that is no longer yours.
‘So, to the house of Jacob, announce all these things,
And let it be heard throughout Judah:
Pay attention, you foolish and heartless…
You who have eyes that can’t see,
And you who have ears that can’t hear.
‘Why have you failed to show fear,
And not bowed to your faces before Me?
For, I’m the One that ordered the sands
To be the limits of the seas!
It’s the order [that I gave] through the ages
That the seas cannot go beyond them…
Its [waves] may never disturb them…
No way can they ever defeat them.
So, no matter how great the waves roar,
They can’t pass beyond the limits I’ve set.
‘But these people have hearts that don’t listen,
So they continue to resist My persuasion…
They’ve turned aside and they’ve left [Me]!
‘They haven’t said in their hearts,
We should fear Jehovah our God…
The One that gives rain in its seasons
(Both the early and late rains),
And that orders full harvests for us!
‘But, by your lawless deeds, you have turned from these things…
By your sins, you’ve removed what’s good from yourselves.
For among My own people, the godless are found…
Those that set snares to corrupt other men,
As they devise plans to do evil.
‘As a trap is set to catch many birds…
With treachery, their homes are now filled.
And because of this, they are famous and rich…
They have grown fat on injustice!
The side of orphans, they never take,
And they don’t give justice to widows.
‘Am I not watching such things, asks Jehovah?
Won’t My soul bring vengeance upon them?
‘So, this is why things have changed…
This is why they’ll shudder throughout the whole land!
For their prophets now prophesy lies
As their priests are applauding and clapping their hands.
So, since this is what My people have loved,
I must now do this bad thing!’
‘O sons of BenJamin, be strong
There in JeruSalem’s midst.
But, you should start blowing your trumpets…
From the House in the Vineyards, sound the alarm!
For, bad things now loom in the north,
And a great destruction is headed your way!
‘O you daughter of Zion;
Your haughty ways will soon be removed!
For to you, will come shepherds and flocks
That will pitch their tents all around you,
And there, each one will tend his own lot.
‘Get ready to wage war against her…
Arise, and we will attack her at noon!
But, woe to us, for the day is now gone
And the shadows of daylight have failed.
So, let’s get up and attack her at night,
Then wipe her to her foundations!
‘For, thus says Jehovah of Armies:
Cut down all of her trees…
Against that city of liars, send troops…
Complete your tyranny against her!
‘Just like the cool taste of well water,
You must cool off her evil.
Since disrespect and misery are in her,
Throw it back in her face!
‘O you [that live] in JeruSalem;
In misery, with whips, you’ll be lashed,
But My soul won’t totally leave you…
I won’t make you a land that is no longer walked
And which won’t be lived in again.
‘For, thus says Jehovah of Armies:
Glean them as you’d glean grapes
(Those few who’ll be left in IsraEl)…
Return as the picker returns to his [vines]!
‘To whom should I be saying these things…
Yes, whom can I tell that will listen?
{Look!} For, because their ears are uncircumcised,
They are unable to hear.
And since, Jehovah’s words are something they scorn,
{Look!} They’ll be unwilling to listen!
‘But though I waited, My rage wasn’t filled,
And I didn’t completely finish them off…
So I’ll pour it out on their children
And upon their groups of young men.
‘Their women and men will be taken away
Along with the elders and those who’ve lived many days.
Then their houses will be given to others,
Along with their women and fields.
‘Jehovah says,
Against all in this land, I’ll stretch out My hand…
Against all from the small to the great…
All those that are filled with their own lawless ways.
‘For their priests and all their false prophets
Have each acted in falsehood.
And though they claim to bring healing,
They are just bringing contempt.
They also claim there is peace…
But, where indeed is this peace?
‘So now they’ll be shamed, because they have failed.
But, even though they’ll be disgraced,
They’ll refuse to accept their dishonor.
And because of this, they will fall…
They’ll perish when I come to visit, says Jehovah.
‘And Jehovah said:
Now, stand in the roads and behold…
[Consider the] paths of the ages;
Then, choose the best road and travel that way
As you search for ways to clean up your lives!
‘But because you have said, We won’t go,
I’m appointing watchmen for you,
And you must listen for the sounds of their trumpets!
‘But, though you will say, We won’t listen,
The nations [that are coming] will listen,
As will those that are tending their flocks.
‘O land, pay attention and look,
For I’m bringing what’s bad on your people…
It’s the fruitage of their rejection [of Me].
For, because they’ve ignored My words and My Laws,
I have pushed them away.
‘Why offer frankincense from SheBa to Me,
And cinnamon from far away lands?
For, your whole burnt-offerings, I will not accept,
Since your sacrifices delight Me no more.
‘Because of this, says Jehovah,
Upon them, I’m bringing a weakness…
Yes, fathers and sons will be weak,
And their neighbors and loved ones will die.
‘Then Jehovah said:
{Look!} From the north, a people are coming
Who’ll awaken the nations to the ends of the earth…
They’ll come with their spears and their bows,
And on you, they will not show mercy.
‘Their sounds are like the roar of the sea,
And with horses and chariots, they will attack…
They’ll bring the fire of war against you,
O you daughters of Zion.’
About them, we have heard the reports,
And the things that we’ve heard have made our hands weak…
Anguish has grabbed hold of us
Like the pangs of a woman about to give birth!
So, don’t go out to the fields,
And do no walk on the roads,
For they’re filled with enemies that are carrying swords!
‘So, you daughters of My people;
[It’s time for you] to wear sackcloth…
Strew ashes and mourn for your loved ones,
And in pity for yourselves, beat your breasts;
For misery will suddenly come upon you.
‘Among you (you people on trial),
I’ve appointed someone who’ll judge you;
And as you’re tried, you’ll know I’m the One
Who is judging your ways.
‘Yet, none have been willing to listen,
Because they all walk crooked paths…
They’re corrupted like brass touching iron.
‘Because the forge bellows have failed,
It’s in vain that the smith works his silver;
For their wicked ways will not melt.
‘So, call out and tell them
That their silver has all been rejected…
Yes, they’ve been rejected by [God].’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh and said,
‘Go stand at the gate of [the Temple],
And against them, you must read these words:
‘O Judah; Hear the Word of Jehovah,
For Jehovah of Armies (the God of IsraEl) says this:
‘If you’ll set right the things that you’re doing,
And if you’ll choose to straighten your paths,
I’ll settle you here in this place.
‘But you can’t rely on your lies anymore;
For they’ll be no help when you’re shouting,
O the Temple of Jehovah!
O the Temple of [God]!
‘You must change your deeds and your ways,
And get yourselves straightened out.
Each man must start being fair with his neighbors,
As well as with foreigners, orphans, and widows.
‘[No, you] may no longer be tyrants…
Innocent blood, don’t shed in this place…
And stop chasing after strange gods!
‘Then, [when you remove all this] badness,
I’ll bring you back to this land once again
That I gave to your fathers through the ages.
‘But now, you are trusting in words that are lies
And which will do you no good.
You commit adultery, murder, and steal,
And when you swear oaths, you are lying!
You also burn incense to BaAl,
And follow strange gods that you’ve never known.
‘So, though there’s just badness within you,
You still come and stand before Me
In the [Temple] that’s called by My Name,
And then dare to say, We are clean.
‘Hasn’t My House that’s standing before you
And which is called by My Name
Become just a den of thieves?
Look… this is what I have seen, says Jehovah!
‘Go to My old place in ShiLoh
Where I camped and placed My Name long ago,
And see what I did because of their badness
Before the faces of IsraEl, My people!
‘Now, because you are doing these things
About which I warned you, but you failed to hear…
The things that I shouted before you,
But to which, you failed to change;
I’ll do the same thing to this [Temple]…
The one that is called by My Name,
And upon which you have relied…
The Place that I gave to your fathers and you.
‘Yes, I’ll do the same as I did to ShiLoh…
I’ll throw you away from My face
Like I cast off your brothers (Ephraim’s seed).
‘Now, you must not pray for these people…
But don’t come and petition for mercy,
Nor approach Me with vows on their behalf…
For, I will not listen to you!
‘Don’t you see the things that they’re doing
In all the cities of Judah
And in JeruSalem’s streets?
‘The sons go out to gather the wood,
So their fathers can then light the fires
[To bake] the dough that their women knead
As cakes for the armies of the heavens.
‘They offer drinks to strange gods,
So they can provoke Me to rage…
Don’t they provoke Me to rage, asks Jehovah?
But, shouldn’t they be the ones who’re provoked
By the disgrace on their faces?
‘It’s because of this, says Jehovah,
That I’ll pour out My anger and rage on this Place…
Upon the men and their cattle…
Upon every tree in their fields,
As well as on the land’s produce.
This fire has been lit and it won’t be put out!
‘Jehovah said:
Gather up all your burnt-offerings,
As well as your other sacrifices,
Then go on and just eat all the meats!
‘For on the day that I led them from Egypt,
I didn’t ask your fathers to offer such things…
I didn’t really tell them to bring Me
Whole burnt offerings or other sacrifices.
‘The only instructions that I gave them
Was to pay attention to the things that I say!
For you’ll be My people and I’ll be your God
As long as you walk in My ways
And do whatever I tell you is good!
‘But, they didn’t listen to Me,
And their ears just paid no attention…
They followed the evil thoughts in their hearts
And became the butt not the head
From the day that their fathers left Egypt ‘til now.
‘So I sent them My servants the Prophets
Morning after morning and day after day.
But they still didn’t listen to Me…
Their ears just paid no attention,
And then they made their necks stiffer…
Yes, harder than those of their fathers.
‘So, go and tell them these things,
But they won’t listen to you…
Yes, call out to them, but they won’t respond.
‘Go tell them that theirs is the nation
That refused to hear the voice of its God…
They failed to believe or give heed
To the instructions that came from [My] mouth.
‘So, shear your [hair] and throw it away,
Then let your lips start to wail;
For Jehovah’s rejected and pushed away
The generation that has done all these things!
‘For, Jehovah says:
The sons of Judah are wicked before Me,
Since they’ve brought disgusting things to My House
And defiled the Place that is called by My Name.
‘They’ve built a shrine of Topheth for themselves
There in the Valley of Hinnom
Where they burn their sons and daughters in fire…
Something that I never told them to do
Or ever came into My heart.
‘Jehovah says,
{Look!} Because they’ve done this, the days have arrived
When, from the Valley of Hinnom’s sons
And the Shrine that they [built there to] Topheth,
Nothing more will ever be heard.
‘For their valley will soon be destroyed
And Topheth will thereafter be buried,
Since his place will no longer exist.
‘His people will also be dead,
And they’ll serve as food for the birds in the skies,
As well as for the wild beasts on the ground,
Since no one will come to chase them away.
‘From the cities of Judah, I’ll take them,
And I’ll remove them from JeruSalem’s streets.
Then all the sounds of joy will be gone,
And the voices of brides and grooms won’t be heard;
For the land will become desolation.
‘Then, during that time, says Jehovah,
Within the graveyards of JeruSalem,
They’ll dig up the bones of Judah’s kings,
As well as the bones of its rulers,
Along with the bones of its Prophets and Priests,
And the bones of the rest of the people,
And let them dry under the sun…
Yes, under the moon and the stars,
Beneath the armies of the heavens
That they have served and so loved…
Those whom they worshiped and followed,
And those before whom they have bowed.
‘Thereafter, they will not be lamented,
Nor will their bones be returned to their tombs…
They’ll just lie on the ground as examples…
For, rather than life, they chose death.
Then, all that remain of those generations
Will be laid wherever I choose.’
‘Then Jehovah asked:
Will the fallen not be resurrected…
Will those that rebelled not return?
‘Why did they choose My rejection
And hold so firmly to their resolve…
Why didn’t they wish to [live once again]?
‘So give ear and pay close attention;
For, since they’re not being told what is right,
None have repented their badness,
Nor have they asked what they have done wrong…
They’ve just stopped running the race
Like a horse that’s snorting and covered with sweat.
Well, storks in the skies know their time,
As do swallows and doves in the fields…
Even sparrows keep watch for their end.
Yet, my people do not understand
The judgments that Jehovah has made.
So, how can they say, We are wise,
And we have the Law of Jehovah?
For, all the lies that are written
By the quills of their scribes are in vain!
‘Now the wise are frightened and shamed
Because they’ve rejected My Word…
So what wisdom do they truly have?
‘For I’ll give their women to other men,
And I’ll leave their fields to other men’s heirs.
Since, from the small to the great,
They have chased after money;
And from prophets to priests, they’ve all lied!
‘They’ve dishonored the daughters of My people,
And they shout, Peace! Peace! when there’s really no peace!
‘So, by the disgusting things that they’re doing,
They have brought shame on themselves…
Yet they’re not ashamed of their shame…
They refuse to know any shame!
‘And because of this, they will fall
Along with the rest that will fall…
In the time of My visit, they’ll fall, says Jehovah.
And they will reap what they’ve [sown].
‘Now, there are no grapes on the vines,
And there are no figs on their trees…
Even the leaves have dropped off.
‘So, why are you just sitting there…
You should flee to the fortified cities!
But there, you will be turned away,
Because your God has disowned you.
‘Then, bile you’ll be given for water,
Because you have sinned against [God].
And though you will gather for peace,
You will not receive any peace…
Just worry when you really need healing.
‘Then from Dan, you’ll hear sounds of swift horses
(The sounds of snorting and those riding steeds)…
So many that the ground will be shaken.
‘They’ll come here and eat up your land
Along with everything in it…
The cities and all those that dwell there.
‘{Look!} I’ll send snakes against you to kill you
(The types that have never been charmed).
Then, they will incurably bite you,
Adding grief to hearts already disturbed.
‘Look! Hear these cries of the daughters of My people,
Which will come from far-away lands:
Isn’t Jehovah on Zion…
Don’t we have a king anymore?
‘But, they’ve provoked Me to rage
With their carvings of idols,
And by following many strange, worthless things.’
Now, though summer has already passed,
We’ve not received any harvest.
And about the destruction of the daughters of my people,
I’m perplexed and swallowed by darkness…
I’m in labor like a woman about to give birth.
For in GileAd, there aren’t any ointments,
Nor do they have any doctors.
So the daughters of my people will never be healed.
Who’ll provide enough water to come from my head
And feed the springs of tears from my eyes,
So that, day and night I can cry for my people,
And for the daughters of those who’ll be slain?
Who’ll provide me a hut in the desert
Where I can escape from them all?
For, they are committing adultery,
And they’re breaking their Sacred Agreement [with God].
‘Their tongues are stretched tight like bows,
As lies and mistrust increase in the land;
For, evil after evil is what they pursue,
And they no longer know Me, said Jehovah.
‘So each man must keep watch on his neighbor
And not rely on even his brother;
For their brothers will stomp them under their heels
And their friends will [try to] deceive them.
‘Now, they all [laugh at] their friends
And no way do they tell them the truth.
Since their tongues have learned to speak lies,
They do whatever is wrong,
And they feel no sorrow for the bad things they do.
‘They’re compounding interest on interest
And treachery upon treachery;
For they no longer wish to behold Me, says [God].
‘Because of this, says Jehovah of Armies;
{Look!} I’ll judge them and set them on fire!
For, what else can I possibly do
In the face of these wicked ways
Being done by the daughters of My people?
‘Their tongues are piercing like arrows,
And the words from their mouths are deceitful.
Though each one speaks peace to his neighbors;
Inside, they really feel hatred.
‘So, shouldn’t I pay them a visit, asks Jehovah,
And bring My vengeance upon them?’
‘[Thus, it’s time to] mourn for the mountains,
And time to wail for their desert roads…
They’re failing, because there aren’t enough men,
And they no longer hear sounds from the birds in the skies…
Why, even the cattle are gone!
‘Evacuation is coming to JeruSalem,
And she’ll become a home for wild beasts.
I’ve appointed extinction to the cities of Judah,
And they will no longer be lived in.
‘Now, who is the man that’s discerning?
Let him recognize this…
May the words of Jehovah be with him
So he can tell you the reasons
Why this land is being destroyed…
Being burned away into a desert
Where no one will thereafter live.
‘So Jehovah said:
Because they’ve abandoned My Law
That I set in front of their faces,
And they’ve paid no attention to My voice
As they chase after things that pleasure their hearts
(Things that are evil and idols,
Which their fathers had taught them to worship)…
On account of this, says IsraEl’s God
(Jehovah of Armies is His Name);
{Look!} Upon distress, I will feed them,
And I’ll make them drink bile for their water.
‘They’ll be scattered among many nations
That they and their fathers have never known;
For against them, I’m sending the sword
Until they’re completely consumed.’
‘Then Jehovah said:
You should call for the women that wail…
Yes, shout and tell them to come!
Send for all the wise women
And tell them that this is their time to speak out.
‘So, they should start their lamenting
And really bring tears to their eyes…
Cause water to flow from their eyelids!
For in Zion, this dirge will be heard:
‘How have we come to such misery?
We’re disgraced, for our land is abandoned
And our tents have been thrown away!
‘Yes, listen to this, O you women;
For, these are the words of your God!
Let your ears hear the words from His mouth,
Then teach this lament to your daughters…
Let each one teach her neighbors to wail!
‘For, death has crept in through your windows…
It has come to your land to wipe out your young
And remove the young men from your squares.
‘Then your men must die on the face of the plains,
To set an example for those in your land;
And just like grass that’s been mowed,
None will go out to collect them.
‘Then Jehovah said:
‘Don’t let the wise boast of their wisdom…
Don’t let the mighty boast of their strength…
Don’t let the rich boast of their wealth!
For when they boast, let them brag about this:
That they perceive Me and know Me…
That they know of My mercy and fairness,
And that I’ve judged this land to bring justice…
So these things being done, are My will, says Jehovah.
‘{Look!} For the days are coming, says Jehovah,
When I’ll visit the uncircumcised,
As well as the circumcised of Edom
(Those in Judah, Egypt, and Edom;
The sons of AmMon and MoAb…
All those that are shaving their faces
And those that live in the deserts).
For though the flesh of the nations is uncircumcised,
In their hearts, IsraEl is uncircumcised too.’
O house of IsraEl; Listen to the Word of Jehovah!
‘Don’t learn the ways of the gentiles
And don’t [follow] the [zodiac] signs…
These things that are feared by the nations,
For the customs of the nations are worthless!
‘An idol is a tree that they’ve cut from the woods,
Or it’s something that someone has cast [in a mold].
They adorn them with silver and gold,
And nail them in place with a hammer…
They [nail them tight] so they cannot move.
‘But they’re just carved pieces of silver…
So, they are unable to speak,
And they also have to be carried,
For they can’t lift themselves into place!
‘Thus, there is no reason to fear them,
For nothing in them can do bad or good.
They aren’t like You, O Jehovah;
For You’re great… and great is the strength of Your Name.
‘Who won’t fear You, O King of the Nations?
For to You come the wise from all lands;
Because, in each of their kingdoms,
They have no gods that are like You.
[For their idols] are foolish and thoughtless,
Since trees can just teach foolish things.
‘It’s by the hands of skilled goldsmiths
That silver from TarShish is melded
Into gold that comes from Uphaz…
But it’s all just the workings of craftsmen!
Then they deck those things in purple and blue.
‘As the result, tell them this:
Let these gods that didn’t make the skies or the ground
Be destroyed from all lands under heaven!
For, it was Jehovah who made the earth…
By His might, He erected man’s home.
Then, in His intelligence and wisdom,
Above it, He stretched out the heavens.
‘He gathers all the waters under the skies
And [assembles] the clouds to the ends of the earth.
He made the lightning and rain,
And from His treasuries, He brings forth the winds.
‘The knowledge of men, He disgraces;
And goldsmiths are shamed by the idols they carve.
For false gods are just cast in ovens,
And there is no spirit within them.
‘They are foolish works that are made to be mocked;
And in that time [when God] comes to visit,
They will all be destroyed.
‘But this isn’t the portion of Jacob;
For the One that shaped everything
(IsraEl’s inheritance and scepter)
Is named Jehovah of Armies!
And from the [nations], He will gather supporters
Who will dwell among His elected.’
Then the Lord said:
‘{Look!} I’ll stumble those that live in this land,
And squeeze them to [show all that they’ve done].
So, woe to you, for you’ll be destroyed,
And your wounds will be very painful.’
Then I said: ‘But I’ve already been wounded… and this has surely come from you!For my tent is in such a miserable condition that it is almost totally destroyed… its coverings of skins have been ripped apart, my sons and my sheep are all gone, there are no walls for my tent, and I have no place to store its leather!Even my shepherds have been acting stupidly. For since they’ve also failed to search for Jehovah, they’ve allowed all of my sheep to be scattered and confused in their pastures.
‘{Look!} We’ve received a report that the sounds of great shaking can be heard from the land in the north, and that orders have been given to wipe out our cities… to scatter us like the nest of an ostrich!
But I know, O Lord, that our people don’t know the right way to go, and we don’t even know how to walk a straight path.So, correct us in fairness, O Lord… don’t send your rage and allow only a few of us to remain!Pour out your rage on the nations [instead]… on those kingdoms that really don’t know you, and on those that don’t call on [God’s] Name. For IsraEl has already been completely consumed, all of our pastures lie desolate, and now they’re getting ready to come and consume the rest of Jacob!’
Then these words came to JeremiAh from the Lord. He said:
‘Listen to these words about [God’s] Sacred Agreement,
And then read them to the people of Judah,
As well as to those in JeruSalem.
This is what IsraEl’s God Jehovah declared:
‘Cursed is the man that pays no regard
To the words of the Sacred Agreement
That I made with your fathers
On the day that I led them from Egypt…
From out of that furnace of iron.
‘If you’ll pay close attention to My voice
And do all the things that I tell you to do,
You’ll be My people and I’ll be your God.
I’ll reestablish My oath
(The oath that I swore to your fathers)
To give them this land of honey and milk
That has flowed to them to this day.’
And I replied, ‘May it be so, O my Lord.’
And the Lord said to me:
‘Read these words in the cities of Judah
And at JeruSalem’s [gates].
Then, tell them to pay close attention
To the words of the Sacred Agreement,
And be sure to obey them!
‘For, we bore witness together,
And I’ve testified to your fathers
From the day that I led them from Egypt
Down to this very day…
I came to them early each morning
In order to witness to them.
I told them to hear the words of my voice!
But, they wouldn’t listen or turn an ear…
They just followed the bad thoughts in their hearts.
‘Though they agreed to the words of this Contract
And to the things that I said they must do;
Thereafter, they just didn’t do them.
‘So, because of this, tell them that thus says Jehovah:
A conspiracy has been found among Judah’s men
And among those that live in JeruSalem!
To their father’s bad ways, they’ve returned…
The ways of those that had lived before them,
And who also refused to listen to Me.
{Look!} For, those in the houses of IsraEl and Judah
Are following and serving strange gods…
They’ve annulled My Agreement with their fathers!
‘And because of this, says Jehovah;
{Look!} I’ll bring an evil upon them
That they won’t be able to end.
‘Then, once again, they’ll start calling to Me,
But this time, I will not listen.
And [what happens to] those in the cities of Judah,
Will [be worse] than for those in JeruSalem.
‘So then, they’ll have to call to their gods…
Those to whom they burn incense…
Those that can’t save them in times of [distress].
‘Now, each town in Judah has its own gods,
And there are shrines on all of JeruSalem’s streets
Where they burn incense to BaAl.
‘So, you must not pray for these people…
Don’t beg or petition for them!
For when they call, I won’t listen
In their time of distress.
‘Now, disgusting things are done in My House
By those for whom I’ve shown love!
So, will vows and holy meat atone for their bad…
Are they putting their hope in such things?
‘As a pretty olive tree providing much shade
Was the sight of those that called on His Name.
Then I heard the sound of it being chopped down…
It was lit on fire [and burned]…
So her tender branches were wasted.
‘Yet, it was planted by Jehovah of Armies…
The One against whom they spoke evil.
So, on the houses of IsraEl and Judah
There also came very bad things
That they brought on themselves by provoking His rage…
By their burning incense to BaAl.’
[But I said]: ‘O Lord; please tell me about it so I’ll know, because you’re the only one that is fully aware of what they’re doing!However, I’m just an innocent lamb that doesn’t know he’s being led to the sacrifice; for they’re even plotting and making plans against me, saying:
Come, let’s give him wood for his bread…
From the land of the living, let’s wipe him away,
And make sure that his name is forgotten!
‘O Jehovah of Armies; Please judge them fairly over such things… try their kidneys and hearts! May I [live to] see Your punishment on them… but remember that I’ve acted uprightly.’
It was because of this that the Lord then replied concerning the men of AnathOth that were seeking my life. For these were the ones that were saying to me,
‘Don’t prophesy in the Name of Jehovah anymore, for if you do, we’ll kill you!’
So concerning them, Jehovah of Armies said this:
‘Look! I’ll pay them a visit,
Then, all their young men will die by the sword,
And their sons and daughters will starve.
‘None of them will remain;
For, to those that are living in AnathOth,
I will be bringing what’s bad
In the year that I come to visit.’
[And I said]:
‘You are righteous, O Lord; so, let me plead my case before You, and I’ll leave it for you to decide.
‘Why do the irreverent [seem to] succeed,
And the wicked and disrespectful continue to prosper?
Yet, they were planted and rooted by you,
And they produced children and fruitage.
So it seems as though you are near to their mouths
But far away from their kidneys.
‘You know me, O Lord,
And before you, my heart has been tried.
So, may they be gathered like flocks
That are dedicated for slaughter!
‘How long will the land have to mourn
And all the grass in the fields become dry
Because of their evil deeds?
Though they offer God cattle and birds,
They say He doesn’t see what they’re doing.’
[And the Lord replied]:
‘Since your feet get so tired when they run,
How can you be ridden like a horse?
Why have you trusted that there will be peace
And why do you whinny for the JorDan?
‘For, even your brothers and the house of your father
Have failed to pay attention to you…
Behind your back, they are yelling at you!
So, don’t trust them when they speak kind words.’
[And I said]:
‘I have abandoned my home…
My inheritance, I have forsaken…
And into the hands of her enemies
I’ve given the love of my life.
‘For [she], (my inheritance) has now become
Like a lion that lives in the woods…
She roared, so I started to hate her.
‘She’s become a den of hyenas,
And [this den] is now her protection.
So, gather to her the beasts of the fields
And let them go there to eat her!’
[And the Lord replied]:
‘Many shepherds have corrupted my vineyard…
Yes, they have tainted my portion…
They’ve turned my portion into a land that’s unwalked!
‘So, destruction and extinction is what I have planned.
And because of me, the land will all be destroyed.
Yet, the people have failed to take this to heart.
‘Then, through every pass in the desert
Will come those that bring misery…
Those that will use my sword to consume.
And from one end of the land to the other;
There won’t be any peace for all flesh.
‘For, though I once planted wheat there,
Thorn-bushes is all that it [grew]…
So, all of my efforts were wasted.
Therefore, be ashamed of your prideful words
And for speaking in scorn to Jehovah!’
Then the Lord said:
‘When it comes to the wicked around you
(Those that have touched my belongings…
IsraEl, my people and portion);
{Look!} From their land, I will take them away…
I’ll uproot the people of Judah.
‘But, after I drive them away,
I will also let them return,
And I will show mercy upon them.
Yes I’ll let them return and resettle
In the land they received from their fathers…
I’ll return each one to his [home].
‘And if my people should learn the right way
Then start swearing their oaths by [God’s] Name…
If they’ll say, As Jehovah is living,
As they’re now swearing by BaAl;
I’ll let them return and rebuild their homes.
‘But, if they should choose not to return,
I will lift that nation away…
I’ll remove them and then I’ll destroy them,’ said the Lord.
Then the Lord said:
‘Now, go buy a loin cloth of linen,
And thereafter, wrap it around you…
But, do not wash it in water.’
So I went out and bought the loincloth, just as I was told by the Word of Jehovah, and I wrapped it around my loins.Then the Word of Jehovah came to me a second time saying:
‘Now you should take off the loincloth
(The one that you’ve wrapped ‘round your loins),
Then get up and go to the River EuPhrates,
And hide it in a hole among rocks!’
So I went and hid it by the EuPhrates, just as the Lord had told me to do.
Then after many days, the Lord said to me:
‘Now, get up and go back to the River EuPhrates…
Go search and bring back that loincloth…
The one that I told you to hide there.’
So I went back to the EuPhrates and dug up the loincloth from the place where I’d hidden it… and {Look!} it was ruined… there’s no way that it could have been used after that!
Then the Word of Jehovah came and told me,‘This is what Jehovah has said:
‘Like this, I’ll corrupt the insolence of Judah
Because of JeruSalem’s insolent ways…
The insolence of those that don’t wish to obey…
Those that follow in the wicked ways of their hearts
By chasing and serving strange gods,
Then bowing to their faces before them.
‘They will become like this loincloth,
Which will never be useful again.
For, just as this cloth hugs the loins of a man,
I’ve stuck by the houses of IsraEl and Judah, says Jehovah.
‘They’d have been a famous people to Me
And a reason for boasting and glory…
But they have paid Me no heed!
‘So, speak these words to those people…
Say that IsraEl’s God Jehovah says this:
Your leather bags will be filled with wine!
‘And when they ask,
Don’t you think that we already know
That our leather bags will be filled with wine?
Why have you have said this to us?
‘Tell them that thus says Jehovah:
{Look!} I’ll fill those in this land with strong drink…
Their kings (David’s sons) that sit on their thrones,
As well as their priests and their prophets,
Along with all those living in Judah
And those that live in JeruSalem.
‘Then, I will send them away…
Each man will be torn from his brother,
And all sons will be torn from their fathers.
And thereafter, I will not miss them, says Jehovah…
I won’t spare them or pity their ruin.’
So, hear this… yes listen, and then give up hope!
For, this is what the Lord said:
‘Give glory to Jehovah, your God…
Give glory before it gets dark…
Before your feet stumble amid mountain shade
Where you’ll wait for light in the shadow of death,
But where you will only find darkness!
‘For, if you choose not to listen,
You’ll weep in secret, because of your pride;
And there, your eyes will shed tears
For the scattered flock of Jehovah.
‘Now, go and say this to your king:
Your rulers must sit down and humble themselves,
For their wreaths of glory will be knocked from their heads.
‘The cities toward the south will be also closed,
And not be opened again.
Then the people of Judah will be resettled
In a complete relocation.
‘So, raise your eyes, O JeruSalem,
And see what’s coming to you from the north!
‘And where is the flock that was given to you…
[Yes, where are] the sheep of your glory?
What will you say when those people arrive
And you’ll have to teach them hard lessons
Against yourselves and your rule?
‘Won’t labor pangs then control you
As though you’re a woman about to give birth?
‘And if you should ask in your heart,
Why has this happened to me?
It’s because your sins have been great!
So your butt will now be uncovered
To be an example to your heels.
‘If Ethiopians could change their skin color
Or leopards could change all their spots;
You’d also be able to do what is good
And learn [not to do] any evil.
‘So, your people will be scattered by [God]…
Like twigs that are blown in the desert by winds.
Yes, this is your portion and lot,
Because of the ways you’ve opposed [Him], said the Lord.
‘For, you forgot [Him] and trusted in lies.
So, to your faces, I’ll now show your butts…
Your dishonor will be exposed before all.
‘Yes I’ve seen your snorting and adultery…
Your disgusting acts and the whoring
That you’ve done in your hills and in all your fields.
‘So, woe to you, O JeruSalem,
Because you’re too dirty to follow me,
And for you, there’s no hope any longer!’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me (JeremiAh) to [speak about] the drought. [For I had said:]
‘Judah is mourning, for her gates are now empty,
And the land is enveloped in darkness,
As cries are ascending from JeruSalem.
‘Her great ones send young men for water,
Who find nothing when they get to the wells;
So, all they bring back is just empty jars.
‘The works in the land have failed also,
For there hasn’t been any rain.
So the farmers are shamed and they cover their heads.
And when the hinds in the prairies give birth,
They just abandon their young…
For there’s not enough [grass] in the fields.
‘Wild burros in the woods must suck wind;
And because there is so little hay,
The eyes of the wild beasts have failed.
‘Because of our sins, [You’ve] opposed us, O Lord;
But, help us for the sake of Your Name.
However, our errors are many,
And we’re [guilty] of sinning against You.
‘But Jehovah;
You are IsraEl’s endurance…
In hard times, You’ve been our Savior.
So, why are You being a stranger to us…
Like a native-born son on vacation?
‘Are You like a man that is sleeping,
Or someone that is able to save us?
For, You’ve been among us, O Lord,
And we are called by Your Name;
So, You should never forget us!
And the Lord replied concerning these people:
‘They’ve [sinned] and they have spared no one;
So, God hasn’t prospered their ways,
And because He is now recalling their sins…
For their errors, He’s coming to visit.’
Then the Lord told me:
‘Don’t request good things for these people;
For, when they fast, I won’t hear their prayers.
And if they should bring sacrifices,
I won’t look kindly upon them.
Rather, I’ll finish them off with the sword,
And to the rest, I will then send a famine.’
And I said:
‘O Great Being… O Lord; our prophets have said that we won’t ever see the sword and that we’ll never go hungry… rather, they’re saying that You’re going to bring peace to our land!’
And then the Lord said this to me:
‘Those that prophesy such in [God’s] Name
Are just telling them lies;
For, I did not really send them,
Nor did I tell them what they should say.
‘So the visions that they have are all lies;
And the signs and omens that they prophesy,
Are just things that come from their hearts.
‘Therefore, this was said by Jehovah:
You must tell those that prophesy lies in My Name
(Those whom I didn’t send)…
[Because you’ve said] that famine and the sword
Will never come to this land;
You prophets will die by diseases,
And I’ll finish what’s left by starvation!
‘Yes, you who are telling such stories
Will all die by the sword and by famine;
Then your bodies will be tossed in JeruSalem’s streets.
‘You won’t be buried in tombs…
Nor will your wives, sons, or daughters.
For I’ll pour your own badness upon you!
‘Then tell them that Jehovah said this:
Your eyes will be filled with tears day and night…
For you will never stop crying!
To the daughters of My people will just come defeat…
Yes, they will be horribly beaten!
‘So, when you go out to the fields,
You’ll see those cut down by the sword.
And when you enter the cities,
You’ll see the misery of famine.
Then, to lands that you’ve never known,
They’ll carry you prophets and priests!’
[And I asked:]
‘Are you saying that Jehovah has rejected all of Judah and that He has removed His Soul from Zion? Why is He striking us instead of healing us? For though we’ve been waiting for peace, nothing good has happened… [we’ve been waiting for] healing, but things are just getting worse!
‘O Lord, we’re aware of our errors and the sins of our fathers… yes we know that we’re guilty of sins before You.But please back off because of Your Name… don’t destroy Your glorious throne! Please remember Your Sacred Agreement… please don’t wipe it away!For, which idol of the nations can bring rain… which one can bring what they say they can bring from the skies? Who other than You can accomplish such things… [who other than] our God Jehovah? Therefore, we’ll continue to wait upon You, since You’re the One that created it all!’
And then the Lord said to me:
‘If you’d stand SamuEl and Moses before me…
Even for them, my soul wouldn’t change.
So, send these people away from my face…
Yes, let them [be carried away]!
And if they should ask, Where are we going?
You should tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘As many as are [appointed for] death
[Are the numbers of those] that will die;
As many as are [appointed] to the sword
[Are the numbers of those] that will die by the sword;
As many as are [appointed] to famine
[Are the numbers of those] that will starve;
And as many as are [appointed] to be captives
[Are the numbers of those] who’ll be carried away.’
‘And Jehovah said:
I will take vengeance in 4 different ways:
· They’ll be put to death by the sword
· They’ll be torn to pieces by dogs
· They’ll serve as prey for wild beasts
· They’ll be rotting flesh for the birds in the skies.
‘To many distresses, I’ll hand them
To all the kingdoms throughout the earth
Because of ManasSeh, king of Judah
(The son of King HezekiAh),
And for all that he did in JeruSalem.
‘O JeruSalem; who will spare you?
Yes, who will be timid against you,
And who will say, May you have peace?
For to Me, you have now turned [your backs], says Jehovah.
So now, you will be [forced to] retreat;
‘Then I’ll stretch out My hand to destroy you
And I will not spare you thereafter.
‘I’ll scatter and disperse those inside the gates,
And they will all become childless…
They’ll destroy My people, because they’re so bad.
‘Then there’ll be more widows than the sands of the seas…
For to mothers of young men, I’ll send misery…
I’ll bring trembling and anxiety upon them at noon.
‘So the one that bore 7 will have none,
For their lives will meet with misfortune
And their sun will have set at midday.
They’ll be disgraced and berated,
And I’ll hand what’s left to the sword, says Jehovah.’
So, woe to you, O mother that bore me;
For I’ve become a man that must judge
And bring bad things to this land.
Yet, none of this will benefit me,
Since no one has offered to help me,
And I’ve been weakened by all those that curse me.
So may it be, O Jehovah the Almighty…
May they get no help in their time of distress,
And may their enemies bring them no good.
Let them know that [You are like] iron
And Your strength is like a robe made of brass.
[Then the Lord said this concerning the people]:
‘Because of the sins in your borders,
I’ll hand all your treasures to them.
Before them, you all will be slaves,
And you’ll live in lands that you’ve never known.
For a fire will start burning among you,
Which will be lit by my rage.’
But Lord; please do not forget me…
Save me from those that pursue me…
Please don’t hold back [Your hand],
Since it’s because of You, that I’m hated
By those that don’t want to hear what You’ve said.
If You’ll completely finish them off,
Your words will bring joy to my heart.
For, O Jehovah the Almighty;
I’m a man that is called by Your Name!
I don’t sit among those that have mocked You,
And before Your hand, I was cautious.
I sat by myself all alone
Filled with great indignation.
But, why do You allow those that bring grief to win?
For my wounds by them have been so severe…
And now, where can I go to get healed?
Yes, to me, this is untested water…
It’s something that I cannot trust.
Then the Lord said:
‘If you should ever return [to this land],
I’ll return everything that you’ve owned,
And before my face, you’ll stand once again.
‘But now, you must separate those that are worthy
From all the rest that are not,
And you must serve as my mouth.
‘And though they may come before you,
You must not go before them.
For, to these people, I’ve made you
A fortified wall of forged brass.
‘So, though they’ll wage war against you,
They won’t be able to beat you,
Because I am here and I’ll save you.
‘Yes, I’ll rescue you from their hands,’ said [the Lord]…
‘From the hands of the wicked, I’ll save you…
I’ll ransom you from these cursed people.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘Don’t take another wife in this place
And don’t father more daughters or sons.
For, concerning the sons and the daughters
That have been born in this place…
And concerning the mothers that gave them birth,
And those in this land that are fathers,
[Your God Jehovah says this]:
‘They’ll die by death and disease,
And not be entombed or lamented…
As examples, they’ll lie on the face of the ground!
‘Most will fall by the sword,
And starvation will kill all the rest.
Their corpses will serve as food for wild beasts
And for the birds in the skies.’
And the Lord told me:
‘Don’t join in their [funeral processions],
And for them, don’t mourn or lament,
Since I’m the one that took peace away,
Along with compassion and mercy.
‘So the great and the small of this land will all die
And they won’t be lamented or buried…
No one will beat their chests over them,
Nor cut on themselves or shave their heads.
‘No way will there be feasts of mourning…
No bread will be broken to console
Those that are mourning their dead.
Nor will any drinks be provided
For the deaths of their fathers and mothers.
‘So don’t enter their homes for a banquet…
Don’t sit beside them to eat or to drink;
For thus says Jehovah, IsraEl’s God:
‘{Look!} Before your eyes, I’ll remove them,
And during your [life, this will happen].
There’ll be no sounds of gladness or joy,
Nor the voices of grooms and their brides.
‘Now, when you say this to the people, they’ll ask:
Why has Jehovah pronounced such bad things…
What wrongs have we really done…
How have we sinned against God?
‘And this must be your reply:
It’s because your fathers have left Me, says Jehovah;
And they have followed strange gods…
They bowed before them and served them…
They’ve abandoned Me and not kept My Laws…
And you’re more wicked than them!
‘{Look!} For you’ve chased all the evil that pleases your hearts,
And you have refused to obey Me.
So I’ll drive you away from this land
To a land that is strange to your fathers and you,
Where you’ll serve strange gods day and night…
Those that will show you no mercy!
‘Yes, because of this, days will come when they’ll say,
As Jehovah is living…
The One that led IsraEl from Egypt.
But then, they will also be saying:
As Jehovah is living…
The One that led IsraEl back
From the lands in the north,
And from everywhere else they were taken.
For then, I will bring them back to their land…
This land that I gave to their fathers.
‘{Look!} To them, I will send men that fish, says Jehovah,
And they will go fishing for them.
I will also send out the hunters
Who’ll hunt for them on the mountains and hills
And even in holes among rocks.
‘But My eyes are now watching their ways,
So they can’t hide their offenses from Me.
And it’s because of all their unrighteous ways…
For the sins with which they’ve ruined My land…
For the disgusting things of their rotting flesh
And for filling My inheritance with their lawless deeds,
That I will pay them back double!
‘But thereafter, they will be saying,
O Jehovah, our helper and strength…
Our refuge during hard times…
To You, all the nations will come
From the ends of the earth.
‘And they will also be saying:
How false were the idols that our fathers acquired;
Because, in them, there was no hope at all…
Though each man made his own gods,
None of these really proved to be gods.
‘{Look!} At that time, I will show them My hand…
Yes, I will show them My might.
Then they’ll learn that My Name is Jehovah!’
‘Thus says Jehovah:
All the sins of Judah have been inscribed
With a stylus of iron…
In the tablets of their hearts, they’ve been clawed,
And upon the horns of their altars.
‘So their sons will remember their altars,
As well as their sacred poles,
Which were found under every tree in the woods
And upon every high hill.
‘And on the mountains, there in your plains,
I will give your wealth and treasures as loot
For the sins [you’ve committed] upon these high peaks.
‘Then the inheritance that I gave to you will be gone,
And you’ll have to serve people that hate you
In a land that you’ve never known.
For you’ve kindled the fire of My wrath,
Which will blaze against you through the rest of this age.’
Then the Lord said:
‘Cursed is the man that has any hope;
For, though his flesh is still on his arms,
His heart is far from Jehovah.
So he’ll be like a tree in the desert,
And when good things arrive, he won’t see them.
For in a desert of salt, he’ll be planted…
In a brackish land, where no one has lived.
‘But, praised is the man that relies on the Lord
And puts his hope in Jehovah.
For he’ll be like a tree planted near water
That shoots its roots into moisture.
‘He’ll have no fear of sweltering heat
And grow fat like a tree in the woods.
He’ll have nothing to fear in the year of the drought,
And he’ll keep on producing good fruit.
‘Since hearts are the deepest of things,
Who can know [what’s inside] a man?
But, I can examine the hearts,
And I also put the kidneys on trial,
Then repay each one for his ways
By the fruits of the things that he’s done.
‘As a partridge calls out to [eggs] that won’t hatch,
Is the man that is rich but unfair.
For in the last half of his days,
He will lose all his wealth…
And this [will prove] that he’s been a fool.’
[O Lord];
Our Holy Place is Your glorious throne,
Which we’ve held in esteem since most ancient times.
But, IsraEl now awaits the disgrace
That will come upon those that have left You.
So, may the names of those who’ve rebelled
Be written deep under the ground,
Since they’ve left their Lord and the source of their life!
Make the Sabbath days holy again…
Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed…
Save me and I’ll be delivered,
For, You are my reasons for boasting!
They ask, ‘Where is this Word of Jehovah?
May [whatever He says] come upon us!’
But I’ve never tired of following You,
And I’ve had no desire to do what they’ve done.
You know all the things that have come from my lips…
Before Your face, they’re all here!
So, please don’t push me away…
Protect me when that bad day arrives!
May those that chase me be shamed,
And may I not bring disgrace on myself.
Though they may come to know terror,
May terror never come upon me.
Yes, bring that bad day upon them…
Double the destruction upon them!
And then the Lord said this to me:
‘Go stand at the gates of the sons of your people
(The gates through which kings of Judah now walk …
Those gates through which they must pass).
Yes, go and stand at each of those gates,
And this is what you should tell them:
‘O you kings of Judea…
You kings of Judah and JeruSalem
And all the rest that enter these gates;
Hear the Word of Jehovah!
‘For Jehovah has said you can save yourselves
By not carrying loads here on the Sabbaths…
Don’t carry anything through JeruSalem’s gates
Or from your homes on the Sabbaths.
He told you not to do any work,
And to keep the Sabbath days holy;
Since, that’s what He told your fathers to do!
‘But, they’ll not turn and listen to you…
They’ll have stiffer necks than their fathers…
They’ll not pay attention or do what you say.’
Then the Lord [told me to say this to them]:
‘If you will just listen to Me
And not carry goods through these gates on the Sabbaths…
If you’ll treat the Sabbaths as holy
By refusing to do any work;
Then, kings and rulers will enter these gates
Who will still sit upon David’s throne.
‘They’ll come through here with horses and chariots,
And I will appoint them the rulers
Of Judah and JeruSalem…
Then they’ll settle in this city through the ages.
‘And at that time, [the people] will come
From Judah and JeruSalem.
And from BenJamin’s land they’ll come also…
From the mountains and fields in the south.
‘Here they’ll be bringing burnt-offerings,
Along with incense and frankincense,
As well as offerings of praise and thanksgiving…
Here to the Temple of Jehovah.
‘But, if you should choose not to listen
And not treat My Sabbaths as holy…
If you continue to lift and tote loads
Through JeruSalem’s gates on the Sabbaths;
I’ll kindle a fire inside of these gates
To devour JeruSalem’s plazas…
A fire that won’t be extinguished!’
This message came to JeremiAh from Jehovah.He said:
‘Get up and go to the house of the potter
And hear the words that I’ll say there.’
So I went to the house of the potter, and {Look!} there I found the man making a [pot] on his stone.However, the pot that he was making then fell apart, so he reshaped it into one that he was pleased with.
It was then that the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘Now, Jehovah is asking this question:
O House of IsraEl;
Can’t I shape you in the same way
That the potter just [reshaped this pot]?
For, O house of IsraEl;
Like clay in the hands of a potter
Is what you are in My hands.
‘So, when I speak of bringing an end
To any nation or kingdom,
And I plan to destroy them and lift them away;
If the nation should turn from the bad,
I can then change My mind
About the bad things that I’d planned.
‘And when I speak of building a nation or kingdom,
And they [choose to be] wicked before Me,
Refusing to hear what I say;
About the good things of which I had planned,
I can then change My mind.
‘So, say this to those men of Judea
And to those that live in JeruSalem…
Tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘{Look!} I will shape bad things against you
And devise against you, a plot,
Unless you turn from your evil ways
And change your bad ways to good!
‘Yet, this is what they’ll say in reply:
We’ll act like men and do as we please…
We’ll do whatever is bad in our hearts!
‘And because of this, thus says Jehovah:
Go and ask the gentiles this question:
Have you heard better reasons to shudder
Than what IsraEl, the virgin, has done?
‘Will snow leave the rocks on the mountains?
Will rain not fall when it’s blown by the wind?
Yet, because My own people forgot Me,
It’s in vain that they’re burning incense to Me,
And they’ll now grow weak in their paths.
‘On the roads of the ages, they will not walk;
For, since they don’t know the right way to go,
They’ve ordered extinction upon their own land…
A hissing [that will last] through the ages.
‘Then, all that go there will be stupefied,
And they will just shake their heads.
For, enemies will blow them away
As though they are flames in the wind…
Yes, I’ll show them the rear not the front
In the day that they’re being destroyed.’
Well after that, [the people] started saying:
‘We need to come up with a plot [to destroy] JeremiAh, for the Law won’t really pass away, nor will the wisdom or words of [our] prophets. Come on, let’s beat him on his tongue so we won’t have to listen to his words anymore!’
Hear me, O Lord; Hear the [results] of my righteous deeds!Should I be repaid with evil for the good [that I’m doing]? For right now they’re meeting and talking about doing something evil to my life!
Please remember [all the times] that I stood here before You and asked You to do good things for them… when I urged You to turn from Your rage against them!But now, because of [these things that they’re saying], please bring a famine upon all their sons and hand them over to those that are carrying swords! Let their women become childless and widows… may all of their husbands be killed, and may all their young men fall by the sword!let there be cries in their homes as You set looters upon them… for now they’re plotting to arrest me and they’re hiding snares to catch me!
Yes, You know, O Lord, that they’re planning to kill me; so don’t overlook their errors and sins, and wipe them away from before You. Let their failures always remain in Your [eyes], and then deal with them in the day of Your rage!
Well at that, the Lord said to me:
‘Go buy a shaped earthenware pitcher
From the elders of the people and the priests.
Then go to the graveyard of Hinnom’s sons
At the threshold of the East Gate,
And read all these words that I’ll tell you:
‘Say, O you kings of Judea,
And you who live in JeruSalem;
Hear the word of Jehovah!
For Jehovah of Armies, the God of IsraEl now says
That He’ll bring so many bad things to this place
That it will ring in the ears of those hearing about it.
‘For, they’ve left Him and [chosen] this place
Where they burn incense to their strange gods
(Gods that their fathers never knew).
And the kings of Judah have filled up this place
With the blood of innocent men.
‘Here, they’ve built [altars] to BaAl,
And they’ve burned their sons in a fire…
Something that God never spoke of
And which He never told them to do,
Or ever came into His heart!
‘And because of this, days will come, said the Lord,
‘When they’ll call this [The Valley] no longer,
Nor the Graveyard of Hinnom’s sons.
It’ll be called, The Graveyard of Slaughter!
‘For there, I’ll slay the counselors of Judah,
As well as those of JeruSalem…
Before their enemies, I’ll cut them down
Through the hands of those that are seeking their lives.
Then I’ll hand their dead to the birds as their food,
As well as to the wild beasts of the ground.
‘I’ll order the extinction of this city…
It’ll be just a place where hissing is heard.
And all that come here will look at it sadly,
Then whistle [when they see] its disaster.
‘Here they’ll eat the flesh of their daughters and sons,
And in their strongholds, the flesh of their neighbors,
When their enemies (those seeking their lives) have arrived.
‘Then, break that pitcher in front of their eyes,
And before those who’ve traveled there with you,
Then tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘This is how I will do it;
I’ll break your city and its people
Just like this pot has been shattered
So that it cannot be repaired.
Then they will be buried here in this place
Where [they now play] tambourines…
And there’ll be no other place to be buried.
‘Jehovah says:
This is what I will do to this place,
And to all those that live here…
I’ll hand this city to destruction…
Yes, all of JeruSalem’s homes
And the palaces of all of its rulers.
‘It will all fall into ruin
Because of the bad things they’ve done here.
For here, they’ve burned incense on roofs
To each of the [Zodiac signs],
And they’ve offered drinks to strange gods.’
Then JeremiAh left [the valley] where The Lord had sent him to prophesy, and he went and stood in the courtyard of the [Temple] of Jehovah and said this to all the people that were there:
‘Thus says Jehovah of Armies:
{Look!} I’ll bring calamity on this city
And to the rest of its cities and towns.
I’m bringing all of the evils that I’ve spoken against her;
For, you have hardened your necks,
And not listened to the instructions that I sent.’
Well, when PashUr, the son of ImMer the Priest (who had been anointed as the leader of the Temple of Jehovah) heard what JeremiAh was prophesying,he had him beaten and thrown into the dungeon near the Upper Gate of the House of BenJamin, which was near the Temple of Jehovah.
Then the next morning, as PashUr was leading JeremiAh out of the dungeon, JeremiAh said to him:
‘Jehovah won’t call your name PashUr anymore. Rather, He’s going to call you Refugee.Because, Jehovah says this:
‘{Look!} I will hand over you and your friends,
And you’ll be taken away from this place.
Then, each one will be cut down by enemy swords…
And your eyes will see it all happen.
‘Then I’ll hand over Judah to Babylon’s king,
And he’ll move the people away
Or cut them to pieces with swords.
‘I’ll remove the strength from this city
– All its works and all the king’s treasures –
And give them into their enemy’s hands.
‘Then to Babylon, they all will be led;
And you and all that live in your house
Will be taken to Babylon as captives,
And that is the place where you’ll die…
It’s where you’ll be entombed with your friends
To whom you prophesied lies.’
Then I said:
‘You’ve deceived me, O Lord… yes, I was truly deceived! Though You’ve held on and won, I’m the butt of their laughter every day and I’m the one at whom they’re all sneering!So from here on, I’m just going to laugh at the bitterness and call for more misery and rebellion, since all that speaking the word of Jehovah has brought me is scorn and taunting every day.’
And I said:
‘There’s no way that I’m going to [speak of] Jehovah anymore… I won’t even mention His Name!’
However, soon it became like a fire that burned and blazed in my bones and made me weak on the inside, until I was no longer able to bear it. [So I said:]
‘I’ve heard that they’ve said in their meetings,
We should all rise up against him…
Yes, let’s stand together against him
As well as against all his friends.
‘Let’s ignore what he says will be coming…
Yes, let him keep on being deceived.
For against him, we will prevail,
And then, we’ll take vengeance upon him.
‘However, Jehovah is with me,
As a warrior that’s making me strong.
So, they have chased me in vain…
And though they will all meet with shame,
They’ll fail to see their dishonor,
Which will not be forgotten through ages.
‘O Lord;
Try me according to Your righteous ways…
Examine my kidneys and heart.
May I witness Your punishment on them…
For before You, I’ve laid out my pleas for defense.
‘So, sing to Jehovah and praise Him,
Because He’ll save the lives of the poor
From the hands of those that have power!
‘O cursed is the day I was born…
May the day that my mother gave birth
Never be longed for again!
‘And may that person be cursed
Who brought this as news to my father:
Rejoice, for you have a male child!
May he be as the cities that did not repent
And were destroyed by Jehovah!
‘Let him hear their cries in the mornings,
As well as their shouting at noon!
For [God] failed to kill me in my mother’s womb
And let it serve as my tomb through the ages.
‘Why did I come from the womb…
Just to see all of this misery
And to spend all my days in such shame?’
The following are the words that came to JeremiAh from Jehovah after King ZedekiAh had sent PashUr (the son of MelchiAh) and ZephaniAh (the son of MaAseJah) the Priest to him to say this:
‘Go beg to Jehovah for us, because the king of Babylon has us surrounded. [Ask] if the Lord will send wonders and drive that king from [our walls].’
So the Lord then told JeremiAh,
‘Give this reply to King ZedekiAh:
‘I’ll turn back the weapons of war in your hands
That you’re using to fight those Chaldeans
Who have come to oppress you,
And that are outside of your walls;
Then, I’ll bring them into your city.
‘For, I will wage war against you
With My outstretched hand and My mighty arm
In [My] anger and rage.
‘I’ll strike all those that live in this city
In a slaughter of men and their cattle…
Yes, they will all be destroyed!
‘And then, said Jehovah,
I’ll hand over Judah’s King ZedekiAh,
As well as all of his servants,
Along with those that live in this city
Who’ll survive death from the famine
And the swords in the hands of those seeking their lives.
‘By the mouth of the sword, they’ll cut them to bits…
They will not spare or feel pity.
‘Then, speak to these people and tell them…
Yes, tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘{Look!} Before your faces, I’ve put life and death.
And those that stay in this city
Will die by famine or by the sword.
But those that leave to join the Chaldeans
(Those men that have you surrounded) will live…
Your [reward] will be your own lives!
‘For against this city, I’ve now set My face
To do just bad things, not good, says Jehovah.
It’s going to be handed to Babylon’s king,
And he will then burn it in fire.
‘O house of the kings of Judea;
Hear the Word of Jehovah!
And to you, the house of [King] David;
Against you, Jehovah said this:
‘In the morning, discuss the judgment on you,
And then get yourselves straightened out.
Rescue those being shredded
From the hands of those that are doing them wrong!
‘Don’t let My anger be lit like a fire;
For, after it has been kindled,
No one will come here to put it out!
‘Look… it’s Me that’s coming against
All you that live in these [mountains],
And you that live in the plains…
Those that have asked, Whom must we fear?
And, Who could enter our homes?
‘Yes, I am the One that is watching
And the One that will light the fire,
Which will burn everything that’s around [you]!’
Then the Lord said,
‘So now, go to the [palace] of Judah’s king,
And these are the words you must speak there:
‘O you king of Judea,
Hear the Word of Jehovah…
Yes, you who are sitting upon David’s throne…
You, as well as your servants,
And all the people that enter your gates!
‘Tell him that this is what was said by Jehovah:
You must [learn to] be righteous and fair,
And rescue those being plundered
From the hands of those who are doing them wrong!
‘Don’t tyrannize strangers, orphans, or widows…
Don’t be irreverent anymore…
And stop shedding innocent blood in this place!
‘For, if you [continue] doing such things,
Their kings will enter the gates of this house,
And on David’s throne, they will sit.
Yes, they, their children, and people
Will come here on chariots and horses!
‘If you choose not to listen to Me,
I swear this oath by Myself, says Jehovah:
On your house, I will bring desolation!’
‘And Jehovah said this against the [palace] of the king of Judah:
You’re the same as GileAd to Me;
For, you are Lebanon’s head.
So, shouldn’t I wipe you away
And leave your cities deserted?
‘I’ll bring annihilation upon you
By a man that carries the axe.
He’ll cut down all your fine cedars,
And throw them into a fire.
‘Then, nations will [march] through this city,
And each man will ask his companion,
Why did [God] let this happen?
And the other will give this reply:
Because they abandoned their Sacred Agreement
With Jehovah their God…
Because they bowed to and served other gods.
‘So don’t weep or feel sorry for those that will die…
Rather, weep for those who’ll be carried away.
For, they will never return
Or see the land of their fathers again.'
The Lord also said these words against ShalLum (JehoiAkim) the king of Judah (the son of [King] JosiAh), who reigned in place of his [brother] who’d been carried] off [to Egypt]. He said:
‘You will never return here,
And you’ll die where I’ll have you taken…
So this land will never see you again!
‘For your [palace] was built on injustice,
And unfairly, its rooms were constructed,
Since you made your neighbors work without pay…
You didn’t even pay them their wages!
‘A well-designed house, you’ve built for yourself,
With windows and good ventilation,
And cedar walls that are painted vermillion.
But, should you have started to rule
Because you disliked your father?
‘Of food and drink, he had plenty,
Because he was fair, honest, and just!
But, you have not [seen the need]
To judge the humble in fairness,
Or to be just with the poor!
Have you done this because you don’t know Me, asks Jehovah?
‘{Look!} There is nothing good in your eyes or your heart,
And your desire is just to gain wealth.
So, you are shedding innocent blood
And committing such evils as murder!
Then the Lord said this against JehoiAkim, king of Judah:
'Because of all that he’s done,
Woe [will come to] this man.
So let no one feel sorry for him,
And no one should wail, O my brother!
‘Over him, they should never weep,
Or say, Too bad for you, O my Lord!
For, he’ll be buried like a donkey…
He’ll be scraped up and tossed from JeruSalem’s [walls]!
‘Now, go up to Lebanon and shout…
Go to BaShan and call to the ends of the sea,
[And you’ll see that] your lovers have been beaten!
‘I’ve spoken to you of your sins,
And you said that you’d pay me no heed.
This has been your way since your youth…
You’ve paid no attention to my voice!
‘So your shepherds will just tend the wind,
And your lovers will be taken as captives.
Then, you’ll be shamed and disgraced
Before all of those with whom you’ve made love.
‘O you that call Lebanon [your home],
And you that nest among cedars;
You’ll groan like a [woman] about to give birth;
For, pangs of grief are coming to you!
‘As I live, says Jehovah;
King ConiJah (JehoiAkim’s son)
Will become a seal on My right hand;
For, from your place, I will take you
And hand you to the man that is seeking your life…
The one before whom you are cautious…
To the hands of King NebuChadNezzar
And to the hands of all his Chaldeans.
‘I’ll throw you and the mother that bore you
Into a land where you were not born…
And then you will die in that place!
So, to this land that’s the love of your life,
You will never return.
‘ConiJah will also meet with disgrace…
And like a pot [that’s been thrown] in the trash;
He’ll be thrown in a land that he’s never known.’
‘O land, hear the Word of Jehovah:
Record this king as one that’s been banished,
And thereafter, proclaim this in public:
Nothing will grow from his seed
That will ever sit upon David’s throne,
Or rule in Judah again!’
‘O you shepherds that scatter
And destroy the sheep of His pasture;
Against you, Jehovah said this…
He said this to those that shepherd His [sheep]:
‘You have scattered My sheep…
Yes, you have pushed them away
And refused to [watch over] them.
So, {Look!} I will take vengeance upon you
For the wicked things that you’ve done.
‘Then, from wherever they are on the earth,
I will gather them back
(Those that are left of My people)
From wherever they have been pushed,
And bring them [back] to their pastures,
Where they’ll multiply and grow once again.
‘Then, I will raise shepherds to tend them
So they won’t know terror or fear,
Nor will they have to be searched for again, says Jehovah.
‘Look! The days are now coming, says Jehovah,
When I’ll bring a righteous dawning to David,
And an understanding king will then reign,
Who’ll bring what’s righteous and fair to the land.
‘In his days, he’ll bring salvation to Judah,
And IsraEl will camp in submission.
Then the Lord will call him, Jehovah is Righteous.
‘And because of this, {Look!} days will come,’ said the Lord;
‘When they’ll not say, As Jehovah’s alive…
The One that led IsraEl from Egypt.
But rather, they will be saying,
As Jehovah is living…
The One that gathered back IsraEl’s seed
From the lands in the north,
And from everywhere else that they had been pushed…
And then, He returned them to their own land.
‘But their prophets have broken my heart…
Yes, they have rattled my bones.
I became like a person that’s broken,
Or as one that’s had too much wine
Before the face of Jehovah…
Before His beautiful, glorious face…
For the land is now full of adultery.
‘Because of this, the land is in mourning,
And all of its pastures have dried.
For their race has become wicked and weak,
And their prophets and priests are corrupt.
‘Yes, I saw their wicked ways in My [Temple], said Jehovah,
So I allowed them to slip into darkness,
Where they have stumbled and fallen!
Then, in the year that I come to visit,
I’ll bring more bad things upon them, says Jehovah.
‘Among Samaria’s prophets,
I beheld the violations of [My] Law.
For, it was by BaAl that they prophesied
To mislead IsraEl, My people.
‘Then, among the prophets in JeruSalem,
I also saw reasons to shudder.
For they committed adultery and lied,
While shaking hands with the wicked…
Not turning their hands from bad ways.
‘So, they are like Sodom to Me,
And like GomorRah, are the rest of those living there.
And because of this, says Jehovah to those prophets;
{Look!} I will feed you on grief,
And bitter water, I’ll give you to drink.
For, everywhere throughout the whole land,
JeruSalem’s prophets have brought what is foul.
‘So, thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
Don’t listen to the words of those prophets…
Those that speak prophecies before you.
For their visions prove how foolish they are,
And that what they speak just comes from their hearts,
Not from the mouth of Jehovah.
‘They are told by those that have pushed the Lord’s Word aside:
You will find peace if you’ll follow your hearts…
No evil will come to any of those
Who follow the delusions in their own hearts.’
O who has stood in the fort of Jehovah…
Who has beheld and heard what He said…
Yes, who has listened and paid close attention?
Look! A shaking will come from Jehovah…
His anger will arrive as a shaking;
Then a whirl-wind will come to the godless.
But this won’t turn back the rage of Jehovah
Until His heart has been satisfied.
And they won’t comprehend ‘til their days reach their end.
[For He said]:
‘Though I didn’t send those false prophets,
They came to you anyhow.
And though I’ve never spoken to them,
They have still prophesied.
‘If they had followed My council
And paid attention to what I had said,
My people would have turned from their wicked ways.
‘But, I am a God that is near,’ says Jehovah!
‘I’m not a God that is far away.
So, what can be hidden [from Me]…
What is the secret that I cannot see…
Weren’t the heavens and earth filled by Me,’ asks Jehovah?
‘Yet I’ve heard what those prophets have said…
Those that speak lies in My Name…
Those that say, This is what I saw in a dream!
‘How long will their lies still continue
To come from the hearts of those prophets…
How long will they prophesy lies,
And speak the things that their hearts desire?
‘They’ve come up with ways to forget My Name,
Then they use their dreams to describe to their neighbors
How [it was really] their fathers
That had forgotten My Name,
And then turned to the service of BaAl.
‘Let those dreaming prophets describe all their dreams!
And let those who say that they have My word
Describe what I truly have said!
‘As straw is to grain; so are My words,’ says Jehovah.
‘And aren’t My words like the flames of a fire,’ asks the Lord?
‘Aren’t they like an axe that cuts rocks?
‘Look! I am against all those prophets
Who steal My words from their neighbors.
Yes, I am against all those prophets,’ says Jehovah,
Who roll prophecies from their tongues,
While all they’ve really done is just sleep.
‘Look, I am against all those prophets
Who prophesy from their false dreams;
For, they are misleading My people
With all their lies and delusions!
‘No, I did not really send them,
Nor did I tell them to do this…
I gave them nothing to bring to these people,’ says Jehovah.
‘And if you are asked by these people
Or if you’re asked by their prophets or priests,
What is bothering Jehovah?
This is what you must tell them:
‘What bothers Me is you people,
For I’ll beat you down, says Jehovah…
You people, you prophets, and priests…
You who’ve dared to ask why I’m bothered!
So I’ll punish you men along with your homes!
‘Then each one will be asking his neighbor,
And each man will be asking his brother:
What was Jehovah’s reply…
What answer came from the Lord?
But don’t ask Jehovah about this again;
For the things that He said should be your concern,
Since you have twisted His words!
‘So, [in the future, when] those prophets ask,
What was said by Jehovah?
Because they’ve spoken these words once again;
I’ll send Jehovah’s concerns upon them!
For I told them that they shouldn’t be asking
What things Jehovah’s concerned with.
‘Yes, because they’ve done this again,
I’ll take them and beat them down in this land
That I once gave to their fathers.
Through the ages, I’ll place scorn upon them…
A dishonor that won’t be forgotten.’
Well, after NebuChadNezzar (the king of Babylon) had taken JeconiJah (the son of JehoiAkim) the king of Judah and the governors from JeruSalem as prisoners and led them into Babylon; The Lord showed me two reed baskets of figs sitting before the Temple of Jehovah.The first basket of figs was much fresher and better than the other, for the second basket of figs was so bad that they couldn’t be eaten.
Then the Lord asked me,
‘What do you see, JeremiAh?’
And I replied,
‘Figs… some are good, but the others are so rotten that they can’t be eaten.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, says this:
These good figs are like those Judeans
Whom I already sent away from this place
Into the land of Chaldea.
‘I will fix My eyes upon them for good,
And I’ll bring them back to this land…
I’ll rebuild them and not destroy them again…
I’ll plant them and not pluck them up.
‘I’ll give them hearts that will know Me…
So they’ll realize that I am their Lord.
Then they’ll be My people and I’ll be their God,
And with their whole hearts, they’ll turn back to Me.
‘But, when it comes to those bad figs
That no one could possibly eat…
Because he has made himself rotten, says Jehovah;
I’ll hand over King ZedekiAh
Along with all his great men.
‘Then the rest of the people in JeruSalem
And those who’ve remained in this land,
As well as all those [fleeing to] Egypt,
Will be scattered throughout the whole earth.
‘As a parable of hatred, they will be scorned
And cursed everywhere that I’ll push them.
Upon them, I will bring famine,
As well as plagues and the sword,
Until they’ve been forced out of this land
That I gave to their fathers and them.’
Well, it was in the 4th year [of the reign] of JehoiAkim (the son of JosiAh) the king of Judah that these words came to JeremiAh concerning all the people of Judah. And then, during the 1st year [of the reign] of NebuChadNezzar (the king of Babylon),the Prophet JeremiAh went and spoke to all the people of Judah and to those that were living in JeruSalem. This is what he said to them:
‘From the 13th year of JosiAh (the son of Amon) – for [the past] 23 years – Jehovah’s word has been coming to me, and I’ve been getting up early each morning to tell you [what God has said]. However, you just haven’t listened.[So now, Jehovah says this]:
‘Every morning, I sent you My servants the Prophets,
But your ears refused to listen to them,
And you chose to pay no attention.
‘They told you to turn from your wicked ways,
And then, you’d continue to live in the land
That I gave to your fathers and you
Through the age and into the ages.
‘I told you not to follow strange gods…
Not to serve them or bow down before them,
So you wouldn’t provoke Me to rage
With these things that you made with your hands,
And I wouldn’t bring bad things upon you…
However, you just wouldn’t listen!
‘So because of this, says Jehovah…
Since you didn’t trust the things that I said;
{Look!} I’ve called for a family that lives in the north
And led them down to this land…
I’ve brought them against those that live here
And against the nations roundabout,
To bring desolation upon you…
They’ll appoint you to extinction, hissing, and scorn
Throughout [the rest of] the age.
‘They’ll destroy the sounds of happiness and joy…
The voices of grooms and their brides,
As well as the scent of lamps and perfumes.
‘There’ll be an extinction throughout the whole land,
Then you’ll serve that nation for 70 years…
As well as Babylon’s king.
‘And after the 70 years are fulfilled;
On the king of Babylon and his wicked nation,
I will then bring My vengeance
For the unrighteous things that they’ll do, says Jehovah.
‘I’ll appoint the land of Chaldea
To extinction throughout the rest of the age.
And against that land, I’ll bring all the words
That I have spoken against them…
All the things that JeremiAh will write in this scroll,
And which he will speak against them!
‘For, they will force many nations,
And their great kings to serve them.
Then I’ll pay them back for the bad things they’ll do…
According to the works of their hands.’
‘Then Jehovah the God of IsraEl said:
Take this cup of pure wine from My hand
And give it to those nations where I’ll send you…
Yes, give it to them as their drink!
Then they’ll drink it and vomit it out,
And go mad before the sword that I’ll send.’
So after that, I took the cup that the Lord had given to me and I gave it to the nations to drink (all of those to whom He had sent me… to JeruSalem and the cities of Judah… to the king of Judah and his governors),so as to appoint desolation upon them and to be lands that are no longer walked (places of hissing and curses),as well as on PharaOh (the king of Egypt), on his children, on his people, and on all his great men (yes, all that live in his realm),and upon the kings of Philistia and Uz; on AshKelon, Gaza, EkRon, and those who are left in AshDod,and on those in Edom and in MoAb.
‘For He said:
‘The sons of AmMon will then be extinct,
As will be the kings of Sidon and Tyre,
And the kings that [live] ‘cross the sea,
Such as DeDan, Tema, and Buz
(All those that are shaving their faces),
And the kings of Arabia and their subjects
(Those who rest in the desert)…
All the kings of ZimRi and ElAm;
All the kings of the Medes;
And all the kings from the east wind
(Both those that are near and those far away),
Along with all of their brothers,
And the rest of the kingdoms on the face of the earth…
Then Shishak will also drink with them!’
‘Yes, tell them that thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
They all will drink it and all will get drunk,
And then, they will vomit and fall,
For they will be unable to stand
Before the sword that I’m sending to them!
‘And if they refuse to drink from the cup;
Explain that Jehovah of Armies said this:
[You have no choice] but to drink it;
For this affliction has already started
In the city that carries My Name.
‘And if you should try to clean yourselves up,
There’s no way that you’ll ever be holy;
For now, I have called for a sword
To come upon all your lands,
Says Jehovah of Armies.
‘You must speak these words against them and say:
From high above in His Holy Place,
Jehovah will bring execution…
He’ll speak a word with His voice,
And against your place, He’s sending destruction.
‘Then, those that gather this vintage will say
To those that have settled the land:
Part of the earth has been ruined;
And from Jehovah, this judgment of nations has come.
For, with all flesh, He’s contending,
And the irreverent will be given to the sword.’
‘Jehovah of Armies also said this:
{Look!} From a nation, evil will come to the nations,
And a storm will rage to the ends of the earth.
And in that day;
From one part of the earth to the other,
Those that are slain by Jehovah
Won’t be lamented, gathered, or buried…
They’ll be like manure on the face of the ground.
‘So shout, O shepherds, and cry out!
Yes, beat on your chests, O rams of the flocks!
For your days until slaughter have now been fulfilled,
And you will fall like the choicest of rams.
‘For the shepherds; their chance for flight will be gone,
And safety will flee from the rams of the flocks.
So from the shepherds, cries will arise,
As well as the bleating of rams,
When Jehovah wipes their pastures away.
‘Then there’ll no longer be peaceful places to rest,
In the face of Jehovah’s anger and rage.
For He’ll arrive like a lion that’s abandoned its lair
To make their lands unwalked places,
With the face of His mighty sword.’
It was in the first part of King JehoiAkim’s (the son of JosiAh) reign that this word came from Jehovah. [The Lord] said:
‘Go and stand in [the Temple] courtyard
And there, give orders to those in Judea…
To all who are coming to bow here.
Tell them all the things that I said,
And don’t forget any words!
Then perhaps they will listen and turn from their bad,
And I can bring an end to the evil
That I’ve arranged to send upon them
Because of the bad things they’re doing.
‘So, tell them that thus says Jehovah:
If you refuse to listen to Me
And obey all the Laws that I’ve set before you…
[If you won’t] obey the words of My servant
(The words of the Prophet I sent,
But to whom you chose not to listen),
I’ll make this [Temple] like ShiLoh
And appoint this city as a curse
Before all the nations on earth.’
Well, all the priests and false prophets, as well as all the people heard what JeremiAh said when he spoke those words in the [Temple] of Jehovah.And after he finished saying everything that the Lord had ordered him to say to the people, the priests, and the false prophets, they grabbed him and said:
‘We’re going to kill you for prophesying in the Name of Jehovah and for saying that this [Temple] will become like ShiLoh and that this city will be desolate with no one living in it!’
So thereafter, they all gathered inside the [Temple] of Jehovah and put JeremiAh on trial.But when the rulers of Judah heard [what JeremiAh was saying], they went from the king’s [palace] up to the [Temple] of Jehovah, and they all sat down on the threshold of the New Gate.Then the priests and false prophets said this before the rulers and all the people:
‘This man deserves the judgment of death for prophesying against this city… something that you all heard him say with your own ears!’
And [in reply], JeremiAh said this to the rulers and the people:
‘It was Jehovah that sent me here to prophesy all these words that you heard me speak against this [Temple] and this city.So, it would really best for you to change the ways that you’re acting and the things that you’re doing, and to start listening to the voice of your God Jehovah. For then the Lord would bring an end to all of these evils that He has spoken against you here.
‘However, {Look!} here I am in your hands! So, do to me whatever you think is going to be advantageous and best for yourselves!But know and understand that if you do away with me, you will have brought the guilt of innocent blood against yourselves, this city, and everyone that lives here; for it was really Jehovah that sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears!’
Well at that, the rulers and people said to the priests and false prophets:
‘This man doesn’t really deserve the sentence of death, for he was speaking in the Name of our God Jehovah!’
Then, men from among the elders of the land stood up and spoke before the whole gathering and said:
‘MicAh the Morasthite was a Prophet in the days of HezekiAh, the king of Judah, and he spoke to all the people of Judah and told them that Jehovah of Armies had said this:
Zion is now a field to be plowed,
For JeruSalem will be a storehouse of fruits,
And the Temple Mount will soon be converted
Into a grove of sacred poles.
However, King HezekiAh and the people of Judah didn’t do away with him, because they were afraid of Jehovah. So they begged and bowed before [God], and He brought an end to the evils that He had spoken against them… and once again, we have [for a fact, been sinning] in a great way against our own souls!’
Well, around that same time, there was another man that had been prophesying in the Name of Jehovah, UriAh the son of ShemaiAh (from KiriAth JaiRim). For he had also prophesied about the city and the land, using the very same words as JeremiAh.But when he heard what King JehoiAkim and all the rulers had said about seeking to kill [JeremiAh], UriAh became afraid and he fled down to Egypt.However, the king sent his men (ElNathan the son of AchBor, and some others) to Egyptand they brought him back from there. Then when he stood before the king, he was cut down with a sword and [his body] was thrown into the tomb of the sons of his people.But because the hand of AhiKam (the son of ShaPhan) was with JeremiAh, he kept him from being handed over to the people so they could do away with him.
It was at the beginning of the reign of JehoiAkim (the son of JosiAh) the king of Judah, that these words came to JeremiAh from Jehovah.The Lord said:
‘Now, make some shackles for yourself
And a collar [of iron] to be put ‘round your neck.
Then send them to the kings of Edom and MoAb,
And to those of AmMon, Sidon, and Tyre
By the hands of those who have come here
To see ZedekiAh, king of Judah.
‘Tell them that they must say to their Lords
That IsraEl’s God Jehovah of Armies said this:
‘I’m the One that created the earth and its people,
And all cattle on the face of the ground
By means of My strength and My mighty arm,
And I’ll hand it to whomever I choose.
‘So now, I have given all of your lands
To NebuChadNezzar (Babylon’s King),
[And all the people] must start serving him,
As must all the beasts in the fields,
As well as your sons and the sons of your sons
Through the time that I’ve set for your land…
Yes, all of this is now his!
‘Many nations and kings will start serving him,
And upon any nation or kingdom
That refuses to serve King NebuChadNezzar
(That won’t wear his yoke on their necks),
I’ll send the sword, famine, and plague, says Jehovah,
Until they yield to his hand.
‘So don’t listen to what your false prophets say
(Those who through dreams prophecy,
Or those who give omens through potions)
When they tell you not to serve Babylon’s king;
For they are just lying to you,
And then you’ll be driven out of your land…
For I’ll drive you out and [destroy] you!
‘To the nation that puts its neck in the yoke
And chooses to serve Babylon’s king;
I’ll allow them to stay in their land, says Jehovah…
They’ll continue to work there and live.’
So I went and spoke all these words to ZedekiAh the king of Judah. I told him:
‘If you’ll put your neck in the yoke of Babylon’s kingand work for him and his men, you’ll live! Why should you and your people choose to die by the sword, famines, and plagues, as Jehovah told the nations would happen to them if they don’t wish to serve Babylon’s king?
‘You shouldn’t listen to the words of those prophets when they tell you that you must not serve him, for they’re prophesying unrighteous things!Jehovah says that He didn’t send them, and what they’re prophesying in His Name is unrighteous, so He’ll have to destroy both them and you… yes, you’ll die along with those prophets who are lying to you!’
Then I spoke to the priests and to all the people, and told them that Jehovah said this:
‘Don’t listen to the words of the prophets
When they speak prophecies and they tell you
That the items of the [Temple] of Jehovah
Will soon be returned from Babylon.
For, they are lying to you!
‘No, do not listen to them…
Serve Babylon’s king and you’ll live…
Why bring your city to ruin?’
[I said],
‘If they truly are Prophets
And if they really have the word of Jehovah;
Then, have them all come here and meet me,
So that the things which are left in the Temple
And the things that belong to Judea’s kings
(Whatever is left in JeruSalem)
Will not be taken to Babylon.
‘For Jehovah sent me this warning
About the [Temple’s sacred] columns,
And about the [Sacred] Sea and its base,
As well as about all the rest that is left,
Which Babylon’s king didn’t already take
When he removed JehoiAkim’s son, JeconiJah…
The king of Judah and all of his rulers,
Then took them from Judah and JeruSalem,
And carried them to Babylon.
‘For Jehovah of Armies (the God of IsraEl)
Said this about the things left behind
At the [Temple] of Jehovah
And all that is left in the homes of the kings
In Judah and JeruSalem:
To Babylon, it will be carried,
And there is where it will stay
Until the day that I come to visit,
And they bring it back to this place.’
It was in the 5th month of the 4th year of the reign of ZedekiAh (king of Judah) that HananiAh (the son of Azur) the false prophet from GibeOn spoke to me in the [Temple] of Jehovah before the eyes of the priests and all the people. He said:
‘Jehovah of Armies the God of IsraEl spoke to me and said this:
I will break the yoke of Babylon’s king.
And in two more years, I will return
All the things of the [Temple] of Jehovah,
As well as JeconiJah and the [people] of Judah
Whom they have moved away.
For I’ll break the yoke of Babylon’s king.’
Then the Prophet JeremiAh replied to HananiAh, there before the priests and before the eyes of all the people that were standing in the [Temple] of Jehovah. He said:
‘May Jehovah indeed do what you’ve said in the words of your prophecy and return all the things of the [Temple] of Jehovah along with all the [people] that were carried off to Babylon.However, listen to the words that I’ll speak into your ears before all of these people:
Through the ages (long before you and me), there have been many men who’ve prophesied great things against this land concerning war, oppression, and plagues…and there were also those that prophesied peace. Then after it happened, the [people] started believing whichever prophet that had really been sent by Jehovah.’
Well at that, HananiAh tore the yoke from the neck of JeremiAh and broke it.And he said (there before the eyes of all the people):
‘Jehovah told me that this is how He will break the yoke of the king of Babylon from the necks of all the nations in just two more years!’
Well when he did that, JeremiAh left. And as he was leaving(after HananiAh had broken the yoke from his neck), the Word of Jehovah came to [JeremiAh] and said this:
‘Go back and tell HananiAh that Jehovah said this:
Because you have broken that wooden yoke,
I’ll turn the wooden yokes into iron.
So JeremiAh [went back and said]:
‘Jehovah of Armies (the God of IsraEl) said this:
On the necks of all nations, I’ll put an iron yoke,
Then they’ll serve and work for Babylon’s king…
And to him, I’ll give all their cattle.’
Then JeremiAh said this to HananiAh:
‘Listen O HananiAh; Jehovah hasn’t sent you to these people just so they can learn to rely on the things that they’ve been doing wrong.And because of what you’ve been telling them, this is what the Lord told me to say:
{Look!} I’ll remove you from the face of the earth…
Yes, this very year, you will die
For speaking against Jehovah!’
Well, he did in fact die that year, in the 7th month.
These are the words of the scroll that JeremiAh the Prophet sent from JeruSalem to the elders that had already been relocated, as well as to the priests and false prophets… to all the people that NebuChadNezzar had moved from JeruSalem to Babylonafter King JeconiJah, his queen, his eunuchs, and all the freemen, servants, and craftsman had been taken from JeruSalem. [He sent it] by the hand of ElAsah (the son of ShaPhan) and GemariJah (the son of HilkiJah). For they were the ones whom ZedekiAh (the king of Judah) had sent to the king of the Babylonian [Empire] that lived in [the city of] Babylon.
[The scroll] said,
‘Jehovah of Armies, the God of IsraEl, says this
To those that were carried away
(Those whom He’d moved from JeruSalem to Babylon):
Build houses and get ready to live there…
Plant gardens and then eat their fruits…
Take wives and also have children…
Father both daughters and sons!
‘Then, take [mates] for your daughters and sons;
And they’ll also give birth to daughters and sons…
They’ll multiply and not be reduced!
‘Yes, seek peace in the land where I’ve sent you,
And pray to Jehovah on its behalf;
For, in its peace, you’ll find peace!
‘Jehovah of Armies, the God of IsraEl, also said this:
‘Don’t believe the false prophets among you…
Do not be influenced by those
Who say that you will find comfort…
And pay no attention to the things that they’ve dreamed!
For, there will be those that will come in My Name,
And they will prophesy falsely;
But by Me, they were not sent, says Jehovah!
‘Then, this is what I was told by Jehovah:
After the 70 years
Upon Babylon have been fulfilled,
I’ll come to visit and do as I said…
I’ll bring you people back to your [homes].
‘I’ll work out a way that’s peaceful, not bad,
To bring you back from this place.
Then you can pray to Me and I’ll hear you…
You can search for Me and you’ll find Me.
And if wholeheartedly, you’ll search for Me,
By you, I will be found!
‘But you say that the Lord has put Prophets among those that are living in Babylon.Well, Jehovah says this to the king that is sitting on the throne of David and to all the people that are living in this city, as well as to all your brothers that didn’t leave and weren’t taken into captivity along with you…Yes, [concerning these prophets], Jehovah of Armies said this:
‘{Look!} I’ll send them the sword, famines, and plagues…
Like a bad fig, I will make them…
[A fig] that’s too rotten to eat.
‘I’ll pursue them with swords, famines, and plagues,
Then scatter them to all the kingdoms of earth.
And to confusion, hissing, and scorn they’ll be cursed
Among all the nations where I’ll send them.
‘For they’ve paid no attention to My words, said Jehovah,
That I spoke to them through My servants, the Prophets…
Those whom I sent and rose early [each day],
But to whom, they chose not to listen, said Jehovah.
‘Yet, those of you who’ve been moved away
From JeruSalem to Babylon,
Have also ignored the Word of Jehovah.
‘For Jehovah once spoke against Ahab (the son of KolaiJah)
And ZedekiAh (the son of MaAseJah)
Who prophesied lies to you in His Name.
And this is what He has said about them:
‘{Look!} To Babylon’s king, I will hand them,
And he’ll cut them down in front of your eyes.
So when Babylon’s Jews speak curses, they’ll say:
May Jehovah do the same thing to you
That He did to ZedekiAh and Ahab…
Those that Babylon’s king fried in fires.
‘For, JeruSalem’s people are lawless…
They’re committing adultery with their countrymen’s wives.
Yet [their prophets] are saying things in My Name
That I didn’t tell them to say…
And I am the witness [against them],’ says Jehovah!
Then [the Lord instructed me] to say this to ShemaiAh the NeHelamite:
‘Though you were not sent in My Name;
You wrote to the Priest, ZephaniAh,
Saying that thus says Jehovah:
‘I’m the One that appointed you as the Priest
To take the place of JehoiAda
And to be in charge of [the Temple],
As well as to be over the prophets.
‘And now, I tell you to put every man
Who acts [like a prophet], in prison…
Put them in the [lowest of] dungeons.
‘So, why haven’t you joined in and scolded
JeremiAh from [the city of] AnathOth
Who has served as a Prophet to you?
‘For to us who are living in Babylon
And in its most-distant places,
He says that freedom is still far away.
So, they should build houses and dwell there…
Plant gardens and then eat their fruits.’
Well, after the Prophet JeremiAh read this letter in the ears of ZephaniAh,the Word of Jehovah came to him again and said:
‘Send [a message] to those who’ve been sent away
And say that Jehovah has brought condemnation
Upon ShemaiAh the NeHeLamite.
He said:
Since ShemaiAh has prophesied before you
Despite the fact that I didn’t send him,
And he urged you to trust in the bad things you do…
Yes, because of this, says Jehovah;
I’ll visit ShemaiAh and all of his kind,
And there won’t be a man left among them
Who will see the good I’ll do among you, says Jehovah;
For he’s preached a turning from Me.’
These words came to JeremiAh from the Lord. He was told that Jehovah the God of IsraEl said this:
‘You must write all these words that I’ve spoken to you in a scroll:
{Look!} The days are coming, said Jehovah,
When I will return those of IsraEl and Judah
(All those who’ve been moved away)…
Yes, I’ll bring them back to this land
That I gave to their fathers,
And once more, they will be its lords.’
And after that, these were the words that the Lord spoke concerning IsraEl and Judah:
‘Jehovah says:
[But first], you will hear fearful sounds…
You will hear fearful sounds and there’ll be no peace.
‘So, ask if a male has ever given birth…
Yet I see all men with their hands on their hips
As though they are women about to give birth,
And their faces are [yellow with] jaundice.
‘For, that will be a great day of woe,
And there couldn’t be any days worse…
Yet, Jacob will still be returned to his land.
‘For thus says Jehovah of Armies:
In that day, I’ll break all the yokes from their necks…
I’ll also tear off their bonds,
And they’ll no longer be toiling for strangers.
At that time, they’ll work for Jehovah, their God,
And I will raise David to be their king.
‘So you, O My servant Jacob;
Don’t be afraid, says Jehovah…
O IsraEl, do not be in terror,
For {Look!} I’ll bring you back from those far-away lands!
‘I’ll bring your seed from that captive place…
Jacob will be returned and find rest.
Then he’ll receive an abundance of good things,
And he will have nothing to fear.
‘Because I’m with you, I’ll save you, says Jehovah.
And I will appoint a conclusion
To those nations where you have been scattered,
For no way have I appointed your end.
But I will correct you in fairness,
And I’ll scrub you until you are clean!’
‘Jehovah said:
I’ll remove the pain of destruction;
For, no one else will be judging your case,
And no one else will be treating your [wounds]
To bring consolation to you.
‘But by your friends, you will be forgotten,
And none will ask why I struck you…
Why I let your enemies beat you.
‘For My discipline will be very substantial,
Because the things that you did were so bad!
So don’t yell [to Me] about your destruction,
And the incurable state of your misery!
‘It will happen because your sins were so great,
And because of the harsh things you’ve done…
This is why I’m bringing these bad things upon you.
‘But those who [are now] eating you
Will find themselves being consumed,
And your enemies will be taken as captives…
Those scattering you, will be scattered,
And those looting you, will be plundered.
‘Then your grievous wounds, I will cure…
Yes, I will treat all your ailments, says God.
Then Zion will be called The Replanted Place,
And none will [attack] her again.
‘Jehovah said:
{Look!} I’ll return those of Jacob who’ve been taken away…
All that were led off as captives.
Then, I will show mercy upon them
And rebuild their city there in the heights,
Where I will seat all the people
According to the ways they’ve been fair.
‘And from among them, there will come singers,
As well as the music of musicians
That will grow in super abundance,
And no way will it be diminished.
‘Each man will then enter [the Temple]
Along with all of his sons,
Just as they’ve done in the past,
And their praises will rise up to Me,
When I come against those who’ve oppressed them.
‘From among them, I’ll then choose a leader…
Yes, their ruler will be one of them.
I’ll collect them and bring them to Me
(All those whose hearts will want to return), says Jehovah…
Then they’ll be My people and I’ll be their Lord.
‘For this is why the rage of Jehovah was sent…
To change the godless, His anger went out
In order to make them turn back to Him.
‘But no way will [God’s] anger and rage be turned back
Until He has taken some action…
Until He’s done what His heart has decided…
And in the last days, you’ll understand why.’
Then the Lord told me this:
‘They’ll be the race of IsraEl’s God…
Yes they’ll be His people once more.’
And the Lord said:
‘Though they found it hot in the desert
When they were destroyed by the sword;
IsraEl will again find places to rest!
‘For they’ll see Jehovah off in the distance,
And this is what He will say:
With the love of the ages, I’ve loved you,
So I’ve drawn you close to show mercy on you…
I will rebuild you and you’ll be rebuilt,
O virgin daughter of IsraEl.
‘Your tambourines will be raised once again
And you’ll play them before the assembly.
You will also plant vineyards again
Upon Samaria’s mountains…
Yes, you will go planting and plant,
And you will go praising and praise!
‘Then, on the day that I call out to you;
On Ephraim’s mountains, the watchmen will cry:
Get up and go to Mount Zion…
Return to Jehovah your God!
‘Then Jehovah said this concerning [the people of] Jacob:
Be glad and shout to those leading the nations…
Do it… shout loudly in praise!
Say, Jehovah has rescued His people…
Those IsraElites that survived!
‘Look… from the north, I will lead them,
And I’ll gather them from the ends of the earth
To observe a [glorious] Passover…
They’ll return, and they’ll have many children!
‘Though when they left, they did so in tears;
I’ll send them comfort and lead them to rest
Along straight roads with [pure] streams…
It’s a path from which they’ll not stray.
Then I’ll be IsraEl’s Father again,
And [a Father] to Ephraim, My firstborn.
‘O nations; hear the word of Jehovah
And announce it as far as the islands.
Say, The One that blew IsraEl off like the chaff
Will gather them back once again,
And like a grazing flock, He will guard them.
‘For Jehovah will [pay] Jacob’s ransom,
And from mighty hands, He will save them…
Then in joy, they’ll come back to Zion.
‘And there in a land filled with grain,
They will find good things from their God…
Wine, olive oil, fruit, cattle, and sheep.
So their lives will then be like fruit trees,
And they will go hungry no more.
‘Then the virgins will all be rejoicing,
And men young and old will be shouting in joy.
For their mourning will be changed into cries of glee…
They’ll be happy, and He’ll bring them comfort.
‘Then I’ll magnify the lives of the Priests
And [the lives of] the sons of Levi…
My people will own many good things!
‘Jehovah said:
A voice was heard crying from RamAh…
The sounds of weeping, wailing, and grief.
It was RachEl crying over her sons…
She refused to accept any comfort,
Because they aren’t here anymore.
‘Then to her, Jehovah said this:
Stop crying and dry the tears from your eyes,
For you’ll be paid a wage for your work…
They’ll be returned from their enemies’ lands,
And there is still hope for those that survived, says Jehovah;
For your sons will return to their borders.
‘Then I heard Ephraim grieving;
So I listened and he told Me this:
You beat me and I was corrected;
For I had acted like a [wild] calf.
But You turned me around and now I’ve returned;
For, You are Jehovah, my God!
‘Captivity brought a change to my mind
In that day when You brought me shame.
But, after I moaned, I then understood…
Plainly, I showed You that I had accepted
That, from my youth, [I deserved] all the scorn.
‘Yes, Ephraim is My dearly loved son…
A child in whom I find joy.
And because My words are within him,
I will never forget him.
‘It was because of this, that I hurried;
For, when it comes to showing him mercy,
I will show mercy upon him, said Jehovah.
‘So erect the road signs and guideposts,
And give your hearts to your shoulders,
For they will be [coming back home]!
Yes return, O IsraEl, the virgin…
Return to the cities where they’re mourning [your loss]!
‘O My daughter;
When will you return from those places
Where you were being disgraced?
For the Lord has made new places for you
Where it will be safe to do planting,
And where people can travel in safety.
‘Then Jehovah of Armies (IsraEl’s God) told me this:
Once more, you’ll be speaking of Me
In the land of Judah and in all your towns,
When I bring back those that were carried away.
‘So, praise Jehovah on His Holy Mount!
For, those that live in the cities of Judah
And the farmers [that dwell] in His land
Will grow once again, along with their flocks!
‘To thirsty souls, I’ll send something to drink,
And all hungry souls, I will fill.
Then, when you wake up [in the morning],
You’ll see that your sleep has been peaceful.
‘Look! The days are coming, says Jehovah,
When I’ll sow both IsraEl and Judah
With the seeds of men and the seeds of wild beasts.
‘It’ll be as when I watched over them
(Not when I brought them destruction).
And then, over them, I’ll be watchful…
They’ll be rebuilt and replanted, said Jehovah.
‘In those days, no way will they say,
Though it was the fathers that ate unripe grapes,
The teeth of their children felt chills.
For then, only sinners will die
Because of the bad things they do,
And those eating green grapes will feel their own chills.
‘Look… the days are coming, says Jehovah,
When I’ll make an arrangement with IsraEl’s house,
As well as with the houses of Judah.
‘I’ll conclude a New Sacred Agreement
That’s unlike the one that I made with their fathers
In the day that I grabbed their hands
To lead them from Egypt’s land.
But because they didn’t keep My Sacred Agreement,
I had to let them go, says Jehovah.
‘So, this is My [New] Sacred Agreement
That I will conclude with IsraEl then, said Jehovah:
I will put My Laws in their minds,
And into their hearts, I will write them.
Then, they’ll be My people and I’ll be their God.
‘There’s no way they’ll then teach their neighbors and brothers
That they must learn of Jehovah;
For, all will know Me from the least to the great.
And when it comes to their errors and sins…
I will kindly forget them!
‘Yet, this is what Jehovah [then said]
(The One that appointed the sun
To serve as light for the day,
And the moon and the stars as light for the nights…
The One that brought the roar of the seas,
As well as the sounds of their waves…
Jehovah the Almighty, is His Name):‘If these Laws should [be voided] before Me,
Then the race of IsraEl will no longer stand
As a nation before Me
Throughout the rest of the days.
‘Jehovah says:
If the skies can be raised even higher
And the floor of the ground can be lowered,
I can reject the race of IsraEl, says Jehovah,
For all the things that they’ve done.
‘But, look! The days are coming,’ said the Lord,
‘When the city of Jehovah will be rebuilt.
[It’s walls will run] from the HananEl Tower
All the way to the gate at the corner…
To the hills of Gareb, I’ll measure it out
And surround it with most precious stones.
‘From the Valley of Phagarim and its ashes,
And from AsaRemOth to the Wadi of Cedars,
Then east to the corner of the Horse Gate,
It’ll be a Holy Place to Jehovah,
And its roots won’t be pulled up again…
Through the age, it won’t be destroyed.’
Well, all these words had come from Jehovah to JeremiAh in the 10th year [of the reign] of ZedekiAh, the king of Judah, which was the 18th year of [the reign of] NebuChadNezzar the king of Babylon.And at the time, the army of the king of Babylon had built a siege wall around JeruSalem, and JeremiAh [was under arrest and being kept in] the courtyard of the guard, which was located inside the [palace] of the kings of Judah,since King ZedekiAh had him thrown in jail. [For the king had asked him],
‘Why did you prophesy and tell us that Jehovah said, {Look!} I will hand this city over to the king of Babylon and he will take it…and that, ZedekiAh won’t escape from the hands of the Chaldeans, but he will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, where he will speak to him mouth to mouth and eye to eye…and that, ZedekiAh will be taken into Babylon and stay there until I look favorably upon him. So, if you wage war against the Chaldeans, you won’t succeed?’
Then JeremiAh told him:
‘The Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
{Look!} Your paternal uncle HanamEl (the son of ShalLum) will come to you and ask you to buy his field in AnathOth… and it will be advantageous for you to acquire it!
‘And thereafter, that’s what happened… my paternal uncle HanamEl (the son of ShalLum) did what the Lord said he would do. It was there in the courtyard of the guard that he said to me,
Buy my field, the one in AnathOth of the land of BenJamin, because you are the eldest and it would be advantageous for you to acquire it!
And since I knew that this was the word of Jehovah,I purchased the field in AnathOth from HanamEl (my paternal uncle); I paid him 7 large silver coins for it,then I recorded [the transaction] in a scroll, put a seal on it before witnesses, and weighed out the silver in a balance scale.
‘So then I took the scroll that had been testified to and sealed and gave it to BarUch (the son of NeriAh, the son of MaAseJah) before the eyes of HanamEl (my uncle),as well as before those that had served as witnesses of the deed scroll, and before the eyes of all the Judeans that were sitting in the courtyard of the guard at the time.
‘Then before them all, I gave BarUch these orders:
Jehovah the Almighty God of IsraEl says that you should take this scroll that has been sealed as my proof of ownership, then you must read it and then store it away in an earthenware jar, so that it will last [a long time].Because, Jehovah of Armies the God of IsraEl told me this:
Fields, houses, and vineyards
Will again be restored in this land.’
‘Well, after I gave the deed scroll to BarUch (the son of NeriAh), I prayed to Jehovah, saying:
O Great Being; O Lord God; You who made the lands and the skies with Your mighty arm held high above You, and from whom nothing at all can be hidden;O You who show mercy to thousands and who brings the sins of the fathers upon the chests of their children; the great and Almighty God whose Name is Jehovah of Armies:
‘[You are the God] of great counsel,
And mighty are all of Your works.
Your eyes see the things that the sons of men do,
And You pay each one back for their deeds
According to the fruits of their works.
‘You’re the One that brought the miracles and signs
To IsraEl when they were in Egypt
And which continue to happen down to this day.
For, You have made Your Name known
To all who’ve been born on the earth until now.
‘You’re the One that led IsraEl from Egypt
With signs and miracles from Your mighty right hand…
With Your arm held high and through visions.
And thereafter, You gave them the land
About which You swore to their fathers…
A land that’s flowing with honey and milk.
‘So they entered this land and they claimed it,
But they chose not to listen to Your orders or voice…
They wouldn’t do what You told them to do,
So You brought all these bad things upon them.
‘{Look!} Now, a great army has come to this city,
And they have made plans to destroy it.
To the hands of Chaldeans, it has been given…
To those that are warring against it,
Bringing the sword, famine, and plague…
{Look!} All that You said has now come to pass!
‘Then You’ve told me to bring along silver,
And before witnesses, purchase a field…
Despite the fact that this city’s been given
To the hands of Chaldeans!
‘Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
Since I am Jehovah, the God of all flesh;
[Did you think] that such things were hidden from Me?’
‘Then Jehovah said:
I have allowed this city to be given
Into the hands of the Chaldeans,
And into the hands of Babylon’s king…
So, he will [very soon] take it!
‘The Chaldeans will come and [capture] this city,
Then they will burn it with fire,
Consuming the houses where people burn incense
Upon their roofs, before BaAl,
And where they offer [food] to their gods
In order to make Me feel bitter.
‘Only the sons of IsraEl and Judah
Would practice such evil in front of My eyes.
For, since their youth, they’ve offered such things
Before [those gods] that they made with their hands,
In order to make Me feel bitter, says Jehovah.
‘So My anger and rage has been on this place
From the day it was built until now,
To remove it from in front of My face
For the bad ways of IsraEl and Judah.
‘They’ve done all these things to make Me feel bitter…
Their kings, their rulers, their prophets, and priests…
The men of Judah and JeruSalem.
‘They turned their faces and showed Me their backs…
So each morning, I [sent someone] to teach them,
But they chose not to listen or learn.
‘Then, in their unclean condition,
They put disgusting things in the House
That is called by My Name.
‘There, they built shrines to BaAl;
And to Molech, they’ve offered their daughters and sons
Down in the Valley of Hinnom…
Something that I never told them to do.
Such disgusting things never entered My heart
To make Judah sin [in this way].’
‘Then Jehovah the God of IsraEl made a pronouncement against the city, for He told me to say this:
Through famine, sword, and the plague,
I’ve handed this city to Babylon’s king.
But {Look!} I’ll also gather them back from those lands
Where I’ll scatter them in My rage…
From all that I’ll do in My fury!
‘I’ll bring them back to this place,
And in safety, I’ll resettle them here;
Then, they’ll be My people and I’ll be their God.
‘I’ll give them new ways and new hearts
So that they will learn how to fear Me
For the rest of their days and for their own good,
And for the good of their children.
‘A [New] Sacred Agreement of the ages
I’ll make with them at that time…
An Agreement that I won’t take away.
Then I’ll put the fear of Me in their hearts,
So from Me, they’ll not turn again.
‘Then I’ll visit them just to do good things;
And with My whole heart and soul,
I’ll plant them securely here in this land.
‘Then Jehovah said:
And as I brought bad things upon them,
I’ll also bring the good things that I promised.
Then they will buy fields in this land
That you say won’t be walked by man or by beast,
For it’s been handed over to the Chaldeans.
‘So with silver, they’ll buy these fields once again,
Which they’ll record and seal in a scroll,
And to which, witnesses will then testify.
‘[It will happen] in BenJamin’s land,
And in JeruSalem and the cities of Judah…
In all the towns in the mountains,
And in the ShepheLa and Negev…
From wherever they were taken, I’ll be bringing them back, says Jehovah.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh a second time while he was still shackled in the courtyard of the guard.He said,
‘The Lord who shaped and created the earth
Whose Name is Jehovah, says this:
‘Call out to Me and I will reply…
I’ll report of things both mighty and great
About which, you’ve never known!’
Then the Lord God of IsraEl told me how the houses of the city [of JeruSalem] and the [palace] of the king of Judah would be demolished for use as siege mounds and fortificationsin their fight against the Chaldeans, and of how they would then be filled with the [bodies] of those whom [He will] strike down in His anger and rage when He turns His face away from the city because of all its wickedness.
[He said]:
‘{Look!} Then I’ll bring a cure and a closing of wounds…
I’ll treat them, and then I’ll make sure
That they will all hear and then come to know
That I’ll bring them peace they can trust.
‘I’ll return those of IsraEl and Judah
That were [carried away] and resettled,
And I will rebuild them as they once were.
‘I will cleanse them of all their errors,
And from the ways that they’ve sinned against Me.
No way will I remember their errors,
Or all the ways that they left Me.
‘Then, before all those that live on the earth,
I’ll give them a joyful, praised name.
For, all will hear of the good things I’ll do,
And they will be humbled and fearful
Because of the good and the peace
That I will be bringing upon them.’
Then the Lord said to me:
‘In this place that you’ll call desolation,
You’ll hear [the sounds of] both men and beasts
Once more in the cities of Judah.
‘And then, outside of JeruSalem
(In those desolate places where the sounds of men and beasts are not heard),
There’ll be the voices of gladness and joy…
The sounds of grooms and their brides,
And the sounds of men who are saying,
Praise the Almighty God;
For Jehovah really does care,
And upon us, He’ll show mercy through the ages!
‘Then they’ll carry gifts to the House of Jehovah;
And those taken from the land, I’ll return,’ said the Lord.
‘And Jehovah of Armies said:
But this first must become a desolate place,
And its cities will be void of cattle and men…
It will be a place where shepherds will lodge,
And a place for them to bed down their flocks.
‘In all the cities in the mountains…
In the cities of the ShepheLa and Negev…
Throughout BenJamin’s land…
In the places outside of JeruSalem
And in all the cities of Judah,
There will just be those that count sheep, said Jehovah.
‘Look! The days are coming, says Jehovah,
When I’ll [fulfill] all the good words I’ve spoken
About the houses of IsraEl and Judah.
‘Yes, in those days and at that time;
From David, a shoot that is righteous will sprout,
And a king will reign who’ll bring understanding,
As well as what’s righteous and fair to this land.
‘In those days, upon Judah, salvation will come,
And JeruSalem will be lived in securely.
Then they’ll call [Me] Jehovah Our Justice.’
‘And Jehovah said:
There’ll always be a man of David’s [line]
That will sit on IsraEl’s throne.
‘And from among the Levites and Priests,
There will always be a man that will stand
To bring burnt offerings before Me,
Along with sacrifices, incense, and gifts
Throughout the rest of the days.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh saying,
‘This is what Jehovah has said:
If you could annul My Sacred Agreement
– My Agreement with the day and the night –
So there’d be no day and night in that time;
Then, there would be no more need
For [David’s] sons to reign from his throne,
Nor for Levites and Priests to serve before Me.
‘For the seed of My firebrand, David,
Will become too many to be counted
– Like the armies of the heavens and the sands of the seas –
And the same will be true for the seed of the Levites
Who will be serving before Me.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh and said:
‘Don’t you hear what those people are talking about?
They’re saying that the Lord selected two families,
And then, He threw them both out…
That [I am oppressing] My people,
And they’re no longer a nation before Me.
‘So, this was said by Jehovah:
If My Agreement with the day and the night hadn’t been,
And if I hadn’t sent them all of My Laws
[To govern] the lands and the skies;
Jacob’s seed would not have been chosen,
Nor would the seed of My servant David,
And the seed of the rulers [that came] from the seed
Of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob…
So no way could they come back to Me.
‘But I’ll bring them back from their captive condition,
And upon them, I will show mercy.’
These words came to JeremiAh from Jehovah concerning NebuChadNezzar the king of Babylon, as well as about the entire camp of his army and all the kingdoms of the earth that are under the domination of his hand… all those people that are waging war against JeruSalem and the cities of Judah.For the Lord God of IsraEl told me to go to ZedekiAh the king of Judah and tell him that this is what Jehovah had decreed:
‘When it comes to handing things over;
I’ll hand this city to Babylon’s king…
He’ll capture it and burn it with fire.
‘Then no way will you be saved from his hands;
For he’ll capture you and snatch you away…
He’ll look at you eye to eye
And speak to you mouth to mouth…
And to Babylon, he will then take you.
‘Listen to what Jehovah’s decreed,
O ZedekiAh, king of Judah:
You will not die by the broadsword;
Rather, in peace, you will die.
And when you die, they’ll burn incense
As they did for your fathers before you.
And as they burn it, they’ll cry out O Lord,
While they are mourning for you.
Yes, this is what Jehovah’s decreed.’
So I (JeremiAh) then went and said all these things to King ZedekiAh there in JeruSalem.And thereafter, the armies of the king of Babylon attacked JeruSalem and all the remaining cities of Judah (because the fortified cities of LachIsh and AzekAh in Judea still hadn’t [been conquered]).
And once again, the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh after King ZedekiAh [had issued a decree] to the people in JeruSalem concerning [God’s] Sacred Agreement, in which he called for everyone to setall their Hebrew male and female servants free (as well as all of the rest of their slaves), so that there would be no more slaves in Judah.And all the great men and all the rest of the people actually agreed to release their male and female slaves, so they wouldn’t have to serve them anymore… yes, they actually paid attention and set them all free!But right after they did that, they went and took back their male and female slaves (whom they had just set free) and once again put them back to work as their slaves!
So the Lord said to JeremiAh:
‘In the day that I saved your fathers from Egypt
And from the houses in which they were slaves,
I made a Sacred Agreement with them,
Where I said that after every 6th year,
They must release all their brothers
(Those who’d sold themselves as their slaves)…
That they may only toil for 6 years,
And [on the 7th], they must be set free!
‘But, they haven’t listened to Me,
Or turned their ears so they’d hear what I say!
‘Yet today, they decided to do the right thing
When you told them to release their neighbors;
And before Me, they said they would do this,
There in the [Temple] that’s called by My Name.
‘Then they turned and broke their promise to Me
By reclaiming [all of] their slaves…
Those whose lives had just been set free…
They turned back and made them slaves once again!
‘It’s because of this, says Jehovah…
Because they refused to listen to Me
And release their brothers and neighbors;
{Look!} I’m calling the release on their behalf
By the sword, by famine, and plague!
And then, I will scatter these people
Throughout the kingdoms of the whole earth.
‘As to those that voided My Sacred Agreement
By not keeping the promise they made before Me
With a calf that they cut in two pieces;
I will come through the midst of those halves…
To the rulers of Judah and JeruSalem
(To the mighty, as well as the priests,
And to all the people who live in the land);
Then, to their enemies, I’ll hand them…
I’ll hand them to those that are seeking their lives!
‘Then their rotting flesh will serve as a meal
For all the birds in the skies,
And for all the wild beasts on the ground.
‘Then I’ll hand over Judah’s King ZedekiAh,
As well as all of his princes
To their enemies that are seeking their lives…
To the armies of Babylon’s king…
To those before whom they are fleeing!
‘Look! I’m the One that issued the order, said Jehovah,
To bring them into this city,
Where they’ll fight against it and take it,
And then they will burn it with fire…
I’ll make all the cities of Judah
Places where no one will walk.’
It was during the time of JehoiAkim (the son of JosiAh) the king of Judah that the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh saying:
‘Call for the Rechabite families,
Then bring them to the House of Jehovah
And into one of the courtyards,
Where you must offer them wine.’
So I went and brought JaAzaniAh (the son of JeremiAh and grandson of HabaZiniAh), as well as his brothers and sons, and the rest of the families of the Rechabites, into the [Temple] of Jehovah.There I [seated them] in the dining room of the sons of Hanan (the son of IgDaliYah, a man of God), which was located next to the house of the [Temple] overseers and above the house of MaAseJah the son of ShalLum (who was in charge of guarding the entryways),and I set a clay pitcher of wine before them and some cups, and I offered them some wine.
But they said:
‘There’s no way that we’re going to drink any wine, because our ancestor JoNadab (the son of RechAb) told us:
You must never drink wine – you and your sons – through the ages!
So we’ve obeyed the instructions of JoNadab (the son of RechAb) our ancestor, and we haven’t done anything that he told us not to do. We haven’t drunk any wine throughout our lives – not us, our wives, our sons, or our daughters –nor have we built houses, owned vineyards, or planted seeds in fields… none of this has ever happened among us.We’ve done everything that our ancestor JoNadab told us to do, and we’ve been living in tents.Then when NebuChadNezzar the king of Babylon came to this land, we told him:
We will leave [our position] in front of the Chaldeans and the armies of the Assyrians and go up to JeruSalem…
and we’ve been living here ever since then.’
Well after that, the Word of Jehovah came to me and told me thatJehovah of Armies, the God of IsraEl, told me to do this:
‘You must go and speak to the men of Judea
And to those that are living in JeruSalem;
Then, tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘There’s no way that you’ve heard the things that I’ve said;
Yet, the sons of JoNadab (the son of RechAb)
Have obeyed the instructions he gave to his sons
Not to drink any wine…
And they’ve drunk no wine to this day!
They’ve paid attention to their father’s commands.
But, when I spoke plainly to you,
You refused to listen to Me!
‘So each morning, I sent you My servants the Prophets…
I sent them and told them to teach every man
To turn from his evil ways…
To be better and not follow or serve other gods,
So you could continue to live in the land
That I gave to your fathers and you.
But, you have learned nothing at all…
Your ears have paid no attention!
‘Yet the sons of JoNadab (the son of RechAb)
Have obeyed the commands of their father…
They’ve not done the things he said [not to do],
While you haven’t listened to Me!
‘So because of this, says IsraEl’s God Jehovah of Armies;
{Look!} I will be bringing on Judah
And on those that live in JeruSalem
All the bad that I’ve spoken against them.
For, when I spoke, they paid no attention…
When I called out to them, they didn’t reply.’
Then JeremiAh said to the house of the Rechabites,
‘This is what Jehovah has declared:
Since the descendants of JoNadab (the son of RechAb)
Have paid attention to their father’s commands
And done everything that he told them to do;
It’s because of this, says IsraEl’s God, Jehovah of Armies;
No way will a man of JoNadab’s sons
Ever fail to stand before Me.’
It was in the 4th year [of the reign] of JehoiAkim (the son of JosiAh) the king of Judah that the Word of Jehovah came to me saying:
‘Get a papyrus scroll for yourself
And write all the words that I’ve said
About both IsraEl and Judah,
And about all the nations of which I spoke
From the time of King JosiAh of Judah
Down to this very day!
Then perhaps the house of Judah will hear
About all the bad things I’ve planned
And then turn from their wicked ways,
So I can cover their failures and sins.’
Therefore, JeremiAh called BarUch (the son of NeriAh), who wrote all the words of Jehovah that came from the mouth of JeremiAh on a papyrus scroll.Then JeremiAh said to BarUch:
‘Because I’m being watched, I can’t enter the [Temple] of Jehovah.So you’ll have to go there and read this papyrus scroll into the ears of all the people that happen to be in the House of Jehovah on a fast day… read it into the ears of all the Judeans that are coming there from all their cities,and perhaps their need for mercy will fall before Jehovah and they’ll turn from their evil ways. For the anger and rage that Jehovah has spoken against these people is great!’
As the result, BarUch (the son of NeriAh) did everything that JeremiAh told him to do. He went and read the scroll of the words of the Lord there at the [Temple] of Jehovah.Then in the 5th year and 9th month [of the reign] of JehoiAkim (the son of JosiAh) the king of Judah, all the people of JeruSalem and of the house of Judah held an assembly to fast before Jehovah,and BarUch again read the scroll of the words of JeremiAh into the ears of all the people that were there at the [Temple] of Jehovah. [He did this] from the [apartment] of GemariAh (the son of Shapha) the scribe, in the upper courtyard, which is in front of the threshold of the [Temple’s] New Gate.
Well, after MichaiAh (the son of GemariAh and grandson of ShaPhan) heard all the words of Jehovah being read from the scroll,he went down to the palace of the king and entered the house of the [royal] scribe, where {Look!} he found all the rulers gathered – EliShama the scribe, DalaiJa (the son of ShemaiAh), ElNathan (the son of AchBor), GemariAh (the son of ShaPhan), ZedekiAh (the son of HananiAh), and all the supervisors.Then MichaiAh told them everything that he’d heard BarUch read from the scroll into the ears of the people.
So, the rulers sent for BarUch (the son of NeriAh, the son of JeHudi, the son of NathaniAh, the son of ShelemiAh, the son of Cushi) and told him:
‘Go get the scroll that you read into the ears of the people and bring it here!’
Then BarUch (the son of NeriAh) went and picked up the scroll and returned to them,and they said:
‘Now, read that scroll into our ears!’
And BarUch read it to them.
Well, after they heard all the words being read, each person started discussing it with their neighbor, and they said to BarUch:
‘We’ve decided that we should announce all these words to the king!’
Then they asked BarUch:
‘Just where were you when you wrote all these words?’
And he replied:
‘These words came from the mouth of JeremiAh… he’s the one that spoke the words. All I did was record them in this scroll!’
Then the rulers said to BarUch:
‘Go somewhere and hide… both you and JeremiAh! Don’t let anyone know where you are!’
Then they had the scroll kept under guard in the house of EliShama the scribe, and they went into the courtyard of the king and told the king everything that it said.So the king sent JehuDi to get the scroll, and he went and took it from the house of EliShama the scribe, and JehuDi read it before the king and all the rulers that were sitting around him.
The king happened to be in his winter palace at the time (for it was the 9th month), and he was sitting in front of his fireplace.And after JeHudi had read just three or four lines, [the king] shredded [the scroll] with a scribe’s razor and tossed it into the fire in his fireplace. As the result, the papyrus scroll was entirely burned up and destroyed.
Well, nobody was surprised… none of those that were there ripped their clothes… not the king, any of his servants, or any of those that heard those words.Though ElNathan, DalaiJa, and GemariAh had suggested to the king that he shouldn’t burn the papyrus,he refused to listen to them. Then the king told JerahMeEl (the king’s son), SaraiAh (the son of AzriEl), and ShelemiAh (the son of AbDeEl) to go and arrest both BarUch the scribe and JeremiAh the Prophet. However, these men were already in hiding.
Well, after the king burned the scroll that BarUch wrote containing all the words that were spoken by JeremiAh; the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh again, and said,
‘Now take another scroll of papyrus
And write the same words that you wrote in the scroll
That King JehoiAkim burned.
Then tell JehoiAkim (king of Judah)
That this is what was said by Jehovah:
‘Though you have burned up this scroll,
You still asked why I had it written.
For it told you that Babylon’s king
Will enter this land and destroy it,
Wiping away all the men and their beasts.
‘And because you did [such a thing],
Jehovah made this pronouncement against [you]:
‘O JehoiAkim, king over Judah
Who is sitting upon David’s throne;
You’ll no longer sit [on that throne]…
For, into the sweltering heat of the day
And into the icy cold of the night,
Your decaying flesh will be tossed.
‘Yes, I’m coming against you, your family and sons,
Because of your lawless ways;
Then upon you and those in JeruSalem and Judah,
I’ll bring all the evils about which I’ve warned,
And to which you chose not to listen.’
Then JeremiAh took another papyrus scroll and gave it to BarUch (the son of NeriAh) the scribe, and he once again wrote the same words that came from the mouth of JeremiAh upon it – all the words that JehoiAkim the king of Judah had burned in the fire – and he added many more words to it (such as these).
Well thereafter, ZedekiAh (the son of JosiAh) started reigning in place of ConiJah (the son of JehoiAkim), whom NebuChadNezzar the king of Babylon had appointed to reign in the land of Judah.But he, his servants, and the people of the land wouldn’t listen to the words that Jehovah had spoken through JeremiAh either.Yet later, King ZedekiAh sent JehuKal (the son of ShelemiAh) and ZephaniAh (the son of MaAseJah) the Priest to JeremiAh to say this to him:
‘Please pray to Jehovah your God for us.’
Well at the time, JeremiAh was free to come and go in the city as he wished, because they hadn’t locked him up yet.However, when the Chaldeans heard that the armies of PharaOh were marching from the land of Egypt, they [started their attack] on JeruSalem.And that’s when the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh and said,
‘Jehovah the God of IsraEl says that you are to go and shout these words to the king of Judah (the person that sent you to inquire of Me):
‘{Look!} This army of PharaOh that is marching to help you
Will turn and flee back into Egypt.
And then the Chaldeans will come here
To wage war on this city…
They will take it and burn it with fire!’
‘Jehovah says:
Now your souls shouldn’t think about saying,
The Chaldeans will turn back once more,
For there is no way this will happen.
‘And if you should beat the Chaldeans
Who are coming to wage war against you;
Even the wounded that they leave behind
Will arise and burn this city with fire.’
Well, that’s what happened… soon the Chaldean armies [attacked] JeruSalem right in front of the armies of PharaOh.
Meanwhile, JeremiAh had left JeruSalem and gone to the land of BenJamin to purchase some land there among his people.But when he arrived at the gates of BenJamin, IriJah (the son of ShelemiAh and grandson of HananiAh) had him arrested. He seized JeremiAh and accused him of running away to the Chaldeans.Yet, though [JeremiAh] told him that was a lie and he wasn’t running away to the Chaldeans, IriJah refused to listen. He arrested JeremiAh and took him before the local rulers.Then, because the rulers [hated] JeremiAh, they had him flogged and sent him to the house of JoNathan the scribe, which had been turned into a prison.There JeremiAh [was thrown] into an [outhouse] pit [near] the [main] house, where he was confined for several days.
Fortunately, King ZedekiAh thereafter sent for him, and the king asked him secretly if he had received any word from Jehovah. And JeremiAh replied,
‘Yes… He says that you’ll be handed over to the king of Babylon!’
Then JeremiAh asked the king this:
‘How have I wronged you, your servants, or your people, so that you would have me thrown into a prison latrine…and where are those prophets that prophesied to you and told you there’s no way that the king of Babylon will ever come into this land?
‘Now, hear this, O Lord, O king; You must show mercy on me as I’m standing here before you… you must not return me to the house of JoNathan the scribe and allow me to die there!’
So the king gave orders, and then they locked JeremiAh in the guard house, where they provided him with a loaf of bread each day (which was baked outside of the city, because there was no bread left there). And after that, JeremiAh stayed in the courtyard of the guards.
Well, ShephatiJah (the son of MatTan), GedaliAh (the son of PashUr), JuKal (the son of ShelemiAh), and PashUr (the son of MelchiAh) started thinking about the words that JeremiAh had spoken to the people when he warned them thatJehovah had said that anyone who remained in the city would die by the broadsword, famine, and plague, but those that [surrendered] to the Chaldeans could save their own lives and live.For this is what he told them that Jehovah had said:
‘When it comes to being handed over;
This city will be handed over
To the armies of Babylon’s king,
And soon thereafter, he’ll take it.’
So those rulers went to the king and said this to him:
‘We have to do away with that man, because he’s weakening the hands of the troops that remain in this city and the hands of all the people when he says things like that. He doesn’t prophesy peace, he’s just telling us bad things!’
So because the king was unable to resist them, King ZedekiAh said:
‘Look! He’s in your hands!’
And as the result, they took JeremiAh and threw him into the [outhouse pit] that belonged to MelchiJah (the king’s son), which was located in the courtyard of the guard. They took rough cords and lowered him into the pit, which contained no water (just manure), and that’s where he had to stay… in the filth!
Well, the Ethiopian Eunuch EbedMelech happened to be in the King’s courtyard when they threw JeremiAh into the pit. And at the time, the king was outside sitting on the Gate of BenJamin.So EbedMelech left the king’s palace and went to speak to the king. He said to him:
‘O my lord and king; These men have done something very wicked when they dropped the Prophet JeremiAh into the outhouse pit… he’ll starve to death there, since there’s no more bread left in the city!’
So the king gave orders to EbedMelech, saying:
‘Take 30 men to the pit and pull him out, so he doesn’t die.’
Then EbedMelech gathered the men and they went to the sub-basement of the king’s palace and found some old rags and ropes, and they tossed them down to JeremiAh in the pit,saying,
‘Wrap these around you!’
And that’s what JeremiAh did.So they lifted him with the ropes and pulled him up out of the pit. And thereafter, JeremiAh once again stayed in the courtyard of the guards.
Well after that, the king sent for JeremiAh while he (the king) was staying in the house of AsaLiseEl (which is located inside the [Temple area] of Jehovah). And the king said to him:
‘I want to ask you something… and don’t hide the truth from me!’
But JeremiAh asked,
‘If I answer you [truthfully], won’t you just have me killed? Besides, you haven’t listened to any of the advice that I’ve given to you up to this point.’
Then the king secretly swore an oath to him, saying,
‘As Jehovah who gave us this life lives; I won’t kill you or hand you over to these men that are seeking your life!’
So JeremiAh said to him,
‘Jehovah of Armies, the God of IsraEl, said this:‘If you will go and surrender
To the governors of Babylon’s king,
You’ll live… you will save your own life,
And this city won’t be burned with fire…
Both you and your family will live!
‘But, if you don’t go [and surrender],
This city will be handed to the Chaldeans
And they will burn it with fire…
When that happens, you won’t be saved from their hands.’
Then the king said to JeremiAh:
‘But if I do that, I’ll have a problem with the Judeans that went over to the side of the Chaldeans… if I’m handed over to them, they’ll make [life miserable for] me!’
However, JeremiAh told him:
‘There’s no way that you’ll be handed over to those people. Rather, you should listen to the words of Jehovah that I’ve spoken to you, because it would be better for you to save your own life and survive!But if you don’t choose to go out and surrender, this is what Jehovah has decreed:
‘{Look!} All the women that remain in [your] house
Will be carried to the king of Babylon’s princes.
Then these women will say that your allies deceived you;
For they care so little about you
That they’ll turn and stumble your feet,
And help them to bring you to ruin.
‘Then they’ll take your wives and your children,
And no way will you then be saved…
You’ll be taken by Babylon’s king,
And this city will be burned to the ground.’
Well at that, ZedekiAh said to JeremiAh:
‘If you don’t speak about this to anyone else, you won’t die.But if the rulers hear that I’ve spoken to you about this and they come and ask you,
What did you say to the king… if you don’t hide it from us, we won’t do away with you… what did you say to the king?
You must tell them,
I went to plead for mercy before the eyes of the king. I just asked him not to take me back to the house of JoNathan and let me die there.’
And in fact, the rulers did come to JeremiAh and say this to him, and he said what the king told him to say. So they didn’t ask him anything more, because they didn’t know what had happened.And after that, JeremiAh stayed in the courtyard of the guards until the time that JeruSalem was captured.
Well, it was in the 9th year and 10th month [of the reign] of ZedekiAh the king of Judah that NebuChadNezzar the king of Babylon came to JeruSalem with all his armies and attacked it.And it was in the 11th year, on the 4th month and 9th day of ZedekiAh’s reign that the city’s walls were breached.Then all the governors of the king of Babylon entered [the city] and they sat down at the Central Gate… these included NergalSharezer, SamGar, NeboSarsechim, NebuSarkes, NergalShareZer (the King’s advisor), and all the rest of the governors of the king of Babylon.
Meanwhile, ZedekiAh (the king of Judah) and all his soldiers had fled the city during the night, going through the king’s garden and then through the gate that leads between the city wall and the fortification around the wall, following the road to the ArabAh.However, the Chaldean army chased them down and caught up with ZedekiAh on the other side of JeriCho. Then they carried him back to NebuChadNezzar the king of Babylon, who was at RibLah (a city in the land of HaMath), where he passed judgment on him…and the king of Babylon had ZedekiAh’s sons killed there in front of his eyes (there in RibLah), along with all the rest of the rulers of Judah.Then he had ZedekiAh blinded and bound in shackles, before he was led off to Babylon.
Well after that, the Chaldeans set the King’s palace and the houses of the people on fire and demolished them.Then all those that were left in the city and the deserters were taken before the king of Babylon,and NabuZarAdan (the chief of the guards) had them carried off to Babylon. However, he did leave many of the poor people of the land of Judah and those that were of no importance behind, assigning them to watch over the fields and vineyards.
Then NebuChadNezzar (the king of Babylon) gave instructions to NebuZarAdan (the chief of the guards) concerning JeremiAh. He said,
‘Take this man and keep an eye on him… but don’t do anything bad to him. Just treat him as you would like to be treated.’
So NabuZarAdan (the chief of the guards), as well as NabuShasban, RabSares, Nergel, SharEzer, RabMag, and all the princes of the king of Babylon sent for JeremiAh…they took him out of the courtyard of the guards and handed him over to GedaliAh (the son of AhiKam and grandson of ShaPhan), who then led him outside to sit among the rest of the people.But it was while he was still in the courtyard of the guards that the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh and said:
‘Go speak to the black man, EbedMelech,
And tell him that thus says Jehovah…
Yes, say that the God of IsraEl said this:
‘{Look!} I’ve fulfilled My words on this city
To do just bad things, not good!
And now, though you must stand before them;
On that day, I will be there to save you, says Jehovah.
I will not be handing you over
To stand before the faces of those whom you fear.
‘So when it comes to salvation, I’ll save you…
No way will you fall by the sword…
Your reward will be your own life,
Because you trusted in Me, says Jehovah.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to JeremiAh again after he had been led off in shackles by NabuZarAdan (the chief of the guards) and after he’d been separated from the rest of the Judeans that were being relocated from RamAh to [the empire of] Babylon.And as the chief of the guards was leading him away, he said this to JeremiAh:
‘Your God Jehovah spoke to you against this place and against all of its badness,and then the Lord did just as He said He would do, because you had all sinned against Him and you refused to listen to His voice. So, these things that happened to you are just the things that He said He would do.Therefore, after I remove the manacles from your hands, you can choose to travel with me to Babylon where I’ll watch out for you, or you can just run away from here! Look… the whole land before you is good! So you can go anywhere that pleases your eyes,or you can choose to return to GedaliAh (the son of AhiKam and grandson of ShaPhan), whom the king of Babylon has appointed to be over the land of Judah, and you can live among your people under him… yes, if it seems good in your eyes to go there, then go!’
Well after that, the chief of the guards held a feast for JeremiAh and they gave him some gifts before sending him away.Then [JeremiAh] went to GedaliAh at MizPah and stayed among the people who’d been left behind in the land.
Meanwhile, when all the [Judean] generals that were still in the fields with their armies heard that the king of Babylon had appointed GedaliAh to be over the land, they brought their men and their wives to him, along with the simple people and the poor of the land… all those that hadn’t been relocated by the Babylonians.
Then IshMaEl (the son of NethaniAh), JoHanan (the son of KareAh), SeraiAh (the son of TanHumeth), the sons of EphAi the NetoPhathite, and JezaniAh (the son of the MaAchathite) came to GedaliAh at MizPah… they and all their men went to him.And GedaliAh swore an oath to them and their men, saying,
‘You will no longer have anything to fear from the servants of the Chaldeans. Therefore, I urge you to come and live in this land and work for the king of Babylon, since this would be the best thing for you to do!{Look!} As I’m sitting here in MizPah, I’m doing so before the faces of the Chaldeans, and [they’re protecting us from anyone] that might come against us. So, collect your wine, autumn fruits, and olive oil in jars, then come and live in these cities that we’ve been able to retain!’
Well, when those Judeans that were in MoAb and all the rest that had stayed among the sons of AmMon (those who’d been scattered throughout the land of Edom) heard that the king of Babylon had given an allotment to Judah and that he had appointed GedaliAh (the son of AhiKam) to be over them,they each returned from the places where they’d been scattered and they gathered to GedaliAh in MizPah in the land of Judah, bringing along all their wine, autumn fruits, and a tremendous amount of olive oil.
However, JoHanan (the son of KareAh) and all the generals of the armies that were still in the fields then went to GedaliAh at MizPahand they warned him, saying:
‘Don’t you know that BaAl Ish (the king of the sons of AmMon) is sending IshMaEl (the son of NathaniAh) to [assassinate] you?’
But GedaliAh (the son of AhiKam) just didn’t believe them.
Then JoHanan (the son of KareAh) went and spoke to GedaliAh in secret there in MizPah. He told him:
‘I will go and strike down IshMaEl (the son of NathaniAh)… however, don’t tell anyone! For he’s going to kill you and scatter all the Judeans that have gathered here with you, then he will wipe out the rest of Judah!’
But GedaliAh told JoHanan (the son of KareAh):
‘Don’t you dare to do this thing… for you’re really lying about IshMaEl!’
Well, it was in the 7th month that IshMaEl, the son of NathaniAh and grandson of EliShama (who was related to the king) came to GedaliAh in MizPah with some of the royal appointees and 10 other men. Then, after sharing some bread,IshMaEl and the 10 men that came with him got up and struck down GedaliAh with their swords, killing him (the man that had been appointed over the land by the king [of Babylon])as well as all the Judeans that were with him at MizPah, and any Chaldeans that they found there… he even killed the guards!
Then, two days after they’d killed GedaliAh (for no one had found out about it yet),some 80 men came there from SheChem, ShiLoh, and Samaria with their beards shaved off and wearing torn clothes, beating their chests and carrying gifts of frankincense in their hands [to offer before] Jehovah.So IshMaEl (the son of NathaniAh) came out of MizPah to meet them, and they all started crying. Then [IshMaEl] said to them:
‘Now, let’s all go and visit GedaliAh.’
However, as they were traveling through the city, [IshMaEl] and his men started striking them down and killing them next to a well.
But as they were seeing this happen, 10 of the men said to IshMaEl,
‘You shouldn’t kill us, because we’ve brought along treasures from the fields… wheat, barley, honey, and olive oil!’
And as the result, he passed them by and left them alive there in the midst of their [murdered] brothers.
Now, the well where IshMaEl had killed the men was very large (it’s the one that King Asa [had dug] in fear of BaAsha, the king of IsraEl), so IshMaEl (the son of NathaniAh) threw the men’s bodies into it.Then IshMaEl took all the people that were left in MizPah – which included the daughters of the king that had been left in the care of the chief of the guards by GedaliAh (the son of AhiKam) – and he set out for the other side [of the land] of the sons of AmMon.
Well, when JoHanan (the son of KareAh) and the generals that were with him heard of all the evil things that IshMaEl (the son of NathaniAh) had done,they took everyone in their camp and went to wage war with IshMaEl, catching up with him next to the water of the great pool in GibeOn.And when all the people that were with IshMaEl saw JoHanan (the son of KareAh) coming with the generals, they were very happy,so they all went over to JoHanan’s side.
Nevertheless, IshMaEl was able to escape along with 8 of his men, and they headed toward the [land of] the sons of AmMon.So JoHanan then took all the generals and their armies, along with all the remaining people from MizPah – those whom IshMaEl (the son of NathaniAh) had captured after he killed GedaliAh (the son of AhiKam), all the mighty men of war, as well as all the women, the eunuchs, and everything that was left in GibeOn –and they set up camp at KimHam (near BethLehem), as they planned to travel toward the land of Egypt.[For they had decided] to run from the Chaldeans, since they were afraid to face them because of IshMaEl’s striking down GedaliAh (the man whom the king of Babylon had appointed to be over their land).
Well, they traveled on from there – all the generals, JoHanan (the son of KareAh), JezaniAh (the son of HoshaiAh), and all the people from the least to the greatest – and they went to JeremiAh the Prophet and said this:
‘May our need for mercy fall before you! Please pray to Jehovah your God about all these things; for there were once as many of us as your eyes could see, but now we are so few.Tell us which way Jehovah your God says we should go, and that’s the way we will go!’
And JeremiAh the Prophet said to them:
‘I’ve heard you, so {Look!} I will pray to Jehovah our God about the things you’ve said, and then I’ll announce to you whatever Jehovah tells me to say… there’s no way that I’ll hide a single word from you!’
Then they replied to JeremiAh:
‘May Jehovah be a righteous and trustworthy witness against us if we fail to follow every word that Jehovah your God sends to us.We will obey [every word] from the voice of our God Jehovah, the One to whom we are sending you, whether it’s for the good or for the bad! We will pay attention and listen to the voice of our God Jehovah, so that things will go well for us!’
Well, it was 10 days later that the Word of Jehovah finally came to JeremiAh.So he called for JoHanan (the son of KareAh), the generals, and all the people (from the least to the greatest),and he said this to them,
‘Jehovah the God of IsraEl to whom you sent me, has heard all your prayers before Him.[And this is what He told me to say]:
‘If you wish to survive, you must stay in this land,
For I’ll build you up, not wipe you away…
I’ll plant you and not pluck you out…
I’ll bring you rest from the bad that I’ve sent.
‘So don’t worry about Babylon’s king,
The one whose face you now fear…
No, don’t be afraid,’ says Jehovah;
‘For I’m with you, and I will save you…
From his hands, I will save you!
‘I will grant you this one act of kindness,
And I will show mercy upon you…
For I’ll take you back to your land.
‘But if you should say to yourselves,
No way will we stay in this land,
And you fail to obey the voice of your God…
If you should say, There’s no way…
For we’ve chosen to go down to Egypt
So that we will no longer know fighting
Or hear the sounds of the trumpets,
Nor will we go hungry, because there’s no bread…
Yes, we’ll [go down to Egypt] and live there;
Then, hear the Word of Jehovah,
O you remnant of Judah!
For Jehovah of Armies, the God of IsraEl says this:
If you point your faces toward Egypt,
And enter [that land] and then plan to stay…
The broadsword that you are now facing
– The one of which you’re in fear –
Will also find you in Egypt.
And the famine that you have been facing
Will also overtake you in Egypt…
So, there is where you will die!
‘Yes, all those men whose faces are set
To go down to Egypt and live,
Will fall by the broadsword, famine, and plague…
None will survive all the evils
That I will be bringing upon them!
‘Then Jehovah of Armies, the God of IsraEl, said this:
As My rage has dripped on JeruSalem,
My rage will then drip upon you,
Should you choose to go down into Egypt.
‘You’ll become a land that’s unwalked,
And come under the hands of other men…
You’ll be a cursed [people] that’s scorned,
And never again will you see this [land]!
‘Yes, this is what Jehovah spoke against you, O remaining ones of Judah… you must not go down into Egypt!
‘Now, you’re aware of all this, for I’ve testified to you about it today!But you [weren’t really being honest] with yourselves when you sent me to Jehovah your God and said,
Pray to the Lord for us and we’ll do whatever Jehovah our God tells us… whatever He says, we will do!
‘And now, although I’ve warned you, you won’t listen to the voice of Jehovah your God and follow [the words] that He sent to you.
So, by means of the broadsword, famine, and plague
You will come to your end in that place
Where you’ve chosen to go and to live .’
Well, just after JeremiAh had finished speaking all the words that Jehovah their Lord God had sent to them,AzariAh (the son of HoshaiAh), JoHanan (the son of KareAh), and all the proud ones started shouting at JeremiAh and saying:
‘You’re lying! Our God Jehovah didn’t send you to tell us that we shouldn’t go down into Egypt and live there!And look at BarUch (the son of NeriJah)… he has joined with you against us to hand us over to the Chaldeans, so that they can just kill us or move us to Babylon!’
Well, JoHanan (the son of KareAh), the generals, and all the people refused to listen to the voice of Jehovah and stay in the land of Judah.So JoHanan took all the generals, all the rest of the Judeans, those that had returned from the nations where they’d been scattered to live in the land of Judah,as well as all the mighty men, the women, the children, the remaining daughters of the king (all the souls that had been left behind by NabuZarAdan the chief of the [Babylonian] guards), as well as GedaliAh (the son of AhiKam),the Prophet JeremiAh, and BarUch (the son of NeriJah), and they went to TahPanHes in Egypt. For the people refused to listen to the voice of Jehovah.
And it was while JeremiAh was in TahPanHes that the Word of Jehovah came to him again and said:
‘Now, take two huge rocks for yourself
And [bury] them under the thresholds
Of the gates of PharaOh’s house in TahPanHes.
Do this in front of the men of Judea,
And tell them that thus says Jehovah of Armies:
‘{Look!} I’ll send for My servant NebuChadNezzar,
And he’ll set his throne on these [buried] rocks,
Then lay his shields down upon them.
For he’ll come and then attack Egypt,
Bringing death to those that are already dead,
Resettlement to those who’ve been moved away,
And the sword to those bearing swords.
‘Then he’ll burn the [temples] of their gods,
And he will resettle them all…
The land of Egypt, he will then fumigate
As a shepherd fumigates his own clothes…
Only then, will he leave there in peace.
‘He’ll destroy the columns of the City of the Sun,
And he’ll burn Egypt’s gods in a fire.’
Then the Word of Jehovah once again came to JeremiAh concerning the Judeans that were living in the land of Egypt… those that had settled near the watchtower, or in TahPanHes, or in Memphis, or in the land of Pathros. He said,
‘Jehovah of Armies, the God of IsraEl says this:
‘You have witnessed all the bad things
That I brought upon JeruSalem
And upon the cities of Judah;
For {Look!} they have lain desolate down to this day…
No one lives there at all,
Because of their wicked faces,
And what they did to make Me feel bitter
By burning incense to gods they’ve not known…
Which you and your fathers have done also!
‘So [each morning], I sent them My servants the Prophets
To tell them not to do those bad things…
Those disgusting things that I’ve hated.
But they chose not to listen to Me,
Or lean their ears to pay any attention
And then turn from their evil ways
Of burning incense before other gods.
‘So My anger and rage dripped upon them.
And now, all the cities of Judah
(All those surrounding JeruSalem)
Have been desolated and burned…
They lie unwalked to this day.
‘So Jehovah (IsraEl’s Almighty God) asks you this:
Why are you still bringing evil
Into your lives, O My people…
Upon your women, your infants, and babies,
So there’ll be no survivors in Judah?
‘For you continue to make Me feel bitter
By the things that you do with your hands,
When you burn incense to other gods
In the land of Egypt where you’ve gone to live.
So now, you’ll be cut off and cursed,
And scorned among all the nations!
‘Have you forgotten all the evils
That your fathers have committed [in the past]…
The evil deeds of Judea’s kings…
The evils of all of your rulers,
And the bad things your women have done
In JeruSalem and in Judah…
And which they’re still doing today?
‘For, they have not learned to fear Me,
Nor have they followed the orders
That I set before them and their fathers.
‘It’s because of this,
Said IsraEl’s God, Jehovah of Armies;
{Look!} Against you, I’ve now set My face
Because of all the bad things you’ve done
Since the time that I sent destruction to Judah.
‘So I’ll take the remnant of Judah
That went down to Egypt to live,
And I’ll cause them to fail throughout the whole land…
Yes, from their least to their greatest.
They’ll all fall by the broadsword and famine…
They’ll be cursed, scorned, and destroyed!
‘I’ll visit those who’ve settled in Egypt
The same as I visited JeruSalem…
I’ll bring the same broadswords, famines, and plagues,
Which [JeruSalem’s people] could not escape.
‘So, none of the remnant of Judah
That went down to Egypt and hoped to return,
Will be allowed to go back again.
There’s no way that they’ll ever return…
Except for a few who’ll escape.’
Well, [none of the men] would reply to JeremiAh, because they all knew that their women were burning incense to other gods. And at the time, there was a great gathering of the women among all those that had settled in the land of Egypt at Pathros. And there these women said,
‘We won’t pay any attention to the words that you’ve spoken to us in the Name of Jehovah,and we’ll do whatever we choose to do… we’ll keep on burning incense to the Queen of Heaven! Yes, we’ll keep on offering her [food and drink] as our fathers, our kings, our rulers, and the rest of us have done in Judah and around JeruSalem in the past… back when we were better off… back when we had enough bread to eat and things weren’t so bad!For it was only after we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and offering her [food and drink] that things became worse and we started falling by the sword and from famine.Haven’t you noticed all that has happened since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven… back when we (without the aid of our husbands) made cakes and offered drinks to her?’
Then JeremiAh replied to all the people (the mighty men, the women, and everyone else that had responded to him) saying:
‘When it comes to the incense that you’ve burned in the cities of Judah and in JeruSalem (you, your ancestors, your kings, your rulers, and the rest of the people of the land); Jehovah hasn’t forgotten this! Yes, it has reached all the way up to His heart!And it’s because He was unable to bear all your wicked deeds and the disgusting things you were doing that He brought desolation upon your land… He made it an unwalked place and a curse to this day!
‘For you stood there before Him and burned incense – sinning against Jehovah – and you didn’t pay any attention to the voice of the Lord, or to His instructions, His Laws, or His proofs. Rather, you went and took up all these evil practices that you’ve continued to do down to this day.’
And JeremiAh said to the women and to all the people:
‘Hear the Word of Jehovah, all you Judeans who are now living in Egypt!For Jehovah the God of IsraEl says that you and your women have brought this [upon yourselves] by your own mouths and your own hands, when you said that you will continue to acknowledge and burn incense to the Queen of Heaven, and to offer [food and drink] before her.
‘So, you still plan to continue making offerings before her, do you?Well, because of this, hear the Word of Jehovah all you in Judah and those of you who have settled in the land of Egypt:
{Look!} I have sworn this oath by My Name, said Jehovah,
That My Name won’t remain in the mouths of these Jews,
Because they have failed to say,
O Jehovah, our Lord;
Come and live among us in Egypt!
‘{Look!} I’ll be zealous about bringing them harm (not the good)!
So those Jews that are living in Egypt
Will fall by the broadsword and famine
Until [they all] cease to be!
‘Just the [few] that escape from the sword
Will ever return to Judea…
And there will be very few!
‘Then, all the remnant of Judah
(Those that went and started living in Egypt)
Will know whose words have proved to be true…
If it’s My words, or those [of their gods].
‘And this is your sign, says Jehovah,
That I will visit this place,
So you’ll know that My words have stuck upon you
Because of your evil deeds:
‘{Look!} I’ll hand the house of Egypt’s King HophRa
To his enemies and those that are seeking his life,
As I handed Judah’s King ZedekiAh
To his enemy NebuChadNezzar,
Who was seeking his life.’
These were the words that the Prophet JeremiAh spoke to BarUch (the son of NeriAh) as he was writing all the words that came from the mouth of JeremiAh in this scroll during the 4th year of [the reign of] JehoiAkim (the son of JosiAh) the king of Judah. He said,
‘Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, said this about you, O BarUch,because you made this complaint:
Alas, to my misery, Jehovah has added hard labor;
For I went to bed moaning and there found no rest.
‘So Jehovah told me that I should say this to you:
{Look!} That which I’ve built, I’ll demolish,
And that which I’ve planted, I will pluck…
Yes, even this land that is Mine.
‘Were you looking for great things to happen? If so;
You had best remove that thought from your mind;
For {Look!} upon all flesh, I’m bringing what’s bad, says Jehovah.
But as your reward, I’ll give you your life,
No matter which way you may choose to go.’
These are the words that Jehovah sent to JeremiAh the Prophet against the nations.[He said this concerning] Egypt and the armies of PharaOh Necho the king of Egypt, who was at the EuPhrates River in CarChemIsh when he was [killed] by NebuChadNezzar the king of Babylon, which happened in the 4th year [of the reign] of JehoiAkim (the son of JosiAh) the king of Judah:
‘Now, pick up your weapons and shields,
And then get ready for battle!
Saddle the horses and mount up their riders…
Don your helmets and chest plates,
And you should take up your spears!
‘Why are they frightened and running?
It’s because their mighty have fallen,
And into exile, they’re going…
They’ll not return to their land,’ says Jehovah.
‘Their nimble will not be able to flee,
And their strong won’t be saved from those in the north…
For at the EuPhrates, they’ll fall.
‘What is this that’s rising like a river…
Yes, like a river that’s swollen?
The waters of the river of Egypt arose,
And said, I will rise and cover their land…
I’ll destroy their cities and all those that live there.
‘So, ready the chariots and mount up your horsemen…
Assemble the Ethiopians and Libyans
All armed and carrying shields!
‘Come, O Lydians, and stretch tight your bows,
For this day belongs to Jehovah of Armies,
Who’ll arise to take vengeance on His enemies.
Then the sword will devour and be filled…
It will get drunk on their blood.
‘There’ll be a sacrifice to Jehovah of Armies
[Being offered by those] from the land to the north
At the River EuPhrates.
‘So, go to GileAd for ointment
[To heal] the virgin daughter of Egypt!
But the attempts to heal her will all be in vain,
And the ointments will do her no good.
‘Now, the nations have all heard your voices,
For your cries have filled the whole earth.
Warriors fighting warriors have weakened together,
And together, they’ve fallen [in battle].’
This is what Jehovah said through JeremiAh the Prophet concerning the coming of NebuChadNezzar (the king of Babylon) to strike the land of Egypt:
‘Send the announcement to Egypt…
Yes, let them hear it in Migdol,
And then give warning to Memphis!
Tell those that live in TahPanHes
To prepare their yew to be [chopped] by the sword!
‘Why are your mighty all lying face down?
They can’t get up, for the Lord knocked them down!
‘Yes your mighty [armies] have weakened,
Then they turned to their comrades and said,
Let’s get up and go back to our people and homes…
Let’s [flee from] the faces of Greeks!
‘You can call on the name, PharaOh Necho…
The one that’s the king of all Egypt,
But [his time of glory has past].
‘As I live,’ says the King, Jehovah of Armies;
‘As sure as Tabor is found among mountains,
And as sure as CarMel is found by the sea,
I’ve come here to settle up matters.
‘So get ready, O daughter of Egypt,
And those of you that are still left alive;
For Memphis will now be destroyed,
And she’ll be referred to as Woe,
Because she’ll be left without people.
‘Egypt is a heifer prepared for the slaughter
By a broken branch that will come from the north.
For the soldiers they’ve hired are like calves
That are cared for and very-well fed.
But, they will all turn back and flee,
Because they won’t wish to wait for the day
When their destruction will come…
The time when they will be punished.
‘Since her voice is like the hissing of snakes
That slither along in the sand;
They will attack her with axes
As though they are chopping up wood.
‘Then they’ll cut down all her forests,’ says Jehovah!
‘For, no one can imagine their numbers…
As with locusts, there’s no way to count them!
‘Disgrace will come to the daughter of Egypt,
And she’ll be given to the men from the north.
‘Yes, IsraEl’s God, Jehovah of Armies says this:
{Look!} Amun (Thebes’ God) will be punished;
For, I will bring this on Egypt,
As well as on her gods and her kings…
To PharaOh and those that are trusting in him.
‘To those seeking his life, I will hand them…
To the hands of King NebuChadNezzar,
And to the hands of his servants.
‘Once again, it will be as it was long ago, says Jehovah.
So My servant Jacob should not be afraid,
Nor should IsraEl ever feel terrified.
‘{Look!} For I’ll bring you back from faraway lands…
Your seed, from where they were captives.
Jacob will come and then sleep in peace,
And no one will bring them more trouble.
‘So, don’t be afraid, O Jacob, My child, says Jehovah;
For, I will be there with you!
And all the nations to which you were led
Will be appointed to destruction…
The nations where I sent you will all be consumed.
‘But though I’ll never appoint you an end,
I will still judge and correct you.
I won’t declare you free from all guilt,
Nor will you ever be acquitted.’
These words of the Lord came to JeremiAh the Prophet against the Philistines before PharaOh attacked Gaza:
‘Jehovah says:
{Look!} From the north, the waters will rise
To become a river that’s flooding.
It will flood the land and all its good things…
The city and all those that live there.
‘Then, all the men will start crying,
And those living there will be shouting,
Because of the sounds of the beating of hoofs
And the rumble of chariot wheels.
‘Fathers won’t [help] their own sons
Because their hands will be just too weak
In the day that he comes to destroy the Philistines…
To wipe away Sidon, Tyre, and their friends.
‘To the Philistines, Jehovah is sending destruction,
As well as to the islands of CappaDocia.
Baldness will come upon Gaza,
And AshKelon will be thrown away,
Along with Anakim’s [giants].’
How long will you strike with the sword of Jehovah…
Until when, will it finally be stilled?
Please put it back into its sheath…
Yes, lift it away and put it to rest!
But, what can make it be stilled?
For it came from Jehovah upon AshKelon
And against [her cities] by the sea,
So that all the rest would be shaken.
Jehovah of Armies, the God of IsraEl, said this against MoAb:
‘Woe to Nebo, for it was destroyed,
And KiriAth JaiRim was taken…
Their forts were all vanquished and shamed.
‘MoAb won’t be dancing in HeshBon,
For God has planned many bad things against her.
Come and cut her out of the nations…
Let’s bring her to an end with the sword!
‘From HoroNaim comes the sound of men shouting,
For destruction and ruin have arrived,
And MoAb will be wiped away!
Announce this too in Zogora!
For LuHith is now filled with weeping,
And on the road to HoroNaim, they’re crying.
‘You can hear the cries of destruction;
So escape, and run for your lives…
Go live in the desert like zebras!
‘But you’ll be captured because you’ve relied
On your treasures and forts.
So you’ll be taken away and resettled,
Along with your princes and priests.
‘To your cities, ruin is coming…
None of your towns will be saved.
So your valleys will then be destroyed,
As will even your plains,’ says Jehovah.
‘Post signs over MoAb that say she has the plague;
So, soon she’ll have to be burned.
Her cities will become unwalked lands,
For there’ll be no one living within them.
‘O cursed is the one that’s indifferent
When it comes to doing the work of the Lord…
Cursed is the one that holds back his sword!
‘MoAb has rested since childhood,
Relying upon his own glory.
He’s never poured dregs from pitcher to pitcher,
Nor has he been carried away…
So his sense of taste hasn’t left him,
And his ability to smell still remains.
‘But because of this,’ says Jehovah,
‘{Look!} The days are coming when I will send
Those that wish to lean upon him.
‘Then, they’ll water [the wine] in his pitchers,
And they will break all his trumpets.
MoAb will be disgraced before CheMosh
As IsraEl was disgraced before BethEl.
‘So, how can you say, We are strong…
All our men are mighty for war?
For, MoAb and his cities are gone…
His young men have fallen in slaughter,’
Says the King, Jehovah of Armies.
‘MoAb’s day of harm has quickly arrived.
So those around him should all move away,
And those that were trusting in him should now ask,
Who broke this famous one’s staff…
Who broke that magnificent rod?
‘So, descend from your glory and sit where it’s damp,
O you daughters of Dibon!
For now that MoAb has been destroyed,
Someone is coming to you
Who will destroy all your forts!
‘Stand in the road and then look,
All you who are sitting in AroEr,
Then ask the fleeing what has happened.
‘MoAb is broken and he’s been disgraced.
So shriek, cry out, and announce it in Arnon
That mighty MoAb has fallen!
‘For, judgment has come to the land of Misor…
On MephaAth, JaHazah, and Holon,
As well as on Dibon and Nebo,
And on the house of the DiblaThaim.
‘On KiriAth JaiRim, it has arrived,
And on the house of GaMul,
As well as on the house of MeOn.
‘It has come on KiriAth and BozRah…
Upon all the cities of MoAb,
Both those that are near and those far away.
‘The horn of MoAb has been broken
And his mighty arm is now destroyed,’ says Jehovah.
‘So let [all of his people] get drunk;
For before them, he made himself great.
‘In his own vomit, MoAb will wallow,
And he’ll be considered a joke.
O IsraEl; you’re the reason why this came to be…
It was your cunning ways that brought this on them,
Because they were [your ally] in war.
‘The people of MoAb have all fled their towns,
And now they must live among rocks…
They must live like doves among stones.
‘I heard the insolence of MoAb,
And he was very insulting…
Then his insults and pride raised his heart.
‘But I’m aware of the [bad] things he’s done,’ says Jehovah,
‘And from him, I’ve endured far too much…
Yes, I know of his [wicked] deeds.
‘Because of this, MoAb will shriek,
And the men of KeIr will be yelling
Because of their squalid conditions!
‘The same as I’ve wept over JaZer
Is how I’ll cry over you,
O great grapevine of SibMah.
For your vines have reached to the sea,
And they’ve touched the city of JaZer.
‘Now, ruin has come to your autumn fruits,
And on those that are picking your grapes.
‘But at CarMel, there’s reason for shouting and joy;
For there’s no one to tread MoAb’s wine vats…
Yes, from morning to evening, they’re [shouting in] joy.
‘From HeshBon, to ElYaleh, and to JaHaz
There now arises a cry;
From ZoAr to HoroNaim there’s bleating
As though coming from 3-year-old heifers…
For the waters at NimRim have dried.
‘To MoAb, I will bring destruction,’ says Jehovah…
‘To this one that goes up to his shrines
And burns incense there to his gods.
‘So like pipes, MoAb’s heart will soon resonate
The same as My heart resonates
For all the people of KeIr-Aras…
Where like pipes, their [hearts] will resonate too,
Since the things that they’ve gained will all perish.
‘Then all their heads will be shorn,
And all their beards will be shaved…
They’ll be beating their chests with their hands,
And every loin will wear sackcloth.
‘[There’ll be wailing] on the rooftops of MoAb,
As well as in all of their squares,
Because I will have smashed MoAb,’ says Jehovah,
‘Like a pot that is no longer used.
‘O how very contrite;
O how MoAb’s repented;
For, MoAb’s now laughed at and shamed…
An object of horror to those [passing by].’
Jehovah says:
‘I’ll spread and stretch out My wings over MoAb…
KiriAth and her forts will be seized.
In that day, the hearts of the armies of MoAb
Will become like the hearts of their women.
‘MoAb will [soon] be destroyed,
So he will no longer be many…
For against him, Jehovah will prove Himself great.
‘Snares, fear, and the pit have arrived
Upon you that have settled in MoAb,’ says Jehovah.
‘For those fleeing in fear will fall into pits,
And those climbing out will be caught in a snare.
‘I’ll be bringing these things upon MoAb
In the year that I go there to visit,’ says Jehovah.
‘In the shadow of HeshBon, they stopped…
The army that was running away.
For, fire arose out of HeshBon,
And in SiHon’s midst, there were flames
That devoured the forehead of MoAb
And the scalps of the sons of SiHon.
‘Woe upon you, O MoAb!
For the people of CheMosh have all been destroyed,
And their sons and daughters were carried away.
But the captives of MoAb, I will return
In the last days,’ says Jehovah.
This was the judgment upon MoAb.
To the sons of AmMon:
Jehovah asked this:
‘Are there no sons in IsraEl…
Is there no one left to inherit?
Why has Moloch inherited Gad and his sons,
And why does he dwell in their cities?
‘{Look!} Because of this, days will come,’ says Jehovah,
‘When I’ll cause the disturbance of war
To be heard in RabBah by AmMon’s sons,
And then, they will all be destroyed.
So their land [will soon] be unwalked,
And their shrines will be burned up in fire.
Then, IsraEl will inherit its kingship,’ says Jehovah.
‘Shout, O HeshBon, for Ai was destroyed…
Cry out, O daughters of RabBah,
And then wrap sackcloth around you!
Give in and lament over Moloch;
For together, his priests and his rulers
Will be carried away and resettled.
‘Why are there cheers in EmaKeim,
O you presumptuous daughter…
You who’ve relied on you treasures and asked,
Who would dare come against me?
‘{Look!} I will bring you something to fear,’
Says Jehovah of Armies…
‘From your cities, [your people] will scatter
In whichever direction their faces [will look],
And those that flee will never return.
‘But the sons of AmMon, I will return
From wherever they’ve been taken captive,’ says Jehovah.
To Edom:
Jehovah says:
‘There is no more wisdom in TeMan;
For the council of their experts has been wiped away,
And their wisdom has been beguiled and undone.
‘So, get accustomed to sitting,
All you are living in DeDan;
For, in the day that I come to visit,
I will be bringing hard times.
‘Then, those that harvest grapes will arrive,
And they will leave nothing behind…
They’ll come upon you and snatch you away
As though they are thieves in the night.
‘For, in the same way that I dragged Esau down;
I’ll uncover the things that you’ve tucked away…
No way can you keep them hidden.
Then, you’ll be destroyed by a people
Who are not your neighbors or brothers.
‘So abandon your orphans, that they might survive;
For, I will keep them alive
As I’ll also keep your widows alive,
Because they’ve put faith in Me.’
Jehovah says:
‘{Look!} Those that weren’t under [My] Law
Were given the cup from which they must drink.
And because you will be found guilty,
You will also have to drink from that cup.
‘For I swear this oath by Myself,’ says Jehovah,
‘That your land will soon be scorned and unwalked…
In her midst, you will be cursed,
And through ages, your cities will be deserts!’
Then I listened and heard this from Jehovah. For He sent His messengers to all the nations in order to give them this warning:
‘Gather and come here against her…
Arise and get ready for war!
Look! I’ve appointed her to be small among nations,
And something despised by all people.
‘For her [schemes] have worked out against her,
And because of the audacious ways of her heart,
Her people will be living in the hills,
And in the holes among rocks.
So, if they set their nests higher than eagles,
I will still bring them back down,’ says Jehovah.
‘Then Edom will be a land that’s unwalked…
All that go there will just be amazed
And whistle at all that has happened to her.
‘For as Sodom and GomorRah were destroyed
Along with all those that lived there,’ said Jehovah;
‘No man will sit [in Edom] again,
Nor will sons of men ever dwell there.
‘{Look!} Like lions, they will then arrive
[And attack] AiTham from the JorDan…
They’ll quickly drive them away from their land,
And a young man [will serve as their ruler]!
‘For, who else can be likened to Me,
And by whom can I be opposed…
Which shepherd can stand and oppose Me?’
So, hear the plan of Jehovah…
His plan against Edom and what He’s devised
Against those that are dwelling in TeMan:
‘Even their smallest of sheep
Will soon be taken away,
And the places where they rest will be empty.
The sounds of their downfall will shake the whole earth,
And their cries will be heard ‘cross the seas.
‘{Look!} He’ll soar like an eagle and spot her,
Then stretch out his wings toward her forts.
In that day, the hearts of the mighty of Edom
Will become like women with birth pangs.’
To Damascus:
‘HaMath will soon be disgraced,
And from Arpad, they’ll hear bad reports…
They will be startled and enraged,
And they’ll be unable to rest.
‘Damascus was weakened and she turned to flee…
By trembling, she was overcome.
Concern and grief held her down
Like a woman that’s about to give birth.
‘O you praised city that was never abandoned…
You town that was ever so loved;
Your young men will fall in your squares,
And your mighty will all be cut down,’ says Jehovah of Armies.
‘For I’ll kindle a fire on the walls of Damascus,
And burn the Plaza of the Sons of Hadad.’
To Cypress and its queen in her courtyard, [concerning the attack by] NebuChadNezzar the king of Babylon.
Jehovah of Armies says this:
‘Arise and go up to Cypress,
And then attack Kedem’s sons.
Take all their tents and their sheep,
As well as their clothes, their camels, and jars;
For I’ve called for destruction upon them.
‘Flee right away… just grab what you need,
O you that are resting in yards,’ says Jehovah!
‘Since King NebuChadNezzar has made plans against you,
Get up and flee to a nation that’s safe,
All you that are sitting and resting
In a place with no gates and no bars.
‘Then, all your camels will be plundered,
And your cattle will all be destroyed…
I’ll blow them away with the winds
And shave them away from your sides…
I’ll bring your enemies to drive them away,’ said Jehovah.
‘Then your yards will become ostrich playgrounds…
Places unwalked through the ages.
No way will men ever sit there again,
Nor will sons of men ever live there.’
Well, after the Lord told the Prophet JeremiAh that these things would happen to them, this is what did happen to ElAm around the beginning of the reign of ZedekiAh, the king of Judah.For Jehovah of Armies said this [to JeremiAh]:
‘Look! I will break ElAm’s bows,
As well as his sources of power.
I’ll bring the four winds against ElAm
From the 4 corners of the skies,
And to those four winds, they’ll be scattered.
‘Many nations will come against ElAm
To push them out of their land.
Before their foes, they’ll be scattered
(Before those that are seeking their lives).
For upon them, I’m bringing My anger and rage,’ says Jehovah,
‘And I’ll chase them away with My sword
Until they’re completely consumed.
‘Then in ElAm, I will establish My throne…
And that’s where I’ll send a king and great men,’ says Jehovah.
‘But in the last days, I will also return
All the captives of ElAm,’ says Jehovah.
These are the words that the Lord spoke against Babylon and the land of the Chaldea through the mouth of JeremiAh, the Prophet:
‘Announce it to all of the nations…
Make it heard and erect a sign…
Let them all know, do not hide it!
‘Say, Babylon has now been captured,
And to Bel, disgrace has arrived.
MeroDach has been [destroyed]…
All of his idols were shamed,
And have now been [carried away].
‘For a nation from the north came against her
And brought her land to extinction.
So, no one will ever live there again…
None from among men or beasts.
‘During those days and at that time,
They will be entered and shaken, says Jehovah.
Then the sons of IsraEl and Judah
Will get together and leave her.
‘Before Jehovah, they’ll be weeping [in joy],
For they will be seeking their God.
They’ll ask for directions to Zion,
And that’s where they’ll set their faces to go.
‘In Jehovah, they will seek refuge,
And they’ll remember His Sacred Agreement.
‘For my people became as sheep that were lost,
Since their shepherds had pushed them into the hills…
They led them astray from mountain to hill,
And then, they just walked away.
‘So, those that found them consumed them…
Their enemies said, We won’t spare them
Because they’ve sinned against God
In those pastures [that He gave] to their fathers.
‘So, flee from Babylon’s midst…
Get out of the land of Chaldea…
Escape like sheep being chased by wild beasts!
For {Look!} against Babylon, I will be bringing
A great nation from the lands in the north,
Which will then come and attack her,
And take [her people] as captives…
For the arrows of their finest of warriors
Won’t return without seeing success.
‘Then all the Chaldeans will be plundered,
And those that loot her will take what they want, said Jehovah.
‘For, she was glad and found glory
When My inheritance was plundered by her…
She leaped like a calf in My pasture,
And then, she gored like a bull.
‘So, she will bring shame to her mother,
And become the least of the nations…
A barren parched land, and a desert.
‘{Look!} It will lie empty as a place that’s unwalked;
For because of the rage of Jehovah,
She will no longer be lived in…
Yes, everyone there will be gone.
And those that travel through Babylon,
Will look sadly and whistle at her fate.
‘So, come and lay siege against Babylon…
Stretch tight your bows and then shoot her down!
Don’t spare the arrows in your attack,
For against Jehovah, she’s sinned.
‘Then tie up her hands and lead her away…
Raze her parapets and all of her walls!
For, this is vengeance from God…
Do to her as she once did to you!
‘May Babylon’s seed be taken away
(Those that [swing] sickles in the harvest)
Before the swords of the Greeks,
Who will carry them back to their people,
As they are going back home.
‘IsraEl was a flock that had strayed,
So lions pushed them out [of their land].
Assyria’s king ate them first,
And then Babylon’s king chewed on their bones.
‘But because of the things they will do, says Jehovah of Armies;
{Look!} I’ll take vengeance on Babylon’s king and his land,
As I’ve done to Assyria’s king.
‘Then I’ll bring IsraEl back to their pastures,
And in BaShan and CarMel, they’ll feed…
Yes, upon Ephraim’s mountains,
And in GileAd, their souls will be filled.
‘In those days and at that time, says Jehovah;
In IsraEl, you’ll search for unrighteous ways,
But they will no longer exist.
And if they search throughout Judah for sins,
They won’t be able to find them…
They’ll only find kindness from those that return.
‘So, go to that land and attack her…
Attack all the people that live there…
Punish the ones that once clapped their hands…
Wipe them away with the sword, says Jehovah…
Do to them, what I told you to do!
‘There’s the sound of destruction and war
In the land of Chaldea.
For they’ll be defeated and smashed
By the hammer of the whole earth…
O how the nations will bring
Extinction upon Babylon!
‘They’ll attack her and she will be captured
Before those in Babylon know
That they’ll be relocated and taken away;
For it’s Me, Jehovah, whom they have opposed!
‘The Lord has opened His storehouse
And withdrawn the things of his rage
To do the work of Jehovah of Armies
Within the land of Chaldea.
‘So, because it’s her time, you must open her stores,
Then search her through like a cave…
And thereafter, you should destroy her…
Don’t leave a trace [of where she has been]!
‘Then, dry up all of her fruits
And carry them down to the slaughter!
Woe to them, for their day has arrived…
The time for them to be punished!
‘There’s the sound of [people] that are fleeing…
From Babylon’s lands, they are running.
So announce Jehovah’s vengeance to Zion…
God’s vengeance over what they did to His Temple.
‘Urge many to come against Babylon…
Tell all to stretch tight their bows!
Around her, set up your camps
And allow no one to escape.
‘Pay her back for the things she has done…
Do to her as she once did to you!
For Jehovah’s the One that she has opposed…
IsraEl’s Most Holy God.
‘It’s because of this, that she’ll fall.
And all the young men in her squares,
As well as all of her warriors,
Will be [run through] in that day, says Jehovah.
‘Look! I’m the One that’s against you, O proud one,
Says Jehovah of Armies,
And your day has finally come…
The day for you to be punished!
‘The insolence you had will now fall
And no one will raise it again.
In her woods, I’ll kindle a fire
To devour everything that’s around her.
‘Jehovah of Armies also said:
To the sons of IsraEl, you were tyrants,
And to the sons of Judah, you were even [more cruel]…
You’ve been tyrants to all whom you’ve captured,
And let no one return to their homes.
‘But the Almighty will ransom them back
(Jehovah the Almighty is His Name).
He judges His opponents in fairness,
Before He takes them away from their lands.
And now, He is sending His rage
To those that are living in Babylon.
‘Bring a sword upon the Chaldeans, says Jehovah,
And upon all of Babylon’s people…
Upon all her great men and experts!
‘Bring a sword against her clairvoyants,
And prove them all to be fools!
Bring a sword against all her soldiers,
And let them each receive wounds!
‘Bring a sword upon all their horses,
And upon their chariots also.
Then those in her midst will be acting like girls!
‘Bring a sword upon all her treasures…
[Yes, haul them away] as your loot!
‘And though she’s relied on her waters,
They will soon be disgraced.
For, they are a land of carved idols
Before which, those in the islands have bowed.
So their idols will be sent to those islands,
Where among chained demons, they’ll dwell.
‘Through the ages, she’ll not be lived in again…
Through generations, no one will camp there.
For as God destroyed Sodom and GomorRah,
As well as the places round-about them,’ said the Lord,
‘There’s no way that men will live there again,
Nor will sons of men ever stay there.
‘{Look!} There are people that are coming from the far north…
A great nation will come from the ends of the earth
Along with many [great] kings,
All brandishing arrows and swords.
‘They will be very audacious;
For, they will act without mercy,
And their voices [will roar] like the seas.
‘O you daughters of Babylon;
They’ll come against you on horses,
And with fire, as they’re preparing for war.
‘Babylon’s king will hear the report,
And then his hands will grow weak…
He’ll be gripped with pangs like a woman giving birth.
‘{Look!} Like a lion, he’ll ascend from the JorDan,
And he’ll go to a place called AiTham.
Then quickly, I’ll drive them upon her…
I’ll set all their young men against her.
‘For who else is like Me and who can resist…
What shepherd can stand before Me?
‘So, hear the plan of Jehovah…
His plans against Babylon
And the equipment that He has devised
Against those in the land of Chaldea.
‘Surely their lambs will all be destroyed…
Surely their fields will be captured!
‘From the sounds of Babylon’s conquest,
All on the earth will be shaken,
And her cries will be heard in all nations.’
The Lord said:
‘{Look!} I’ll awaken a wind that burns and destroys
Against Babylon’s people
And all the Chaldeans who live there.
‘Against Babylon, I’ll be sending the proud
Who’ll insult her and wipe out her land.
Woe to Babylon and those round-about
In the day that she is oppressed.
‘Let the bowman stretch tight his bow
And strap on all of his weapons!
Do not spare her young men…
Wipe all her armies away…
May all in the land of Chaldea fall dead.
‘May their [mercenary troops] be pierced through and fall.
For, IsraEl and Judah aren’t the widows
Of Jehovah the Almighty God.
‘It was because their land was filled with injustice,
And from IsraEl’s holy ways, they had strayed,
That they were allowed to be captured.
‘So, those in Babylon’s midst should now flee…
Each man should save his own soul!
In her unrighteous ways, don’t get involved,
Since it’s time for her to be punished…
To be repaid for the bad things she’s done!
‘Within the hands of Jehovah,
Babylon is like a gold cup
From whose wine, the earth became drunk.
For she forced all the nations to drink it,
And this is why they are reeling.
‘So, Babylon will fall and be broken;
Then the [time to] lament her will come when they’ll say:
‘Bring an ointment to heal all her wounds,
And to see if she can be saved!
‘Though we treated her, she couldn’t be healed…
So, all should return to their lands,
Since heaven has approached to pass judgment on her…
Before the stars, she has been exposed.’
Yes, Jehovah’s brought judgment upon her;
So come, let’s announce it in Zion…
For, this is the work of Jehovah our God.
‘Prepare your bows… fill your quivers;
For, the spirit of the king of the Medes
Has now been aroused by Jehovah
To bring His rage against Babylon
And to wipe her away.
Yes, this is the vengeance from God…
He’s getting revenge for His people.
‘Raise the flags on Babylon’s walls!
Prepare the watchmen and ready the shields!
For Jehovah’s about to do what He said
Against those that are dwelling in Babylon.
‘O you who camp between waters
And you who [put trust in] your treasures;
The limit has finally been reached
As to what your bowels can hold.
‘For Jehovah has now sworn this oath
By [the power of] His mighty arm:
I’ll fill you with men (like locusts they’ll come)…
And they’ll shout as they are attacking!’
‘He’s the Mighty One who created the earth…
The One, who in His great wisdom
Prepared mankind’s habitation,
And the One who with great understanding,
Stretched out the heavens above it.
‘With His voice, He sends waters down from the skies,
And He brings the clouds from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning along with the rain,
And from His treasures, He then draws the light.
‘He has proven all men to be foolish,
[And foolish] is the knowledge of their goldsmiths;
For, they have cast idols and they have carved gods,
Which are unable to breathe.
‘So their deeds are wasted and scornful,
And they’ll be destroyed when He visits.
Yet, this won’t be the portion of Jacob…
Their inheritance is the One that shaped all,
Whose Name is Jehovah of Armies!
‘So before Me, lay out your items of war,
And I’ll scatter [many] nations before you…
Over many kings, I will raise you,
And before you, I’ll scatter their horses and riders,
As well as their chariots and horsemen.
‘I’ll scatter before you, their husbands and wives…
I’ll scatter their elders and children.
Before you, I’ll scatter their young men and virgins,
And I’ll scatter their shepherds and flocks.
‘I’ll scatter before you their farmers and farms…
Governors and commanders, I’ll scatter.
Before your eyes, I will pay back
Those of Chaldea and Babylon
For the evils they committed against Zion, said Jehovah.
‘Look… I’m against you, you mount of corruption,
And I oppose your iron that corrupts the whole earth.
So I’ll stretch My hand out against you,
Then upon you, I will roll rocks,
As I set your mountain on fire!
‘No way will your stones then be carried
To be used as foundation blocks…
You’ll be wiped away through the ages, said Jehovah.
‘So, raise the banners throughout the whole earth…
Signal the nations with trumpets;
Then, make them holy against her…
The Araratites and the AshKenazi!
‘Bring many weapons against her…
Bring horses like locusts, upon her!
Drag many nations [to fight] her…
The king of the Medes and the rest of the earth…
Their leaders and all their commanders!
‘Then the earth will be shaken and reel
By Jehovah’s plans against Babylon,
Since He’s arranged the extinction of Babylon’s land
So that no one will live there again!
‘Babylon’s soldiers will fail to wage war…
They’ll just sit in their forts as they’re losing control.
They’ll become like women whose tents are ablaze,
And then, her bars will be broken.
‘Those chasing will meet others chasing,
As they pursue the announcers
Who will meet with those that proclaim,
And make the announcement to Babylon’s king
That his great city was captured,
And the last of his moats have been breached…
That his ramparts have been burned by fire,
And all of his men have surrendered.
‘For Jehovah of Armies (the God of IsraEl) says this:
The palace of Babylon’s king
Will become a floor to do threshing…
And now is the season for threshing,
Because it’s time for the harvest!
‘[And those living in Zion will say],
By NebuChadNezzar, Babylon’s King,
I was crushed and divided…
He caught up with me in the darkness;
Then, like a beast, he swallowed me down,
And his belly was filled with My good things.
So in misery and in great trouble,
To Babylon, I was taken,
And my blood was laid upon those Chaldeans.
‘But because of this, says Jehovah;
{Look!} I will judge your opponents
And send My vengeance to them for the ways
That they will be punishing you.
‘I’ll destroy her [rivers] and dry up her springs,
And Babylon will become an extinction
– A den for wild beasts and for snakes –
Which won’t be lived in again.
‘As lions and their cubs are aroused in the heat,
I’ll give them a drink that will make them all drunk…
I’ll stupefy them and put them to sleep,
Which will be a sleep for the ages
From which they’ll never awaken, says Jehovah.
‘I’ll bring them like lambs for the slaughter…
Like rams that are mixed among [goats].
‘Thereafter, Sheshach will be captured,
And the earth’s boastful ones will be hunted…
For, Babylon will not be great again
Among the rest of the nations.
‘May Babylon be covered up by the sea…
May she be covered by the roar of its waves…
May all her cities meet with destruction,
And may her land become dry and unwalked.
‘Nothing alive will go there again,
Nor will sons of men ever rest there.
For, I will take vengeance upon Babylon,
And from her mouth, I’ll snatch what she ate.
No more will nations gather with her,
And even her walls will soon fall.
‘So, get out of her midst, O my people…
Let each man save his own life
From the anger and rage of Jehovah.
‘And don’t let your hearts be consumed…
Don’t fear the reports that are heard in that land;
For in 1 year, there’ll come a report,
And in the next, another will come
Of misery and sin in that land,
And of one leader ruling another.
‘Because of this, {Look!} days will come
When I’ll bring vengeance on Babylon’s idols.
Then, all in their land will be shamed,
As in her midst, the slain will be falling.
‘Heaven and earth will be joyful,
As well as all those that live there.
For her destroyer will come from the north, says Jehovah.
And as Babylon murdered the IsraElites,
The slain will fall in Babylon’s land.
‘So flee, O you who’ve been saved from the sword,
For you should stay there no longer!
Then speak of Jehovah in far-away lands…
And JeruSalem should remain in your hearts!
‘We were shamed when we heard of our scorn,
And in dishonor, we covered our faces;
For, foreigners entered our Most Holy Place…
They entered the House of Jehovah!
‘And because of this, {Look!} days will come, said Jehovah,
When I’ll take vengeance upon her carved idols,
And the slain will fall in her land.
‘So if Babylon could climb up into the skies
And fortify her strength in the heights;
I’d still send those who’d destroy her, said Jehovah.
‘So from Babylon, you will hear cries,
As destruction comes to the Chaldeans.
Jehovah will remove Babylon…
With the sounds of waves, He’ll destroy her,
And to her voice, He’ll bring ruin.
‘Misery will come upon Babylon,
For her warriors will soon all be captured,
And terror will come to her bowmen…
Yes, this is her payback from God.
‘The Lord will repay her with what she is due,
And he’ll make them all [reel like] drunks…
Yes, her governors, commanders, and wise men,
Says the King, Jehovah the Almighty.
‘And thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
The broad walls of Babylon will fall,
And her gates will fail and be burned;
For the nations and peoples will tire of her pride.’
These were the words that the Lord had instructed JeremiAh the Prophet to say to SeraiAh (the son of NeriAh and grandson of MaAseJah) when he went with ZedekiAh (the king of Judah) into Babylon in the 4th year of his reign (SeraiAh was in charge of the gifts that were [brought to the king]).Then JeremiAh wrote of all the bad things that were to come upon Babylon in a scroll, including all the rest of these words that were written against Babylon.
JeremiAh also told SeraiAh that when he got to Babylon, he was to read all of these words to [the people of Babylon], and then say,
‘It was Jehovah that spoke ill of this place…
He’s the One that said He’d destroy it
So that no one will ever live here again…
Neither man nor beast, through the ages.
[Then JeremiAh told him:] ‘Then, when you finish reading this scroll, tie it to a rock and toss it into the EuPhrates, and tell them:
This is how Babylon will sink
And not be raised up again…
She’ll vanish, because of the bad things He’ll bring.’
Yes, these were all the words of JeremiAh.
Well, King ZedekiAh was 21 years old when he started his reign, and he ruled from JeruSalem for 11 years. His mother’s name was HamuTal, and she was the daughter of JeremiAh of LibNah.For, like JehoiAkim, the things that he did were wicked before Jehovah.And this is why the wrath of Jehovah stayed upon JeruSalem and Judah until He finally cast them away from His face… for then ZedekiAh rebelled against the king of Babylon.
It was in the 9th year and 10th month of his reign, on the 10th day of the month that NebuChadNezzar the king of Babylon came against JeruSalem with all his armies. He camped outside of the city and built a rampart around it,and the city stayed under siege until the 11th year of King ZedekiAh.So by the 9th day of the 4th month, there was famine in the city, and there was no longer any bread for the people in the land.
Thereafter, the city’s [walls] were breached and all its warriors fled… they escaped during the night by way of the gate in the middle of the wall and the area around the wall that was next to the king’s garden. [They did this] as the Chaldeans were already in and around the city… and then they headed toward the desert.
Well, the army of the Chaldeans chased after the king, catching up with him on the other side of JeriCho, where all of his servants had left him.
So they captured the king and led him to the king of Babylon (who was in RibLah in the land of HaMath at the time), where he spoke to him and then passed judgment on him.Then the king of Babylon had all the sons of ZedekiAh killed before his eyes, and he killed all the rulers of Judah there in RibLah.And thereafter, he blinded the eyes of ZedekiAh, bound him in shackles, and the king of Babylonian had him carried to Babylon, where he was kept in a mill house until the day that he died.
It was during the 5th month, on the 10th day of the month, that NabuZarArdan (the chief of the guards that always stood before the king of Babylon) came to JeruSalemand he burned the [Temple] of Jehovah, the king’s palace, and all the houses in the city with fire, including all of its mansions.Then the chief of the guards had the Chaldean armies tear down all of the city walls,and he removed all the poor people (those that had been left behind in the city) as well as those that had gone over to the king of Babylon, along with everyone else.However, the chief of the guards did leave some of the poor people behind to serve as vinedressers and farmers.
Then the Chaldeans broke up the columns of brass that stood outside the [Temple] of Jehovah, along with their bases and the brass Sea, and they carried all the brass off to Babylon.This included the bowls, the meat hooks, and the rest of the brass items that were used to officiate [at the Temple],as well as the silver things (the snuffers, the oil flasks, the lamp stands, the incense pans, and the cups). Then the chief of the guards took all the things that were made of gold and silver(along with the two columns, the Sea, and the 12 brass calves that were under the Sea, which King Solomon had made for the [Temple] of Jehovah) [back to Babylon].
No one could know the weight of all the brass; for the columns were each 33 feet (10m) tall, they had a circumference of 22 feet (6.7m), and their walls were 4 fingers thick.The moldings were also 8 feet (2.4m) long (one of them was very fine), and there was a net of pomegranates around the moldings, all of which was made of brass.There were 96 pomegranates on each [molding] and 100 pomegranates on each of the nets that encircled them.
Then the chief of the guards carried off SeraiAh (the High Priest), ZephaniAh (his second in command), and three of the [Temple’s] entrance guards.And from the city, he took one of the eunuchs who was in charge of the warriors, seven of the famous men who stood before the king (all of whom were found in the city), the scribe of the armies, the one who acted as scribe for the people of the land, and 60 men from among the people of the land that were found in the midst of the city.NabuZarArdan (the chief of the guards) took them all away and led them before the king of Babylon in RibLah,and the king of Babylon had them all killed at RibLah (in the land of HaMath). Then the rest of the people of Judah were deported from the land.
There were 3,023 people whom NebuChadNezzar deported in his 7th year.Then in the 18th year of NebuChadNezzar’s [reign], he deported another 832 souls from JeruSalem.And in the 23rd year of [his reign], the chief of the guards deported 745 more souls from among the Judeans. So, all those [that were carried way] came to 4,600.
Then in the 37th year, on the 25th day of the 12th month after the relocation of JehoiAchin the king of Judah, EvilMerodach (the king of Babylon) took JehoiAchin (the king Judah) and led him from the house where he’d been kept under guard (he did this in the 1st year of his reign).Then he spoke to him kindly and gave him a throne that was higher than all the thrones of the other kings that were there with him in Babylon.He took him from his prison, provided him with better clothes, and allowed him to eat bread before him for as long as he lived.He was also provided a daily allowance by the king of Babylon until the day that he died.
After IsraEl was captured and JeruSalem was desolated, JeremiAh sat down and cried, wailing this lamentation over the city:
O how that city, once filled with people
Must now sit all alone.
Among the nations, she [sits as] a widow…
She is ruled and [must pay] a tribute.
She cried and wept all through the night,
As tears rolled down her cheeks;
For, no one is left to offer her comfort
Among all those who once loved her.
Yes, those who cared have now left her,
And her enemies, they have become.
Humiliation has come upon Judah,
For [all of her people] were [taken away]
And she has become just a slave.
Now, she finds no way to rest,
Because she [belongs to] the gentiles.
Yes, all those who chased her have caught her,
And [she lives] among those who oppress her.
The roads to Zion now mourn,
For there is no one who comes there
To celebrate her holiday feasts.
All of her gates have been broken,
All of her Priests must now groan,
And all of her virgins are captives;
So, inside herself, she is bitter.
For her head is those who oppose her,
And to her enemies, [she now must submit].
Her humiliation was brought by Jehovah,
Because she no longer showed Him respect.
So her young were led off as captives
Before those who have oppressed her.
The daughters of Zion (her beauty) are gone,
[And others now serve as] their rulers.
As rams without pasture, they left without strength
In front of those who’d pursued them.
So, when she thinks of these days of disgrace,
She is very upset.
All of her beautiful things [are now gone]…
Those things that she’s had since most ancient times.
For her people fell into the hands of oppressors,
And no one came to their aid.
Then all her enemies laughed
When they saw these things being taken away.
It was because of JeruSalem’s sins
That she was allowed to be battered.
She was humbled by the One who had loved her
When He saw how indecent she had become.
So now, she [just sits there and] moans,
And all she does is reflect.
Her filth lies there at her feet,
Because she forgot how things would work out.
So, she has now been brought low,
And there’s no place where she can find comfort.
[She cries]: ‘O Lord, see how I’ve been shamed;
For, to my enemies, I now must submit!’
Those who oppressed her have reached out their hands
To take her desirable things.
She watched as the gentiles entered her [Temple]…
Those whom [God] said should not enter
Among the assembly [of His people].
Now, all of her people are groaning
Because they are searching for bread.
Her desirable things, they’ve traded for food,
In order to save their own lives.
O Jehovah; please look down upon this,
For, she has been so disgraced!
All those to whom You once became close
But thereafter chose to reject You,
Will see if there’s pain like the pain that I feel.
For, I’ve been humbled by the One who addressed me…
By Jehovah, in the day of His rage.
To my bones, He has sent fire…
Yes, fire is what He has sent.
Then He spread out a net for my feet
To turn me back and make me retreat.
He appointed me to be hidden from view
And to grieve throughout the rest of my days.
He was aware of my godless deeds;
For, they were close to my hands…
And then they [crawled] up my neck.
So, all of my strength has now left me,
Since Jehovah’s put grief in my hands
And I am unable to stand.
All of my mighty have left me,
As has Jehovah, [my God].
For the time arrived for His visit,
And to break the best of my men.
So the Lord has trodden the winepress
Of the virgin daughter of Judah.
It’s over such things that I weep…
It’s why my eyes are now filled with tears.
For, those who would offer me comfort
(Those who would bring back my life)
[Have now been carried] away.
Yes, all of my sons are now gone…
And by my enemies, I have been conquered.
So, though Zion has spread out her hands,
There’s no one who’ll come to console her.
For Jehovah gave a warning to Jacob
That they’d be surrounded by those who’d attack.
JeruSalem was to serve as a woman
That was set apart from the unclean…
Though she had to live in their midst.
Yet, Jehovah has been proven righteous;
For, we’re the ones who embittered His mouth.
So, hear all you peoples and look at my pain,
Since all my young men and virgins are gone…
They’ve all been taken as captives!
I was misled by those whom I loved…
My priests and my elders had failed me!
They just wanted food for themselves,
So they could save their own lives.
Behold, O Lord, my painful condition,
For my stomach is very upset
And my heart is rolling within me!
I have become very bitter,
For the sword has left me without any sons…
It’s as though there is death in my home.
Listen indeed to my moaning,
For there’s no one to offer me comfort.
Since our enemies had heard of our badness,
They rejoiced at the things that they did.
But upon them, You’ll bring a day and a time
When they will become just like me!
Yes, may their evils fall upon them…
Glean them as they have gleaned me for my sins!
For, [they are the cause] of my moaning,
And they’re the ones upsetting my heart.
O how dark was the rage of Jehovah
When it came to the daughter of Zion.
For He pulled IsraEl’s glory out of the heights
And threw it down to the ground…
Yes, in the day of His rage,
He forgot the stool for His feet.
[He] didn’t hold back, nor did He spare
Jacob’s beautiful things.
In His rage, He destroyed all the forts
Of the virgin daughter of Judah.
He cut them down to the ground,
And profaned our rulers and king.
He broke them to pieces in anger and rage,
Taking all of IsraEl’s strength…
He turned His hand from the enemy’s face
And allowed them to set Jacob ablaze…
To consume everything that’s around him.
As an enemy, He stretched tight His bow,
And as an opponent, he stiffened His hand
To destroy all the things that my eyes had desired.
On the Tents of the daughters of Zion,
He poured out the flames of His rage.
So Jehovah became our enemy…
He sunk IsraEl and all its estates.
He also destroyed all its forts…
The strongholds of the daughters of Judah.
He multiplied those who were humbling us,
And increased the numbers of humbled.
Like a grapevine, He spread out His Tent,
And His holiday feasts, He corrupted.
He forgot all the things He’d appointed for Zion…
The holiday feasts and the Sabbaths.
He did this, because we’d provoked Him,
Then He threatened our king and our priests in His rage.
[He] thrust away His own Altar…
His Holy Place, He has brushed aside.
So our enemies broke down our walls,
And shouted in the House of Jehovah
As we used to do on our holiday feasts.
Jehovah made plans to ruin the walls
Of the virgin daughter of Zion.
First, He stretched out His ruler,
Then His hand sent a trampling upon us,
Which caused us to mourn around all our walls,
Because the walls were destroyed,
And the gates had been cut to the ground…
They broke and destroyed the bars for our gates!
So now, her king and her rulers
Have been scattered among all the nations,
And there is no longer a Law,
Nor do our prophets see visions.
They silently sit on the ground
(The elders of the daughter of Zion)
As they throw dust on their heads…
As they are dressing in sackcloth…
As the heads of JeruSalem’s virgins
Are being pushed to the ground.
Then the tears in my eyes started to fail,
Because my heart had become so disturbed.
My glory had just been poured on the ground
By the destruction of all the daughters
And the nursing mothers with babies,
There in our city squares.
From the mothers, they demanded their grain and their wine
When they were as weak as the wounded.
Then, in those squares, they poured out the lives
[Of the babies] that nursed at their breasts.
And now, what more can I say,
O virgin daughter of JeruSalem…
To what can you be compared?
Who can now come and save you,
O virgin daughter of Zion…
Since the cup of destruction was widened for you,
Who can now bring you healing?
Though your prophets saw all of your folly,
They refused to uncover your sins
And save you from this captivity…
Though they were concerned about your foolish ways,
And they knew that you had to be purged!
Now, people clap hands as they’re passing,
And whistle as they shake their heads
Over JeruSalem’s daughter.
‘Isn’t she the one that was called glory’s crown…
The most joyful place on the earth?
‘But your enemies opened their mouths
And whistled, as they ground their teeth.
They said, We will swallow her down,
And this is the day that we planned…
We found it and [we made it happen]!’
So Jehovah did what He’d decided…
He finished what He said must be done…
The things that He said [He must do] long ago.
So He didn’t spare, He demolished…
He brought your enemies joy over you,
And raised the trumpets of those who attacked you!
Before Jehovah, they were yelling,
‘We will tear down all Zion’s walls
And make its people stream tears day and night!
Don’t allow them the time to get sober,
Or to let their eyes become still!’
So, during the night, awaken and think…
At the start of each watch, pour out your hearts
Before the face of Jehovah!
Raise your arms up before Him
On behalf of the children that are starving,
Which are found on every street corner!
Behold, O Lord… see what You’ve gleaned!
Should women eat the fruit of their bellies…
Should the babies be murdered as they’re nursing on breasts…
Will you kill the priests and the prophets
Inside the Holy Place of Jehovah?
Young boys must now sleep in the streets
Along with the old men and virgins.
My young men were all taken captive,
And then killed by the famine and swords.
For, in the day of Your rage,
You slashed and You haven’t spared any!
As a festival day (as no other day),
You called to those living around us.
Then because of Your rage, no one was saved…
They left no one behind…
My enemies were filled, and You won.
Now, I am a man who is helpless,
For the rod of His rage has been laid upon me.
He took me, then led me away
Into the darkness (not into the light).
So, throughout the rest of my days,
Against me, He has turned His hand.
My flesh and my skin, He has made old,
And He has broken my bones.
Against me, He’s now built [a wall],
And my head He’s encircled with trouble.
Inside a dark place, He has put me,
As though I’d been dead through the ages.
Against me, He has constructed a wall
Through which I cannot escape,
And with a brass chain, He has weighed me down.
Although I cry out and yell,
He has shut out my prayers…
He’s blocked all my roads and my ways!
He’s become a bear that is lying in wait,
And a lion that’s lurking, unseen.
When I rebelled, He then chased me down
And caused me to no longer be…
He established me to be wiped away.
He has stretched tight His bow,
And set me on a stone as His target.
Into my kidneys, He’s shot poison arrows
And He’s made me a source of His laughter…
A psalm throughout the whole day.
With bitterness, He has now filled me,
And bile, I’ve been given to drink.
With a small rock, He knocked out my teeth,
And then He gave me ashes to eat.
He has pushed peace from my life,
And made me forget all the good things I had.
So I said that my victory had perished
Along with my hope in Jehovah.
But, this is what I remembered:
Despite the state that I came to be in
(My persecution, bitterness, and bile),
I have not been forgotten…
Yes, my life will continue!
This is [the thought] that I’ve kept in my heart,
And the reason why I keep on waiting.
For the mercies of [God] never end,
And His compassions will never fail.
Each morning, they are renewed,
And on Him, we can always rely.
‘The portion that’s mine is Jehovah,’ said my soul.
‘And because of this, I’ll keep waiting.
For Jehovah is good to all those who wait
And wholeheartedly keep searching for Him.
So it’s good [for us all] to be quiet
And await Jehovah’s salvation.
And it’s also good for each man to bear
His own yoke from the time he is young.
Yes, we should sit all alone
And quietly carry our loads,
Then put our mouths to the dust,
And believe that there is still hope.
We should turn the other cheek when they slap us,
And we should accept all their scorn.
For, [in our hearts], we’ll know that Jehovah
Won’t push us away through the ages.
Since, in His abundance of mercy,
He shows pity for those who humble themselves.
Harsh replies don’t come from His heart,
As He teaches sons of men to be humble.
And now He has humbled the feet
Of those who’ve been carried away from this land.
From before His face in the heights,
He’s removed the decisions of men.
But Jehovah never said that He’d bring
Condemnation upon all mankind.
And who could ever say such a thing…
Yes, who could cause it to happen
Without Jehovah saying it’s so?
From His mouth in the heights can come good or bad.
So, why do the living choose to grumble
At others concerning their sins?
For before Him, our ways are stretched and examined
To see how we can be turned to the Lord.
So, we should lift our hearts with our hands
Toward the Most High in heaven.
It’s because we’ve been irreverent sinners
Who don’t deserve any forgiveness,
That we’ve been wrapped in His rage…
Yes it’s because we chose to reject Him
That He decided to send us away…
Why He chose to destroy, not to spare us.
So He wrapped Himself in a cloud
And closed His eyes to our prayers…
Then He pushed us away.
So against us, our enemies [shouted],
Which stunned us and made us feel fear…
And then, our destruction arrived.
So, tears have poured from my eyes
For the destruction of the daughters of my people.
But I’ll [drink the tears] from my eyes,
And I’ll not hold back or be quiet
Until the time that I can look through
And see Jehovah in the heavens.
Now my eyes look back on my life in great rage
For [what’s happened to] the daughters of my city.
By our enemies, we were hunted like sparrows,
And now they have ended my life…
They have tossed me into a grave
And covered it up with a stone.
Then, as water dripped down on my head, I said:
‘I have just been thrown away.’
So I called on Your Name, O Jehovah,
From out of the lowest of pits.
I said, ‘Don’t cover Your ears…
Hear my voice and the things that I beg.’
Then You came to my aid on the day that I called,
And You told me that I shouldn’t be afraid!
O Lord; You have pleaded my case,
And then You ransomed my soul.
For You’ve seen the things that they’ve done, O Jehovah;
So pass judgement on them on my behalf.
You’ve beheld their vengeance upon me,
And the plans that they’ve laid out against me.
You listened to their scornful words
And saw the [things that they did]…
You heard from the lips of those who attacked me
And You knew what they thought all day long.
For, when they sat down and when they arose,
You saw what they did through their own eyes!
O Jehovah;
Will You pay them back for what they deserve,
According to the works of their hands?
Curse them for all the trouble they’ve caused,
Then pursue them in rage and remove them
From all places under the sky, O Lord.
O how the gold’s lost its luster
And how the silver’s been tarnished;
For the [Temple’s] holy stones have been tossed in the streets.
For because the sons of Zion esteemed
And gained their courage from things made of gold,
They came to be looked on as earthenware pots…
And as works in the hands of a potter.
Then, nursing cubs were stripped from the breasts
By those who’d become like the Dragon,
And the daughters of my people were abandoned
Like sparrows that are lost in the desert.
Now the tongues of the nursing, stick to the breasts,
In hope that their thirst can be quenched.
And as the infants are crying for bread,
It’s being snatched from their mouths.
So from those who once ate the best,
All been taken away…
And those who were raised wearing purple
Are found in the streets embracing manure.
For the lawless ways of my people’s daughters
Proved to be greater than Sodom…
That place which none tried to save
When it was being wiped away.
Her Nazarites were once like the snow…
Radiant and whiter than milk…
Yes, even better than sapphires!
But now, their appearance is darker than soot,
And they’re unrecognized in the streets.
For their skin is now stuck to their bones,
And they have dried up like lumber.
It was better for those who were killed by the sword
Than for those who’ve been pierced by starvation…
Those in want of the produce of fields.
And the hands of women [who were known for their] pity,
Then boiled their own children as food…
So amid the destruction of the daughters of my people,
Jehovah completed His rage.
Then, as He poured out the wrath of His rage,
He lit a fire throughout Zion,
Which burned her to her foundations.
To the kings of the earth who lived in that time,
It was hard to believe…
That an enemy could enter JeruSalem’s gates
And then bring so much devastation.
But it happened because of the sins of her prophets…
The failures of all her priests…
And the shedding of innocent blood in her midst.
Then, in her streets, her watchmen were stunned;
For, they became [spattered] with blood…
It was something that they couldn’t avoid,
Since the clothes that they wore had to touch it.
So, people started shouting, ‘Get away… get away,
Because you’re all now unclean!
Get away… get away… do not touch them!’
Then, after we fled and wandered about,
The gentiles said, ‘You can’t stay among us!’
Yes the gentiles shouted at us:
‘There’s no way that we want you to come here!’
Though our portion was the person of [God],
He no longer kept watch over us,
For the people had shown no respect
To their elders or Priests.
So our eyes had started to fail
As we were searching for aid…
They just watched us and offered no help…
A nation with no one to save them.
Now, stay away from our city squares,
For they are hunting our young…
Our time has approached and our days are fulfilled,
So our end is now close at hand!
For, those who chase us are even more agile
Than eagles [that attack from] the mountains…
They are sitting there and waiting for us
From their perches high over the desert.
Jehovah’s anointed (our life’s breath and lord)
Has also been seized and carried away
Because we became so corrupt…
Yes, this one about whom we had once said:
‘Among the nations, we’ll dwell in his shadow.’
So rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom…
The one that’s residing in Uz!
Yet you’ll also go into the cup of the Lord,
Where, after you’re drunk, you’ll be poured.’
O great daughter of Zion;
Your lawless acts have now reached their end,
And [God] won’t be in the places you’re sent.
And you, O daughter of Edom;
He’ll also examine your lawless ways,
And reveal your unrighteous deeds.
O Jehovah; remember what’s happened to us…
Look down and see how we have been scorned!
Our inheritance has been [given] to strangers,
And our houses have been offered to gentiles.
Since we don’t have fathers, we’re orphans,
And all of our mothers are widows.
So now we must pay for our water,
And we must barter for wood.
Because we were closely pursued,
We tired and couldn’t find rest.
Then to Egypt, we held out our hands,
And also to Assyria’s bounty.
Since our fathers had sinned, they’re now gone…
They’ve paid the cost of breaking Your Law.
And as the result, we’re now slaves,
Who have no one to redeem us.
We carry bread at the risk of our lives
Before the swords in the desert,
And our skins are dark, as though oven baked,
For they have shriveled from famine.
They’ve [raped] the women of Zion,
And the virgins in the cities of Judah.
Rulers were hung by their hands,
And no longer could elders be recognized.
So the best of men are now weeping,
And from hauling wood, the young men are weak.
Our elders no longer sit at our gates,
And our [singers] no longer sing psalms.
So what once brought joy and dance to our hearts,
Has now been turned into dirges.
It is because of our sins
That the crowns of our heads reflect woe…
The grief in our hearts is more grievous,
And our eyes have become even darker.
Mount Zion has now been destroyed,
And it looks like foxes ran through it.
But You, O Jehovah, exist through the ages…
Through generations of generations, Your throne has remained.
So, why did You forget to let us succeed…
Will we be forsaken through the rest of our days?
Please turn back to us, O Jehovah,
Then, when we return, we’ll renew our days
As they had been long ago!
But we were pushed away and rejected
Because we provoked You to rage.
It was during the 30th year, in the 4th month and on the 5th day of the month, as I was amidst the captivity by the Chobar River, that the heavens opened up and I beheld visions [from] God.This was 5 years and 5 months after King JehoiAchin had been carried off as a captive.
The Word of Jehovah came to me (EzekiEl the son of Buzi, a Priest) near the Chobar river in the land of the Chaldeans. And this is what I received from the hand of the Lord.For I looked up and I saw a wind that could lift iron coming from the north, along with a huge cloud that had bright lights all around it and flashes of lightning. I also had a vision of a bright bronze casting in the middle of a fire.Then there in its midst was something that looked like four animals. But in this vision, they also looked like men.Each had four faces and four wings.Their legs were straight, there were feathers on their feet, there were sparks like flashes of brass, and they had very fine wings.
Beneath each of their four wings was a man’s hand, and they had wings on each of their four parts. So, they each had four faces and four wings,and they traveled opposite to [the direction] they were facing. Also, their wings didn’t turn as they moved.
Each of the faces [in the front] were like those of a man, the faces on the right looked like lions, the faces on the left looked like calves, and there was the face of an eagle on [the back side of] each of the four.
[Two of] their wings stretched out high above the other [two] wings and they were yoked to each other, while their lower two wings were just used to cover their bodies.They followed each other [in a line], one in front of the other, and wherever [God’s] Breath led them they went, not turning aside.
Also, there among the animals, I had a vision of burning coals that looked like lamps that were spinning in their midst. The flames were very bright, and lightning shot from the flames.Also, the animals were moving up and back like lightning.
Then I looked and I saw wheels on the ground that were next to each of the four animals,and the wheels [sparkled] like peridots. There also appeared to be four wheels within each wheel, and they worked as though there were wheels within wheels.Each [wheel] moved in the direction that [the animals] faced, and they [moved together](the rims were tall and awesome). Then I looked again and I noticed that their back sides were full of eyes that went all around each of the four wheels.
As the animals moved, the wheels moved next to them. And when the animals lifted up from the ground, the wheels went up also,along with a cloud that went wherever [God’s] Breath led it. The animals and the wheels moved up along with [the cloud], because the breath of life was in the wheels.Wherever [the animals] traveled, the wheels went along. For when they stood still, the wheels stood still, but when they rose above the ground, the wheels went up with them, because the breath of life was in the wheels.
Above the heads of the animals was what looked like an expanse of ice that was stretched out over the tops of their wings.And under this expanse, their wings were stretched out and flapping side by side, as the other two [wings] covered their bodies.
The sound that I heard from the movement of their wings as they traveled was like the sound of a lot of rushing water and the sound of someone very important whenever they moved. However, it was like the sound of [many] words being spoken in a camp whenever the animals stood still and rested their wings.
{Look!} There was also a sound that came from far above.In the vision [that I had]; above their heads there was what looked like a huge sapphire stone, and sitting above it was a throne upon which, what appeared to be a man from the heavens, was sitting.I saw what looked like molten bronze that was filled with fire around and above His loins; and beneath that, I just saw fire and brightness all around Him.He was like a rainbow that forms in the clouds on a rainy day, and there was just brightness all around Him. This was in fact a vision of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah! And when I saw this, I fell to my face.
Then I heard a voice that started speaking [to me].
He said to me:
‘Son of man; you must stand on your feet,
And thereafter, I will address you!’
And at that, His Spirit came over me… it picked me up and lifted me up on my feet. Then I heard Him speaking to me.He said:
‘O son of man;
To the sons of IsraEl, I’ll send you…
To those who’re rebelling against Me.
For against Me, they and their fathers
Have been in rebellion down to this day.
‘They’re a harsh and hard-hearted people,
And these are the ones to whom you’ll be sent.
So, tell them that thus says Jehovah:
You should listen in terror,
For you are a house in rebellion.
And [after you do this], they’ll know
That you’ve served as a Prophet among them.
‘And you, O son of man, should not be afraid
Or be upset by their faces.
For they will get all heated up,
Then they will rise up against you,
And they will have you surrounded.
‘So, among these scorpions, you’ll have to live…
But don’t fear the things that they’ll say to your face,
For they are a house in rebellion.
‘You must then tell them My words,
So that they will hear them and fear…
For they are a house in rebellion.
‘Now you, O son of man, must pay close attention
To the One who’ll be speaking to you…
Don’t rebel, like that house in rebellion!
‘Now, open your mouth very wide
And eat this thing that I’m handing to you!’
So at that, I looked and I saw a hand that was reaching out toward me with a rolled up scroll.But then He unrolled it before me… and written on both the front and backsides was a lamentation and a dirge.
Then He said to me:
‘O son of man, you must eat this…
And after you eat it,
You must tell the sons of IsraEl [what it says]!’
So He opened my mouth in order to feed me the scroll.Then He said to me:
‘O son of man;
After I put this scroll in your mouth,
Your belly will get filled with this thing
That I am feeding to you.’
So I ate it and found it to be as sweet as honey in my mouth.
Then He said to me:
‘O son of man;
Now, go to the house of IsraEl
And tell them all that I have to say!
‘You won’t have to speak to those with thick lips
Or to those that speak foreign tongues…
For to the house of IsraEl, you’re being sent.
‘I will not send you to other nations …
To those who speak words that you won’t understand
Or to those that have foreign, thick tongues
(Those that won’t know what you’re saying),
But to those that will understand you.
‘Yet, the house of IsraEl will not listen
To the things that I’ll tell you to say…
They’ll not agree to listen to Me,
Since they are a hard-hearted people
And all they do is talk back.
‘{Look!} Now, against their faces, I’ve made your face strong,
So your face will be firmer than theirs…
Yes, it will be harder than rock.
‘So, don’t be afraid [when you go] before them,
And you should not be afraid,
For they are a house in rebellion.’
And he said to me:
‘O son of man;
Now, take My words into your heart,
And listen to them with your ears.
Then, tell the captive sons of your people
That The Lord Jehovah has spoken,
And surely they’ll listen and yield.’
Well after that, [His] Spirit stood me erect, and from behind me I heard a rumbling sound that spoke to me and said:
‘Praise the glory of Jehovah
That has come [to you] from His realm!’
Then I heard the sound of the flapping of the wings of the animals (because [the wings] were touching each other), as well as the sounds of the wheels that were moving next to them with a great rumbling.
And thereafter, [God’s] Breath lifted me up and carried me away… so my spirit was being lifted and motivated by the hand of Jehovah that had come over me, and this made me extremely powerful!
Then, while I was in this elevated [condition], I traveled among the rest of captives that live next to the Chobar River, and I stayed there for 7 days.And at the end of the 7 days, the Word of Jehovah came to me and said this:
‘O son of man;
Over the house of IsraEl,
I have made you the watchman.
So you must listen to the words from my mouth,
And then, you must bring them my warnings.
‘For I’m saying that the lawless will die!
And you will also die with them
If you fail to give them my orders.
‘Give these warnings to those lawless people
And tell them that they will only survive
If they’ll turn from their unrighteous ways!
But, if they should choose to stay lawless,
They will die for their sins,
And I won’t require their blood from your hands.
‘If you give my word to the lawless,
And they refuse to turn from their ways;
They will die in their sins,
But I will still rescue you.
‘For, if a righteous man should turn from right ways
And start doing things that are evil;
I’ll torment his face ‘til he dies.
But, if you’ve failed to bring him my word,
And this is what caused him to die,
So his righteous deeds are forgotten;
I’ll require his blood from your hands.
‘But, if you will give [my] word to the righteous,
And you warn them that they must not sin…
And they choose not to sin because they’ve been warned,
And this results in their being saved;
You will have saved your own life.’
And after that, the hand of the Lord came upon me and said:
‘Now arise and go out to the plains;
For there, I will tell you much more!’
So I got up and went out to the plains; and {Look!} there was the glory of Jehovah – the glory that I had seen by the Chobar River – and I fell to my face.Then [God’s] Breath came over me and stood me up on my feet… and it spoke to me and said:
‘Go home and lock yourself inside your house;
{Look!} For you, O son of man, are appointed to be bound…
Yes, they will come here and then tie you up,
And no way will you set yourself free.
‘They’ll also wrap your tongue in your throat,
So you’ll be unable to speak,
And you won’t be able to scold them;
For, they are a house in rebellion.
‘But then, my voice will start speaking through you…
I will open your mouth, and you’ll tell them
That this was said by Jehovah:
‘All that wish to hear, should now listen!
But, those that don’t wish to make any change
Can continue to resist My persuasion;
For you are a house in rebellion!’
‘And you, O son of man;
Must go find a brick,
Then set it in front of your face.
‘Draw a map of JeruSalem upon it,
Then surround it with a circle of forts.
Also draw a siege mound and camps,
And encircle the city with weapons.
‘Then, go find an iron frying pan,
And set it as a wall between you and the city,
Then prepare your face to oppose it…
Prepare for a siege, then attack it…
And to the sons of IsraEl, this will serve as a sign!
‘Then, go to sleep on your left side,
And lay the sins of the house of IsraEl upon you…
You must bear their unrighteous ways
For the number of days that you’ll sleep [on that side].
‘For I’ve appointed two things that you must do
Because of their unrighteous deeds:
* ‘The unrighteous ways of the house of IsraEl
Must be born upon you,
For 390 [full] days.
‘Then, after that, you must sleep on your right
For the house of Judah’s unrighteous ways.
You must do this for 40 more days…
A day for each year, is what I’ve established!
‘And as for the siege on JeruSalem;
Prepare your face and stiffen your arm;
For against [that city], you must then prophesy.
‘{Look!} Because I’ve appointed their bondage on you,
Don’t turn from one side to the other,
Until the days of your siege are fulfilled.
‘Take wheat, barley, and beans for yourself,
As well as wild oats, lentils, and millet,
And put them into an earthenware pot;
Then, use them to bake loaves of bread.
‘Make enough for the number of days
(All the 390)
That you must sleep on your side.
And the weight of the food that you can consume
Will be just 10 ounces a day,
Which you may eat at various times.
‘You must also measure the water you’ll drink…
You may drink just 10 ounces from time to time.
‘And bake the barley cakes that you’ll eat
Over human manure,
Which you must hide in the coals
Before the eyes [of the people].’
‘For this was said by Jehovah, the God of IsraEl:
This is the type of uncleanness
That the sons of IsraEl will eat
Among the nations where they will be thrown.’
But I said:
‘Absolutely not, O Lord God of IsraEl! For my soul has never been defiled or made unclean by decaying flesh, nor have I eaten wild animals from [the day] that I was born until now… nothing unclean has ever entered my mouth!’
So [the Lord] said to me:
‘Then, rather than using human manure,
I’ll allow you to use cattle dung…
You may bake your loaves over that.’
And he said to me:
‘O son of man;
{Look!} I’ll break JeruSalem’s trust in its bread;
For they’ll have to ration it out,
And they’ll ration the water they drink ‘til it’s gone.
‘Since there won’t be enough water or bread,
Each man [will steal] from his brother,
And because of their unrighteous deeds,
They will then melt away.’
‘And you, O son of man;
Go and buy a sharp blade
(A razor that’s used by a barber),
And shave your head and your beard.
‘Then, [put the hair on] a scale,
And divide it in portions by weight.
A 4th must be used to kindle a fire,
Which you must burn in the midst of the city,
[To show] the number of days of its siege…
Then toss the second quarter into the fire.
‘And use a knife to cut the third quarter;
Then scatter it throughout [the city].
And toss the last quarter into the wind;
For I’ll empty them out with the sword.
‘Thereafter, you must take what little remains,
And put it into a bag…
Then, take out some [of the hairs],
And toss them into the fire.
And as they’re burning, tell the house of IsraEl
That this was said by Jehovah:
‘This is what I’ll do to JeruSalem…
I’ll place her amid many nations,
And they will have her surrounded.
‘Then, speak of My righteous decisions…
Yes, speak to that lawless nation,
And to those lawless that are living around them.
For they’ve pushed away My righteous decrees,
And they haven’t followed My Laws.
‘Yes, you must [give them this warning]:
It’s because of this, says Jehovah,
That lawless ways will now come to you
From the nations that have you surrounded.
‘For, you haven’t followed My Laws,
Nor have you observed My righteous decrees…
You’ve not even raised to the standards
Of the nations that are living around you!
‘So because of this, says Jehovah;
{Look!} I am now standing against you,
And I’ll bring My judgments upon you,
There in front of the gentiles!
‘I will bring [many bad] things upon you
That have never happened before,
Nor will they be done in the future,
For the disgusting things that you’re doing!
‘For, fathers then eat their own children,
Or children will be eating their fathers;
And the rest will be scattered to the [four] winds…
For My righteous decisions will be poured upon you!
‘As I live, says Jehovah…
Because you’ve dirtied My Holy Things
With all that’s disgusting and loathsome,
I will push you away…
My eyes won’t spare or show mercy!
‘So a 4th will be consumed by the plague;
A 4th will be finished by famine;
A 4th will be scattered to the [four] winds;
And a 4th will fall by the broadsword…
Yes, you will all be surrounded,
And the sword will be emptied upon you.
‘But, after I’ve brought My anger and rage,
I’ll return and offer you comfort.
For then, you’ll know that this happened
Because I (Jehovah) had warned you,
And in My zeal, I showed you My rage.
‘I’ll turn you and your daughters into waterless lands
In the presence of all that pass by.
For the nations will squeeze you and scoff
When I bring My anger and judgments on you,
Along with My vengeance and rage.
For, I (Jehovah) have spoken.
‘I’ll shoot the arrows of famine at you,
And after you come to be in great need,
I’ll send [the nations] to finish you off.
Yes, I’m sending a famine among you,
To break your reliance on bread.
‘I’ll not only bring a famine to you,
But I’ll also send ferocious wild beasts!
And with plagues, you will also be punished,
Before your blood will be spilled;
For upon you, I’m bringing the sword.
Yes, I (Jehovah) have spoken!’
Thereafter, the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Now, turn your face toward IsraEl’s hills,
And against them, you must now prophesy!
‘Speak to those in IsraEl’s mountains
And tell them to hear the Word of Jehovah!
Yes, hear what [God] has decreed
To the mountains, hills, valleys, and forests:
‘{Look!} Against you, I’m bringing the broadsword
And it will destroy your high places.
I will also break all your altars;
Your [incense stands], I’ll tear down;
And before their idols, I’ll leave all your slain.
‘The bodies of IsraEl’s sons
Will be offered in front of their idols;
And then, on their altars, I’ll scatter their bones.
‘All the homes in your towns will be empty;
All your high places will be wiped away;
All your altars will be destroyed;
Your idols will no longer be,
And your incense stands will be lifted away…
Your works will all be erased.
Then, as the slain are falling among you,
You will know that I am Jehovah.
‘Then, those that escape from the broadsword
Will be scattered among all the nations.
And those that escape from the nations
Where they will be taken as captives,
Will start thinking of Me once again.
‘I vow this against the hearts of all those
Who’ve committed adultery against Me
And done so many bad things…
They will slap their own faces
Over the vile acts they’ve performed.
Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah,
And that this is why I sent them the warning
That I’d bring such evil upon them.’
‘And thereafter, Jehovah said:
Clap your hands… yes, stamp your feet and then say,
This is what they deserve
For the disgusting things that IsraEl's done.
Yes, may they fall by the broadsword,
As well as by famine and plague!
‘Then, those far away will die by the plague;
Those that are near will fall by the sword;
And those that remain after the siege
Will be finished off by the famine,
As I wear out My anger against them.
‘And you’ll know that I am Jehovah,
When among your idols, you’ll see all your slain…
The idols that you’ve placed on all the high hills
And under each shade tree and bush,
Before which, you have burned incense.
‘For, against such ones, I’ll stretch out My hand,
And I’ll bring an end to their homes and their lands…
I’ll dry them out like figs in the desert,
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me again and said,‘And to you, O son of man; Jehovah says this about IsraEl:
‘To the 4 wings of the land,
The end has finally come…
Yes, the end has arrived;
For upon them, I’m bringing My rage.
‘I’m the one that is standing against them
And I’ll punish them for the things that they’ve done…
I’ll hold them to blame for their evil,
And my eyes won’t spare or show mercy!
‘Because they have been so disgusting,
I’ll no longer forgive all the badness
That’s being done in their midst…
Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah!
‘Jehovah said:
{Look!} Upon the evil, evil will come…
For their end has reached its fulfillment,
And their punishment has been awakened.
‘{Look!} The circle of the wreath has fallen on them
(All those that live in the land),
And the time has finally arrived…
The day of tumult and distress.
‘For now, I’ll pour out My rage
And finish My anger against them.
They’ll be judged for the bad things they’ve done,
And I’ll hold them to blame for their evil.
‘My eyes won’t spare or show mercy,
For I’ll make them pay for their ways
And the disgusting things that they’ve done.
Then, they will know that it’s Me…
I’m the One that is knocking them down!
‘Look!The day of the Lord has arrived,
And his rod has [finally] blossomed.
The time to injure has come,
Which will break the resolve of the lawless.
Then, nothing at all will remain…
No wealth and nothing of value.
‘Look! The time has arrived…
Today is truly the day!
So, those that buy shouldn’t rejoice,
And those that sell shouldn’t wail;
For [God’s] wrath will cover such things.
‘Now the one that buys will not return
What he bought to the person that sold it,
Because neither one will survive.
‘This vision is for all of you
(As many as live in this place),
And it will not be turned back.
‘Yet, the eyes of these people won’t see
[The things that are coming into] their lives.
So, though they should be [preparing themselves]
And knowing what is coming upon them,
No one’s getting ready for war
As My wrath is approaching her crowds!
‘For when the sword arrives on the outside,
There’ll be famine and plagues on the inside.
And those that carry their swords to the fields
Will thereafter die [in those fields],
While there’s famine and plague in their cities.
‘Then, those that try to escape
Will sit on the mountains like pigeons and know
That destruction has come because they’re so bad.
‘So, all their hands will be weak
And all their loins will be wet,
As around themselves, they’ll wrap sack cloth.
For, they’ll be covered by shock;
Upon every face will be shame;
And every head will be bald.
‘Then they’ll toss their silver into the squares,
And their gold won’t have any value;
For their silver and gold will not save them
In the day of the wrath of the Lord.
‘Then their lives will not find satisfaction,
Nor will their bellies be filled,
Since the torment for their sins will then have arrived.
‘Of their [silver and gold], they are now so proud,
So they used it to create their foul idols…
And for this, I’ve handed them over to filth.
‘Yes, I’ll hand them to strangers
Who will then rip them to pieces.
To the pests of the earth, I will give them,
And as their spoils, they’ll profane them.
‘For from them, I’ve now turned My face;
And to those over whom I kept watch,
Sudden destruction will come.
The attack will arrive when it isn’t expected…
And then, they will all be profaned.
‘Yes, a great befouling will come
To a land that is filled with judgments of blood.
For with all of their lawless ways,
This city is now filled to the brim!
‘So upon them, I will then bring
The evil ways of the nations,
And [the gentiles] will take all their homes.
‘So I’ll turn away all their neighing
About how great they’ve become,
And the things they hold holy will then be defiled.
‘Yes the time to repay has arrived,
And those that seek peace will not find it.
For there will come woe upon woe,
As message after message arrives.
‘Then, from their prophets, they’ll search for a vision;
But the law of their Priests will be gone,
As will the counsel of the king’s elders.
‘Then, after their rulers are gone,
The peoples’ hands will go limp,
And I’ll do to them the same as they’ve done…
I’ll punish them with their own judgments,
So they’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
It was during the 6th year, in the 6th month, on the 5th day of the month, while I was sitting in my house and all the elders of Judah were sitting before me, that the hand of Jehovah came over me.For I looked and I saw what appeared to be a man… but from his loins down he looked like fire, and from his loins up he looked as bright as molten bronze.Then he stretched out what appeared to be a hand, and he lifted me by the decorative fringes on my clothes. With the wind, he lifted me up between the ground and the sky and he blew me back to JeruSalem. Then in this vision from God, I found myself looking north toward the [city] gate, and there [I saw] a monument to [the god], The Consumer.
In this vision; {Look!} there in the plains, I saw the glory of Jehovah the God of IsraEl.And He said to me:
‘O son of man; Now raise your eyes and look toward the north!’
So I raised my eyes toward the north and I saw that just north of the gate (on the east side of the Altar) there was the idol of Jealousy that was standing at the entrance [to the city].And He said to me:
‘O son of man;
Do you see these things that they’re doing…
These lawless deeds of the house of IsraEl
To push Me away from My Holy Place?
Yet, you’ll see even greater and worse lawless deeds!’
So then He carried me to the threshold of the [Temple] courtyard, and there {Look!} I saw an opening in the wall.Then He said to me:
‘O son of man; Dig [a hole] in this wall!’
So I dug [a hole] in the wall, and there {Look!} I found a door.And He said to me:
‘Now, enter and see all the evil…
All the lawless things being done there!’
So I went inside and {Look!} I saw depictions of all sorts of crawling things, [unclean] animals, and all the idols of the house of IsraEl… foolish and disgusting things that had been painted on the walls.
Then I saw 70 men among the elders of the house of IsraEl, with JaAzaniAh (the son of ShaPhan) standing in front of them, and each man was holding a smoking incense pan in his hands.
And He said to me:
‘O son of man;
See what IsraEl’s elders are doing
In the darkness of these hidden rooms…
They’re saying that Jehovah is gone from the land!’
And then He said:
‘But [I’ll show you] even greater lawless things.’
So He carried me up to the threshold of the Gate of the [Temple] of Jehovah (the one that faces north), and there I saw women sitting and wailing for TamMuz.And He said to me:
‘O son of man;
Now, after you’ve seen all of this,
You’ll see even worse being done here.’
So He carried me into the inner courtyard of the [Temple] of Jehovah, up to the threshold of the House of the Lord; and there between the columned porch and the Altar I saw about 25 men that were facing east with their backsides to the Temple of Jehovah… they were bowing to the sun in the east!
Then He asked me:
‘Should I not be concerned
About all of these lawless deeds
That the house of Judah is doing?
They’ve filled the land with their lawless ways…
They’ve turned from Me and provoked Me to rage!
‘And look!
They’re holding out branches of grapevines
As though they are sneering at Me!
‘So I’ll deal with them in My rage,
And My eyes will no longer spare them
Nor will I show mercy upon them.
So, no matter how loud they shout in My ears…
I won’t listen to the things that they’re saying!’
Then He shouted into my ears with a great voice and said:
‘The punishment on this city has arrived!’
[And at that, some men appeared], and each one was carrying implements of destruction in their hands.{Look!} There were 6 men coming along the road that leads to the upper gate (the one that faces north), and they were each carrying battle axes in their hands. There was also a man in their midst that was wrapped in a robe that reached to his feet and he had a belt [covered with] sapphires wrapped around his waist. Then they entered [the Temple area] and stood next to the brass Altar.And at that, the glory of the God of IsraEl ascended from between the cherubs and hung there between them in the open air of the [Temple].
Then He called out to the man that was dressed in the full-length robe and who wore the belt of sapphires,and said to him:
‘Now, go through the midst of the city
– Through the midst of JeruSalem –
And put a sign on the foreheads
Of the men that are groaning and deeply upset
For the lawless deeds being done here!’
And He said [to those that were carrying the axes] in my hearing:
‘Now, go through the city behind him and strike…
Don’t let your eyes spare or show mercy!
Kill and wipe out the old and the young,
Including the women, children, and virgins…
And start here at My Most Holy Place…
But don’t approach those that are marked with the sign!’
So they started [by destroying] the elders that were there inside the [Most Holy].For He said to [those that were carrying the axes]:
‘Now, go and start defiling My [Temple]…
Fill its courtyards [with those whom you’ll slay],
And strike down all that are [fleeing]!’
Then as they started their destroying, I fell to my face and yelled out:
‘O Lord! Are you going to wipe out all the remaining ones of IsraEl by pouring Your rage upon JeruSalem?’
And He told me:
‘The sins of the houses of IsraEl and Judah
Have now become just too great;
For with [bloodshed], the land’s become filled,
And the city is full of uncleanness and sin.
‘For they’re saying that Jehovah’s abandoned the land,
And that He’s no longer paying attention.
So My eyes won’t spare or show mercy,
And I’ll hold them to blame for their evil.’
Then {Look!} the man that was wrapped in the full-length robe and wearing the belt around his waist returned to Him and said:
‘All that You’ve told me to do has now been accomplished!’
Well at that, I looked up and I saw a sapphire stone shaped like a throne that was in the space over the heads of the cherubs.And [the One that was sitting on the throne] said to the man that was dressed in the robe:
‘Go between the wheels that are under the cherubs
And fill your hands with the coals that you’ll find,
Then scatter them over the city!’
So he went in [between the wheels] there in front of me(as the cherubs were standing to the right of the place where the man had entered), and a mist started to fill the inner courtyard.Then the glory of Jehovah (which had been hanging in the open air between the cherubs) entered the Temple, and [the inner courtyard] became filled with the cloud, as well as with the brightness of the glory of Jehovah.
Meanwhile, I could hear the sounds of the wings of the cherubs coming from the outer courtyard, which was like the voice of God when He speaks.And they said this to the man that was wrapped in the holy robe:
‘Go between the wheels that are under the cherubs
And carry out some of the fire!’
So he entered and stood next to the wheels.Then a cherub stuck his hands into the midst of the fire that was under the cherubs and he grabbed some of the [fire] and placed it into the hands of the man that was wearing the holy robe… who then took it and left.
Well, as I was looking at the cherubs, I noticed that they had what appeared to be the hands of men between their wings.And {Look!} I noticed the 4 wheels that were standing beside each of the cherubs (there was one wheel for each cherub). These wheels looked like peridots,and there appeared to be wheels within each of the 4 wheels,but their 4 parts didn’t move as they traveled. Then, whichever way the [cherub’s] heads looked, the [wheels] would travel in that direction… but the [wheels] didn’t turn as they moved.
I also noticed that there were eyes all over the flesh [of the cherub’s] hands and wings, as well as on the 4 wheels…and it was then that I heard that these wheels were called ‘The Chariots.’[I also noticed] that [each of the cherubs] had 4 faces. One face was that of a cherub, the 2nd was the face of a man, the 3rd was the face of a lion, and the 4th was the face of an eagle.
Well thereafter, the cherubs started moving upward; and it was then that I started to realize that these were the [same] living creatures that I had seen by the Chobar River.
Well, wherever the cherubs went, the wheels traveled alongside them. Yet when the cherubs flew high above the ground with their wings, the wheels next to them didn’t turn.And whenever they stood still, the wheels stood still; but when they flew upward, the wheels flew upward with them, because the breath of life was in [the wheels].
Then the glory of Jehovah that was mounted on the cherubs left the open air inside the [Temple].For the cherubs raised their wings and flew high above the ground in front of me (with their wheels alongside them), and [they settled] on top of the gate that is in front of the [Temple] of Jehovah, with the glory of the God of IsraEl above them.
Well, it was after I had first seen these animals traveling beneath the God of IsraEl back at the Chobar River that I came to realize that they were in fact cherubs.Each one had 4 faces, 4 wings, and what looked like the hands of a man under each wing…and these [cherubs] had the same faces that I saw under the glory of the God of IsraEl in the vision by the Chobar River, and they also traveled in whichever direction that they faced.
Well at that, the wind lifted me up and led me to the East Gate of the [Temple] of Jehovah. And {Look!} there on the threshold of the gate, I saw about 25 men. Among them I could see JaAzaniAh (the son of Azur) and PedaiAh (the son of BenaiAh)… the ones that were supposed to be guiding the people.And He said to me:
‘O son of man;
These are the men that think foolish things
And discuss evil plans for this city.
They are also the ones that are saying,
Since we have just built homes for ourselves,
This [city] is our kettle and we are its meat!
‘For this, you must say this against them…
Yes, O son of man; you must now prophesy!’
Then the Breath of Jehovah came over me and He told me to tell them that Jehovah said this:
‘O you of the house of IsraEl;
I know the things that you’re saying,
And I know what you’ve planned in your [hearts].
To this city, you’ve brought many deaths,
And you’ve filled her roads with the murdered.
‘Because of this,’ says Jehovah;
‘Those whom you’ve killed are the meat in her midst,
And [JeruSalem] is their kettle…
For I’ll drive you out of her midst!
‘Since you’re so afraid of the broadsword,
I’ll be bringing the broadsword against you,’ said Jehovah,
‘I will lead you out of her midst,
And bring My judgments against you,
For I’ll hand you over to strangers;
And at their hands, you will fall by the sword.
‘To the borders of IsraEl, I’ll judge you,
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
Then [this city] will be your kettle no more,
And in her, you’ll not be the meat.
‘To the borders of IsraEl, I’ll judge you…
And then you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
For you chose to overlook My Commandments,
And you didn’t [respect] My decisions.
Then you walked in the ways of the gentiles…
Those that now have you surrounded.’
It was then that the prophecy came to pass, for PedaiAh (the son of BenaiAh) dropped dead. So I fell to my face and yelled out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Alas, O Jehovah; Have You appointed those that are left in IsraEl to be totally consumed?’
And the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Your brothers and your fellow captives
Have arrived at the place where I sent them.
But, those that are still in JeruSalem
Are saying these things about them:
Because they are far from Jehovah,
We will inherit their land!
‘So, tell them that thus says Jehovah:
I’ll push you away to the nations
And scatter you to many lands.
Then I’ll not be someone to whom you can turn
In the places where you will be taken.
‘And tell them that thus says Jehovah:
Yet, I’ll gather you back from the nations
(I’ll bring you back from those places),
And I will give back [your land].
For by that time, you will have rejected
The disgusting lawless things that you’ve followed.
‘A new spirit and heart, I’ll then give you…
I’ll remove your hearts made of stone
And exchange them for hearts made of flesh.
So you will then follow My orders…
You’ll guard My Laws and obey them…
You’ll be My people and I’ll be your God!
‘It’s because of the disgusting things that you’ve done
And the lawless ways of your hearts,
That your hearts have chosen to do such [bad] things,
And caused Me to pour your guilt on your heads, says Jehovah.
Then the cherubs lifted their wings [and started flying], as the wheels moved alongside them and the glory of the God of IsraEl was above them.
So thereafter, the glory of Jehovah arose from the midst of the city and settled on the mountain that sits in front of it.And at that, the wind picked me up and blew me back to the land of the Chaldeans (back to the land of our captivity) in this vision that came from the Breath of God.
Well, after I came out of this vision that I was seeing,I told [my fellow] captives every word that the Lord had spoken to me.
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me again and said:
‘O son of man;
You live in the midst of unrighteous [men]…
Those that have eyes that can’t see
And those that have ears that can’t hear;
For, they are a house in rebellion.
‘So you, O son of man,
Must go and gather the things of a captive,
Then act like someone in prison…
[You must sit] there before them throughout the whole day.
And before them, you must act like a captive…
Someone that was carried away
And taken to some other place,
So that they will be able to see
What a house in rebellion they’ve been.
‘You must set your things of a captive
In front of their eyes, throughout the whole day,
And walk as a captive before them each night.
‘Dig a hole in the wall and crawl in it,
And carry [your things] on your shoulders…
Act as though you are trying to hide,
Then cover your face so you can’t see the ground.
For, to the house of IsraEl, I’ve made you a sign.’
Well, I did that… everything that He told me to do. I brought out the items of captivity that day, and that evening I dug a hole through the wall for myself (by hand), and I crawled into it as though I was hiding. And thereafter, I carried my things on my shoulders before them.
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me the next morning, and said:
‘O son of man;
The house of IsraEl (those that are now in rebellion)
Didn’t ask you what you were doing.
So, tell them this concerning their rulers…
Those that are giving direction
To JeruSalem and its people.
‘Say that Jehovah has spoken.
Then explain to them that you’re acting out signs
Of the things that will happen to them.
For, [in the same way as you’re acting],
They will be carried away.
‘Say that the one that rules in their midst
Will bear his things on his shoulders.
Then he’ll dig a hole in a wall with his hands,
Which he will crawl into and hide.
‘He’ll cover himself, so he can’t be seen
In a place where he can’t see the ground.
Then around him, I’ll spread out My net,
And he will be caught in its wraps.
‘So, off to Babylon, I’ll lead him…
Yes, into the land of Chaldea…
But he won’t be able to see it,
And there, he will come to his end.
‘Thereafter, I’ll scatter his helpers
And those who’ve been his assistants
To the [four] winds [of the earth]…
I’ll send the broadsword [to chase] them away.
‘And they’ll know that I am Jehovah,
When they’re scattered among many nations…
[For, wherever they go], they’ll be scattered.
‘Yet, among their numbers, I’ll still leave a few
As survivors of the sword, famine, and plague
To speak of these things in great detail
To all the nations where they will be sent.
They’ll also tell how lawless they’ve been…
And they all will know that I am Jehovah.’
Thereafter, the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
In grief, you will now eat your bread,
And in torment and affliction, you will drink water.
Then speak to the men of this land,
And tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘Very soon, there will be no bread,
And the drinking water will vanish
Both in IsraEl and in JeruSalem.
Then, you will become extinct in the land,
And the violence among those that live there
Will have finally come to an end.
‘Then the cities where you dwell will be [empty]
As extinction comes to your land,
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
Well thereafter, the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Why are all the people saying this proverb about IsraEl?
The days [that he speaks of] are still far away,
And all the visions have perished.
‘Because of this, tell them that thus says Jehovah:
I will turn their proverb around
And the house of IsraEl will say this no more.
Instead, they will say that the days have arrived,
As have the words of the visions!
‘And [you must also say this]:
False visions will come to an end,
And there’ll be no more speaking of omens
To curry the favor of IsraEl’s sons.
For, after I tell them what I will do,
I’ll act and not stretch out the time.
‘Yes, tell them that thus says Jehovah:
In your days, O you house in rebellion,
I’ll just say the words and then act!’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me again and said:
‘O son of man;
See how IsraEl is rebelling,
For this is what they are saying:
The visions he sees are of some distant time,
And he prophesies things [that won’t happen for years]!
‘Because of this, tell them that thus says Jehovah:
I’ll no longer stretch out the words that I speak;
For now, I’ll speak and then do it!’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Against IsraEl’s prophets, you must now testify
(Those that [say they can tell what will come])!
You must speak to these prophets and tell them
That their prophecies all come from their hearts.
‘So, you must prophesy and tell them
To hear the Word of Jehovah;
For, these are the words that He spoke:
‘Woe to those that speak prophecies
From ideas that come from their hearts
While they have seen nothing at all…
Those following the direction of their spirits!
‘O IsraEl;
Your prophets are like foxes that live in the fields,
For they do not take firm positions.
To the house of IsraEl, they don’t gather flocks,
Nor are they getting them ready for war
By warning them about the Day of the Lord.
‘The visions that they see are all false,
And all of their omens are useless;
For they say that Jehovah has spoken,
And they make their words sound important;
Yet, they were not sent by Jehovah.
‘Haven’t your visions all proven false…
Aren’t the words that you’ve spoken untrue?
For you speak when I haven’t spoken, says Jehovah!
‘Because of this, you must tell them, said Jehovah,
That since their words are all false
And they prophesy things that are foolish…
Yes, because of this, I’m against them!
‘So, toward those prophets, I’ll stretch out My hand
(Toward those that are seeing false visions
And those that declare foolish things
When they give instructions to My people);
Then, among [the faithful of] IsraEl,
Their [names] will never be written,
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah!
‘For, they are misleading My people
By saying there’s peace, when there’s really no peace…
So the people are plastering walls that will fall.
‘Rather, they should say to those that are plastering walls:
Your [walls] will soon fall and the rain will pour in.
For I’m sending rocks to be hurled against them,
And then your [walls] will just drop…
[Yes, I’ll send] a mighty wind to destroy them!
‘{Look!} And after the walls have all fallen,
They will then come here and ask:
What happened to all of the plaster
That we used to make repairs on these [walls]?
‘It’s because of this, says Jehovah,
That I will send out a wind,
Which will rip down [their walls] in My anger;
And then, My rage will flood in.
‘In My rage, I’ll cause rocks to be thrown
As I bring it all to an end!
For I’ll raze the walls that they’ve plastered…
I’ll lay them out on the ground,
And then, I’ll expose their foundations.
‘And [you who’ve foretold better things]
Will then be worn out by their shouting…
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘Yes, against those walls I’ll wear out My rage,
And on those that are plastering them;
For, all their walls will soon fall.
‘Yet [the problem] is not with the walls
Or with those applying the plaster;
It’s with those that fortell a good future…
Those that say there’ll be peace,
When there really won’t be any peace, says Jehovah.
‘And you, O son of man, must now fix your face
Against the daughters of your people…
Against those that now prophesy
According to the things in their hearts.
Against them, you must prophesy this…
Tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘Woe to those that sew pillows
That are made to be placed under elbows,
And those that create all sizes of veils
That they say will serve as protection…
Those misleading the lives of My people!
‘You profane Me in front of My people
For a handful of barley or a few scraps of bread.
You’re ending lives that don’t have to die,
And offer protection to souls that won’t live…
You promise foolish things to My people!
‘And because of this, says Jehovah,
I am opposed to your pillows,
Which you’re using to gather their souls.
So from your arms, I’ll rip them away,
And lead off those that you’ve misled…
For soon, they all will be scattered.
‘I will also rip off your veils
To save My people from your [wicked] hands.
No, into your hands, they’ll not fall again…
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘You’ve perverted the hearts of the righteous
And strengthened the hands of the lawless…
Yes you’ve failed to turn them from bad, so they’d live!
‘And because of this;
You will not see false visions again,
And you won’t see any more omens.
For, from your hands, I’ll rescue My people…
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
Well after that, elders from among the people of IsraEl came to me and they all sat down in front of me.Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘Son of man;
The thoughts in the hearts of these people are set;
So, lay out their badness before them,
Since I will now give them an answer…
Speak and tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘Any man from the house of IsraEl,
Who may start to think in his heart
That he’ll not be punished for his badness,
Should arrange his face and then come to the Prophet,
And I (Jehovah) will tell him his thoughts
So I can change the hearts of the house of IsraEl…
Those whose hearts are so far from Me.
‘So, speak to the house of IsraEl
And tell them that thus says Jehovah:
Turn from the things that you’re doing…
Turn your faces from your godless deeds!
‘For a man – any man – from the house of IsraEl
Or from among foreign converts
That no longer chooses to [walk in My ways]
And starts to think in his heart
That he should never be punished
For all the bad things that he’s doing,
Must arrange his face and come to the Prophet,
Then ask, and I will reply
About the things over which he’s concerned.
‘For I’ll fix My face against such a man
And assign him to a place in extinction…
From the midst of My people, I’ll lift him away…
And he’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘And if a prophet should say that he’s been misled,
And he says I’m the One that misled him;
Against him, I’ll stretch out My hand
And remove him from IsraEl’s midst.
‘So each one that [comes before Me] and asks
Must bear the punishment he’s due
For all of his unrighteous acts…
According to the things that he’s done.
‘Then the sins of the prophets will come upon them,
So the house of IsraEl will not stay misled
And remain defiled by its errors.
Then they’ll be My people and I’ll be their God, says Jehovah.’
Well after that, the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
If a land sins against Me and falls into sin;
Against [that land], I will stretch out My hand,
And break its reliance on bread…
Famine I’ll send [to that land]
And remove men and beasts from upon it.
‘But, should such good men be found in that land
As Noah, DaniEl, and Job;
I will save such a man, says Jehovah.
‘And if I must bring ferocious wild beasts
As a punishment upon such a land;
It will become an extinction…
None will pass through it again
Because of the faces of the wild beasts I’ll send.
‘But if three such good men can be found there;
As I live, says Jehovah;
Though its sons and daughters will not be saved…
[Those three men] will be saved,
And the land will thereafter be ruined.
‘Or if I should bring the sword to that land
– If I say, Let the broadsword pass through it –
And I cause men and beasts to be lifted from there…
If three such men can be found in its midst;
As I live, says Jehovah,
Though its sons and daughters will not be saved,
Those [3 men] will be rescued.
‘Or, if I should send a plague to that land
And pour My rage upon it in blood,
Destroying both men and wild beasts…
And among them, three such men can be found
As Noah, DaniEl, and Job;
As I live, says Jehovah,
Its sons and daughters will not be saved…
For the only thing that can save them
Is becoming as righteous [as those three men]!
‘Then Jehovah said:
To JeruSalem, I’ll be sending 4 things:
The sword, famine, and plague,
As well as ferocious wild beasts…
They’ll destroy all the men and their cattle.
‘{Look!} And any of those that remain
(Those that escape all these things)
Will then be carried away,
Along with their sons and their daughters.
‘Then {Look!} they will be brought here to you,
And you’ll know of the things that they thought,
As well as of the things they have done.
‘And though you’ll be saddened by the harm that I’ll bring
(All that I’ll do to JeruSalem),
[Your mind] will then be relieved,
Because you will see their ways and their thoughts,
And you’ll know all the things that I did
Weren’t done without a good reason, says Jehovah.’
And the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘[Let Me ask] you this, O son of man:
What happens to the wood from all of the vines
That live among trees in the forests?
Do they find some use for this wood…
Do they use their pieces as hangers?No!
‘{Look!} Each year, they’re thrown into the fire,
As [people] are cleaning [their yards].
So, the wood disappears in the end,
Since no use for it can be found!
‘And even whole pieces aren’t useful;
For, after they’re burned in the flames,
They no longer have any value.
‘So Jehovah said this:
As I’ve put the vines among trees
To be burned in fires and consumed…
That’s what I’ve done to those in JeruSalem.
‘For against them, I’ve now set My face,
And fire, they’ll have to [endure]…
For fire will [come and] consume them.
And [when they see that] it’s My face against them,
They’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘I’ll appoint [their] land to extinction,
Because they fell into sin, said Jehovah.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘O son of man;
To JeruSalem, you must now testify
About all of her lawless deeds!
So tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘Your roots and your birth are in CanaAn,
Where an Amorite man was your father,
And a Hittite [woman], your mother.
‘And concerning your birth and the day you were born;
Your naval wasn’t cut, nor were you washed,
No one [cleansed] you with salt,
And you weren’t wrapped up in a blanket.
‘For their eyes didn’t feel enough pity for you
To do such things on your behalf;
They just threw you into the fields,
Since your soul had been deformed since your birth.
‘Then I came and saw you defiled in your blood,
And I said to you, Come to life!
Yes, I said this to you in your blood:
Come to life… become many!
‘I made you like crops that grow in the fields,
Then you became many and great
And you entered the city of cities.
‘Thereafter, your breasts and your hair both grew full…
But you were still indecent and naked.
‘It was then that I came and beheld you,
And I saw that it was your time…
A time for you to find rest.
‘So I opened and spread out My wings over you
And covered your indecent condition.
Over you, I then swore an oath,
And concluded a Sacred Agreement, says Jehovah.
So, that’s when you became Mine.
‘I bathed you in water and washed off your blood,
And then, I rubbed you with oil.
I dressed you in [the best] colored clothes…
In blue and linen, I wrapped you,
And I placed a braided belt [on your hips].
‘I decked you with ornamentation…
I put bracelets on [both] of your [wrists],
And around your neck, put a necklace.
‘I gave you a ring for your nose,
As well as disks for your ears,
And to boast, a garland [to wear on] your head.
‘So, you were adorned in silver and gold;
Your wraps were the finest of linen;
You had braided hair and colored clothes,
And you ate the finest of flour,
As well as the best honey and oil.
‘So, you became exceedingly [great],
And you prospered as one who’s a [queen].
Among the nations, your name became known,
And this was true of your beauty;
For I’d made your beauty complete…
I’m the One that ordered it for you, says Jehovah.
‘Then, on your beauty, you came to rely,
And you gave away [sex], because of your fame…
You poured it out on the roads.
‘Then you [ripped] your clothes, so that you could make strings
To tie all your idols together,
And you used them to do what’s immoral.
So now, there’s no way that you can return…
No way may you come back to Me!
‘Then you took the things of which you could boast
(The silver and gold that I gave you)
And made idols, with which you had sex.
You dressed them up in your colored clothes,
And set before them My incense and oil.
‘You took the bread that I made
With the fine flour, honey, and oil,
And set it in front of their faces
As pleasing scents and aromas.
‘And after you did all of this, says Jehovah.
You took the sons and daughters you bore
And offered them up to [your gods]
Until [they had all] been consumed.
‘Yes you killed them to make your gods happy…
You gave all of your children to them!
And this is much more disgusting
Than the rest of the bad things you’ve done.
‘For, you forgot the days of your youth
When you were indecent and naked,
And lived befouled in your blood.
And now that you’ve done all your evil,
Woe, woe, upon you, says Jehovah!
‘A whorehouse you’ve built for yourself,
And you’ve posted signs in the squares.
You’ve erected them on each corner,
And there, you’ve wasted your beauty.
‘Between your legs, you’ve led all that would pass.
And again, you made it much worse…
You had sex with the sons of Egyptians…
With the flesh of those that live just next door!
Yes, you have done all these bad things
That have driven Me into a rage.
‘So {Look!} against you, I’ll stretch My hand,
And I’ll take away all your Laws,
Then hand you to those that detest you…
To the daughters of the Philistines,
Whose godless ways you have followed.
‘With Assyria’s sons, you also had sex,
Which brought you no more satisfaction…
You had sex, but it wasn’t enough.
So in CanaAn’s land, you also had sex,
As well as with the Chaldeans…
But you still couldn’t find satisfaction.
‘O what will I do to your heart, asks Jehovah,
As you are doing these bad things…
The works of a woman that’s known as a whore,
And who’s even had sex with her daughters!
‘Whorehouses, you’ve built upon every [street],
But you don’t act as the madam!
An adulterous woman is all that you are…
One whose man acts as her pimp!
‘You’ve even paid those with whom you’ve had sex…
You’ve paid wages to all of your lovers
As inducements for them to stay near
And engage in all of your whoring!
‘Your perversions are worse than all others;
For with other whores, you’ve even had sex…
You paid them (they didn’t pay you);
So, what you have done is perversion!
‘Because of this, O you whore;
Hear the Word of Jehovah:
Because you paid others with your copper coins,
Your shame will soon be uncovered…
Your whoring with all of your lovers,
As well as your evil thoughts…
Your lawless deeds and the blood of your young,
Which you have offered [to idols].
‘So, because of these things that you’ve done,
I’ll gather your lovers against you
And mix those you’ve hated among them.
Together, I’ll bring them against you
Until they have you surrounded.
I’ll uncover your evils before them,
And then, they’ll all see your shame.
‘I’ll punish you as an adulteress,
And I will pour out your blood…
In My zeal, I’ll appoint you for blood,
And I’ll hand you over to them.
‘Then, they’ll cut down your whorehouses…
They’ll demolish your base, and rip off your clothes,
Then take all the things about which you boast…
They’ll leave you indecent and naked again.
‘Against you, they will lead mobs
Who’ll stone you with rocks and stab you with swords,
Then burn your whorehouses with fire…
They will wreak vengeance upon you,
There before other women.
‘But I’ll turn you away from your whoring,
And return the money that you’ve paid your lovers…
Against you, I’ll slacken My rage
And remove the jealous zeal I once had…
So I can rest and be anxious no more.
‘Because you forgot the days of your youth
And brought Me regret with your actions;
{Look!} I’ll bring them down on your head, says Jehovah,
And then, you’ll be godless no more!
‘For against you, they all have said this:
The daughter is just like the mother;
And truly, you’re just like your mother…
A woman released by her man,
And one that abandoned her children,
As well as her brothers and sisters…
Yes, she also pushed them away,
Along with her husband and children.
‘For an Amorite man was your father,
And a Hittite woman, your mother.
Samaria is your big sister,
Whose daughters have lived to your left.
‘Your younger sister, that lives on your right,
Along with her daughters, is Sodom.
And in their ways, you have traveled
– Their lawless deeds, you’ve done also –
So their ways are now better than yours!
‘As I live, says Jehovah;
Has your sister, Sodom, or her daughters
Ever acted like you and those that are yours?
‘The sin of Sodom (your sister) was pride.
For, though she had plenty of bread
(She and her daughters had more than enough),
This thing that was found among them was true:
They offered no aid to the needy and poor…
Before Me they bragged and broke laws,
And as you saw, I removed them!
‘Yet, Samaria didn’t sin with half of your sins,
And you’re now more lawless than her.
Yes, all the lawless things that you’ve done
Prove your sisters more righteous.
So now, you must carry your torment!
‘For by your sins, you’ve corrupted your sisters…
And your lawless ways are much worse than theirs,
So that they now look better than you!
Yes, be ashamed and accept your dishonor,
For it’s you that made them look better.
‘So from them, I’ll remove My rejection
– The rejection of Sodom and her daughters –
And I’ll remove Samaria’s rejection
(As well as that of her daughters)…
And then, I’ll wipe you out of their midst!
‘Therefore, you must now bear the torment and disgrace
For all that you did to provoke Me.
And your sister, Sodom, and her daughters
Will be restored as they were at the first,
Along with Samaria and her daughters,
Who’ll become as they were [in their youth].
Yes, her daughters will all be restored
As they had been [long ago].
‘Wasn’t Sodom (your sister) a reason to boast
In the days of your pride,
Before your evils were seen…
Those evils for which you’re now being scorned
By all of Syria’s daughters
And by those that are living around you…
Like the daughters of the Philistines…
Those that live just next door?
‘So, because of your godless ways,
And the lawless deeds that you’ve done, says Jehovah;
I’ll do to you as you’ve done to Me…
For you’ve disgraced the promise you made
By breaking your Agreement with Me.
‘Yet, I will remember My oath…
The one that I made with you in your youth,
To establish My Agreement with you through the age…
Then, perhaps you’ll remember the right ways to act.
‘But for following in the ways of your sisters
(Both the younger and older),
You will now be despised.
‘And thereafter, I’ll give them to you,
Then you can start teaching them
(But, not of your Agreement with Me.
For My Sacred Agreement will just be with you)…
And you’ll all know that I am Jehovah.
‘So remember, and then be ashamed…
Do not open your mouth,
Since your face has been so dishonored.
And I am the One that has born all the cost
Of the sins that you have committed, says Jehovah!’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘O son of man;
Tell this story and sing it as a song
Before the house of IsraEl…
Tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘There was a great eagle with very great wings
Whose claws were long and outstretched.
To Lebanon, He was then led,
Where He perched on the choicest of cedars.
‘The most tender tips, He plucked off,
And to the land of CanaAn, He took them;
Then He placed them in a city with walls.
‘He also took a seed from that land
And planted it in ground fit for sowing
(A place with plenty of water),
And He arranged for it to be tended.
‘Thereafter, [the seed] grew into a vine,
Which proved that it would be great.
Above, it grew many branches of vines,
As its roots [spread out] underneath it…
It became a vine with layers of vines,
And its tendrils kept spreading abroad.
‘There was also another great eagle
That had large wings and [long] claws.
So {Look!} the grapevine then twisted toward him,
As did its roots and its branches.
‘She reached toward him from her water,
Which pulled her from her place in the sun…
Though the soil in which she was planted was good,
And though she had plenty of water.
For, she was fat and putting out buds,
And as a great vine, was bearing much fruit.
‘Then Jehovah asked:
So, will she continue to prosper…
Will she continue to have tender roots …
Won’t all her fruits start to rot?
‘Yes, those early shoots will all dry,
But not because of some great mighty arm
Or because an army had pulled up her roots.
‘{Look!} This fat one will no longer prosper
Because she’ll be touched by hot winds
And she will be dried up by drought.
Yes, when the east winds blow, she will shrivel!’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘Ask the rebellious house what all of this meant…
Yes, [go ahead and just] ask them!
‘{Look!} Babylon’s king will come to JeruSalem
And capture her king and her rulers;
Then, they’ll be taken to Babylon.
‘Yes, he’ll take the seed of the kingdom,
Then force him to swear an oath of allegiance…
As he carries the rulers away from their land.
‘So the kingdom will then be so weak
That it won’t be able to lift itself up.
And in order for them to survive,
They’ll have to keep their treaty with him.
‘But [the king] will thereafter revolt
And send his envoys to Egypt
To beg them for horses and soldiers.
‘Will he succeed…
Will the one that disobeyed be preserved…
Will the one that broke his oath then be saved?
‘As I live, says Jehovah;
Surely, here in the place of the king,
He’ll disgrace the One that allowed him to rule
And he’ll break the oath of his treaty.
So to Babylon, he will be taken,
And there is where he will die.
‘No, he won’t succeed despite his great power
Or because of the [strength] of his [army].
For though PharaOh will join him in war
And build many weapons and siege mounds,
Which will bring many lives to an end;
Because [the king] will have disgraced his oath
(The one that he’ll swear before Me)…
When he breaks the agreement he made
({Look!} The one over which he held up his hand)…
For this, he will not escape.
‘So, tell him that thus says Jehovah:
As I live… you will be disgraced
For breaking the agreement you made before Me.
So upon your head, I’ll lay this:
‘Over you, I’ll spread out My net,
And in it, you’ll be wrapped up and captured…
Then off to Babylon, you will be led,
Where I’ll judge you for your sins against Me.
‘Then your armies that are ready for battle
Will all be cut down by swords,
And the survivors will be scattered to the [four] winds…
Then they’ll know that I (Jehovah) have spoken.’
‘Thereafter, Jehovah said:
But then, from the choicest of cedars,
I will pluck off a top…
Yes, out of its heart, I will pluck it,
And on a high mountain, I’ll plant it.
‘On a Mountain in IsraEl, I’ll place it…
I’ll plant it and then it will bud,
And it will bear fruit once again.
‘Once more, it will be a great cedar,
And a place of resting for birds…
In the shadow of its branches, they’ll rest,
For the branches of her vines will then be restored.
‘So then, all the trees in the plains
Will know that I am Jehovah…
I’m the One that humbles the trees in their heights
And that raises those that have been laid low.
‘I’m the One that can dry up green trees
Or make them flourish in dryness,
Because, I am Jehovah…
So I’ve spoken, and now I will act!’
And the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
How does the proverb apply
To the land of IsraEl, which goes:
‘When the fathers eat unripe grapes,
The mouths of the children get toothaches?
‘Jehovah says, As I live;
‘Will this proverb prove true among IsraEl?
‘I’m the One that owns all their souls…
Yes the souls of both the fathers and sons.
And since they are all really Mine;
The sinners among them will die!
‘But the one that is fair, righteous, and just…
Who doesn’t feast to idols on hills…
Whose eyes are not [filled with pride]…
Whose thoughts are of the House of IsraEl…
Who doesn’t defile the wife of his neighbor
Nor does he dirty his wife
By approaching her in menstruation…
Who does not tyrannize others…
Who asks no collateral [for loans]
(Things that he doesn’t return)…
Who takes nothing by force…
Who gives bread to the hungry and clothes to the naked…
Who doesn’t require interest on loans
(Who asks no payment of interest)…
Who turns his hand from injustice…
Who is fair when he serves as the judge
Between a man and his neighbor…
Who follows all of My orders…
Who guards My Laws and obeys them…
Such a man will be thought of as righteous,
And he will then receive life, says Jehovah.
‘But, if he should father a bad son…
One that sins and sheds blood,
And won’t follow his father’s righteous ways,
But feasts before idols on mountains,
And willingly defiles the wife of his neighbor…
Who tyrannizes the needy and poor
And seizes collateral by force,
Then chooses not to return it…
Who turns his eyes toward the idols,
Then practices all that is lawless,
And lends his things out for interest…
He will not receive life.
For his lawless deeds, he will die,
And his blood will be upon his [own head].
‘Then, if he should father a son
Who fears all the sins of his father,
And refuses to act as he did…
If he’s one that won’t feast to idols on hills,
And remembers the house of IsraEl…
If he doesn’t defile the wife of his neighbor…
If he doesn’t act like a tyrant…
If he doesn’t require collateral for loans…
If he doesn’t take things by force…
If he gives bread to the hungry and clothes to the naked…
If he doesn’t turn his hand toward injustice
Or charge interest for the loans that he makes…
If he’s righteous and follows My orders…
He’ll live and not die for his father’s sins!
‘But because his father was oppressive and bad…
Because he took things by force
And was contrary among his own people…
For his unrighteous ways, he will die!
‘But then, you will ask:
Why won’t the son bear the sins of his father?
It’s because he is merciful, righteous, and fair…
He’s kept My Laws and obeyed them,
And as the result, he will live…
Just the soul that is sinning will die!
‘So the son won’t be blamed for his father’s bad ways,
And the father won’t be blamed for those of his son.
Yes, the righteous ways of each person
And lawless ways of each person
Are what they will bring on themselves!
But, if the lawless one turns from what’s bad
And starts to keep My Commandments
(If he becomes merciful, righteous, and just),
He will be granted life…
Yes, he will live and not die!
I will forget all his sins
(No matter how many there are)…
For his righteous ways, he will live!
‘Do I wish to bring death to the lawless, asks Jehovah?
No, I want them to turn from the bad, so they’ll live!
But, if the righteous should turn from right ways
And commit all the sins of the lawless…
Yes, if they do such things, they will die…
I’ll forget all the righteous things that they did
And destroy them for their errors and sins.
‘But then, you will say:
The ways of Jehovah aren’t right!
‘Pay attention, O house of IsraEl!
Haven’t My ways proven straight?
Aren’t yours the ways that are crooked?
‘When a righteous man turns from right ways,
Shouldn’t he die for his sins…
Since he’s the one that’s to blame,
Isn’t he the one that should die?
‘And when the lawless turn from bad ways…
When they start acting righteous and fair
And recognize how godless they’ve been;
All these people should live…
No way should they have to die!
‘Yet, the house of IsraEl still claims
That the ways of Jehovah aren’t straight.
‘O house of IsraEl;
Is it really My ways that aren’t straight?
Aren’t yours the ways that are crooked?
‘Therefore, O house of IsraEl;
I’ll judge each man by the things that he does, says Jehovah.
So, if you will turn from your bad ways,
You won’t be punished for the bad things you’ve done!
‘But, you must discard all your bad ways,
As well as your irreverence toward Me…
Create for yourselves new spirits and hearts!
‘O house of IsraEl; why should you die?
I want no one to die,says Jehovah…
So return [to Me] and you’ll live!’
‘Now, against the rulers of IsraEl,
I want you to sing this lament:
‘Your mother was a lion with cubs…
For in the midst of lions, she had many cubs.
Then, one of her cubs made the leap
Into becoming a lion…
He learned to attack and eat men.
‘But the nations soon heard about him,
And in their corruption, they caught him,
Then in a cage, they brought him to Egypt.
‘Well, when she saw that [her son] had been caught
And that she had lost her support;
She took another one of her cubs
And made him grow into a lion.
‘So he started to walk among lions,
And very soon, he became one…
He captured prey and ate many men.
‘In their cities, he then boldly fed
Until the whole land was destroyed
And filled with the sounds of his roaring.
‘So the nations all came from their places…
They surrounded and then they attacked him…
In their corruption, they threw nets and caught him.
‘Into a cage, he was put,
And to the king of Babylon, they took him.
So, because he was kept in a cage,
His roar was no longer heard
In IsraEl’s mountains, thereafter.
‘Now, this mother was much like a grape vine
Or a pomegranate planted near water.
And because there was so much water,
Soon she grew buds and fruit.
‘Among the head tribe, she became a strong rod,
And she was esteemed for her greatness
Amidst the rest of those great trunks [of trees]…
And she saw that her branches were what made her great.
‘But in rage, she was thereafter broken…
Yes, she was cut to the ground
And by burning winds, she was dried.
Then her choicest of branches (the rods of her strength),
Were punished, dried out, and burned.
‘For, she’d moved herself into the desert…
To a land that was thirsty and dry.
So the flames on her choicest of branches
Also reached down and consumed her,
Which left her without the rod of her strength.
So, to her tribe, she became a sad song
About one that will surely be missed.’
It was in the 7th year, in the 5th month, and on the 10th day of the month that men from among the elders of the house of IsraEl came before me to ask [things] from Jehovah. So after they all came and sat down in front of my face,the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man; speak to IsraEl’s elders
And tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘Have you come to ask something of Me?
As I live, I will not reply, says Jehovah!
But I’ll punish you, O sons of men,
For the lawless deeds of your fathers…
Yes, this is what you must tell them!
‘And tell them that thus says Jehovah:
From the day that I took the house of IsraEl
And to Jacob’s seed, became known,
(When I let them know Me in Egypt)…
Yes, when I took hold of their hands
And told them that I am Jehovah their God;
Since the day that I took them into My hands
And led them from Egypt’s land
Into the land that I had prepared
(A land that flowed with honey and milk…
Honeycombs that are far greater
Than those in all other lands),
And I told them that they must abandon
The disgusting things in front of their eyes
And the defilements of Egypt…
Since then, I’ve been Jehovah their God!
‘But then, they revolted against Me
And refused to hear what I said.
Their disgusting things, they didn’t remove
(The things [they could see] with their eyes),
Nor did they leave the bad ways of Egypt.
‘So I threatened to pour out My rage upon them,
And finish My anger among them in Egypt.
But I acted so My Name would not be profaned
Before the nations among which they were living
(Those to whom I had made [Myself] known)…
And I led them from Egypt’s land.
‘Then I led them from Egypt into the desert,
Where I gave them My orders and all of My Laws…
Which, if a man does them, bring life.
‘And I gave them My Sabbaths to serve as a sign
That they knew that I am Jehovah…
The One that is making them holy.
‘But, in the desert, they made Me feel bitter;
For they didn’t follow My orders,
And My Laws, they then pushed away
(Which, if a man does them, bring life),
And they profaned all My Sabbaths.
‘So, it was there in the desert
That I threatened to pour out My rage
And to completely wipe them away.
Yet I didn’t, so My Name would not be profaned
Among the gentiles who saw that I led them.
‘Then, in the desert, I lifted My hand
So as not to bring them into the land
(A land that flows with honey and milk…
Honeycombs that are greater than in other lands);
For they’d pushed away all My Laws,
And they chose not to follow My orders…
They also profaned all My Sabbaths,
And they followed the desires of their hearts.
‘Yet, My eyes continued to spare them…
I did not wipe them away
Or destroy them there in the desert.
‘In the desert, I then warned their children
Not to follow the laws of their fathers,
Nor to obey their [bad] rules…
Not defile themselves with their fathers’ ways,
For I am Jehovah their God.
‘[I told them that they must] follow My orders…
They must keep My Laws and obey them,
And keep My Sabbath days holy.
For, this is the sign between Me and them
That I am Jehovah their God.
‘But against Me, they also rebelled,
And their children wouldn’t follow My orders…
They didn’t guard My Laws or obey them
(The Laws that bring life to all who’ll obey)
And they profaned all My Sabbaths.
‘So I spoke to them in My anger…
I threatened to pour My rage upon them
And finish My wrath in the desert.
‘So against them, I then turned My hand
And I acted because of Myself…
That My Name would not be profaned
Before the nations, from which they’d been led.
‘But in the desert, I lifted My hand
To scatter them among all the nations,
Because they’d refused to follow My Laws,
And My orders, they’d just pushed away!
Yes, they had profaned all My Sabbaths,
And they followed the thoughts of their fathers.
‘So I [let them do as] their fathers had said
And to follow their laws that do not bring life…
Yes, I let their orders defile them!
Then I scattered all those that opened the womb…
I completely wiped them away
So they’d know that I am Jehovah!
‘And because of these things (O son of man);
You must speak to the house of IsraEl
And tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘To this day, your fathers have enraged Me
By the sins they’ve committed against Me.
For, though I brought them into the land
That I gave to them when I lifted My hand…
When they saw its shady trees and [beautiful] hills,
To other gods, they offered sacrifices.
‘So on them and their gifts, I then brought My wrath;
For to other gods, they also had offered
Drink offerings, incense, and pleasing aromas.
‘Then I asked:
What’s so great about your high places
That you’re still choosing to go there?
(For they call them the High Places down to this day).
‘So tell IsraEl that thus says Jehovah:
Do all the lawless deeds of your fathers…
With their disgusting ways, dirty yourselves!
Offer [those gods] your first-fruits and gifts,
Then pass your children through fire!
Yes defile yourselves in all of your thoughts
As you’ve continued to do to this day!
‘So house of IsraEl; what must I reply?
As I live, says Jehovah;
If I should give you an answer,
Would your spirits pay any attention?
Won’t you say that you’d rather be like the nations…
Like all the [other] tribes of the earth
That serve before wood and stone idols?
‘Because of this, as I live, says Jehovah;
With a strong hand, I’ll dominate you;
And with My arm raised high in great rage!
‘But I’ll also lead you out of those nations…
Yes, I’ll take you away from those places
Where My strong hand has sent you
With My arm raised high in great rage!
‘Then I’ll lead you into the deserts,
And there, before all the nations,
I’ll argue your case with them face to face,
Just as I did for your fathers
Back in the deserts of Egypt…
And that’s how I’ll then be your judge, says Jehovah.
‘I’ll lead you away with My rod,
And bring you back [to your homeland].
Then I’ll pick away all those among you
That are irreverent and rebellious…
I’ll remove them from those that [are righteous],
And to the land of IsraEl, they’ll never return,
So you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘Jehovah says:
As for you, O house of IsraEl;
Move away from your evil deeds,
And then you must listen to Me!
You may not profane My Holy Name
With your gifts and those [wicked] deeds
That you practiced on My Holy Mountain,
And upon all of IsraEl’s hills.
‘Jehovah says:
In their land, IsraEl must serve Me;
For, that is where I’ll receive them
And it’s where I’ll keep watch on their first fruits…
The first-fruits of all that they offer,
And the rest of their most-holy things.
‘And when I bring them back from the nations
(From the places where they will be scattered),
I’ll accept their pleasing aromas again,
And I will be holy among them
Before the eyes of [the gentiles]…
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah
When I bring them back to IsraEl’s land…
The land that I gave to their fathers.
‘Then, you will consider your ways,
And think about all the bad things you did
In order to make yourselves dirty,
And you’ll slap your own faces for your evil ways…
For you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘You’ll also know that I did all these things
So My Name would not be profaned
By the bad things you practiced and your evil ways, says Jehovah.
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Now, turn your face toward TeMan and look…
You must look toward [the land in the south];
Then, you must prophesy this
Toward the woods that lead to the Negev!
‘You must tell those in the Negev’s wooded lands
To hear the Word of Jehovah!
For, this is what He’s declared:
{Look!} Within you, I’ll now light a fire
That will burn up all of your trees
(Both those that are green and those that are dry).
And after this fire has been lit,
It won’t be extinguished thereafter!
‘All your faces will soon be consumed
By winds that come from the north and the east.
And all flesh will know that I am Jehovah
When I light a fire that can’t be extinguished.’
But I said:
‘O Lord… O Jehovah… by no means! For then they will ask,
Aren’t you just telling us a parable?’
And the Lord replied to me saying:
‘Because of these things, O son of man,
[You must speak against them] this prophecy…
Toward JeruSalem, you must now set your face
And look toward its Most Holy place;
Then to IsraEl, you must prophesy this…
Tell IsraEl that thus says Jehovah:
‘{Look!} I’m the One that is coming against you;
So I’ll pull My sword from its sheath
And destroy your unrighteous and lawless.
‘I’ll pull My sword out of its sheath
([Those men] from the north and the east);
And after I pull them out of the sheath,
I won’t be putting them back,
So all will then know that I am Jehovah!
‘And you, O son of man;
Groan as though you have broken your hips…
Before their eyes, you must moan in grief.
And when they ask why you are groaning,
This is what you must tell them:
‘The message that comes will break [all your] hearts
And all your hands will grow feeble.
For all flesh and all that are breathing
Will soon come to an end
And all [bottoms] will be tainted by wetness.
‘Look… it’s coming and now it will happen,
Says Jehovah, [your] God.’
And thereafter, the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Now you must prophesy this…
You must tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘O broadsword, O broadsword, be angry and sharp,
Then slay the victims for slaughter.
Be sharpened until you are shiny,
Then prepare for numbing and slay!
Treat [them all] with contempt,
And chop down all of their trees!
‘For He’s readied the sword that He holds in his hand
(This sword which He has just sharpened)
And prepared it for use by the one that stabs through.
‘So, cry out and shriek, O sons of men,
For upon my people, it’s coming,
And upon all of IsraEl’s guides…
Yes this sword [is coming to them]!
‘It will come to all of my people,
And because of this, clap your hands;
For, this is justice that’s due.’
So I asked him:
‘But then, won’t my tribe be totally thrown away?’
And the Lord said,
‘Don’t worry, that just will not happen.’
‘But you, O son of man, must now prophesy…
Clap one hand on the other
To summon another broadsword against them.
For this third one will be a sword of great slaughter…
It’s one that will truly amaze.
‘It will break all their hearts, as many grow weak,
When, at their gates, it arrives…
And all will be killed by this sword.
‘Well done, O sharp one that slaughters.
Well done, O great shining one.
Now like lightning, you must go forth and slay!
‘Sharpen both sides, the right and the left,
Then swing it wherever your face is aroused.
‘But after that, I will clap my hands,
And then I will slacken My rage…
For I Jehovah, have spoken.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me again, and said:
‘And you, O son of man;
Prepare two ways for the sword to arrive
So that Babylon’s king may now enter.
‘Two [armies] will come from one place;
One will come from the right,
And the other from the city’s top street…
So, ready the corner of that street!
‘The broadsword [will first enter] RabBah;
And then, from the direction of AmMon’s sons
An attack will be launched on JeruSalem.
Then, on those most ancient roads,
The king of Babylon will stand.
‘On the corner, between the two streets, [he will stand],
Looking to his diviners for signs…
[He’ll ask them] to stir with the rod
And to question their idols,
Then to look into the liver.
‘So, an oracle will give him instructions
And tell him to throw up a siege mound
On JeruSalem’s right.
‘Then he’ll open his mouth and he’ll yell:
Raise your voices and shout,
And against her gates, erect siege mounds!
Yes, build the mounds all around them,
And create more weapons of war!
‘For he’ll serve as an omen against them…
He’ll provide divination concerning [their end].
He’ll remind them that they will be led off as captives
Because they have been so unrighteous.
‘And he’ll also help them to remember,’ said the Lord…
‘That he came because of their unrighteous ways,
And to reveal their irreverent condition.
‘He will then show them their sins,
As well as the laws that they’ve broken,
Which they’ll think of after they’re captured.
‘And then [say to] that lawless profane one…
Upon the one that is IsraEl’s guide:
Your unrighteous days have now ended!
For [the Lord] Jehovah said this [about him]:
‘Remove the turban and take off the crown,
Because they’ll no longer be yours.
For, from your high place, you will be cut down,
And then, what is low will be raised!
‘For, to the unrighteous, I’ll bring what’s unrighteous…
And that’s all there’ll be ‘til the time
That the one that is worthy arrives…
And to him, I will give it all back.
‘So now, prophesy now, O son of man…
And to the sons of AmMon, you must say
That Jehovah said this concerning their scorn:
‘O broadsword, O broadsword, now be unsheathed…
Be unsheathed for the victims of slaughter
Arise and shine to consume them!
‘For, all their visions are worthless,
And your oracles are just telling lies…
So they won’t be able to save you.
For your lawless ways, [I’ll bring swords to] your necks,
And your unrighteous days will have ended.
‘Then return, [O sword], to your sheath!
For, in this place where you were once born
I’ll judge these [people] in their own land
And I’ll pour My rage out upon them.
‘Against them, I’ll breathe the fire of My rage,
And to barbarians, I will hand them over…
To those contriving corruption for them.
‘By fire, they will then be devoured,
And blood will be flowing throughout their land.
And thereafter, they’ll just be forgotten…
For I Jehovah, have spoken.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘And you, O son of man
Must now judge that city because of its blood…
You must make an example of her
For all of her lawless deeds!
‘You must say that the Lord Jehovah said this:
‘O city of so much shed blood
(The one that has made herself dirty);
You’ve fallen into the blood that you’ve shed
And defiled yourself with your thoughts.
So the end of your days has drawn near…
You’ve reached the end of your years.
‘You are given to be scorned by the nations,
And for every region to mock you…
You’ll be mocked by those that are living nearby
And by those that live far away.
Yes, you unclean one, they’ll mock you,
For your lawless ways are now famous.
‘Then, look at what IsraEl’s guides have been doing…
They’ve joined with all their relations
In order to spill innocent blood!
Look also at your fathers and mothers…
All they talk about doing is evil!
‘They treat foreign peoples unjustly,
And tyrannize orphans and widows.
My holy things, they treat with contempt,
And they are profaning My Sabbaths!
‘The men among you are robbers,
And they are shedding innocent blood.
Then, in the mountains, they feast to their idols…
Such unholy things are now done in your midst!
‘You’ve uncovered the shame of your fathers,
And you have defiled many women
Who were sitting apart as unclean.
‘You’ve [had sex] with the wives of your neighbors…
You’ve each defiled your daughters-in-law
And done ungodly things to your sisters…
You’ve debased the daughters of your parents!
‘You also take bribes and shed blood…
Interest and rent, you require!
So you’ve reached the end of your evil…
In your tyranny, you have overlooked Me, says Jehovah.
‘Now, if I clap hand against hand
Against all the evils you’re doing
(Yes, against all those bad things,
And the blood that’s been shed in your midst),
Will your heart be able to stand [what I’ll do],
And will your hands [still be strong] when I do it?
For, I Jehovah, have spoken…
Yes [I’ve spoken] and now I will act!
‘For I’ll spread you among all the nations…
I’ll scatter you to many regions,
And then your uncleanness will be wiped away.
I’ll assign other nations to watch over you,
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
{Look!} Before me, the house of IsraEl’s become
Like brass that’s mixed in with iron,
Or like tin and lead mixed with silver.
‘So because of their [wicked condition],
You must tell them that thus says [Jehovah]:
Since you are all mixed together;
I’ll bring you into JeruSalem’s midst
As though you’re inside of a furnace.
‘Then, just as silver that’s become mixed
With brass, tin, iron, and lead,
And air is blown in to refine it…
That’s what I’ll do to you in My rage.
‘In My anger, I’ll gather you all
And throw you into a furnace.
Then I’ll blow on you with the fire of My rage,
And you’ll be refined in its midst.
‘Yes, as silver is refined in a furnace;
I’ll throw you into an oven.
Then you’ll know that I am Jehovah
When I pour My rage out upon you.’
Well after that, the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘O son of man;
You must tell them [that Jehovah said] this:
At that time, they’ll call yours the land…
The land without any rain…
For there’ll be no rain in the day of [My] rage.
‘Since the leaders in your midst are like lions
That roar and seize prey by force…
Since they dominate, destroy, and consume,
And take whatever has value…
The numbers of widows will grow in your midst.
‘For your priests have annulled all My Laws,
And My holy things, they’ve profaned…
They can’t tell the holy from the profane
Or what’s clean from the unclean.
From My Sabbaths, they’ve hidden their eyes,
And I’ve been profaned in their midst.
‘So her prophets that do the anointing
Will soon all be cut down…
Yes, those that can see only vain things
And omens that really aren’t true,
But say that Jehovah has spoken to them
When He hasn’t spoken at all.
‘And even the land’s [common] people
Call for what is unrighteous
And [ask for their share] of the loot.
They are tyrants to the needy and poor,
And they treat foreign peoples unfairly!
‘Then I searched among them for one righteous man…
One who’ll stand firm in the day of My rage,
So I wouldn’t have to bring her conclusion
And totally wipe her away…
But, no such man could I find.
So, I will pour out My anger
And send the fire of My rage
In order to finish them off…
I’m bringing their blame upon their own heads, said Jehovah.’
And the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:‘O son of man;
Two women were the daughters of one mother,
And they were immoral during their youth.
For, they [had sex] down in Egypt…
Yes, there is where their breasts fell,
And it’s where they lost their virgin condition.
‘The eldest one’s name was Her Tent,
And her sister was named Her Tent is Within Her.
To Me, they both had been given
To bear My sons and My daughters.
‘Are these really their names? No!
I’m calling Samaria, Her Tent,
And Her Tent is Within Her is JeruSalem.
‘Her Tent had been unfaithful to Me,
And she doted upon all her lovers…
The Assyrians, with whom she had [slept]…
Their blue-clad commanders and leaders,
And the choicest of all their young men,
As well as those that ride horses.
‘To them, she offered herself…
To the choicest of Assyria’s sons.
She gave herself to those she desired,
And wholeheartedly made herself dirty.
‘But her affair with Egypt hadn’t ended
(Those with whom she had [slept] in her youth).
She gave her virginity to them,
And they poured [their semen] upon her.
‘So I handed her to all her lovers
(To the sons of the Assyrians, whom she desired),
And they uncovered her shame.
Then they took her sons and her daughters
And slaughtered them all with their swords.
The women also gossiped about her,
When [the Assyrians] brought vengeance upon her.
‘But when Her Tent is Within Her saw what had happened,
She became more corrupt [than her sister]…
Yes, even more immoral than her.
‘For she loved the sons of Assyria…
Those nearby commanders and leaders
Who wore such elegant clothes,
And the men that rode on their horses…
Yes, all of their choicest young men.
‘So I saw that they’d both been defiled,
And that both were the same [kind of women].
‘Then, to her bad ways, she added,
As she looked upon men that were painted on walls…
Images of the Chaldeans,
Depicted with brush strokes on [stone],
Wearing colored belts on their hips,
As well as deeply-dyed turbans,
All giving the appearance of officials
Among the sons of Babylon…
Of her fatherland, the Chaldeans.
‘She doted on them with her eyes,
And she sent her messengers to them
There in the land of Chaldea.
‘So those sons of Babylon came,
And on her marriage-bed they then rested…
In their immoral ways, they defiled her.
‘And as she was being defiled,
She put her life in their hands…
Her immoral shame, she uncovered…
She removed My soul from her life
As her sister had already done.
Then, she became even worse,
As she forgot the days of her youth
When she [had sex] down in Egypt
And started thinking about the Chaldeans.
For, they had flesh just like burros,
And genitals like those of horses.
‘She turned from the lawless ways of her youth
And from the things that she did down in Egypt
(That place in which she’d once lodged
And where the breasts of her youth had first fallen).
‘So, because of this, O Her Tent is Within Her;
{Look!} I’ve awakened your lovers against you…
Yes, those to whom you once gave your soul.
And now, I will bring them against you,
Then they will come and surround you…
The sons of Chaldea and Babylon
– Pekod, Shoa, and Koa –
Along with Assyria’s sons
And all of their choicest young men…
Their governors, commanders, and tribunes,
And the famous ones riding on horses.
‘From the north, they’ll all come against you
With weapons and chariot wheels…
Many nations with chest plates, helmets, and shields.
They’ll surround you and throw up a siege mound;
Then judgment, I’ll put on their faces,
So you’ll be punished by their (form of) justice.
‘Against you, I will then show My zeal,
And I’ll deal with you in My rage.
They’ll cut off your nose and your ears,
And they’ll cut up what’s left with the sword.
‘Then they’ll take your sons and your daughters;
And all that remains will be burned.
They’ll strip off all of your clothes,
And remove all the things of which you’re so proud.
‘Your impious deeds, I’ll remove,
Along with the bad things you practiced in Egypt.
To them, you won’t raise your eyes anymore,
And you’ll not think of Egypt again.
‘Jehovah says:
{Look!} I’ll hand you to those that detest you
(Those to whom you’ve given your soul).
Then they’ll deal with you in their hatred
And take all the things for which you’ve worked hard,
Leaving you naked and disgraced.
Your immoral shame, they’ll uncover,
Including your irreverence and whoring.
‘They’ll do all these things, because you’re a whore
Who defiled herself by thinking of them.
So, since you’ve followed in your sister’s ways,
I’ll now put her cup in your hands.
‘And Jehovah said:
You’ll drink deeply from the cup of your sister…
You’ll drink so much that you’ll laugh,
And in your drunken condition, you’ll sneer.
‘For from the cup of extinction, you will be filled,
And it will make you feel weak…
The same cup of Samaria, your sister.
‘You will drink and then you will vomit…
Shards of broken pots, you will eat,
And you will start pulling your breasts.
‘Then, I will pervert your holiday feasts,
As well as all your New Moons…
Yes I’ve said that I will pervert them, says Jehovah.’
‘Then Jehovah said:
Because you forgot Me and pushed Me aside,
You’ll get what you’re due for your whoring!’
‘And Jehovah said: O son of man;
Now, judge between Her Tent
And Her Tent is Within Her.
Yes, speak to them of their lawless ways…
Of their adultery and the blood on their hands.
For, even their thoughts are adulterous,
And they’ve led the children they bore Me through fire!
‘Then, as they did this against Me;
They defiled My holy things in that day,
And they have profaned all My Sabbaths.
‘They [offered] their children to idols,
And entered My Holy Place to profane it…
See what they’ve done in My Temple!
‘Then, to those in far-away lands,
They sent messengers and begged them to come.
And as they were coming, they bathed…
They decked themselves out and [painted] their eyes.
‘Before a spread table, they sat on a bed
And set before them My incense and oil
(Which these men found very delightful).
‘Then the sounds of harmony and music
Was played before men that were drunk…
Men who’d just come from the desert.
Then upon their arms, they put bracelets,
And garlands of boasting, they put on their heads.
‘Though I told them that they must be [faithful];
In the ways of a whore, they [had sex].
So, they entered within them
As a man would enter a whore…
They entered Her Tent and Her Tent is Within Her…
Two lawless women with lawless ways.
‘But because they are also just men,
They will punish them both
With the punishment that’s due an adulteress.
In justice, they’ll pour out their blood
For the adultery and blood on their hands.
‘Then Jehovah said:
Now, bring the armies against them…
Bring disturbance and ravaging to them.
‘May those armies then stone them with rocks
And run them through with their swords!
Kill their sons and their daughters,
And burn down all of their homes!
‘Yes, their godless [lovers], I’ll bring to this land
In order to correct these two women,
So they’ll not be godless again.
‘I’ll bring their irreverence down on their heads,
And they’ll bear their own sins and ideas…
Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah!’
It was in the 9th year, in the 10th month, and on the 10th day of the month that the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Write the name of this day for yourself,
Because this is the day that Babylon’s king
Will conquer JeruSalem…
Yes, that day has arrived!
‘And say these words to that house in rebellion…
Tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘Prepare the pot… ready the pot and fill it with water,
Then, you must put in the pieces…
All the best pieces… the shoulders and legs,
Then, rip the flesh from the bones!
‘I have gathered the choicest of cattle;
So, start the fire to boil up the bones…
Boil and cook the bones in its midst.
‘For their Sovereign Lord Jehovah said this:
O you city of blood;
There’s a pot that is filled with your venom.
So, when they bring out your limbs,
[None] will claim your parts as their own.
‘Upon a rock, they will pour out your blood…
But it won’t be poured on the ground
Or be covered by dirt.
For I’ll punish you in My rage
And I’ll have them pour your blood on a rock
So that [no one] can cover it over.
‘Because of this, said Jehovah;
Woe to you, O city of blood
For your funeral pyre will be great.
‘I’ll add much wood and kindle a fire
To melt away all the meat.
And then, to render a broth,
The bones will have to be stewed.
‘You’ll stay on the coals until you’re burned through
And all your brass ornaments melt…
Until your uncleanness [is gone]
And all of your venom has failed…
Until little venom remains.
‘The venom of your filth, I’ll bring to disgrace
Until it is all boiled away.
Since you dirtied yourself and wouldn’t get clean,
You’ll no longer be able to do that
Until My rage on you is complete.
‘For, I Jehovah, have spoken…
I’ll do it and I’ll make it happen!
I’ll not warn you or show any mercy,
Nor will I offer you comfort.
‘I will judge you for the things that you’ve done,
As well as for the things that you think, says Jehovah.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
{Look!} With just one blow, I will now take away
[The woman] you’ve treasured most dearly.
‘Yet, you must not show any sorrow…
Do all your moaning in silence…
Over her, you must quietly groan,
And you may not wail at her grave.
‘Don’t take off your sandals or braid your hair,
Nor let them offer you comfort…
And don’t eat the [food] that they bring.’
Well, the next morning I told the people what he said to me; and then that evening, my wife died. So the [next] morning I did as I was instructed.And when the people asked me to explain why I was doing these things,I told them that the Word of Jehovah had come to me and said this:
‘You must speak to the house of IsraEl
And tell them that thus says Jehovah:
{Look!} My Holy Place, I’ll profane…
That wonderful place about which you neigh
And the thing that your eyes have desired.
‘Now, in order to save your own lives,
You’ll have to abandon your daughters and sons…
For, they will all fall by the sword.
‘Then, after you’ve done this,
You won’t take comfort from anyone’s mouth,
Or share in the bread of mankind!
‘Your hair will remain on your head,
And your feet will be wearing sandals.
So you won’t lament or be crying…
You’ll just melt away in your sins,
And none will comfort their brothers!
‘Now, EzekiEl will serve as an omen and sign;
For, all that he says, you will do.
And after these things have all happened,
You’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘[Then He said]:
O son of man;
This is how it will be in the day
That I take away all their strength
And the things about which they boast…
The desirable things of their eyes…
All of their sons and daughters
(Those in whom their souls take most pride).
‘Then, those that escape in that day
Will come and tell you what happened.
And in that day, you’ll open your mouth…
Yes you’ll speak to those who’ve escaped…
You’ll speak and be mute no longer…
You’ll explain how you were a sign,
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Against AmMon’s sons, you must now set your face…
[You must speak] this prophesy against them!
Tell the sons of AmMon to listen
And hear the Word of Jehovah.
For, this is what Jehovah declared:
‘Because you were [filled with] rejoicing
When My Holy Place was being profaned
As the land of IsraEl was being destroyed,
And the house of Judah was led off as captives;
{Look!} It is for all of these reasons,
That to the sons of Kedem, I’ll hand you…
And their inheritance, is what you’ll become.
‘They’ll camp among you as [masters],
And spread their tents in your midst…
Then they’ll drink your fatness and eat all your fruit!
‘I’ll give them the cities of AmMon
To serve as pens where they’ll keep their sheep,
And I’ll also give them your camels…
Then you’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
‘Jehovah says:
For you clapped your hands and stamped your feet…
You rejoiced over IsraEl’s fall.
And because of this, {Look!} I’ll stretch out My hand
And appoint you to be ravaged by the nations.
‘I’ll destroy you from among the rest of the peoples…
I’ll wipe you out of your regions…
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘Jehovah says:
And because MoAb and SeIr have proclaimed
That the house of Judah is now like the gentiles;
{Look!} For this, I’ll injure the shoulder of MoAb…
The cities at the edge [of his land]…
The choicest parts of BethJeshiMoth…
The city of springs by the sea.
‘To the sons of Kedem, I will hand AmMon
To serve an inheritance among them…
Then the nations will forget about AmMon’s sons.
And in MoAb, I will also wreak vengeance,
So they’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘And Jehovah says:
Since Edom was very resentful
And sought vengeance upon Judah’s house
By bringing such punishment upon them…
Yes, because of this, says Jehovah;
I’ll stretch out My hand against Edom,
And from man to beast, destroy all.
I will make [their land] desolation,
And from TeMan to Ledan, those being chased
Will each be cut down by swords.
‘For against Edom’s land, I’ll bring vengeance
At the hands of IsraEl, My people.
They’ll deal with Edom as My rage demands
And in the ways of My anger.
Then, they will know of My vengeance, says Jehovah.
‘And because of this, says Jehovah;
Because the Philistines took vengeance
And they rejoiced in their souls
When they wiped [My people] away through the age…
Yes, because of this, says Jehovah;
{Look!} Against the Philistines, I’ll stretch out My hand,
And their Cherethites I will destroy,
As well as the rest that are left on the coast.
‘Yes, against them, I’ll bring vengeance
With the rebukes of My rage.
Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah,
When I wreak My vengeance upon them.’
It was in the 11th year, on the 1st day of the month, that the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Tyre has said this of JeruSalem:
Well done, because she’s now broken!
For, she had destroyed many nations,
And then, she turned her attention toward me.
But this one that once was so full
Has now become desolation.
‘Because of this, said Jehovah,
{Look!} I am against you, O Rock,
And I’ll bring so many nations against you
That they’ll be like the waves of the sea.
‘The walls of Tyre, they will tear down,
And then they will knock down your towers.
I’ll scatter your dust to the [four] winds
And leave you like a smooth rock…
A place where they will dry fish nets.
For, I have spoken against you, says Jehovah.
‘You will be a place that nations will loot,
And your daughters in the plains will be cut down by swords…
Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘And Jehovah said this:
O Tyre;
I’ll bring NebuChadNezzar out of the north
(Yes, this king of all kings)
With his cavalry, chariots, and horses,
And his army of many great nations.
Then he’ll use the sword to destroy
Your daughters that live in the plains.
‘Against you, he’ll send advance guards
Who’ll surround you and then they’ll dig trenches.
He’ll close you in with a siege mound
And arrange it with lances and shields.
Then they will demolish your towers and walls,
And they will destroy [all your] weapons.
‘You’ll be covered by the dust of his horses.
And from the sounds of his horsemen,
As well as the sounds of their chariot wheels,
All your walls will thereafter be shaken.
Then, when he enters your gates,
To him, it’ll be like a [walk through] the plains.
‘His horse’s hooves will trample your squares
And [his men] will kill all your people with swords…
They’ll bring your supports and strength to the ground.
‘Then, they will plunder your army…
They’ll take all their things, then tear down your walls
And demolish the best of your homes.
Thereafter, they’ll throw all the stones and the wood,
As well as the dust, into the sea.
‘He’ll rip away your musicians,
And the sounds of strings will no longer be heard.
He will make you like a smooth rock
And a place for the drying of dragnets.
Then, no way will you be rebuilt,
For I Jehovah have spoken, said the Lord.
‘Then Jehovah asked this of Tyre:
When their swords are unsheathed in your midst;
Won’t the sound of your downfall
As well as the moans of your wounded
Rumble all the way to the islands?
‘The rulers of the seas will step from their thrones,
Then remove their crowns and colorful robes,
Because they’ll be startled by this change of state.
And of their destruction, they’ll then sit in fear,
As they are moaning for you.
So, this is what they will sing:
‘O how great has been her destruction.
For, she was removed from her place by the sea
Along with all of [her people]
By the one that brought terror upon them.
‘You’re a city that once was so blest;
For you got your strength from the sea.
But now, all the islands are living in fear;
For, since the day of your downfall,
They’ve had many reasons to worry.’
‘Then the Lord Jehovah said this:
I’ll bring desolation to your cities
And leave them without any people…
By the waters of the deep, they’ll be covered.
‘I will drag both you and your people
Into the pit through the age.
I’ll settle you in the depths of the earth
As a desolate place through the ages,
Along with the rest who’ve gone down to the pit.
‘In the land of the living, you’ll no longer be;
For I’ve appointed you to be wiped away
So you won’t exist anymore…
They’ll look for you and not find you, says Jehovah.’
Then the Word of The Lord came to me and said:
‘And you, O son of man,
Must sing a lament over Tyre.
‘You must say to the Rock
(This city that dwells by the sea…
The marketplace of all the islands)
That thus says Jehovah to Tyre:
‘You say that you’ve invested in beauty;
For the heart of the sea is your border,
And your sons have perfected your charms.
‘Cedar is [the wood] with which you were built,
As well as with Lebanon’s cypress.
With posts of fir, you make the ship masts;
And in BaShan, they make all your oars.
‘Your temples are constructed of ivory
And your houses are made from the wood
That comes from the Island of Cyprus.
‘Embroidered linens from Egypt
Serve as your sails and your flags.
And from the island of Aeolis
You receive the purple and blue
That you use to make the clothes that you wear.
‘The princes of Sidon and Arvad
Come and serve as your oarsmen;
And your navigators are their wise men, O Rock.
‘The elders among you are scholars
Who grow in their powers to direct you.
And all the oarsmen for your ships of the seas
Come to you from the west.
‘Your warriors are Lydians and Persians
Who hang their helmets and shields among you…
And they also bring you much glory.
Sons of Arvad serve as your soldiers
And they are stationed around all your walls,
As Medes serve in your guard towers…
They hang their quivers on your moorings,
And they are perfecting your beauty.
‘Men from Carthage are also your merchants
Who bring you abundance and strength
With silver, gold, iron, and brass,
And the tin and lead that they sell in your stores.
‘The Greeks and the rest of the world
(Those from faraway lands)
Trade their slaves [in your streets],
Along with the brass that they sell.
‘From the house of ToGarmah, come horses…
Horses and mules they bring to your stores.
‘Sons of Rhodes are also your merchants…
From the islands, they bring you much trade.
And those that bring you your ivory
Are paid with the earnings from [slaves].
‘There are your great stores of balsam,
As well as rolls of purple and linen,
Along with colored works out of Carthage,
Plus things from RamOth and ChoHor…
Yes, all of these things are sold in your stores.
‘Judah and IsraEl are also your merchants
In the sales of grain and perfumes,
As well as the finest of honey,
And the olive oil and the lotions
That they bring to your stores.
‘Damascus too, trades in your wares,
And [they also share in] your power.
For they bring fine wines in from Helbon,
And the best of wool from Miletus.
‘Dan, and Javan, as well as MoOzel,
Bring their iron to your markets…
They add many tools and wheels to your stores.
DeDan too, is your merchant,
Providing the choicest of saddles.
‘Arabia and the rulers of Cyprus
Are merchants trading camels through your hands,
As well as the lambs and rams that they bring.
‘Other merchants are SheBa and RamAh…
Yes, these are also your traders
Who bring choice spices and most precious gems,
As well as gold to your stores.
‘Haran, CalNeh, and Edem
Also do trading with you,
As do Assyria, SheBa, and ChilMad,
Who bring blue [cloth] and great treasures
In [boxes of] cypress bound in rough cords.
‘Your many boats serve as your merchants;
For they carry an abundance of things to your stores…
Filled and weighed down in the seas.
‘Your oarsmen row it all into you
From [the boats that are blown] by south winds
As they sail through the heart of the sea.
‘But your armies, your wages, and stores…
Your counselors, navigators, and oarsmen,
As well as the goods that come from your stores
And all the warriors among you
(Those that have gathered within you)
Will be thrown into the heart of the sea
In the day of your downfall.
‘Those that navigate will be shaken
By the sounds of your outcries…
Yes, with fear, they’ll be overcome.
So your oarsmen will abandon their boats,
And their captains and crews will flee to dry ground.
‘Then, over you, they’ll shout loudly…
Yes, over you, they’ll bitterly cry.
Upon their heads, they’ll throw dirt
And spread ashes as beds for themselves.
They’ll shave their heads and wear sackcloth,
And bitterly weep over you.
‘Their sons will also lament you
And wail for The Rock as they ask:
Who is as silent as Tyre,
There in the midst of the sea?
‘How much wealth you gained from the seas!
For the nations are filled with the goods that you sell,
And their kings are enriched by your stores.
‘But, there in the sea, you’ll lie broken,
As your stores are sunk in deep waters,
And those gathered there [will be carried away]
Along with all of your oarsmen.
‘There’ll be gloom in all of the islands for you…
Their kings will be startled and amazed,
Then tears will burst from their faces.
Merchants from the nations will whistle at you;
For you [will soon be] destroyed…
Through the ages, you will be gone.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘And you, O son of man;
Say this to the ruler of Tyre!
Tell him that thus says Jehovah:
‘You have made your heart haughty
And proclaimed that you are a god;
For you dwell among the gods of the seas!
But you’re just a man, not a god,
Though you made your heart as that of a god.
‘Are you someone that’s wiser than DaniEl…
Didn’t the wise teach you wisdom?
Which was it… intelligence or wisdom
That brought you all of your power
And your treasures of silver and gold?
Which was it… your trading or wisdom
That gave you your power and made your heart proud?
‘It’s because of this, says Jehovah…
Since you made your heart as that of a god;
{Look!} I’m bringing strange pests from the nations to you,
And they’ll empty their swords out against you…
Against all the beauty of your wisdom,
Which they will spread to destruction.
‘Yes, they will soon cut you down,
And you’ll die the death of those that [have drowned]
In the heart of the sea.
‘Will you say you’re a god to those that bring death?
No you’ll be just a man, not a god
In the hands of those that will pierce you.
‘Then you’ll die among the uncircumcised
At the hands of those that are strangers.
For, this is what I’ve decreed, says Jehovah.’
And the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘O son of man;
Sing this lament to the ruler of Tyre.
Tell him that thus says Jehovah:
‘Yours is the image on a seal
That’s depicted as someone who’s wise
And who’s wearing a beautiful crown.
‘The paradise of gods is the place where you dwell,
And every precious gem, you have owned…
Sardius, topaz, and emeralds;
Onyx, sapphires, and jaspers;
Silver, gold, amber, and agates;
Chrysolites, amethysts, and beryls.
Your treasuries are filled with onyx and gold,
And it’s also found in your stores.
‘From the day that you were created,
A cherub was chosen on your behalf,
Since you were anointed by God.
Then you were allowed to dwell in [His] Tent…
For on God’s Holy Mountain, I set you,
And among stones of fire, you existed…
Yes, you lived in perfection from the day you began
Until the time that I found you guilty.
‘From the abundance of your trade, your storerooms were filled,
Then you became lawless and sinned.
So, you were removed from the mountain of God
(From among [those great] stones of fire),
And your cherub was taken away.
‘Because of your beauty, your heart became proud…
Sins corrupted your wisdom and beauty.
So I tossed you down to the ground
To be an example to [others].
‘Because of your many great sins
And the ways you’ve failed in your trading,
You have profaned all your temples.
So I’m sending fire into your midst,
Which will burn you and turn you to ashes…
And this will be witnessed by all.
‘Then, all the nations will mourn over you,
For you’ll be destroyed and lost through the age.’
Well thereafter, the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘O son of man;
Now, fix your face against Sidon,
And against it, you must now prophesy!
Tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘{Look!} I am against you, O Sidon,
And by you, I’ll be glorified;
For you’ll know that I am Jehovah
When I bring My judgments against you…
And then, I’ll be holy among you.
‘Against you, I’ll send death and blood,
And your people will fall in your squares,
As the men among you (those closest to you)
Will all be wounded by swords…
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘IsraEl’s house will be gone…
Yes, that bitter barb and thorn of great grief.
And all those that are living around them
(Those that will bring dishonor to them)
Will know that I am Jehovah.’
‘Jehovah says:
Then I’ll regather the house of IsraEl
From the nations where they’ll be dispersed,
And I will be holy among them
Before all the peoples and nations.
‘Thereafter, they’ll live in the land
That I gave to My servant Jacob.
There they’ll plant vineyards and there they’ll build homes
In which, they’ll dwell in hope everafter,
When I bring My judgments upon all of those
By whom they had been abused
(All those that were living around them),
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah their God,
As well as the God of their fathers.’
It was in the 10th year (on the 1st day of the 10th month) that the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘O son of man;
Fix your face against Egypt’s King
And against those in his Great House…
Against him and Egypt, you must now prophesy!
Tell him that thus says Jehovah:
‘{Look!} I am against you, O PharaOh,
The great dragon that waits between rivers…
The One that says, The rivers are mine…
Yes, they were created for me!
‘Now, into your jaws, I’ll put hooks,
And the fish from your rivers, I’ll stick to you wings.
Then I’ll lift you up from their midst
And I will remove all their scales
Before I throw you down with your fish.
‘On the face of the plains, I will toss you;
Then, you’ll be collected and not be [thrown back].
There I’ll feed you to the beasts of the fields,
As well as to the birds in the skies…
Then, all those that are living in Egypt
Will know that I am Jehovah.
‘For to the house of IsraEl, you’ve proven to be
Just a reed, not a rod,
Since you broke when they grabbed onto you with their hands.
Then, by every hand, they were beaten,
Because they trusted in you…
Yes, because you broke [in their hands],
The nations have shattered their hips.
‘And because of this, says Jehovah;
{Look!} I’ll bring the broadsword against you
To destroy all your men and your cattle.
‘Then the land of Egypt, I will appoint
To be wiped away and destroyed…
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
[I’ll do this], because you once said,
All the rivers are mine…
They were created for me!
‘{Look!} I’m against both you and your rivers;
So, I will now hand over Egypt
To be destroyed by the broadsword
From Migdol on to SyEne,
All the way to Ethiopia’s borders.
‘Neither man nor beast will then travel that way…
No way will any even walk through it.
And for the next 40 years, you’ll lie empty.
‘I’ll appoint your land to destruction,
And the ground will lie fallow and barren.
All of your cities will be empty…
For 40 years, they’ll all be extinct.
I’ll scatter the Egyptians among all the nations…
To many places, I’ll [blow] them away.’
‘Jehovah says:
Then, after 40 years, I’ll gather them back
From the nations where they’d been dispersed;
I’ll return all the captured Egyptians
And settle them back in their lands
(Those from which they were taken),
And there, they must humbly submit.
‘But by then, her rule will have ended,
And she’ll not be the highest of nations again.
For I’ll cause them to be very few…
Uncounted among other nations.
‘So you’ll never again serve as IsraEl’s hope,
And they’ll be reminded that it had been wrong
For them to have trusted in you…
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
Well, it was in the 27th year (on the 1st day of the 1st month) that the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Because of Tyre, King NebuChadNezzar
Has reduced his army to slaves.
For, all of their heads are now bald
And their shoulders are covered with falling hair
Because of his army’s attack against Tyre,
And the work that they’ve done without pay.
‘So because of this, says Jehovah;
To Babylon’s King NebuChadNezzar,
I will now hand over Egypt.
Then, he will loot and plunder her spoils
And give it to his army, as their reward.
‘Yes, in return for his work against Tyre,
I’ll give the land of Egypt to him
Because of the things he’s accomplished for Me, says Jehovah.
‘In that day, in the house of IsraEl,
A horn will thereafter be raised,
And I’ll give you an opened mouth in their midst,
So they’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
And the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘O son of man; you must now prophesy and tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘The day is near…
The Day of Jehovah has approached…
Yes, that dark day of the Lord,
Which is also the time of the nations!
For a sword will come against Egypt,
And Ethiopia will then be disturbed.
‘Egyptians will be cut down and slain,
And her abundance will be carried away…
She’ll be ripped to her very foundations!
‘Lydians, Persians, and Cretans,
Libyans, Ethiopians, and other mixed peoples
Will fall with My Covenant people,says Jehovah.
For the supporters of Egypt will fall
Along with the insolence of her strength.
‘From Migdol to SyEne, they’ll fall by the sword
And lie amidst places that will be wiped away,
As the cities in her midst are destroyed.
‘Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah
When I bring fire against Egypt,
And I break all those that have helped her.
‘In that day, messengers will quickly arrive
And destroy any hope Ethiopians had.
For in that day, there’ll be a disturbance in Egypt…
And look, it has already happened!
‘Jehovah says:
I’ll destroy many Egyptians
By the hand of King NebuChadNezzar.
For, he and all of his people
(With pestilent ones from the nations)
Are being sent to destroy that whole land.
‘They’ll empty their swords against Egypt
And fill its land with the slain.
I’ll also desolate all their rivers
And give their lands to the wicked.
‘I’ll wipe their land clean and empty it out,
Then I’ll give its fullness to strangers…
For I’m Jehovah, and I have declared that it’s so!
‘Jehovah God says:
Their disgusting things, I’ll destroy.
And to the [gods] of Memphis, I’ll provide rest…
For the rulers of Egypt won’t be anymore.
‘To the land of Egypt, I will send fear,
And the land of Pathros, I will destroy.
Then to Tanis, I will bring fire,
And I’ll punish The City of Gods.
‘I’ll pour My rage out on Sin,
Which is the stronghold of Egypt.
And the crowds of Memphis, I’ll also destroy.
‘Upon Egypt, I will send fire,
And to Sin, I’ll send a disturbance.
On The City of Gods, I will spit,
And I’ll take away all their water.
‘The young men of the City of the Sun,
And those that live in BuBastum
Will also fall by the broadsword,
And their women will be taken as slaves.
‘In TahPanHes, the days will grow dark
When I break the chiefdoms of Egypt.
Then the strength of her insolence will end
And she will be covered by clouds,
As her daughters are led off as captives.
Yes, I have passed judgment on Egypt,
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
Well, it was in the 11th year (in the 1st month and on the 7th day of the month) that the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
I will break PharaOh’s [right] arm,
{Look!} And for ways to heal him, they’ll search.
Then, upon his wounds, they’ll wrap dressings
In order to help him carry his sword.
‘But because of this, says Jehovah;
{Look!} Since I’m against Egypt’s Great House and King,
I will break both of his arms
(Including the one that’s been broken),
And I’ll rip his sword from his hand.
Then I’ll scatter the Egyptians among all the nations…
To many places, I’ll blow them away.
‘But I’ll strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king
And I’ll put My sword in his hand.
Then, he will use it on Egypt…
He’ll loot her loot and take all her spoils.
‘I’ll strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king,
And the arms of PharaOh will fall.
Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah
When I give My sword to Babylon’s king,
And he lifts it against Egypt’s land.
‘I’ll scatter Egyptians among all the nations…
To many places, I’ll blow them away…
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah!’
It was in the 11th year (on the 1st day of the 3rd month) that the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Ask this of PharaOh (Egypt’s king) and his armies:
When it comes to being high minded,
Who else is equal to you?
‘{Look!} Assyria is like Lebanon’s cypress,
Since it had many dense branches.
It was also protected and stood very tall…
Amidst the clouds, stood its top.
By waters from the deep, it was nourished,
And as the result, it grew mighty.
‘To the plants around him, a river was led…
She poured her waters on the trees in his fields,
And because of this, he grew even greater
Than all the other trees on the earth.
‘He had more branches and much taller shoots,
And over many waters, he stretched.
Among his boughs sat the birds of the skies;
Beneath his limbs bred the beasts of the plains;
And many nations dwelled in his shadow.
‘He became great in his height
Because of his tender branches,
And his long roots that reached down to the water.
‘In the Paradise God, none others were like him…
No pines could be compared to his shoots;
No firs had branches like his;
And there in God’s paradise,
None others could be compared to his beauty.
‘I’m the one that made him so great
And gave him all his tender branches.
So the rest of the trees in My paradise
Soon became jealous of him…
Yes the rest of the trees in that garden,
Which was the delight of [Jehovah].
‘But because of this,’ said the Lord…
‘Because he grew to such greatness
And put his tops high in the clouds
As he lifted his heart to the heights;
I gave him to those that rule other nations,
And they brought about his destruction.
‘By strangers, he was cut to the ground…
Yes, pestilent ones from the nations
Threw him down on the mountains,
And in the ravines, fell his branches,
As his [wood was strewn] ‘cross the plains.
‘He had fallen from his lofty position
As the protector of all of his people…
All the nations cut him down to the ground.
‘So that one among which the birds of the skies
Had once found places to rest
And under whose branches the beasts had once lived,
Has now been cut to the ground.
‘So the trees next to him lost their greatness
(Those trees that stood by his water)
And no longer put their tops in the clouds…
Those with whom he once had shared water
Couldn’t stand as tall after that.
‘So they were all handed to death
And went into the depths of the ground…
Like sons of men, they went down to the pit.
‘And thus says Jehovah, the Lord:
In that day, he went down to the place of the dead,
And in the abyss, he was mourned.
‘Then I took control of the river
And withheld its abundance of water.
Lebanon then shadowed above him,
And all the trees of the plains became weak.
‘From the sound of his downfall, the nations all shook
When I brought him down to the place of the dead,
Along with those that went into the pit.
‘And there in the bowels of the earth,
All the earth’s trees offered comfort…
All the select and best trees…
Those choice ones of Lebanon that once shared his water.
‘But with him, they too went into the grave;
For, they were also slain by the sword.
And the seeds of the ones that he sheltered
Were destroyed in the midst of their lives.
‘So to whom can you liken such power,
As well as the glory and greatness
Among all the choicest of trees?
‘He went down with the choicest of trees
Into the depths of the ground,
Where he sleeps among the uncircumcised;
Among those that were slain by the sword…
And this is what will happen to PharaOh,
As well as to all his friends, said Jehovah.’
It was in the 12th year (on the 1st day of the 12th month) that the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Sing this lament over PharaOh (king of Egypt}…
Yes, you must sing this about him:
‘You consider yourself a lion among nations,
But you’re the dragon of the sea.
For from the midst of your rivers, you have gored…
You have stamped your feet and you’ve trampled,
And this [has muddied] your waters.
So Jehovah has said this to you:
By a great assembly of peoples,
Around you, My net will be thrown;
And then, I’ll lead you around by My hook.
‘I will stretch you out on the ground,
And you will fill all the plains.
Upon you, I’ll set the birds of the skies
And use you to fill the wild beasts of the ground.
‘I’ll spread your flesh on the mountains
And fill the ravines with your blood.
With your manure, I’ll cover the land…
And with those that are living within you,
I’ll fill the valleys and fields.
‘Then, after you have been depleted,
I will cover the skies…
Yes, I will darken the stars…
With clouds, I will cover the sun and the moon,
And no way will your light shine again.
‘Yes the lights that shine in the skies
Will all become dark over you.
Then, over your land, I’ll send darkness,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.
‘To the hearts of your people, I will bring rage,
When before them, you’re led as a captive
Into a land that you’ve never known.
‘Many nations, thereafter, will mourn you…
Their kings will be stunned and amazed
As they also await their own downfall,
Which will come to them after that.’
‘Then the Lord Jehovah said:
Yes the broadsword of Babylon’s king
Will thereafter come upon them.
‘With the swords of giants, you will be cut down,
And to the pests of the nations, I’ll give all your strength…
They’ll destroy the insolence of Egypt,
And they will break down your power.
‘Then I will destroy all the cattle
[That graze] around your great waters,
So thereafter, men’s feet won’t stomp in [the Nile],
And it won’t be trampled by cattle again.
‘Then your waters will all become still,
For your rivers will pour out like oil, says Jehovah.
When I bring destruction on Egypt,
The fullness of the land will be [gone].
And after I scatter [your people],
They’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘Then they’ll [sing] a lament over you…
Over Egypt, the nations’ daughters will [cry]…
Yes, the loss of her strength, they’ll lament,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.’
Well, it was in the 12th year (on the 15th day of the month) that the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
You should mourn for the multitudes of Egypt,
For her daughters will be defiled by the nations,
And there will be death throughout their whole land.
‘Then they will go into the pit…
From their beautiful waters, they will descend
To sleep among the uncircumcised!
‘With [PharaOh] and his might, they will fall
Among those who’ll be slain by the sword.
And the giants of the earth will then say:
It’s best that you have gone into the pit,
Along with the uncircumcised,
To sleep in the midst of those slain by the sword.
‘For Assyria is there, along with his crowd,
And around his grave, they’re all standing…
All those that were cut down by swords…
All those with whom he now shares his grave
Along the sides of the pit,
And all of the crowd surrounding his tomb…
All of the slain that were cut down by swords…
Those that had once brought great fear
Throughout the land of the living.
‘And there is ElAm with his army…
Around his tomb, they [are standing],
Along with the uncircumcised
That have been cut down by the sword.
[They all went down] to the depths of the ground
At the hands of those that once brought fear
To the land of the living.
‘They accepted their torment with those in the pit…
In the midst of those who’d been slaughtered.
It’s where they put Mosoch and Tubal,
Along with all of their strength.
‘The slain are standing next to his tomb
Along with the uncircumcised,
All of those that had been killed with the sword…
Those that had once brought great fear
To the land of the living.
‘But, now they sleep with the giants
That through the ages, have fallen…
They went to the land of the dead
With all their weapons of war.
‘Their swords were placed under their heads,
And their lawless deeds fell on their bones;
For, they were just frightened giants
Back when they were alive.
But along with the uncircumcised,
They have all been destroyed,
And they sleep with the rest of those slain by the sword.
‘And there is Edem with all her kings,
Along with Assyria’s rulers…
Those that gave up their strength,
And then, were run through by swords.
They too now sleep with the slain
That have gone down to the pit.
‘There are also the rulers from the far north
– All of these, with Assyria’s generals –
That have gone down with the slain
And have also shared in their fear.
‘Yes, because their strength has been shamed,
They will sleep with the uncircumcised.
And along with the rest of those slain by the sword,
They’ll carry their torment into the pit.
‘For the Lord Jehovah declared:
This is where they’ll see Egypt’s King and Great House,
And they will find comfort in this.
For, PharaOh and his armies will also be slain.
‘For to his land, I am now sending fear;
And he too will sleep with the uncircumcised
And those that were slain by the sword…
This will happen to PharaOh and all of his crowd,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘O son of man;
Speak to the sons of your people
And this is what you should tell them:
‘To whichever land that I bring the sword;
The people of that country should then choose a man
And assign him to act as their watchman.
Then, when he sees the sword coming,
He should blow his trumpet to warn them.
‘And after they hear the sound of the horn;
If they should refuse to prepare
And the broadsword then overtakes them,
Their blood will be upon their own heads.
‘So when they hear the sound of the trumpet,
They should [quickly] prepare,
Or their blood will be upon their own heads,
While the one that kept watch on their souls will be saved.
‘But, if the watchman should see the sword coming
And fail to trumpet the signal
So the people are caught unprepared;
This watchman must then be taken away
Because of the lawless [thing that he did]…
And I’ll require his blood by their hands.
‘And you, O son of man;
You’re the watchman that I have appointed
Over the house of IsraEl.
So whenever you hear a word from my mouth,
You must announce it on my behalf.
‘Then, should I say that a sinner will die,
And you fail to speak out and warn him;
For this lawless deed, you will die…
I’ll require his blood from your hands.
‘But, if you should warn an irreverent man
And tell him to turn from [his bad] ways…
If he refuses to make any change;
For the bad things he’s done, he will die…
But, you will have saved your own life.
‘Now, O son of man;
Say this to the house of IsraEl…
Tell them that they have been asking:
Since we are the ones who’re to blame
For our delusions and our lawless ways;
If we should turn from them now,
Can our lives still be spared?
‘You should speak to them and give this reply…
Tell them that Jehovah said this:
As I live…
I don’t want the death of the godless,
[I just want them] to turn from their evil ways
So that they can continue to live!
But first, you must turn away
From all the bad things that you’re doing…
O house of IsraEl, why must you die?
‘And you, O son of man;
Say this to the sons of your people:
The good things that the righteous have done
Won’t save them in the day that they turn away.
And the blame that the lawless are due
Won’t come to them in the day
That they turn from their godless ways.
And no way will the righteous be saved
In the day that they are found sinning.
‘So, when I say that the righteous will live,
And they come to rely upon this…
But thereafter, they [do what is] evil;
Their righteous ways will be forgotten…
For the sins they commit, they will die!
‘And when I say that the godless will die,
And then they turn from their sins
And start being righteous and fair…
If they give back the collateral they’ve taken,
And return all the things that they’ve seized…
If they’ll travel an orderly life
And no longer [follow] wrong [paths];
They will continue to live…
No way will they have to die…
Their sins will all be forgotten…
For making their ways righteous and fair,
Their lives will thereafter be spared!
‘But if the sons of your people should say,
The ways of Jehovah aren’t right,
When it’s really their ways that aren’t right;
This is what you should tell them:
If the righteous should turn from right ways
And start doing things that are lawless,
They will die [for their sins].
But, if you turn back a sinner,
And he becomes fair and righteous, he’ll live!
‘So, though the House of IsraEl is saying
That the ways of Jehovah aren’t straight!
I will judge each man by the things that he does!’
It was in the 12th year (on the 5th day of the 10th month from our captivity) that someone that had escaped from JeruSalem came and told me that the city had been taken.Then the hand of Jehovah came over me that evening. However, before that (earlier in the morning), he came and opened my mouth so that my mouth couldn’t stay closed any longer.For the Word of Jehovah came to me and said this:
‘O son of man;
Those that live in the places that are being destroyed
In the land of IsraEl, are saying,
Back in AbraHam’s time,
He was given this land;
And now that we’ve become many,
We’ve also been given this land as our own.
‘Because of this, tell them that thus says Jehovah their Lord:
Since you eat blood in your food,
And to disgusting things, lift your eyes,
And you shed [innocent] blood;
Why do you think you’ll inherit this land?
‘For, there you stand with your broadswords
As you’re doing things that are loathsome!
If you profane the lives of your neighbors’ wives…
Do you think that you will inherit this land?
‘So, tell them that the Lord Jehovah says this:
As I live;
Those that live in the places that are being destroyed
Will all be cut down by the broadsword.
And those that run out to the plains
Will be given as food to wild beasts.
While those that hide behind walls and in caves
Will thereafter die from a plague!
‘Then I’ll turn their land into a desert,
And the strength of their insolence will perish.
I’ll devastate IsraEl’s mountains
So that none will pass through them again.
‘Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah
When I turn their land into a desert
For the disgusting things that they’ve done.
‘O son of man;
The sons of your people are talking about you
Along the walls and in the gatehouses,
As well as inside of their homes.
Each one is saying this to his brother:
We should all gather and listen
To what Jehovah has planned.
‘So, after they all come to see you
And they sit down before you
To hear the things that you’ll say;
There’s no way that they’ll do [what you tell them]!
For the lie is still in their mouths,
And they follow the disgusting ways of their hearts.
‘So, if you should be the sound of a harp
(A sound that is sweet and well-tuned),
They’ll listen to your words, but not do them!
But after it’s done, they’ll admit:
Look… it has all come to pass!
And they’ll know that there’s been a Prophet among them.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Against the shepherds of IsraEl
You must now prophesy!
Tell them that thus says Jehovah, the Lord:
‘O shepherds of IsraEl;
You have been feeding yourselves
When you should have been feeding My sheep!
‘{Look!} You have drunk all their milk,
And you’ve wrapped yourselves in their wool…
You have slaughtered the best of My sheep
And you’ve failed to graze [all the rest].
‘You haven’t strengthened the weak,
And those that are ill, you’ve not treated;
Those with broken [bones], you’ve not wrapped,
And the strayed, you have failed to return.
No, you haven’t searched for the lost,
And for the strong, all you do is make trouble.
‘So now, My sheep have been scattered
Because they don’t have any shepherds.
They’re being consumed by wild beasts in the fields,
Since they’re scattered upon every mountain and hill…
They’re scattered across the face of the land,
And no one has searched to make them turn back!
‘Because of this, O you shepherds;
Hear the Word of Jehovah!
‘As I live, says Jehovah, the Lord;
Instead of My sheep being plundered
And being eaten by beasts in the plains…
Yes, because there aren’t any shepherds
(Shepherds that will search for My sheep),
And because the shepherds have grazed on My sheep
While they’ve failed to provide them with grass;
Because of this, O you shepherds,
Hear the Word of Jehovah!
For the Lord Jehovah says this:
‘Look, I’m against all the shepherds!
So I’ll take My sheep out of their hands…
Yes from tending My sheep, they’ll be fired,
And the shepherds won’t graze upon them again.
I’ll rescue My sheep from their mouths…
They’ll no longer be something to eat!
‘The Lord Jehovah also said this:
{Look!} I will search for My sheep,
And I will come visit with them.
Like a shepherd that looks for his flocks
On dark cloudy days when they’ve strayed…
Yes, that’s how I’ll search for My sheep.
‘I’ll drive them back from where they were [lost]
On that dark, cloudy day.
I’ll lead them out of the nations…
From many regions, I’ll gather them back
And return them to their own land,
Where on IsraEl’s mountains, I’ll graze them…
In the valleys and homes of their country.
‘I’ll provide good pastures for them,
And on IsraEl’s mountains, they’ll graze.
For there, they will find a safe haven…
A place where they can sleep and find rest
In good and plentiful pastures
Upon the mountains of IsraEl.
‘Yes I’ll graze My sheep and bring them some rest,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.
I’ll search for the lost and the strayed,
And I’ll bring back the ones that are broken.
I will bind and strengthen those that are weak,
And I’ll also watch over the strong…
I’ll allow each one to graze his fair share.
‘Then, from among you, My sheep,
Says Jehovah, the Lord,
{Look!} I’ll separate the sheep from the sheep
And the rams from the goats.
‘Were the pastures you fed from so poor
That you trampled on them with your feet?
And weren’t there enough places to drink
That you stomped and muddied the waters?
‘Yes, My sheep have trampled their food with their feet,
And muddied the waters they drank from.
So because of this, says Jehovah, the Lord;
{Look!} I’ll separate the strong from the weak.
‘For you pushed them away with your shoulders and sides,
And the weak, you have gored with your horns…
You squeezed them out and pushed them aside!
‘So, I will rescue My sheep,
And no more will they serve as [your] plunder;
For between ram and ram, I will judge.
‘I will raise a shepherd for them,
And My servant David will tend them…
He’ll be a shepherd that cares about them.
Then, I (Jehovah) will be their God,
And My servant David will rule in their midst…
Yes, I (Jehovah) have spoken.
‘Among them, I’ll make an Agreement of peace,
And I’ll wipe the fierce beasts from their land.
Then, they will dwell in the deserts,
And in the forests, they’ll sleep.
‘Around My Mountain, they will be spread,
And I’ll give them rain when it’s due…
It will be a rain of great blessings.
‘The trees in the plains will then yield their fruit;
The ground will yield all her strength;
And in the hope of peace, they’ll dwell in their land.
‘Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah,
When I break the chains of their yoke
And save them from those that are making them slaves.
‘By the nations, they’ll not be plundered again,
Nor will they be eaten by beasts.
They will then dwell in hope,
And no one will make them afraid!
‘For them, I’ll raise plants of peace,
And they won’t be hungry or starving again,
Nor will they be scorned by the nations.
Then they’ll know that I am Jehovah their God,
And that I will always be with them.
‘For, you are My people, O house of IsraEl,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.
You are the sheep of My pasture
And I am Jehovah your God,
Says the Jehovah, the Lord.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said,
‘O son of man;
Now, turn your face toward [Edom’s] Mount SeIr
And against it, you must prophesy!
Tell them that thus says Jehovah the Lord:
‘Look! I’m against you, Mount SeIr!
So I’ll stretch My hand out against you
And make you a wasteland and desert.
Your cities will be desolate places;
I’ll turn you into a desert;
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘For, through the age, you’ve been a resister
And an enemy to the house of IsraEl…
Then to opponents with swords, you gave them,
When they were being unrighteous.
‘So because of this… as I live, says Jehovah!
For the blood of these men, I’ll pursue you…
For the blood you detested, I’ll chase you down!
‘Now Mount SeIr has been appointed by Me
To become a desolate desert.
Its men and beasts, I’ll destroy…
Its hills and valleys, I’ll fill with your slain…
Yes, those who’ll be killed by the broadsword
Will fall into your fields and ravines.
‘I’ll assign you to waste through the age,
And all your cities, I’ll empty…
Then you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
For you said, His nation is mine,
And I will inherit [His land]…
Yes, I’ll own the place of Jehovah their God!
So, as I live, says Jehovah;
I’ll treat you with the hate that you’ve hated!
And about what you did because you were jealous,
I’ll [remember] when I [come there and] judge you…
Then you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘I’ve heard this blasphemous thing that you said:
The mountains in the deserts of IsraEl
Have been given to us as our food.
‘Then your mouths spoke great words against Me…
Yes, against Me, you shouted,
And I’ve heard every word that you said!’
‘As the result, Jehovah said this:
To the great joy of [those in] this land,
I’ll turn you into a desert!
And as you were glad to inherit
And wipe the house of IsraEl away;
That’s what I’ll be doing to you, O Mount SeIr…
I’ll turn you into a desert,
And completely destroy Edom’s house…
Then you’ll know that I am Jehovah The God!’
‘O son of man;
Against the mountains of IsraEl
You must now testify.
You must tell IsraEl’s mountains
To hear the Word of Jehovah…
For the Lord Jehovah has spoken.
‘Since the enemy has said this against you:
Well done, because these desolate places
Have now become ours through the ages;
About this you must prophesy…
Tell them that thus says Jehovah the Lord:
‘As you were dishonored and detested
By those that lived roundabout you
(Those that wanted the nations to take you…
Those that said bad things about you
And that made you the butt of their scorn)…
Because of this, O IsraEl’s mountains;
Hear what Jehovah has said!
‘Jehovah says this to your mountains and hills
And to your desolate rivers and valleys:
Though your cities are all abandoned and gone
(Looted and trampled by the nations roundabout)…
Because of this, says Jehovah:
In the fire of My rage, I have spoken
Against all of them that remain…
Yes, against all of Edom I’ve spoken,
For they happily took My land as their own…
They destroyed, dishonored, and looted My people.
‘So concerning IsraEl, you must prophesy;
Say to her mountains and valleys,
And to her hills and her forests
That thus says Jehovah the Lord:
‘{Look!} In My rage and zeal, I have now condemned
All of those nations that scorned you.
And because they did this to you, says Jehovah,
I will raise My hand against all those nations
(Those that live roundabout you)
And they will now bear your dishonor.
‘But upon your mountains, O IsraEl,
My people will eat the fruit of their vines;
For they’ll live in the hope of returning.
‘{Look} And because I’m for you, I’ll watch over you,
Then your [land] will be planted and worked once again.
Among you, I’ll multiply men
To the ends of IsraEl’s [borders];
Your cities will all be lived in again,
And the places they destroyed will all be rebuilt.
‘Among you, I’ll multiply cattle and men
(Yes, they will increase and grow many);
I’ll settle you as you were long ago
And do good for you as I’ve done in the past…
Then you’ll know that I am Jehovah.
‘And those who’ve stood against IsraEl (My people)
Will also have many children,
But, they will become your possessions…
Yes, they will be owned by you,
And they’ll not leave you childless again.
‘And about those nations, Jehovah said this:
Many men have come and consumed you,
So your people no longer have children!
But you’ll not be consumed by men anymore,
And your nation will never be childless again,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.
‘And never again will you hear
The gentiles showing dishonor to you…
No you won’t bear their scorn anymore,
Nor will your nation be childless again,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Though the house of IsraEl has lived in this land,
They’ve defiled it in this bad way:
By their uncleanness with women
Who were living apart as unclean.
‘This is how they’ve acted before me,
So, upon them, I’ve poured out my rage
For all the blood that they’ve spilled,
And for the disgusting things that they’ve done.
‘So among the nations, I’ve scattered them all…
To many places, I [blew] them away.
I judged them each by the things that they did
And according to the sins they’ve committed.
‘Then they entered the nations where they had been sent,
And there they profaned God’s Holy Name.
For the nations that lived there were saying:
Though these people belong to Jehovah,
He has driven them out of their land!
‘So, for the sake of [God’s] Name
(Which the house of IsraEl profaned),
I spared them in all the [lands] where they went.
‘And because of this,
Tell the house of IsraEl that thus says Jehovah:
‘O house of IsraEl;
I won’t take action for your sakes,
But rather, for the sake of My Holy Name,
Which you’ve profaned among all the nations
Wherever you have been sent.
‘I will make My Name holy again,
Which is being profaned among gentiles
(The Name that you profaned in their midst)…
Then those nations will know that I am Jehovah,
Says Jehovah the Lord,
When before their eyes, I’m made holy among you.
‘For I’ll take you away from those nations
And gather you back from those [countries],
Then bring you back to your land.
‘I’ll pour clean water upon you,
And from your filth, you’ll be cleansed.
I’ll also cleanse you of idols,
And then I will give you new hearts.
‘Indeed, I will give you new spirits,
And remove your hearts made of stone,
Then change them into hearts made of flesh.
‘Within you, I will then put My Spirit,
Which will cause you to follow My rules.
And thereafter, you’ll obey My decisions…
Yes, you will observe every one!
‘Then you’ll live on the land that I gave to your fathers…
You’ll be My people and I’ll be your God.
I’ll save you from your uncleanness;
I’ll send you much grain… and then even more,
And I won’t send famine among you again.
‘I’ll multiply the fruit on your trees,
As well as the crops in your fields;
So the scorn of famine, you’ll not have to bear
Among the nations again.
‘Then you’ll think about all the bad things you’ve done
And the wicked ways that you’ve lived,
And you’ll loathe those things that you’ve practiced
And the disgusting things that you did.
‘But I won’t do this on your behalf,
Says Jehovah the Lord;
But rather, in order to remind you
That you should be ashamed and remorseful
For the many bad deeds that you practiced!
‘Then the Lord Jehovah said:
In the day that I cleanse you from your lawless deeds,
I’ll resettle you in your own cities
And rebuild your desolate places.
‘Your desolate land will be worked once again,
And the reasons why it was destroyed
Will be forgotten by all that pass by.
‘Then they’ll say that this land, which once was destroyed
Has become a luxurious garden.
And the towns that were wiped away and destroyed
(Those that had been razed to the ground)
Will again be fortified cities.
‘And then, the nations around you
(Those that remain at that time)
Will know I’m the One that rebuilt them
(Those cities that had once been demolished)…
I’m the One that replanted those places
That I had once wiped away…
Yes, when I speak, I’ll take action!’
‘And the Lord Jehovah said:
Then the house of IsraEl will seek Me
[And ask Me to] deal with them once again.
So, just like sheep (holy sheep),
I’ll multiply men like JeruSalem’s flocks
During her holiday feasts.
‘Then, all of her desolate cities
Will be filled with the sheep among men…
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
Then the hand of the Lord came upon me and led me by the Breath of Jehovah into a field that was filled with human bones…he led me around them in a circle, and look; there were huge numbers [of bones] lying there in the field.Then he said to me:
‘O son of man; Will these bones ever come back to life?’
And I replied:
‘O Lord; only you know the answer to such things!’
Then He told me to prophesy over the bones and say this:
‘O dry bones; hear the Word of Jehovah.
For the Lord Jehovah says to these bones,
{Look!} The breath of life, I will [blow] into you,
Then upon you, I will lay nerves,
And over that, I’ll put flesh.
Then I will stretch skin over you,
And I’ll [breathe] My Breath into you
So that you will then come to life…
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah.’
Therefore, I started prophesying just as he had instructed me. And at the sound of my prophesying, {Look!} a great shaking occurred that joined those bones, bone against joint.And as I was watching, I saw nerves and flesh [starting to grow]; and then [I saw] the skin growing over them. However, there still wasn’t any breath in the bodies.
Then he said to me:
‘O son of man;
Now prophesy over the wind…
Tell the wind that thus says Jehovah the Lord:
From the four winds, send them breath…
Blow into these dead ones and make them alive!’
So I prophesied to the extent that he allowed me to do, and the wind entered them and they came to life… they stood up on their feet [and formed] a great crowd!
And the Lord spoke to me and said:
‘O son of man;
These bones are the house of IsraEl;
For they say these dry bones are just like their bones,
Since their hope was destroyed and they’ve perished.
‘So, you must now prophesy
And tell them that thus says Jehovah their Lord:
{Look!} I’ll open your tombs and then lead you out…
To IsraEl’s land, I’ll return you.
Then you’ll know that I am Jehovah,
When I lead you out of your graves.
And, O my people…
When I bring you up from your graves,
I’ll Breathe upon you and bring you to life.
Then I’ll lead you back to your land,
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah…
That I spoke and then I took action, says Jehovah!’
And the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘And you, O son of man;
Now, take a stick for yourself,
And write upon it, these words:
Judah and the sons of IsraEl.
Do this for those who’ll be sitting before you.
Then, take a second stick for yourself,
And write this before all those sitting there:
JoSeph, Ephraim’s rod.
‘You must then hold these sticks together,
And they will be bonded as one.
So, carry them out in your hands,
And ask the sons of your people
What they think that this signifies.
‘Then, tell them that thus says Jehovah, [their] God:
{Look!} Through Ephraim’s hand, I’ll take JoSeph’s tribe
And the tribes of IsraEl that are living next door;
Then to the tribe of Judah, I’ll give them
So that they will become just one stick…
In the hands of Judah, they’ll all become one.
‘Then, take the two sticks upon which you wrote
And hold them toward them in your hands,
And tell them that thus says Jehovah:
‘{Look!} I’ll gather the house of IsraEl
From the midst of those nations where they have been sent…
I’ll gather them from the nations roundabout
And return them to IsraEl’s land.
‘Yes, I will make them one nation again
In My land among IsraEl’s hills,
With one ruler who’ll be the king over all.
‘They’ll be separate nations no longer…
They won’t be a kingdom divided,
And by idols, they won’t be defiled,
Nor by their irreverence and failures.
‘From their lawless ways, I will save them
(From all those ways in which they have sinned),
And thereafter, I will make them holy,
So they’ll be My people and I’ll be their God.
‘My servant David, will rule in their midst,
And there’ll be one shepherd for all.
They will follow My orders…
They’ll know My decisions and do them!
‘Then, they will live in the land
That I gave to My servant Jacob…
In this place where their fathers once settled.
‘And through the age, both they and their sons
Will all be living together,
And be ruled by My servant David.
‘With them, I will make an Agreement of peace…
An Agreement [that will last] through the ages.
I’ll resettle and multiply them,
And through the ages thereafter,
I’ll place My holy things in their midst.
‘I’ll put My shelter among them;
Then they’ll be My people and I’ll be their God.
And the nations will know that I am Jehovah
When My holy things are found there again
And I have declared them all holy.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘O son of man;
Against Gog and the land of Magog
(The ruler of Mosoch, Tubal, and Ros)
You must now set your face,
And against him, prophesy this!
Tell him that thus says Jehovah:
‘{Look!} You ruler of Mosoch, Tubal, and Ros;
Because I’m the One that you have opposed;
I’ll be putting a bridle into your jaws,
And thereafter, I will lead you around.
‘I’ll gather your army and you,
And all your horses and horsemen…
Yes, all [your men] wearing chest plates,
And bearing shields, helmets, and swords…
Persians, Ethiopians, and Libyans
(All those people with their helmets and shields)…
Gomer and all those around him…
The house of TogarMah from the far north
As well as those dwelling around him…
Yes, all those nations that partner with you!
‘So [it’s time] for you to prepare…
Yes, you should get yourselves ready
(You and those that have gathered with you);
For, you will serve as [their leader].
‘Then, after many days, you’ll be ready;
And toward the end of the years,
You will come to this land
With the swords that you have collected
From among all the nations.
Then, to the land of IsraEl, you’ll come…
To a land that once was demolished.
‘For by then, they’ll all have returned,
And together, they’ll be living in peace.
Then upon them, you’ll pour down like rain,
And like clouds, you will cover their land.
Yes, you’ll arrive with all those around you…
The many nations that will join with you then.
‘Then the Lord Jehovah said:
In that day, [bad] things will enter your heart…
You’ll make wicked plans and you’ll say:
Against this land, I’ll arise
(The land that once was rejected);
I’ll come upon those that are resting
And that are living in peace…
Those in a land without walls
And with no locks on their doors,
In order to plunder and loot…
To despoil and to take many spoils,
And to turn my hand toward this place
(This place, which was once desolation
And is now resettled by a nation
That returned from among many nations).
For now they have many possessions,
And they dwell within the earth’s navel.
‘Then SheBa, DeDan, and the merchants of Carthage,
And those in their towns will be shouting
That they have come to plunder and loot,
And to take all they own as their spoils.
They’ll gather to take all the silver
And to carry off all of the gold…
To take it all as their loot.
‘Therefore, O son of man;
Now, you must prophesy this…
Tell Gog that thus says Jehovah:
‘Against IsraEl, My people, you’ll come in that day…
Against those that have settled in peace.
You’ll come from your place in the north
And bring along many nations…
Horsemen all riding horses…
A huge crowd and a great army.
‘Against IsraEl, My people, you’ll come
Like a cloud that covers the land…
In the last days, this is what you will do.
‘Against My land, I will lead you,
And then, all the nations will know Me
When before them, I am made holy through you.
‘Then Lord Jehovah said:
You’re the Gog of whom I spoke long ago
By the hands of My servants the Prophets
(The Prophets in past days and years),
In order to lead you against them.
‘And it will be in that day
(In whichever day that Gog will attack),
Says Jehovah, the Lord,
That I will arise in My anger
And I’ll speak in the fiery zeal of My rage.
‘Surely, it’ll be in that day;
From IsraEl, a shaking will come,
And before My face, all will tremble…
The fish of the seas, the birds in the skies,
All the wild beasts in the fields,
As well as the things that crawl on the ground,
And all men on the face of the earth;
For, mountains will rip into valleys,
And all walls on the earth will then fall.
‘All sorts of fear, I will send upon them,
And against their own brothers, I’ll turn each man’s sword.
Then I’ll bring My judgments against them
With plague, blood, rain, and great hailstones.
‘Fire and sulfur, I’ll rain upon him,
And upon all those who’ve come with him…
Upon all the nations that joined him.
‘Then, I’ll be made holy and magnified…
I’ll be known and glorified among all the nations,
And they’ll know that I am Jehovah!
‘O son of man; against Gog, you must prophesy this … tell him that thus says Jehovah the Lord:
‘{Look!} I am against you, O Gog,
Ruler of Mosoch, Tubal, and Ros!
I’ll collect you and then lead you down…
I’ll haul you down from the far north,
And to the mountains of IsraEl, I’ll lead you.
‘Then I’ll break the bow in your left hand,
And the arrows that you hold in your right.
On IsraEl’s hills, I’ll then throw you down…
And you and those that come with you will fall.
‘Then, all the nations that joined you
Will be given to flocks of winged creatures…
To all the birds in the skies
And to all the wild beasts in the plains…
I’ll give you to them as their food.
‘On the face of the plains you will fall…
Yes, this is what I’ve declared, says Jehovah.
‘I’ll also throw fire down Magog,
And the islands will then live in peace.
For they’ll know that I am Jehovah…
And My Holy Name will also be known
Among those in IsraEl, My people.
‘No more will My Name be profaned.
For the nations will know that I am Jehovah…
I am IsraEl’s Most Holy One.
‘Look, it’s coming… it will surely take place,
Says Jehovah, the Lord!
And this is the day that I said it!
‘Then those that live in IsraEl’s cities
Will thereafter light fires with their weapons
(All their small shields and spears;
All their bows and their arrows;
All the lances and sticks in their hands)…
For the next 7 years,
They will be used to light fires.
‘No they won’t cut shrubs in the plains,
Nor chop trees in the woods for their fires…
They will just be using those weapons.
For they’ll loot all those that once looted them
And despoil all those that despoiled them, says Jehovah.
‘And in that day;
I will make Gog a place of renown…
A remembrance in IsraEl’s graveyards
For those that come here by sea.
They’ll bury Gog and his hordes in a valley,
And call it, The Graveyard of Gog.
‘By IsraEl’s house, they’ll be buried…
For 7 months, they will clean up the land.
They’ll be buried by the people that live in the land,
And among them, that place will be famous,
As will be the day when I’m glorified,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.
‘Then they will give orders to the people
To bury [all of the bodies]
That are lying upon the face of the ground.
‘For 7 months, they will search,
And when those going there find a man’s bones;
Next to them, they’ll put up a sign
For those in charge of digging the graves
Within the Graveyard of Gog.
For, Graveyard will be the name of that town,
And it will be cleansed from the land.
‘And you, O son of man
(Said Jehovah, the Lord)
Must speak to all the winged creatures,
And to the wild beasts of the plains.
You must tell them to gather and come…
They must gather there from all places
[To consume] this great sacrifice
That I will offer to them…
A great sacrifice on IsraEl’s hills.
‘Come eat all the meat and drink all the blood!
For the meat of giants, you will consume,
And you’ll drink the blood of earth’s kings.
‘Then all the rams, calves, and goats will grow fat,
Since they will eat fat ‘til they’re full
And they will drink blood ‘til they’re drunk
From this sacrifice that I’m giving to them.
‘They will be filled from My table
That is covered with horses and horsemen,
As well as with warriors and giants,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.
‘Then I’ll put My glory among them,
And the nations will see all My judgments…
The things that I’ll do with My hand,
And the things that I have brought upon them.
‘And then every day after that,
The house of IsraEl will learn
That I am Jehovah their God.
Also, all the nations will know
That I let them take their houses away
Because of IsraEl’s sins…
Because they’d annulled their Agreement with Me.
‘Yes, this is the reason why I turned My face
And gave them into their enemies’ hands…
To let them be cut down by swords.
It’s because of all their uncleanness
And because they had broken [My] Laws
That I turned My face and did this to them.
‘Yet, after that, says Jehovah the Lord,
I’ll return all the captives of Jacob,
And to the house of IsraEl, I’ll show My mercy…
I’ll also show them My zeal for My Name!
‘In peace, I’ll bring them back to their land,
And they will accept their dishonor
For the unrighteous things that they’ve done.
‘Then, no one will make them afraid anymore
When I bring them back from the nations.
And then, before all those nations,
I will be holy among them.
‘For then, all the nations will know
That I am Jehovah their God…
When they see that I am among them.
‘Yes, I’ll gather them back to their land
And never leave them again…
From them, I’ll not turn My face,
For I will have [ended] My rage,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.’
It was in the 25th year of our captivity, in the 1st month and on the 10th [day] of the month (14 years after the city had been captured) that the hand of Jehovah came upon meand I was led back into the land of IsraEl in a vision from God.
There he put me on a very high mountain, where there was a city that was being built right in front of me.So He took me [into the city], and I saw a man that looked like shining brass carrying a builder’s string in his hand and a measuring reed. Then he laid them down in front of the city gate,and the man said to me:
‘O son of man;
Now, look with your eyes and behold…
Listen with your ears and pay close attention,
Then prepare your heart for the things that you’ll see,
Since this is why you were brought here.
And all the things that you’ll see
Have to do with the house of IsraEl.’
{Look!} Well, there was this outer wall that went all the way around the city. And in the man’s hand was a reed that measured 6 cubits (the length of each was a forearm and a palm). Then he measured the area around the wall, and he found that its width was the same as its height [as measured] by the reed.
Thereafter, he went to the gate that could be seen in the east and measured it’s [threshold]… which was about the same depth as the length of the reed.
And he said to me:
‘The inner chambers facing the north
And the inner chambers facing the south
(Those in front of the spaces)
Are the Holy-Place rooms where the Priests will eat…
And it’s where they will come to Jehovah
With the holiest of all holy things.
‘There, they must carry the holiest things
– Sin offerings and the holiest things –
As well as their offerings for errors;
For, this is a most holy place.
‘No one may enter [this place] but the Priests,
And from the Holy Place, they can’t leave
To go to the outer courtyard,
So that those who are leading will always be clean.
Nor may people touch the garments they wear,
For they are also most holy.
So when touching the people, they must wear other clothes.’
Now, after he had finished measuring the inside of the [Temple], he led me outside along the path to the gate that faces east, where he then measured the area that surrounded the [Temple].He stood facing the east with his back to the gate, and he measured 500 cubits in reed lengths.Then he turned toward the north and measured northward 500 cubits in reed lengths.Then he turned toward the west and measured westward 500 cubits in reed lengths.And he turned toward the south and measured southward 500 cubits in reed lengths.So he established the [size of] the perimeter [around the Temple] as being 500 cubits toward the east and 500 cubits roundabout, which is to serve as the separation between the Holy Place and its outer walls.
Then he took me to the east gate to lead me out.But then {Look!} the glory of the God of IsraEl appeared, coming along the road from the east, and around me there were many voices that were chanting, while the ground all around me was bright and glorious.
And after that, I had a vision that was like the vision that I had when I first entered the city to anoint it… I saw a [celestial] chariot like the one that I saw at the Chobar river. So I fell with my face [to the] ground.
Then the glory of Jehovah entered the [Temple] by way of the east gate,and [God’s] Breath picked me up and carried me into the inner courtyard, as {Look!} the glory of Jehovah filled the [Temple].
Well, as I was standing there watching, a voice started speaking to me from the [Temple]… and then I saw a person standing next to me,that said:
‘O son of man;
Now you can see the place of His throne
As well as the tracks of His feet.
This is the place where His Name will encamp
In the house of IsraEl through the ages.
‘But, IsraEl will no longer profane His Name
As they did when they and their rulers went whoring
And murdered the leaders among them.
‘They won’t build their thresholds next to His threshold
Nor set their doors by His doors
As they did when they claimed that His wall
Was the thing that bound them to Him…
Or when they profaned His Most Holy Name
By the lawless things that they did.
For, this is what brought His rage upon them
When He wiped them away in great carnage.
‘Now, they must reject all their whoring
And the murders of those that would lead them to Him!
Then, through the ages, He’ll camp in their midst.
‘And you, O son of man,
Must give this description to IsraEl’s house,
So they’ll be able to see it
And understand its [dimensions].
For, they must turn from their sins
And accept the punishment [they’re due]
For all of the [bad] things that they’ve done.
‘You must draw out the plans for this House
And show them how it must be built…
Show them its entrances and exits,
As well as how its foundations are set.
‘Then, speak of its orders and laws,
And explain to them all its rules.
You must draw out the plans there before them,
Then they must keep [God’s] commandments
And they must follow His laws!
‘Describe the [Temple] on top of the mount,
And set limits for the Holy of Holies…
For, these are the rules for His Temple.
‘And these are the measurements for the Altar:
Its width is 2 cubits and a palm…
Its recess is to be 2 cubits deep,
And the molding that goes ‘round its lip
Must be 1 forearm wide.
‘The height of the Altarfrom the bottom of its hollow
Up to the [top of its edge],
Must stand 2 cubits high,
And its width is to be just 1 forearm.
From the small to the large, is 4 cubits,
And it must be 1 forearm wide.
‘The hearth of the Altar is 4 cubits deep,
And from the hearth to the horns, is just 1.
The hearth is to measure 12 cubits [square],
And it must [be built with] 4 corners.
‘Its ledge must be 14 by 14,
And the molding around it, half a forearm.
Its encircling base is a forearm across,
And its steps must face toward the east.’
Then he said to me,
‘O son of man;
Jehovah [your] God now says this:
These are My orders for the Altar
In the day that it will be made
To sacrifice whole burnt-offerings,
And to pour the blood out upon it.
‘Appoint Levite Priests from the seed of ZaDok,
And only they may approach Me,
Says Jehovah, [your] God.
Then, before they can come before Me to serve,
[They must sacrifice] a calf from the oxen
As an offering [to cover] their sins.
‘They must then take some of its blood
And place it on the Altar’s 4 horns,
Upon the 4 corners of its ledge,
And upon its base roundabout
To cleanse it and [to make it holy].
‘They must choose a calf as an offering for sins
And burn it in the place that is set apart…
Somewhere outside of this [most holy place].
‘And then, on the very next day,
They must choose a perfect kid from the goats
To serve as an offering for sins,
Then [use it to] cleanse the Altar once more,
As they had done with the calf.
‘And after [this cleansing] is done,
They must choose a perfect calf from the oxen
And a perfect ram from the sheep;
Then, offer them there to Jehovah,
And they must add salt when they’re sacrificed
As [holy] burnt offerings to the Lord.
‘And for 7 days, they must offer a kid
So as to pay for [their] sins,
As well as a calf from the oxen each day,
Plus a perfect ram from the sheep.
‘[They must offer them] all 7 days
To atone for the Altar and cleanse it,
And [to empower] the hands [of the Priests].
‘Then, after these days are completed;
On the 8th day, the Priests must then place
The whole-burnt-offerings on the Altar
Along with the offerings for their salvation…
And only then may they enter [the Temple],
Says Jehovah, [your] God.’
Then he took me back to the outer gate of the Holies (the one facing east). However, it was locked.So the Lord said to me:
‘After this gate has been locked
It may not be opened and no one may enter…
Only IsraEl’s God, Jehovah, may enter,
And until He does, it must remain locked.
‘And only those guiding may sit here
To eat their bread before God.
They must enter by way of the columned-porch gate,
And that’s the way they must leave.’
Then he took me in the direction of the north gate, over against the [Temple], and I looked and saw that the [Temple] of Jehovah had become filled with His glory… so I fell to my face.And the Lord said to me:
‘O son of man;
Now, prepare your heart and your eyes,
And ready your ears, so you’ll hear
All the things that I will now say
Concerning the instructions that I’ll give you
For the Temple of Jehovah and all of its laws.
‘Arrange your heart [so you’ll understand]
The ways they must enter and leave
From this Most Holy Place!
‘Then, speak to those who’ve rebelled
(To those of the house of IsraEl)
And say that the Lord Jehovah said this:
‘O house of IsraEl;
You must bring an end to your lawless ways!
For, into My Most Holy Place
You have brought foreigner’s sons…
Those with uncircumcised hearts
And flesh that is uncircumcised.
‘And you have even profaned
Your offerings of bread, fat, and blood.
Yes, you’ve broken [your] Sacred Agreement with Me
By all the lawless things that you’ve done.
‘You’ve not followed the rules of My Temple,
And you’ve put other people in charge.
So, no more may foreigner’s sons
Whose hearts and flesh are uncircumcised
Be allowed to enter My Most Holy Place.
For, foreign peoples may never become
Part of the house of IsraEl…
And only My faithful Levites may enter!
‘Now, IsraEl has strayed far from Me
And followed their own [thoughts and] ideas.
So, they will now [pay for] their unrighteous ways.
‘But the Levites are [to be treated] as holy,
For they serve as the keepers of My [Temple’s] gates,
And that is the place where they’ll work.
There the whole burnt-offerings will be slaughtered,
And they’ll offer the things that the people will bring…
For, before the people, they’ll stand.
‘But, because they have served before faces of idols
[On behalf of] the house of IsraEl,
They’ll be punished for their unrighteous ways…
That’s why I’ve raised My hand against them,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.
‘Yes, they’ll bear the blame for their lawless ways,
And they can no longer serve as My Priests,
Or [touch] the holy things inside of the Holies.
‘Indeed, they must bear their dishonor
For the delusions in which they have strayed.
But I’ll order them to be watchmen,
And to perform other tasks.
‘The Priests of the Levites (the sons of ZaDok)
Were the only ones that truly kept watch
As IsraEl was straying from Me.
So, only they may approach Me,
And only they can serve before Me…
Before My face they will stand
To offer the blood and the fat,
Says Jehovah, the Lord.
‘Only these may enter My Most Holy Place
Or approach My table to serve Me,
And stand guard in My Temple watches.
‘So, when entering the gates of the inner courtyard,
They must wear their [official] linen clothes…
They may not wear wool when they enter these gates.
On their heads, they must wear linen turbans,
And beltless linen pants on their loins.
‘And when they enter the people’s outer courtyard,
They can’t wear the clothes in which they must serve…
They must leave them inside the Holy’s inner chambers
And wear other clothes when they go there.
But no way can they make people holy
When they are wearing such clothes.
‘They may not shave the hair from their heads,
Nor may they leave their heads bare…
All of their heads must be covered.
And no way may the Priests drink any wine
Before entering the [Temple’s] inner courtyard.
‘They may not marry a divorcee or a widow…
Only a virgin from the house of IsraEl…
However, they may wed the widow of a Priest.
‘Then they must teach all My people
The difference between the holy and profane,
And the difference between what’s clean and unclean.
‘They must handle the cases of judgments of blood,
And attend to decide righteous matters.
They must be fair when judging for Me
According to My Laws and My orders.
They must also observe My holiday feasts,
And My Sabbaths, they must always keep holy.
‘They may not approach a dead person
So that they will not be unclean.
But they may approach their fathers, mothers, or sons,
Or their daughters, brothers, sisters, or wives,
Without becoming defiled.
But even then, they must count 7 days
Before they’ll be clean once again.
‘On the day that they enter the inner courtyard
To serve in My Most Holy Place;
They must bring an atonement [for sins],
Says Jehovah, [your] God.
‘And since I am what they’ll inherit;
They will be given no land
As their possession among IsraEl’s sons…
For, I am to be their posession!
‘The sacrifices are what they’ll eat…
The offerings for sins and for errors,
And the separation offerings will also be theirs.
All the first-fruits are theirs,
As well as the first-born [of cattle].
‘Then, for the Priests, they must set aside
Some of the first-fruits [they’re given].
For, if they give part of the first-fruits
Of all that is brought, to the Priests,
This will bring [God’s] blessings upon all their homes.
‘And the Priests may not eat rotting flesh,
Or cattle that are taken by wild beasts or birds.
‘Then, as you’re measuring the inheritances of land;
A place must be set aside
As the first-fruits to Jehovah.
25,000 long, it must be,
As well as 10,000 wide…
And the area around it is holy.
‘There, Holy Place’s 4 corners will be set;
It will measure 500 by 500,
Plus 50 cubits of space roundabout.
‘And from this place, you must also measure out
25,000, plus 10,000 wide
Between it and the Holy of Holies.
‘And since all this land will be holy;
A portion must be assigned to the Priests
That will serve in My Most Holy Place.
And then, for all that approach
To serve in front of Jehovah;
This will be the place where they’ll live,
Since they must be separate and holy.
‘[Then a portion must be set aside]
That’s 25,000 in length
And 20,000 in width
For the Levites who’ll serve at the [Temple]…
To be theirs as the city in which they will dwell.
‘And for this city that they will own,
You must set aside 25,000,
Plus a width of 5,000,
On behalf of the house of IsraEl;
And this will serve in the same way
As the Holy Place’s first-fruits.
‘Then a portion of this must be set aside
As the place [where the Chief Priest will dwell],
And as the Holy Place’s first-fruits.
It will be his possession in the city
Before the Holy Place of the first-fruits,
And in front of the part of the city
That runs from the east to the west.
‘It will be as long as the city,
And will run from the east to the west in the land.
In IsraEl, this will be his possession.
For, I will no longer treat harshly
Those that are leading My people.
’And the rest of the land will then be
What the house of IsraEl will inherit
According to each of their tribes.’
‘Then Jehovah God said:
Let this be enough for IsraEl’s guides…
Let their misery and unrighteous ways be removed…
They must start being righteous and fair,
And lift tyranny away from My people,
Says Jehovah, your God!
‘They must use proper scales and right measures…
[Honesty] must be their guide!
So if one should get a tenth measure,
He must also receive a tenth measure.
If someone should get a tenth weight,
He should receive his tenth weight.
And if he’s owed the weight of 25 coins,
The full weight of the coins is what he should get!
‘Your bread must weigh 15 shekels.
And the first-fruits that you set aside
Should be a 1/6 of 10 bushels,
Or 1/6 of 62 bushels for wheat,
Or 40 quarts (38l), if it’s barley.
‘Olive oil is a cup from 10 cups…
For 10 cups equals a homer.
‘And 1 sheep must be set aside
Out of every 200
Among each of IsraEl’s families,
As a whole burnt-offering sacrifice,
And as an offering of salvation from sin, says Jehovah.
‘Everyone must offer their first-fruits
To the man that is IsraEl’s guide.
And to this one that serves as your guide,
Whole-burnt offerings must also be brought,
As well as drink offerings and other sacrifices.
‘They must bring them on each holiday,
As well as on New Moons and Sabbaths.
And on each of IsraEl’s holidays,
All must bring sacrifices to cover their sins,
As well as one whole-burnt offering,
And offerings for IsraEl’s salvation.
‘Then Jehovah God said:
On the 1st day of the 1st month,
A perfect calf from the oxen must be offered
To atone for the Most Holy Place.
‘Then the Priest must take some of its blood
And put it on the Temple’s 4 corners,
And upon each of its doorposts,
As well as on the [horns of] the Altar,
And on the posts of the gate to the inner courtyard.
‘And each 7th month, they must do the same thing…
They must atone for the [Temple]
On behalf of the senseless and simple
On the 1st day of that month.
‘Then the 14th day of the 1st month
Will be the [start] of your Passover feasts.
Unfermented bread will be eaten
For the next 7 days.
And on that day, the one that’s your guide
Must offer a calf for himself,
And one for the sins of the people.
‘And during that 7-day feast,
They must bring as whole burnt-offerings to God
7 perfect calves, and 7 perfect rams on each day.
Then for sins, he must also sacrifice
A kid of the goats on each day.
He must prepare a cake for each calf and each ram,
And bring olive oil for each cake.
‘And from the 7th day to the 15th,
He must offer the same things each day…
Whole burnt-offerings and sin sacrifices,
As well as gift offerings and oil.’
‘Then God Jehovah said this:
The gate to the inner courtyard
(The one that faces the east)
Must stay locked for 6 days each [week]…
It’s just to be opened on Sabbaths,
As well as on every New Moon.
‘And the one that is guiding will enter
Through the columned-porch gate.
Then, he will stand at its threshold
As whole burnt-offerings are made by the Priests,
Along with an offering for him,
And one for IsraEl’s salvation.
Then he’ll bow as he leaves the gate’s threshold;
And the gate won’t be locked until evening.
‘Then, on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons
The people of the land must all come,
And on that threshold, they’ll bow to Jehovah.
‘Whole burnt-offerings must be brought on the Sabbaths
By the one that is IsraEl’s guide,
Of 6 perfect lambs and 1 perfect ram,
As well as a gift of cakes for the ram
And a hand-made gift sacrifice for each lamb,
Plus a quart of olive oil for each offering of cakes.
‘And on the days of the New Moons,
[He must offer] 1 perfect calf,
Plus 6 lambs and a ram
(All of which must be perfect),
And an offering of cake for each ram,
An offering of cake for each calf,
A gift offering for each of the lambs
(Whatever your hands might have made),
And a quart of olive oil for each cake.
‘Then, whenever the one that is guiding comes in,
He must do it through the columned-porch gate;
And that’s also the way he must leave.
‘And when, on holidays, the people of the land
Come [to bow] to Jehovah;
They should enter through the north gate,
Then bow and leave through the south gate.
But, if they come through the south gate,
They must then leave through the north gate…
They may not return through the same gate,
And they must leave straight away.
‘And the one that serves as the guide in their midst
Must enter as they start to arrive,
And leave after they are all gone.
‘And during the festivals and holidays,
An offering of cake must be brought for each calf,
As well as one for each ram,
With whatever his hand should provide for the lambs,
Plus a quart of olive oil with each cake.
‘And if the one that is guiding should offer
A whole burnt-offering of salvation;
The gate facing the east must be opened for him.
So his whole burnt-offering must be given
Along with his things for salvation
In the same ways as he does on the Sabbaths.
And after he leaves, they must lock all the gates.
‘He must offer a perfect 1-year-old lamb
As a whole burnt-offering to Jehovah,
Which he must prepare every morning,
Along with an offering as a gift
Of 1/6 of a measure of olive oil,
Mixed into 1/3 measure of finest flour
As a continuous gift-offering to [God].
‘The lamb, the gift offering, and olive oil,
Must be prepared and offered at dawn,
As whole-burnt-offerings, each day.
‘Then Jehovah God said:
If the one that is guiding should choose to leave
His inheritance as a gift to his sons,
It will become the possession of his sons.
But if he leaves a gift to his servant,
It will only be his ‘til The Year of Release,
And then it must be returned
To the one who’ll be serving as [IsraEl’s] guide…
But the inheritance of his sons, will be theirs.
‘There’s no way that the one who is guiding
May leave them an inheritance that he took from the people,
So as to tyrannize them.
He may only leave the things that he owns
As an inheritance to his own sons,
So the possessions of My people won’t be scattered.’
Then he took me out the back gate to the inner chamber of the Priests in the Holy Place (the one that faces north), and {Look!} within it I noticed a place that was off to the side,and he said to me:
‘This is where the Priests are to boil
The offerings for all of their errors,
As well as sacrifices for their sins.
It’s where they’ll bake the gift offerings,
So that nothing will be carried through the outer courtyard,
And the people may always be holy.’
Then he took me to the outer courtyard and led me around its 4 quarters. And {Look!} on each side of the [4] courtyards was another courtyard…on each of the 4 sides of the courtyards were smaller courtyards that measured 40 cubits long and 30 cubits wide.And there were inner chambers around each of the 4 courtyards, and cooking pits were located beneath and around the chambers.
And he said to me:
‘These are the homes of the cooks,
And it’s where the sacrifices will be boiled
That the people will bring as their offerings
For those that serve at the [Temple].’
Then he brought me to the threshold of the [Temple], and look… there was water pouring from an open space that was under its east side (because its front faced the east). And the water poured down to the right side of the [Temple] toward the south, and then on south past the Altar.
So he led me through the north gate and took me around to the courtyard gate (the one that faces east), and {Look!} the water was flowing down along its right side.
There I saw a man that came out from across that place that was carrying a ruler in his hand. He then went to the source of the water and measured out 1,000 [cubits]…he walked into the water and measured out 1,000, and it came up to his knees. Then he measured another 1,000, and the water came up to his hips.And after that, he measured out another 1,000, and he wasn’t able to walk through it anymore, because the water was flooding with such force that it became a [river] that couldn’t be crossed.
Then he asked me:
‘O son of man; what do you see?’
So he led me over to the bank of the river; and when I turned around, I saw that all along the banks of the river there were huge numbers of trees growing on each side.And he said to me:
‘This water flows east toward GaliLee,
Then to Arabia and on to the sea.
And where it exits, the waters bring healing.
‘To all the herds, it brings life,
For all that come to this river will live!
And huge numbers of fish will also be there,
Because they’ll all come to this water
That heals and gives life to all things…
Yes, all that come to this river will live!
‘Then, fishermen from EnGedi to EnEglaim
Will come here to dry out their nets;
For there’ll be no other place like it,
Because there’ll be so many fish…
It’ll be like the fish in the Great Sea.
‘But, where it turns and then flows away,
There’s no way that it can heal [anymore];
For [those places] have been given to the salt.
‘And on each side of the banks of that river
Will grow fruit-bearing trees that will never grow old
And will never fail to bear fruit.
‘From the beginning, they’ll start doing this;
For these waters have flowed from the Most Holy.
And as these waters flow past them,
They’ll produce fruit [to be eaten],
And their leaves will bring healing to all.
‘Then Jehovah God said:
These are to be your land’s borders…
The inheritance of the sons of IsraEl’s 12 tribes;
For they’ll each be given a measured piece of ground,
And as brothers, they’ll each inherit [their portion],
The same as they did when I lifted My hand
To divide it among their ancestors…
As an inheritance, this land is what they’ll pass on.
‘The northern borders of this land
Will run from the Great Sea by HethLon…
Then from the gates ofHaMath, BerOthah, and Sibraim
To the limits of HaMath and Damascus,
Then on to HatTicon’s courtyards
(Which are at the limits of the land of Haran).
‘The borders will run from the sea in the north…
From the courtyards of Enan to the limits of Damascus
And all places north to the borders of HaMath.
‘They’ll run east between Haran and Damascus,
To GileAd, through IsraEl, and on to the JorDan,
Where [the JorDan] flows from the east to the sea
And through the palm groves in the east.
‘And these are the borders to the south and southwest:
They run from TeMan and the palm groves
To the waters of MaribOth KaDesh;
And from there, they flow to the Great Sea…
These are the borders to the south and southwest.
‘The Great Sea is the border from the gates of HaMath,
And it is the border to the west.
‘Among the tribes of IsraEl
This land must be subdivided;
You must throw lots for yourselves,
And for the gentiles that will live in your midst…
Those that will bear sons among you.
For, they will be yours as native-born sons
Among all the sons of IsraEl.
Along with you, they will eat,
And they’ll receive an inheritance among all your tribes.
‘Among the tribes that they came to, they’ll live,
Along with others who’ve also been joined
And will inherit [the land],
Says Jehovah, your God.’
‘This is what each tribe [will inherit], by name:
‘Starting at the top in the north
To where it splits at the gates of HaMath
And to the courtyard of Enan,
Then to the borders of Damascus in the north,
Along part of the borders of HaMath,
And from there to the east and the west
Is the portion of Dan.
‘And from the borders of Dan
(From the east to the west)
Is the portion of Asher.
‘And from the borders of Asher
(From the east to the west)
Is NaphTali’s portion.
‘And from NaphTali’s borders
(From the east to the west)
Is the portion of ManasSeh.
‘And from the borders of ManasSeh
(From the east to the west)
Is to be Ephraim’s portion.
‘And from Ephraim’s borders
(From the east to the west)
Is the portion of ReuBen.
‘And from the borders of ReuBen
(From the east to the west)
Is the portion of Judah.
‘And from the borders of Judah in the east,
Is the place where they’ll offer the first-fruits.
25,000 will be its length,
And 1 measured portion will be its width
From the east to the west…
And the Holy Place will be in its midst.
‘There they’ll set first-fruits aside for the Lord…
Its width is to be 20,000
And 10,000 long, is its length.
Within it, they will store all the first-fruits
Of the holy things for the Priests.
It runs north for 25,000,
And toward the west for 10,000,
Then toward the east for 10,000,
And to the south for 25,000…
And the Holy Mountain and Most Holy Place
Will be located in its midst.
‘This is to be set aside for the Priests…
ZaDok’s sons that have been made holy…
Those who’ve kept watch at My Temple
And not followed the delusions of IsraEl’s sons,
Or strayed in the ways of the Levites.
‘This must be given to them as their first-fruits
From all the first-fruits that come from the land…
A Holy of Holies from the borders of the Levites.
‘And the Levites will also be given their portions
Next to the borders of the Priests.
Its length is to be 25,000,
And it will be 10,000 wide.
The whole length is 25,000,
And 10,000 will be its full width.
‘No part [of this land] may be purchased
Or measured out to be sold,
Nor may its first fruits be taken away;
For it is all holy to Jehovah.
‘But, concerning the extra 5,000
Amid that 25,000;
There’ll be a place around the city wall
Where they will [then build their] homes…
And the city will be there in its midst.
‘And this is how it is measured:
From the borders toward the north; 4,500.
From the borders toward the south; 4,500.
From the borders toward the east; 4,500.
From the borders toward the west; 4,500.
‘Then to the north of the city, there also will be
A space that measures 250;
Then toward the south, 250;
Toward the east, 250;
And toward the west, 250.
‘And there’ll be an additional length
Next to the first-fruits of the Holy Place,
Which will measure 10,000 toward the east,
Plus 10,000 more toward the west.
This is for the Holy Place of the first-fruits,
Which is where the bread will also be [baked]
For those that will work in the city.
And those that will work in this city
Will come from each of IsraEl’s tribes.
‘The first-fruits is 25,000
And squared by 25,000.
You must place it next to the city
As the first-fruits of the Holy Place.
‘And an extra space must be set aside
On behalf of the one that serves as the guide.
It must run from this side to that side,
Between the Holy Place’s first-fruits.
‘The part that is his in the city
Will be 25,000 from east to west
And 25,000 along the west side…
It’s the portion of the one that serves as the guide,
And for the Holy-Place’s First Fruits…
And the Holy of Holies will be in its midst.
‘And by the borders of the Levites
(In the mist of their part of the city)
Will be the place for the one that’s the guide…
Between Judah and BenJamin’s borders
Will belong to the one that’s the guide.
‘And what’s left of that which belongs to the tribes
(From the eastern borders to those in the west)
Will be BenJamin’s portion.
‘And from BenJamin’s borders
(From the east to the west)
Will be SimeOn’s portion.
‘And from SimeOn’s borders
(From the east to the west)
Will be IsSachar’s portion.
‘And from IsSachar’s borders
(From the east to the west)
Is to be ZebuLun’s portion.
‘And from the ZebuLun’s borders
(From the east to the west,
Will be the portion of Gad.
‘And from the borders of Gad;
The borders southwest will be his
From TeMan and the waters of MaribOth KaDesh,
And from there, on to the Great Sea…
This is what he’ll inherit.
‘These are the lands in which you’ll throw lots
For those among IsraEl’s tribes;
And these are to be their tribes’ borders,
Says Jehovah, your God.
‘The northern access to the city
Must be 4,500;
And the city gates must carry the names
Of each of IsraEl’s 12 tribes.
‘The three gates toward the north will include
The Gates of ReuBen, Judah, and Levi.
And the three gates toward the east
(4,500)
Are the Gates of BenJamin, JoSeph, and Dan.
And the three gates toward the south
(4,500)
Are the Gates of SimeOn, IsSachar, and ZebuLun.
And the three gates toward the west
(4,500)
Are the Gates of Asher, NaphTali, and Gad.
‘The circumference must be 18,000,
And whatever the city is named
Will be its name from that day.’
It was during the 3rd year of the reign of JehoiAkim (the king of Judah) that NebuChadnezzar (the king of Babylon) came to JeruSalem and attacked it.Then the Lord gave JehoiAkim into his hands, along with part of the things that were in the Temple of Jehovah, which thereafter he carried back to the land of Shinar and put into the treasury of the temple of his god.
Then after that, the king told his Chief Eunuch AshPenaz to go get some of the sons of IsraEl that were descended from royalty and nobility, and bring them to him as captives.They were to be young, perfectly formed, good looking, wise in all things, knowledgeable, intelligent, and bold enough to stand in the palace of the king. And [when they arrived], he told him to school the young men in the language and writing of the Chaldeans.
The king also arranged for them to eat at his table each day, to share in his banquet wine, and to be given special care for three years, after which they were to be brought before the king.Among these sons of Judah were DaniEl, HananiAh, AzariAh, and MishaEl.However, the chief eunuch renamed DaniEl BelTeShazzar (gr. BalTaZar), HananiAh ShadRach (gr. ZedRach), MishaEl MeShach (gr. MiSek), and AzariAh AbedNego (gr. AbdNago).
Now, DaniEl had decided in his heart that there was no way he would pollute himself at the table of the king, nor would he drink any of his banquet wine. So he petitioned the chief eunuch not to be forced to pollute himself,and God granted DaniEl the chief eunuch’s mercy and compassion.However, the chief eunuch said to DaniEl:
‘I’m afraid of my lord the king, and since he’s the one that’s selecting your food and the things that you are to drink, I don’t want him to see your faces looking sadder than the faces of the other boys that are your peers. For if that happens, the king will have my head!’
But DaniEl told MelZar (the man whom the chief eunuch had put in charge of DaniEl, HananiAh, MishaEl, and AzariAh) this:
‘Then test your servants for 10 days. Give us just the seeds of the fields to eat and just water to drink.Then compare us to the other boys that eat at the king’s table; and whichever looks better is what you should choose for your servants.’
So he did what they asked and tested them for 10 days.Then at the end of the 10 days, he examined them and noticed how they looked… and he found that they were stronger and in better shape than the other boys that were eating at the king’s table.As the result, MelZar did away with their suppers and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them just seeds to eat.Then God gave them understanding and intelligence in all their studies, and He made them wiser. And it was then that DaniEl came to have an understanding of visions and dreams.
Well, the time finally arrived when they were to be brought before the king, so the chief eunuch took them to NebuChadnezzar.Then, after the king questioned them, he found that there were no others like these 4 boys, DaniEl, HananiAh, MishaEl, and AzariAh, and he allowed them to stand before him.In every matter of wisdom and knowledge (whatever the king asked them about), he found them 10-times greater than all the other dignitaries and sorcerers throughout his realm.
Well after that, DaniEl went on to live all the way into the 1st year of the reign of King Cyrus.
It was in the 2nd year of the reign of NebuChadnezzar that the king had a dream that so deeply disturbed his spirit that he couldn’t sleep.So he gave the order to call for [all his] officials, priests, sorcerers, and Chaldeans, to have them interpret the dream.
Then when they came and stood before the king,he said to them:
‘I had a dream that bothered me so deeply that I must know what it means.’
Well, the Chaldeans replied to the king in the Syrian language, saying,
‘O king; May you live through the ages! Just tell your servants what you dreamed, and we will announce the interpretation to you!’
But the king told the Chaldeans:
‘I’ve forgotten what it was about… and if you can’t tell me the dream and give me its interpretation, I’ll have you all destroyed and have your homes torn down!However, if you can tell me the dream and give me its interpretation, I’ll give you many gifts, do many favors for you free of charge, and I’ll honor you greatly… but first you must tell me the dream, and then you must explain what it means to me!’
Well, they answered him a second time, saying:
‘May the king tell the dream to his servants, and then we will announce its interpretation!’
And at that, the king said to them:
‘I know for a fact that you’re just buying time for yourselves, because I told you that every word of the dream has left me. So now, if you can’t tell me the dream, I’ll know that you are corrupt and lying, and that you’ve agreed to keep speaking before me just to [buy more] time.First tell me my dream, and then I’ll know that I can believe the interpretation that you give to me!’
But the Chaldeans then said the king:
‘There’s no man on dry land that can make known what the king is asking, for this is something that no great king or ruler has ever asked of an official, a priest, or a Chaldean.What the king is asking is so difficult that no one can tell him such a thing… other than the gods who don’t live here in the flesh.’
And at that, the king flew into a rage! He was so angry that he ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be destroyed,and he sent out a edict for them all to be put to death.
Well, when they went looking for DaniEl and his friends to do away with them,DaniEl asked this of AriOch, the king’s head-of-the-guards (who had come to execute all the wise men of Babylon).He said to him:
‘O [servant] of the king; Why was such a presumptuous decree put before him?’
Then AriOch told DaniEl about all the things that had been said.
Well at that, DaniEl went before the king and petitioned him to give him enough time to find the interpretation so that he could announce it to the king.Then DaniEl returned to his house and there he [met with] his friends HananiAh, MishaEl, and AzariAh, and he asked them to help him interpret [the dream].And they then trusted in the compassions of the God of heaven [to help them unlock] this mystery and to keep DaniEl and his friends from being destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Then that night, DaniEl had a vision in which the mystery of the dream was revealed to him. So he praised the God of heaven, and said this:
‘May the Name of The Great God be praised
Through the age and into the age of the ages.
To Him, understanding and wisdom belong…
He’s the One that changes the seasons and times.
‘He appoints kings and removes them…
To the wise, He’s the One that gives wisdom
As well as intelligence, so they’ll understand…
He uncovers the things that are hidden and deep.
‘He knows all that happens in the darkness;
For, He is the source of all light.
So I acknowledge and praise You,
O Great God of the ages.
‘For You’re the One that gave me the wisdom and power,
And revealed what I petitioned from You
Regarding this matter of the king;
Yes, You have revealed it to me!’
Then DaniEl went to AriOch (the one whom the king had appointed to destroy all the wise men of Babylon) and said to him:
‘Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! I want you to take me before the king so I can announce the interpretation of the dream to him.’
As the result, AriOch quickly took DaniEl before the king and told him:
‘I’ve found a man among the captive sons of Judah who can announce to the king the interpretation of his dream!’
And the king asked DaniEl (whom he referred to as BelTeShazzar):
‘Are you really able to tell me the dream that I saw and then explain its meaning to me?’
And there in the presence of the king, DaniEl said this:
‘The mystery that the king has asked the wise men, sorcerers, officials, and astrologers to announce to him isn’t theirs to explain.However, there is a God in the heavens that can uncover mysteries, and He has made known to King NebuChadnezzar what’s going to happen in the last days.
‘The dream that you saw in your head while you were lying in your bed was this:
You, O king, through the thoughts that you had in your bed, were elevated to see what will happen after this… for mysteries have been made known to you about things that will happen [in the future].
‘Now, I’m no wiser than any other living man; but this mystery has been uncovered to me so that the king may understand what it means, and so that you may know the thoughts that are in your own heart.
‘You looked, O king, and you saw a huge idol that was overwhelming in size… it stood right in front of your face and it frightened you!This idol had a head of pure gold; its breast, arms, and hands were of silver; its belly and thighs were of brass; its legs were of iron, and its feet were part iron and part baked clay.
‘Well, as you were staring at it, a rock was cut from a mountain without any hands, which thereafter flew and hit the image on its feet of iron and baked clay, which completely shattered them…and everything else was shattered at the same time (the baked clay, the iron, the brass, the silver, and the gold). Then it all became like a cloud of dust from a threshing floor during the harvest,and thereafter a wind came and blew it all away, leaving nothing at all. Then the stone that had struck the image [grew into] a huge mountain that covered the whole earth.
‘So, that was your dream… and now I’ll tell the king what it means.
You, O king, are the king of kings to whom the God of heaven has given a strong, fortified, and honorable kingdom.And in every place where the sons of men live, as well as in every place where the wild animals of the fields and flying creatures of the skies live, has been given into your hands by Him, for He’s made you the lord over it all. So you, O king, are the head of pure gold.
‘But after you, another kingdom will arise that’s inferior to yours, and then a 3rd kingdom (the one of brass) will come to dominate the whole earth. [It will be followed by] a 4th kingdom that will become as strong as iron…for just as iron can crush and tame all things, it will crush and tame everything.
‘Then the feet and the toes that you saw, which were partly of iron and partly of baked clay, will be a divided kingdom. However, because you saw the iron mixed with the baked clay; [this means that] some of the roots of the iron will be in it.And since the toes of the feet are partly of iron and partly of baked clay, part of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be easily broken.For as you saw the iron mixed with the baked clay; [this kingdom] will be mixed with the seed of mankind… and they won’t stick to each other, just as iron won’t stick to baked clay.
‘Then in the time of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a Kingdom that won’t be corrupted through the ages, and His Kingdom will not be passed on to anyone else. [First] it will crush and sift all the other kingdoms, and it will stand through the ages thereafter.
‘So, now that you’ve seen the stone cut from a mountain without hands, and how it crushed the baked clay, iron, brass, silver, and gold; the great God has revealed to the king what’s going to happen after this. This dream is true, and you can trust its interpretation.’
Well at that, King NebuChadnezzar fell to his face and bowed before DaniEl. Then he offered him some very nice cologne as a gift, and he [told his servants] to bring him something to drink.Then the king said this to DaniEl:
‘It’s a fact that your God is the God of gods, Lord of lords, and King of kings. For He alone can uncover mysteries… as you were able to uncover this mystery!’
After that, the king honored DaniEl by giving him many great gifts, and he appointed him over all the [districts] of Babylon as the ruler over all the governors and wise men of Babylon.And because he then requested this of the king, ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego were appointed over the construction projects throughout all the regions of Babylon, and DaniEl [thereafter served] within the courtyard of the king.
It was during his 16th year that King NebuChadnezzar had a gold-[plated] idol made that stood 100 feet (30.5m) tall and 10 feet (3m) wide, which he placed in the plains of Dura, near Babylon.So he then called for all of his top officials, generals, lieutenants, governors, vassal kings,and everyone else of authority throughout all of his districts, and decreed that they should come and [celebrate] a holiday of dedication for the idol that he had erected.
So everyone came and stood before the idol that NebuChadnezzar had erected,and then the [king’s] herald yelled at the top of his voice:
‘O nations, peoples, tribes, and languages;
You’ve been told thatwhen you hear the sound of the trumpets, woodwinds, harps, stringed instruments, and bagpipes playing the anthem, you must all fall to your faces and bow before the idol of gold that King NebuChadnezzar has erected.And if anyone should choose not to bow before it, he will be immediately taken out and thrown into a blazing-hot furnace!’
So when the people heard the sounds of the trumpets, woodwinds, harps, stringed instruments, and bagpipes playing the anthem, all the peoples, tribes, and languages bowed low before the gold idol that King NebuChadnezzar had erected.
However, certain Chaldeans then went up and made an accusation against the Jews…they went to King NebuChadnezzar and said:
‘O king; May you live through the ages!However, the king gave an order that when we hear the sound of the trumpets, woodwinds, harps, stringed instruments, and bagpipes playing the anthem,any man that doesn’t fall and bow before the gold idol should be thrown into a blazing furnace.
‘Now, there were three Jewish men whom you’ve put over construction in Babylon – ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego – and they didn’t obey your decree, O king; for they’ve chosen not to serve your gods or to bow before the gold idol that you’ve erected.’
Well at that, NebuChadnezzar flew into an angry rage and he had them bring ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego before him.Then NebuChadnezzar said to them:
‘ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego; Is it true that you won’t serve my gods, and that you won’t bow before the gold idol that I’ve erected?Well now, when you hear the sound of trumpets, woodwinds, harps, stringed instruments, and bagpipes playing the anthem, it would be best for you to fall to your faces before the gold idol that I’ve made. Because, if you don’t bow to your faces before it, you will be immediately taken out and thrown into a blazing-hot furnace… and then we’ll see which God can rescue you from my hands.’
But ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego said this to King NebuChadnezzar:
‘We don’t really have to answer you about this matter,for our God in the heavens (whom we serve) can rescue us from the fire in the furnace… and He will rescue us from your hands, O king!‘Yet, even if He shouldn’t choose to do this; you must know, O king, that we won’t serve your gods or the gold idol that you’ve set up and before which you’ve told us to bow!’
Well, NebuChadnezzar was furious, and the way that he viewed ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego suddenly started to change. So he gave instructions to heat the furnace 7-times hotter than usual… until they couldn’t get it any hotter!Then he gave some powerful men instructions to shackle ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego, and then throw them into the blazing-hot furnace.
So the three were shackled and then thrown into the midst of the blazing-hot furnace fully clothed, [wearing their] pants, underclothes, and official turbans.And following the instruction of the king, the furnace had in fact been made 7-times hotter than usual.
Well, the three men (ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego) fell into the midst of the blazing furnace wearing shackles… but then they started walking around in the midst of the flames, praising God and blessing their lord.And when NebuChadnezzar heard their praising, he was shocked! So he quickly got up and asked his mighty men this:
‘Didn’t you throw three men wearing shackles into the midst of the fire?’
And they replied:
‘Yes we did, O king.’
But the king said:
‘I see four men here that are freely walking around in the midst of the flames, and none of them are being burned! And the vision that I’m having of the fourth one is as that of a son of God!’
Then NebuChadnezzar leaned forward toward the top of the blazing furnace and said this:
‘O ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego… you servants of the highest God; Come here… come out of there!’
So ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego came out from the midst of the flames,and then all the governors, generals, lieutenants, and king’s officials were called over to see these men, and to [witness the fact] that the fire hadn’t consumed their bodies! For the hair on their heads hadn’t been singed, their [clothes] were still the same, and there wasn’t even the smell of smoke on them!
Then, right there before them all, the king bowed to Jehovah and said:
‘Praise the God of ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego who sent His messenger and rescued His servants that put faith in Him. For these men changed the word of the king and then they offered their bodies in fire, because they wouldn’t serve any god other than their God!
So thereafter, the king issued this decree:
‘Any people, tribe, or language that speaks blasphemously against the God of ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego will be destroyed and their houses will be pillaged… for there’s no other god that can rescue in such a great way.’
Then the king promoted ShadRach, MeShach, and AbedNego to be over all regions of the Babylon [empire]. He also paid them more, and he put them in charge over all the Jews in his realm.
Then sometime later, the king [wrote this] about [something else that had happened to him]:
NebuChadnezzar the king, to all peoples, tribes, languages… to all that live in the land;
May you have an abundance of peace.
I’m pleased to announce to you that the highest God has performed signs and miracles to me…and His signs are great, His wonders are mighty, His kingdom is through the ages, and His authority is through generations.
I (NebuChadnezzar) was prospering in my palace and my throne was thriving.But then I had a vision in a dream that struck me with fear and left me disturbed in my bed, for the vision that I saw in my mind really bothered me.So I decreed that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me so I could have them explain the meaning of the dream.Then all the sorcerers, priests, astrologers, and Chaldeans came to me, and I told them of the dream, but they were unable to explain what it meant.
However,DaniEl (who is called BelTeShazzar, and who truly has the Breath of God) came in the Name of my God, and I told him my dream.[I said to him]:
‘O BelTeShazzar, you leader of [my] wise men and someone whom I know has the Breath of God and is never powerless when it comes to understanding mysteries; Listen to the vision that I saw in my dream and then tell me what it means.For this is the vision that I saw in my mind while I was in my bed:
{Look!} There was a huge tree that stood in the center of the earth… it was very tall,and the tree kept getting mightier and larger until it reached into the heavens and it spread to the ends of the earth.Its leaves were beautiful and it was filled with enough fruit to feed everyone. So the wild animals of the fields camped under it, the flying creatures of the skies lived in its branches, and all flesh was being fed by it.
Then in the vision that I had in my bed that night, I saw a holy observer (a messenger) coming down out of the sky,and he shouted and said:
‘Now, you must cut down the tree…
Yes, cut off its branches and shake off its leaves,
Then scatter its fruit [on the ground].
Thereafter, you must chase off all the wild beasts
That are living under its branches,
And drive the flying creatures away!
‘Leave nothing but its roots in the ground;
Then, bind it with iron and brass
So that it will just lie there covered by grass,
Surrounded by the wild beasts of the fields
And bathed by dew from the skies
Just like grass on the ground.
‘Then his heart will be changed from that of a man
And the heart of a beast will be given to him…
For 7 times, this is how he’ll be changed.
Then the observer said:
‘This is a [vision] from the Most Holy One
To show to all those who are living
That Jehovah is over all kingdoms,
And He gives them to whomever He chooses…
He can even appoint men that are viewed with contempt
To be in charge of it all.’
So, this is what I saw in the dream (yes me, King NebuChadnezzar). Therefore, I [said to] BelTeShazzar,
‘Now, explain it to me… tell me what it means! Though none of the other wise men in my kingdom have been able to interpret it for me, I know that you can, O DaniEl, because the Holy Breath of God is within you!’
Well, DaniEl was unable to say anything for an hour, because he was so disturbed by his thoughts. Then I asked:
‘O BelTeShazzar; why are you taking so long in interpreting the dream?’
‘And BelTeShazzar replied:
‘O lord; leave the interpretation to those who hate you and to your enemies!For the tree that you saw, which became so strong and so tall that it reached into the heavens and covered the whole earth,and which grew such great leaves and had such an abundance of fruit that it fed all the wild animals that lived under it, as well as all the flying creatures that lived in its branches is you, O king.Because, your fame and greatness has been made to grow so much that it now reaches into the heavens, since you rule to the ends of the lands!
‘And when the king saw a holy observer coming down from the sky who [was told] to [cut down] the tree and destroy it, but to leave its roots in the ground and to band the tree with iron and brass, then to let it lie there among the shoots of grass among the wild animals [where it is to be bathed by] the dew from the skies [and remain that way] for 7 times…this is what it means, O king. It is the highest form of interpretation, for this is what’s going to happen to you, O my lord the king.
‘You’ll be driven away from mankind
And be forced to live among beasts in the plains
Where they’ll feed you with grass like an ox,
And you’ll [be bathed by] dew from the skies.
‘For 7 times, you will be changed
Until you accept that Jehovah is higher
Than all the kingdoms of men,
And to those He selects, He gives all this [power].
‘But, because they were told
To leave the tree’s roots in the ground,
Your kingdom will continue to be yours
Until the time that you realize
That your power has come to you from the heavens.
‘But because of this, O king (and may my council be pleasing to you);
You must pay for your sins by giving to the poor,
And you must also pay for your errors
By showing compassion to the needy.
Then, God may be lenient with you for your sins.
Well, all of these things happened to me (King NebuChadnezzar).For just 12 months later, while I was walking in the temple of my kingdom in Babylonand I was saying to myself,
‘Isn’t this the great Babylon that I’ve built as my royal home through my own power, strength, honor, and glory…’
Yes, while those words were still in my mouth, a voice came from the sky that proclaimed:
‘To you, it is now being said,
O King NebuChadnezzar,
That your kingdom has been taken from you.
‘For men will drive you away,
And you’ll have to live among the wild beasts,
Where they’ll feed you grass like an ox.
‘For 7 times, you will be changed,
Until you know that Jehovah
Is the One that is over all kingdoms,
And He gives it to whomever He chooses.’
Well, that’s what happened to me (King NebuChadnezzar) in that very hour… I was driven away from my people, I ate grass like an ox, I was bathed by the dew from the sky, my hair became as strong as that of a lion, and my fingernails grew long like bird’s claws!
Then, after those days had been fulfilled, I (NebuChadnezzar) raised my eyes to the sky, and my senses were returned to me. So I praised the Most High who lives through the ages… I praised and spoke gloriously of His authority that lasts through the ages, and of His kingship [that lasts] through generations of generations.For before Him, those of us who live on the earth are like nothing at all, since He rules the armies of the heavens and those who live on the earth in any way that He wishes… no one can resist His hand or ask Him why He does the things that He does.
Then, after my senses returned, the honor of my kingdom was restored to me; my appearance returned to me; and my rulers and great men looked up to me once again. So thereafter, I went on to strengthen my kingdom, and more greatness was added to me.
Now, I (NebuChadnezzar) praise, honor, and glorify the King of the heavens, because everything that He does is righteous, all of His ways are fair, and He humbles those that become too proud.
[Well, several years later], BelShazzar (the last Babylonian king) had prepared a feast for 1,000 of his most important men, and they were each served wine.Then while BelShazzar was tasting and drinking the wine, he told [his servants] to bring in the items of gold and silver that his ancestor NebuChadnezzar had taken from the Temple [of Jehovah] in JeruSalem, so that the king, his important men, and his concubines and mistresses could drink from them.
So they brought in the items of gold and silver that had been taken from the Temple of God in JeruSalem; and the king, his important men, and his concubines and mistressesstarted drinking wine from them, as they praised their gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone.
But in that very hour, the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and started writing on the whitewashed wall near a lamp in the king’s palace. And when the king saw the knuckles doing the handwriting,his appearance changed… he was so deeply disturbed that he became incontinent and his knees started shaking! So the king called out to have the priests, Chaldeans, and astrologers brought in to him.
Then he said to those wise men of Babylon:
‘Whoever can read this writing and interpret it for me will be dressed in purple, a gold necklace will be placed around his neck, and he’ll be appointed as the 3rd ruler in my kingdom!’
So thereafter, all the king’s wise men were brought in to him… but they were unable to read the writing or interpret it for the king.Therefore, King BelShazzar was still disturbed and his appearance was still changed. And of course, all of his important guests were also very disturbed.
Then the queen entered the banquet room and said this to the king:
‘O king; May you live through the ages! Don’t allow this to bother your thoughts and change your appearance,for there’s a man in your kingdom that is filled with the Breath of God. Back in the days of your ancestors, he was found to be an insightful and understanding man. And it was because of this that your ancestor King NebuChadnezzar put him in charge of all his advisors, Chaldeans, and astrologers.This man has a greater measure of [God’s] Breath, and he’s the most intelligent and understanding when it comes to such things as interpreting dreams, reporting things that are [forgotten], and untying knots. [This man] is DaniEl, whom the king renamed BelTeShazzar. You should call for him and he’ll interpret [these words] for you.’
So DaniEl was thereafter brought before the king, and the king asked him:
‘Are you DaniEl, the one whom my ancestor the king brought here from among the captives from Judah?I’ve heard that the Breath of God is in you and that you’re insightful, understanding, and exceedingly wise.Now, my wise men, priests, and astrologers have come here and they all tried to read this writing and to interpret it for me, but they couldn’t explain what it means.However, I’ve been told that you are able to interpret such judgments; so, if you can read this writing and interpret it for me, I’ll dress you in purple, I’ll place a gold chain around your neck, and I’ll appoint you to be the 3rd ruler in my kingdom.’
However, DaniEl said to the king:
‘You can keep your gifts and you can give the [power] over your house to someone else… but I will read the writing and interpret it for you, O king.
‘O king; It was the Highest God that gave the kingdom, greatness, honor, and glory to your ancestor, NebuChadnezzar.And it was because of this greatness that God put him over all the peoples, tribes, and languages, and made them tremble in fear before him. Therefore, he could destroy anyone he wished, beat anyone he wished, promote anyone he wished, and humble anyone that he wished to humble.But when his heart became too haughty and his spirit became too proud, he was brought down from the throne of this kingdom and this honor was removed from him.Then he was driven away from among mankind and his heart became like that of a wild animal. So he lived among the zebras, he was fed grass like an ox, and his body was bathed and washed by the dew from the skies until he recognized that the Most High God is the One that really rules all the kingdoms of mankind, and He can give [the power] to whomever He chooses.
‘Now you, O BelShazzar ([NebuChadNezzar’s] descendant) have not humbled your heart before God, which is something that you knew you should do,and you’ve acted haughtily before Jehovah the God of the heavens by having the items from His Temple brought before you, where you, your important men, and your concubines and mistresses drank wine from them as you were praising your gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone, who can’t see, hear, or know anything at all… yes, you failed to glorify the God that holds your breath and everything you are in His hands.So it’s because of this that the knuckles of a hand were sent from His presence… yes, He’s the One that sent this writing to you.
‘This is what the writing says:
Mene, Tekel, Peres.
And this is what it means:
Mene means that God has measured your kingdom and brought it to an end.
Tekel means that He has weighed you on a scale and found you to be lacking.
Peres means that your kingdom will now be divided among the Medes and Persians.’
Well after that, BelShazzar gave the order to dress DaniEl in purple, to put a gold chain around his neck, and he proclaimed him to be the 3rd ruler in his kingdom.However, that very night, BelShazzar (the king of the Chaldeans) was killedand Darius the Mede took the kingdom as his own at the age of 62.
Darius thereafter appointed 120 governors to be in charge of his kingdom.Then he appointed three ministers to be over them (to whom the governors had to report), because the king didn’t want to be bothered… and DaniEl was one of these ministers.And because he had an extra portion of [God’s] Breath, DaniEl was placed over the other two ministers, so that he was in fact in charge of the whole kingdom.
Of course, the other two ministers and the governors [weren’t pleased with this], so they kept looking to find some wrongdoing that they could use as an accusation against DaniEl. However, they couldn’t find any excuse, sin, or error against him, because DaniEl was always faithful.
Well, the other two ministers soon came to realize that the only thing they could use against DaniEl was the Law of his God.So they and the governors went before the king and said this:
‘O King Darius; May you live through the ages!
We, the generals, governors, and supreme leaders whom you’ve appointed over your kingdom – those whom you’ve appointed to royal positions – have met together, and we want you to enact [this law] to strengthen [your rule]:
Anyone that makes a request of any man or god other than you for the next 30 days, O king, must be thrown into the lion’s pit.
Please, O king, enact this law and write it for public display, since the decrees of the Medes and Persians can’t be changed.’
As the result, King Darius gave orders for the decree to be written.
However, when DaniEl found out about the decree, he just went home, and there in an upper room before open windows that faced JeruSalem, he bent down on his knees to pray before and praise his God three times, the same as he had always done.
Well, those men had been watching him closely. So when they saw DaniEl petitioning and begging before his God,they went to the king and said:
‘O king; Didn’t you enact an order saying that anyone that makes a request of a god or a man other than from you for the next 30 days should be thrown into the lion’s pit?’
And the king replied:
‘What you say is true, and the decrees of the Medes and Persians may not be changed!’
So they said to the king:
‘We wish to report to you that DaniEl (one of those that was brought as a captive from Judah) hasn’t followed your decree, for today he still prayed before his God three times!’
Well, this really disturbed the king, and though he wanted to do something to save DaniEl,those men said to the king:
‘You must know, O king, that any decree of the Medes and Persians may not be altered once the king has enacted it, no matter what the circumstances or what position [the person] may hold!’
So the king gave the order and they took DaniEl out to throw him into the pit of lions. [But before they threw him in], the king asked DaniEl:
‘Will your God whom you’ve served so faithfully rescue you?’
[Well after that, they threw him in], and they took a stone slab and placed it over the top of the pit. They then sealed it with the king’s ring and with the rings of his top men, so that nothing could be changed for DaniEl.And thereafter, the king returned to his palace and went to bed without eating any supper… he had no food brought him, and he wasn’t able to sleep.
Then when the king got up the next morning (at daybreak), he went out to the lion’s pit. And as he was approaching it, he called out to DaniEl, shouting loudly:
‘O DaniEl… O servant of the Living God… has your God whom you’ve served so faithfully been able to rescue you from the mouths of the lions?’
And DaniEl replied:
‘O king; May you live through the ages!Yes, my God sent His messenger who blocked the mouths of the lions. They haven’t been able to destroy me, because [my God] has found me to be righteous… and I haven’t done anything against you either, O king.’
Well, the king was overjoyed by this, and he gave the order that DaniEl was to be taken out of the pit. And when they lifted him out, they found that DaniEl hadn’t been harmed in any way, because he had trusted in his God.
Then the king gave orders and they took the men that had accused DaniEl and threw them, their sons, and their wives into the lion’s pit… and they hadn’t even reached the floor before the lions had them… they even chewed up their bones, so all that remained of them was just dust.
And after that, King Darius wrote a letter to all the peoples, tribes, and languages throughout the whole earth that said this:
‘May you have peace!
From my presence, I’ve sent this decree to all states throughout my realm:
‘Before the face of DaniEl’s God
All should tremble and fear.
For, He is the one Living God
And He exists through the ages.
‘His Kingdom will not be destroyed
And it will last through the ages…
He alone will rule ‘til the end.
‘He snatches away and He rescues;
He sends us miracles and signs
Both in the heavens and on the earth…
For, this is the One that saved DaniEl
From the mouths of the lions.’
So DaniEl continued to prosper during the reign of Darius and on into the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
It was during the 1st year of the reign of BelShazzar (the king of the Chaldeans) that DaniEl saw a vision in his head as he was lying in his bed, and this is what he wrote about the things that he saw:
‘In my vision during the night, I (DaniEl) saw the four winds blowing hard and stirring up the Great Sea;and four large animals came up out of the sea that were different from each other.
‘The first one looked like a female lion, and she had the wings of an eagle. But as I watched, her wings were plucked off and she was lifted away from the earth… then she stood on feet that were like those of a man, and the heart of a man was given to her.
‘I also saw a second wild animal that looked like a bear. It was lying on one side and there were three ribs sticking out of its mouth from between its teeth. Then it was told to get up and devour much flesh.
‘{Look!} I also saw another wild animal that looked like a leopard, but it had four wings [like those of] of a bird on its back, and it had four heads. It was also given great power.
‘And as I was watching, I saw a 4th wild animal that was astonishing, frightening, and huge. It had teeth of iron that were mighty for eating and crushing, and it trampled the others with its feet. It was very different from the wild animals that had come before it, and this one had ten horns.
‘Then as I was looking at its horns, another small horn came up in the midst of them, which pushed out the three horns that were in front of it. {Look!} This horn had the eyes of a man, and it started saying grandiose things.
‘Well, as I kept on watching, a throne appeared upon which the Most Ancient One seated Himself. His clothes were as white as snow, the hair on His head was like pure wool, His throne was like flames of fire, and it had wheels that looked like flames.Also, a river of fire shot out from before Him, and there were millions that were serving Him and tens of millions more that were standing before Him.
‘Then a judgment seat was brought forward and scrolls were opened.And as I was watching, I heard a voice coming from the [animal’s] horn that was speaking those grandiose words.
‘However, after that, the wild animal was condemned and put to death, then its body was thrown into a blazing fire.And after that happened, the rulership of the other wild animals was returned to them (gr. metestathe or changed over), and their lives were extended for a time and a season.
‘Then as I was watching the things in the vision that night, {Look!} someone like a Son of Man arrived riding upon the clouds of the skies, and he went up in front of the Most Ancient One,who then gave him rulership, honor, and a Kingdom, so that from then on, all the peoples, tribes, and languages were to serve him. And [he was told that] the authority he was given was to last through the ages… it would never pass away or be destroyed.
‘Well at that, the spirit within me (DaniEl) shuddered (as often happens to me), because the visions that I saw in my head were so disturbing.So I went up to the one that was standing there, because I wanted him to explain the meanings of all these things… and he spoke to me plainly, making the interpretation very clear.[He said]:
These four great beasts are four kingdoms,
Which will arise on the earth…
But thereafter, they’ll be taken away.
‘Then this [Son of Man] will take over the kingdom
Of the holy ones of the Most High…
Through the age and through ages of ages,
He will be the one that will rule.
‘Then I wanted to find out more about the 4th wild animal, because it was so different from the other wild animals and it was so frightening because of its iron teeth and brass claws that it used to eat, crush, and trample.I also wanted to learn more about the ten horns that were on its head, and about the [horn] that arose and shook off three of the [horns]… the one that had eyes and a mouth that spoke grandiose things, because it was the most disturbing of all the things that I saw.For as I was watching, that horn attacked the holy ones and conquered them.But then the Most Ancient One came and gave these Holy Ones His most favorable judgment, and they were able to take over their Kingdom.
‘Then he told me this:
The 4th beast is a 4th kingdom
That will also rule over the earth.
It will be greater than all other kingdoms;
For, it will devour all of the lands…
It will trample upon them and cut them to bits.
‘His ten horns are ten kings that will come;
And after them, another will arise
That will conquer the previous kings…
And three of them will be humbled.
‘Then, he will speak grandiose words
And mislead the Holy Ones of the Most High.
He’ll choose to change times and laws
For a time, [two] times, and a half.
‘But thereafter, the judgment seat will arrive,
And his position of rule will be changed…
He’ll be removed from view and destroyed
Until the end has arrived.
‘Then the Kingdom, the authority, and the greatness
Of all the kings under the heavens
Will be given to the Holy One of the Most High,
Whose Kingdom will last through the ages…
Then these kings will serve and obey Him.
‘Well, that’s when [the dream] ended. But these thoughts disturbed me so much that they even changed my appearance. Therefore, I (DaniEl) remembered them and kept them in my heart.’
It was in the 3rd year of the reign of King BelShazzar that I (DaniEl) had a vision that was like the previous one.In the vision, I found myself at the palace in Sushan (in the region of ElAm), and I was standing by the Ulai River.Then when I looked up, I saw a ram standing at the river bank that had two long horns. One horn was taller than the other and it grew from behind it.Then I saw the ram butting toward the west, north, and south, so that none of the other wild animals could stand before him and none could be saved from his hands. So, he did whatever he wished and he became very powerful.
Well, as I was watching, {Look!} a male goat came across the land from the southwest and [his feet] weren’t touching the ground. This goat’s horn was very conspicuous, because it grew out from between his eyes.Then he rushed toward the ram that I saw (the one with the two horns) and butted him as hard as he could,because he was furious with him… he ran as fast as possible and he hit the ram and broke off both of his horns, which left [the ram] weak and unable to oppose him. Then [the male goat] threw the ram to the ground and trampled him, and no one came to his aid.
Thereafter, the male goat became extremely famous for his strength. But then his large horn was broken and 4 horns grew up from beneath it that each pointed toward one of the four winds of the skies.However, one of them became extremely powerful… it grew rapidly toward the south and eastuntil it reached to the powers of the heavens. Then he threw [the other three horns] to the ground and he also started trampling on the stars.For he became more powerful toward the commander-in-chief, so that through him, the sacrifices were to be disturbed and the Holy Place was to be destroyed.Yes, he was prepared as a sin-offering sacrifice that resulted in righteousness being tossed to the ground. And after he did that, he prospered.
Then I heard the Holy One speaking. He asked:
‘How long will this vision stand…
When the sacrifices are taken away
And the sin of destruction is allowed,
As the Holy Place and its power
Will thereafter be trampled upon?’
And he said:
‘After 2,300 mornings and evenings,
The Holy Place will be cleansed.’
Well, as I was seeing this vision, I (DaniEl) wanted to understand more. Then I saw what looked like a man standing before me;and I heard a man’s voice speaking from the midst of the Ulai [River]. He called out and said:
‘GabriEl; Let him understand the vision!’
So he came over to where I was standing. And as he was coming, I became very disturbed and fell to my face. Then he said to me:
‘Pay attention, O son of man;
For this vision is of the time of the end!’
Well, as he was speaking to me, I stayed there with my face to the ground; but then he touched me and stood me up on my feet.And he said:
‘{Look!} I’ll explain what will bring the end to [God’s] rage;
For, these are the things that will happen
In the time of the end:
‘The ram that you saw with [two] horns
Is the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians,
And the male goat is the king of the Greeks.
‘The great horn that stands between its [two] eyes
Will be their greatest of kings.
And after he’s broken, the 4 horns that arise
Will be 4 kings that succeed him;
But, none will be as mighty as he.
‘Now, in the last days of their kingdom,
They will be filled with sins.
Then a king will arise that has a proud face…
One that understands riddles.
‘Though he’ll have great power, the strength won’t be his;
Then he’ll prosper and corrupt in wondrous ways…
He’ll take action and he will bring ruin
To a people that are mighty and holy.
‘He’ll prosper by putting [others in] yokes,
And in his hands, there will be treachery;
For in his heart, he’ll think himself great.
‘His treachery will bring ruin to many,
And he’ll destroy many to establish himself…
He’ll break them like eggs in his hands.
‘As for the vision of the evenings and mornings;
The things that you saw are all true!
But, you must now seal up this vision,
For it will all happen in some future time!’
Then I (DaniEl) went to bed and I was sick for several days after that. But I [finally] got up and did my work for the king; and I wondered about the vision… but I was the only one who knew about it.
Well, it was in the 1st year of Darius of Xerxes, who was from the seed of the Medes and who ruled over the kingdom of the Chaldeans,that I (DaniEl) came to understand the number of the years from the words that Jehovah had given to the Prophet JeremiAh; for he had prophesied that JeruSalem would lie desolate for 70 years.So I turned my face toward Jehovah God to ask Him about this through prayers, supplications, and by fasting in sackcloth and ashes.I prayed to my God Jehovah, acknowledging Him and saying this:
‘O Lord; O great and wonderful God that keeps His Sacred Agreements and is merciful to those who love Him and keep His Commandments;
We’ve sinned, done wrong, and been godless,
For from Your Commandments and ways, we have turned.
We’ve not listened to Your servants the Prophets
(Those who spoke in Your Name),
Or to our kings, rulers, ancestors, and kin.
‘Though You, O Jehovah, are just;
The people of IsraEl and Judah,
As well as those in JeruSalem,
Have been covered with shame to this day…
Yes, all the people that [lived there]
And those that have been been [carried away]
To all places, wherever You sent them,
Because they had been in rebellion
By annulling their Sacred Agreement with You.
‘The faces of our fathers, rulers, and kings
Who’ve sinned against You are shamed.
But from You, O Jehovah our God,
Has come forgiveness and tender compassion
Despite our sin of withdrawing from You.
‘To Your voice, we’ve not paid attention,
O Jehovah our God,
Nor have we obeyed the Laws that you gave
Through the hands of Your servants, the Prophets.
‘IsraEl has broken Your laws
And turned aside from hearing Your voice.
So the curses and oaths that were written
In the Law of Moses (the servant of God)
Have now fallen upon us
Because of our sins against You.
‘So the words that were spoken against us
And against the judges that judged us
Have now all come to pass…
They have brought such evil upon us
As has never been seen in JeruSalem’s skies.
‘In the Law that You gave to Moses
It was written that these bad things would happen
If we failed to search for the face of our Lord
And turn away from our sins.
‘Since this was the concern of Jehovah our God,
He sent upon us, our own evil ways.
It was right for Jehovah to do all these things,
For we’ve not paid attention to His voice!
‘Now, O Jehovah our God…
You who led Your people from Egypt
With Your great, mighty hand
And established a Name for Yourself to this day;
But, we have broken Your Laws…
We’ve fallen into errors and sins!
‘Yet Lord;
In your great loving care,
Please turn away Your anger and rage
From Your [holy] city, JeruSalem,
And from Your most holy Mountain!
‘It was because we walked in the sins of our fathers
That JeruSalem and Your people
Have become an object of such ridicule
By those that are living around us.
‘O Jehovah, our God;
Hear the prayer of Your servant
And listen to the things that I’m begging!
‘May Your Face be seen in Your Most Holy Place
Before those whom You’ve deserted…
Do this for the sake [of Your Name]!
‘O my God;
Lean Your ear and listen to me!
Please open Your eyes and notice
How we and the city where You’ve put Your Name
Have now been brought to destruction!
‘So, we can no longer approach You
And throw our worries before You
Because of our unrighteous ways, O Jehovah…
Yet we have many things that concern us.
‘Please listen, O Lord, and cover our sins…
Do it quickly, because our city and its people
Are the ones that are called by Your Name!’
Well, it was just as I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sins and the sins of my people, throwing my desire for mercy before my God Jehovah concerning His Holy Mountainthat GabriEl (the person that I saw flying in my first vision) touched me (it was about the time for the evening sacrifice),and then he helped me to understand… he spoke to me and said this:
‘O DaniEl;
I have come here to teach you
So that you can now understand.
I’ve been coming since you started your prayer
To tell you that you have been found to be
A very desirable man.
‘So, you must now reflect on the things
That you will see in this vision.
‘70 periods of 7 have been set
On behalf of you and your people
And for the Holy City on Zion
So as to bring an end to your sins,
To set a seal on your errors,
To wipe away all of your lawless deeds,
And to atone for the [bad things you’ve done]…
To restore righteous ways through the ages,
To set a seal on the prophecies and visions,
And to anoint the holiest of the holy.
‘So, know this, and now understand:
From the delivery of the word and its response
For JeruSalem to be built once again
Until the Anointed (or Christ) Leader arrives,
Will be 7 periods of 7,
Plus 62 periods of 7.
They’ll rebuild the walls and the squares,
But they’ll do it through difficult times.
‘And after the 62 periods of 7,
The anointed one will then be destroyed (gr. exolothreuthesetai)…
For in that place, there’ll no longer be justice.
‘Then the Holy Place and the city
Will be corrupted by a leader that will come
And cut them off by a downpour…
He’ll order an extinction upon them
Until the end of his war.
‘He’ll strengthen the Sacred Agreement with many
During 1 period of 7;
But in half of that period of 7,
Sacrifices and drink offerings will be lifted away.
‘Then, to the Temple will come the disgusting destroyer,
And until that time is fulfilled,
There’ll just be complete desolation.’
Well, it was during the 3rd year of the reign of Cyrus, the king of Persia that these true words were uncovered to me (DaniEl… who was also called BelTeShazzar), and I was able to gain a great understanding from this vision.
At the time, I (DaniEl) had been in mourning for three weeks…I hadn’t eaten any meat or bread, and no wine had entered my mouth. And during those three weeks, I hadn’t rubbed myself with any oil.
Then (on the 24th day of the 1st month) as I was standing on the banks of the great Tigris River,I raised my eyes and I saw a man wearing linen clothes. His hips were wrapped in the gold of Ophir,his body looked like stone, his face looked like lightning, his eyes looked like burning lamps, his arms and legs looked like shining brass, and when he spoke it was like the sound of a large crowd.
I was the only one who saw this vision, for the men that were with me at the time didn’t see anything. However, something came over them that frightened them and they all ran away,leaving me alone.
Well, when I had this great vision, it left me weak… it took all my glory and corrupted it, leaving me without any strength.Then I heard a voice speaking words; and when I heard what was being said, I was confused. So I fell with my face to the ground.
Then {Look!} a hand reached out and touched me and lifted me up on my knees and onto the palms of my hands.And this is what he said to me:
‘O DaniEl, you very desirable man;
Understand the words that I’m speaking to you.…
Get up and stand on your feet,
For I have been sent here to help you!’
Well when he said that, I stood erect (but I was still shaking).And he said to me:
‘Don’t be afraid, O DaniEl.
For from the first day that you opened your heart
So as to understand [all these things]
And you started [your fast] to Jehovah your God;
All of your words have been heard,
And I’ve come here because of the things that you’ve prayed.
‘But the ruler of the kingdom of Persia
Stood and opposed me for 21 days,
Until MichaEl (one of the foremost rulers)
[Finally] came to my aid.
‘So, that is where I had left him…
With the ruler of the kingdom of Persia,
And I’ve come here so as to explain
What will happen to your people in the last days.
For, this is a vision of things that will be.’
Well as he was saying that, I fell with my face to the ground once again, because I was so confused.Then {Look!} someone who looked like one of the sons of men came and touched my lips, and I was able to open my mouth and speak. So I said to the one that was standing before me:
‘O lord, seeing this vision of you has twisted my insides and left me weak.So, O Lord, how will your servant be able to speak to you, since I’m weak, I’m unable to stand, and I can hardly breathe!’
Then [someone that] looked like a human came and touched me, and gave me strength;and he said:
‘Don’t be afraid, you most desirable man…
May you have peace…
But now you must be manly and strong!’
Well as he was speaking to me, I did become stronger, so I said:
‘Now speak, O my lord, because you have given me the strength!’
Then he asked:
‘Do you know why I have come here to you?
Though I must now go back and fight a war
Against the ruler of the kingdom of Persia
Before the ruler of the Greeks will arrive…
I’ve come here to help you write words of truth.
And no one is with me when it comes to these things
Other than MichaEl, your ruler.
‘Since the 1st year of Cyrus,
I’ve been standing nearby in power and might…
And now, I will tell you the truth:
{Look!} In Persia, three kings will arise,
Then a 4th will come who’ll be richer.
And after he gains all his wealth,
He will attack the kingdoms of Greece.
‘Then [from Greece], a mighty king will arise
Who will gain a vast kingdom
And he’ll do whatever he wishes.
‘But, after his kingdom has been established,
It will be divided and broken
Toward the four winds of the skies…
And it won’t be as strong as during his rule.
For his kingdom will then be plucked up
And divided among the outsiders.
‘Then the king in the south will grow mighty,
But another one will grow stronger
And he’ll use the authority he’s given
To rule a kingdom that’s vast.
‘However, after his time,
They will all become allies;
And the daughter of Egypt’s king
Will go to the king in the north
And she will make treaties with him.
But his arm won’t be strong and his seed won’t survive.
‘Then, she will be handed over,
Along with all those who brought her,
As well as with her young women,
And the one that made her strong in her time.
‘Then someone will arise from the root of her flower,
And when he’s ready, he will attack
The army of the king of the north
And overrun his supporters…
He will conquer and then win the war.
‘He’ll carry away all of their molded gods
And all of their most desirable things
(Including their silver and gold).
Then, back to Egypt, he’ll take it…
For he’ll dominate the king of the north.
‘Thereafter, [the king] of the north
Will come and enter the kingdom
Of the king of the south…
But then, he’ll return to his land.
‘So his sons will gather an army,
Which will quickly overrun and pass through.
[In that land], they will thereafter settle,
And they’ll fight all the way to his stronghold.
‘This will enrage the king of the south
And he will raise a large army
To fight against the king of the north,
And he will take many captives.
‘Then his heart will become very proud,
And thousands, he’ll cut to the ground…
But the war he will fight won’t be won.
‘Thereafter, the king of the north
Will gather an army that’s larger,
And toward the end of [his rule],
He’ll attack and enter with power,
Along with many [weapons of war].
‘But, during that time, there will be a rebellion
Against the king of the south,
As the rabble among your people grow many,
So this vision will be proven true…
But then, they will also get weaker.
‘Then the king of the north will attack,
And he will build many siege mounds
To capture their fortified cities.
‘And the chosen ones of the south will arise;
Yet, they won’t be quite as strong.
So the one that enters will do what he wants,
And none will be able to stop him.
‘Then he’ll stand in the glorious land,
And with his own hands, he’ll destroy it.
‘Thereafter, he will set his face
To march against their whole kingdom
With those that have been proven upright,
And this is what he will do:
‘They’ll give him the daughter of a woman,
So that he can thereafter corrupt her,
But she will not stay and she’ll never be his.
‘So he’ll turn his attention to the islands,
And many will be captured there.
This will stop the ridicule of their kings…
But, only for a short time.
‘At that time, he will turn his attention
To making his land much stronger again;
But then, he’ll get weaker and fall,
And never be [heard from] again.
‘Yet, from out of his roots, will arise
The shoot of a kingdom to oppose him,
And demand all the glory of his kingdom.
‘Yet, in those days, he’ll be broken…
But, not by rebellion or war.
There’ll be someone that will stand in his place
Whom he once treated with great contempt
And not given any glory in his kingdom.
But, in prosperity, he will return,
And through treachery, he’ll then take the kingdom.
‘So the strength of the one that was bringing the flood
Will be broken and washed away from his face…
The one who’s in charge of the Sacred Agreement.
‘For, after he’s made an alliance,
He will then act in deceitful ways.
‘Through a nation that’s small, he’ll gain power,
And he’ll go to a prosperous place
To do what his fathers and even their fathers
Had been unable to do…
He’ll plunder and divide up the loot.
‘Then, he will plot against Egypt,
And when he’s strong, he will set his heart
Against the king of the south,
And attack him with a great army.
‘But the king of the south will gather an army
And beat him with their new weapons of war…
He’ll devour everything that he wanted to take,
And then, he’ll destroy their whole army…
He’ll break them and he will kill many.
‘So, both kings will have wicked hearts,
And when they sit down at a table,
They’ll lie and settle nothing at all
Until the end has arrived.
‘Then, when he goes back to his country,
He will do so with things that he’s plundered
And with his heart set firmly against
The Holy Sacred Agreement.
‘But, after he returns to [his] land,
He’ll invade the south once again…
Yet it won’t be the same as he did at the first.
‘Then, [ships] of Cyprus will attack him
And [teach him] that he must be humble;
So he’ll return and show his rage once again
Against the Holy Sacred Agreement.
‘He’ll launch an attack against those that supported
The Holy Sacred Agreement,
Then [they’ll come] and profane the great Holy Place…
And bring an end to the daily sacrifices.
Yes he’ll bring the disgusting destroyer
Against all those that are breaking the Law
And disregarding the Sacred Agreement.
‘But those that know God will grow stronger
And they’ll do whatever needs to be done…
For they’ll come to know many things.
‘Yet, they’ll be weakened by swords and by fire,
And as captives, they will be carried away…
They’ll be ravaged for a very long time.
‘Then, after they have become weakest,
They will be given some help;
For, many will be added to them…
But, they won’t have the same zeal.
‘They’ll drag down those that do understand
And purify them as through fire
Until the time of the end,
Which will still be a long time away.
‘Thereafter, the king will grow in his might
And put himself higher than all of the gods…
Including the God of all gods.
‘He’ll forget the Gods of his fathers,
And not notice the desires of women…
He will ignore all the gods,
And put himself higher than all.
‘A god of war from his country,
He will then glorify
(A god that his fathers never knew)
With silver, gold, and most precious gems,
And many desirable things.
‘Within a fortress of refuge,
He will act with a strange god
(Whichever one that he chooses)…
He’ll make it grow in its glory,
And cause many to bow down before it,
And then, he’ll divide the land up as gifts.
‘Then, in the time of the end,
He’ll lock horns with the king of the south…
And the king of the north will gather to him
Many chariots, horsemen, and ships.
So, he will then enter their land…
He will break it and he will pass through it.
‘And then, he will enter the glorious land,
And many there, will be weakened.
But these ones will be saved from his hands:
Edom, MoAb, and the sovereignty of AmMon’s sons.
‘Then he’ll stretch his hand out over the land,
And the land of Egypt will not be saved.
He’ll dominate all with the hidden reserves
Of their silver and gold,
And the best things of Libya, Ethiopia, and Egypt…
[Things that he’ll find in] their forts.
‘Then, out of the north and the east,
He will hear things that disturb him.
So he’ll leave in a rage, bringing many along,
To wipe away and destroy.
‘His royal tent, he will then pitch
Between the sea and the Holy Mountain of Glory
Until he comes to his end…
When no one will be able save him.
‘And in that very same hour,
The Highest Messenger, MichaEl, will come
(The one that keeps watch on the sons of your people),
And a difficult time will arrive
Such as has never happened before
And will never happen again.
‘At that time, your people will be saved
(Those whose [names] have been written in the scroll),
And many that are sleeping in graves will arise,
Some to life through the ages,
And others to disgrace and ages of shame.
‘Then, those that understand what I’m saying
Will shine like lights in the skies.
And the many that prove themselves righteous
Will shine like stars through the ages.
‘And you, O DaniEl;
Cover these words and seal up the scroll
Until the time of the end.
[It’s a time when] many will be taught
And knowledge will be multiplied.’
Then I (DaniEl) looked and I saw two others that were also standing there, one on this side of the river and the other on the opposite bank;and one of them asked the man in the linen clothes that was standing over the water in the river:
‘When will all these wonders of which you spoke reach their conclusion?’
And the man in the linen clothes who was standing over the river raised both his right and left hands high toward the heavens, and he swore an oath to The God that lives through ages, saying:
‘The holy ones will be scattered
For a time, [two] times, and a half,
Before these things reach their end.’
Well I heard it, but I didn’t understand it. So I said:
‘O lord; When will these things that you’ve spoke about start to happen, and when will your judgment arrive?’
And he said:
‘Go, O DaniEl…
Cover and seal up these words!
For, there will be many that are chosen
And they will be [dressed] in white robes.
By fire, they will be purified…
And thereafter, they all will be made holy.
But the sinners will continue to sin,
And they won’t be seeking for knowledge.
‘From the time the disgusting destroyer arrives
And the sacrificing comes to an end
Is 1,290 days.
And all of those will be blest
That endure all the way to the end
Of 1,335 days.
‘Now, [you will] go to your rest
Until that day and hour arrives.
For then, you will be resurrected,
And you will receive your inheritance
After those days reach their end.’
The Word of Jehovah came to Hosea (the son of BeEri) in the days of UzziAh, JoTham Ahaz, and HezekiAh the kings of Judah, and in the days of JeroBoam (the son of JoAsh) the king of IsraEl.
This is the beginning of the Word of Jehovah by Hosea.
The Lord spoke to Hosea and said this:
‘Take a woman for yourself from the whores
So that children [can be born] from her whoring;
Because, by chasing after immoral sex,
The land has strayed from Jehovah.’
So [Hosea] went and took Gomer, the daughter of DiBlaim and she got pregnant and bore a son to him.
Then The Lord said to him:
‘Call his name JezreEl;
For, in a short while, I will bring vengeance
On the house of Judah for JezreEl’s blood,
And to the Kingdom of IsraEl,
I am also bringing an end.
In that day, I’ll break IsraEl’s bow
There in the valley of JezreEl.’
Then she got pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And [the Lord] said to him:
‘Call her name, Show No Mercy;
For on IsraEl’s house, I’ll show no mercy…
Yes I’ll stand against and oppose them.
‘Yet, by the power of Jehovah their God,
I will show mercy upon Judah’s sons
And I will bring them salvation.
But, I will not save by the bow or the sword,
Nor by battles of horses and horsemen.’
Well, after she weaned Show No Mercy, she got pregnant again and bore another son to him.And [the Lord] said:
‘Call his name, Not My People;
For, you are no longer my people,
And I am no part of you.
‘Yet the number of IsraEl’s sons
Will become as great as the sands of the seas,
So that no one can measure or count them.
‘And it will be in that place
Where I told them that they are no longer my people;
They will be called, The Living God’s Sons.
‘Then they’ll gather the sons of IsraEl and Judah
And appoint someone to rule over them.
But, from this land,
They will [now be taken away];
For, JezreEl’s day will be great.’
‘Now the brother, Not My People, should speak,
As should his sister, Show No Mercy.
They should plead with their mother,
Though she’s not really My woman
And I’m not really her man.
‘For I’ll bring an end to her whoring
And the adultery she commits between her two breasts.
Then I’ll strip her down ‘til she’s naked
And make her like the day she was born.
‘To be wiped away, I’ll appoint her,
And I’ll make her a waterless land…
Then I will destroy her with thirst.
‘And on her children, I will not show mercy,
For, they’re the result of her whoring…
Because their mother was immoral,
The one that bore them, disgraced them.
‘For she said: I will follow my lovers…
Those that provided my water and bread,
As well as my clothes and fine linen robes,
Along with my olive oil,
And the rest of the things that I truly deserve.
‘For this, {Look!} with barbs, I’ll close up her way…
I’ll block her ways and her roads
So she’ll not be easily found.
‘Then, when she chases her lovers,
She’ll not be able catch them…
She’ll search for them, but not find them.
‘Then she’ll say, I’ll return to my man,
For with him, things had always been better.
But she doesn’t know that I am the one
That provided her grain and her wine,
As well as her oil and her silver.
‘But then she took My silver and gold
And used it to make things for BaAl.
And for doing this, I will return
And remove my grain in its season,
As well as my wine in its time.
‘Then I’ll take away all of her clothes,
As well as My linen robes,
And leave her with nothing to cover her shame.
‘I’ll expose her filth to her lovers,
And from My hand, she will not be saved.
I’ll remove the joy of her feasts,
And her holidays, New Moons, and Sabbaths.
I’ll also take all the grapes and the figs
That she thought were the pay from her lovers.
‘Then I’ll appoint [those men] to witness [against her],
And she’ll be eaten by the beasts in the fields,
As well as by the birds in the skies
And the things that crawl on the ground.
‘Yes, I will take vengeance upon her
For each day that she offered to BaAl…
When she put on her necklace and earrings
And forgot Me to chase after lovers, said Jehovah.
‘And for this, {Look!} I’ll cause her to wander,
And I’ll order desolation upon her.
But then, I will speak to her heart,
And I will give back her things…
I’ll turn that troublesome valley
Into a valley of hope.
I’ll make her as humble as she was in her youth…
Like the day that she came up from Egypt.
‘And in that day, says Jehovah;
She will call Me her husband…
No more will she call out to BaAl!
For the name of BaAl, I’ll lift from her mouth,
And she won’t remember his name.
‘And in that day, I will conclude
An agreement with the beasts of the fields,
As well as with the birds in the skies,
And with the things that crawl on the ground.
‘I’ll also break all the broadswords and bows…
Yes, I’ll bring an end to the wars,
And I will send hope to the land.
‘I’ll take her as My woman through the ages…
I’ll take her rightly and fairly…
In mercy and compassion, [I’ll welcome her back].
I’ll take her to Myself in full trust,
And she’ll think of Me as her Lord.
‘And in that day, says Jehovah,
To the skies, I’ll turn My attention.
Then, they will tend to the land,
And the land will tend to the grain
As well as to the wine and the oil…
To JezreEl they’ll pay attention once more.
‘I’ll plant her in the ground for Myself,
And I’ll love the one that’s unloved.
Then I will say, You’re My people
To those that weren’t really Mine;
And she will say, Jehovah’s My God!’
And the Lord said to me:
‘Go again and love an adulteress
Who wishes to do what is evil!
For, though Jehovah loved IsraEl’s sons,
They have looked to strange gods,
And of raisin cakes, they’ve been fond!’
So I hired [such a woman] for myself for 15 silver coins, 200 quarts (190l) of barley, and a skin flask of wine.And I said to her,
‘You must now sit next to me and you may not be immoral or be with [another man] for many days… you must be mine alone!For this is how the sons of IsraEl will sit for some time… without a king or a ruler, and with no altar, sacrifices, priesthood, or anything else to give them direction.
‘But after these things are completed, IsraEl’s sons will return to search for their God Jehovah and for David to serve as their king. So at the end of the days, they will find joy in Jehovah and with the good things that He provides.
‘O sons of IsraEl, hear the Word of Jehovah;
For He has a case against all of you…
Those that now live in this land,
Because you have no mercy or truth,
Or any knowledge of God.
‘Cursing, lying, murder, and fraud,
As well as adultery, cover your land.
You’ve also mingled blood with your blood…
And for this, your land will now mourn.
‘So those living here will be fewer…
And all the game in the fields,
All the birds in the skies,
And all the fish in the seas will now fail.
‘Then there’ll be no priests or judges to scold you;
For each day, I’ll be making them weaker.
And I’ll do the same to your prophets…
So your mother will then be [the darkness of] night.
‘For, from my people, they’ve taken the knowledge…
And because they have pushed higher knowledge away,
I will push them away…
They won’t be My priests anymore.
‘And because you’ve forgotten the laws of your God,
I’ll be forgetting your children.
So because of your sins against Me,
Their glory, I’ll appoint to dishonor.
Then My people will have to eat their own sins,
As their lives will be claimed by their unrighteous ways.
‘And these things that will happen to the people
Will also happen to the priests…
Yes I’ll bring my vengeance upon them
For all of their evil ways,
And I’ll pay them back for their [unrighteous] thoughts.
‘Then they’ll eat and never be filled;
For, they’ve become whores that can’t straighten their ways.
They no longer look [to their God] anymore;
Yes, they’ve abandoned Jehovah!
For whoring, wine, and strong drink
Have captured the hearts of My people.
‘They now look to omens for answers,
And [wave magic] wands for replies.
In a spirit of whoring, they’ve wandered,
And to their God, they’re unfaithful.
‘They offer sacrifices upon the hill tops
And beneath the oaks and white poplars,
As well under the rest of the trees,
[To ask] for good and protection.
‘For this, your daughters will all become whores
And your brides will be filled with adultery.
Then, I will not visit your daughters
When they are found guilty of whoring!
Nor [will I visit] your daughters-in-law
When they are committing adultery!
‘Among prostitutes, they will all be mixed
(Among those [that offer their bodies]).
And since the men will not understand,
They will just treat them like whores.
‘So IsraEl; stop being stupid!
And Judah; stop going to GilGal
And to the temple at BethEl!
‘Nor should you say, As Jehovah is living,
When you are swearing your oaths!
For since IsraEl is now like a heifer in heat,
She’ll be fattened like a lamb in a feed lot.
‘And because Ephraim has partnered with idols,
He has set his own snares.
For with CanaAnite whores he’s had sex,
And he’s loved the dishonor of their neighing.
So a mighty wind will now sweep him away,
And his altars will bring him disgrace.
‘Hear these things, O you priests…
And house of IsraEl, you should pay close attention.
O house of the king, you must listen too;
For there’s a judgment that is coming against you!
‘Despite your important positions,
You have become your own snares.
So I’m stretching a net on [Mount] Tabor
(The type that they use to catch game),
And I’ll be the One that corrects you.
‘I remember Ephraim and IsraEl
Before they had strayed far from Me.
But, Ephraim has since been immoral,
And IsraEl is also defiled…
Neither has remembered to turn to their God.
‘Now the spirit of whoring is in them,
And they’ve [forgotten] Jehovah.
So because of her insolent ways,
IsraEl’s face will be humbled.
And for Ephraim’s unrighteous ways,
I will bring weakness upon him…
And I’ll also bring weakness on Judah.
‘Though they bring before Him their sheep and their calves,
There’s no way that they’ll follow Jehovah.
So now, they can no longer find Him,
Because they have all turned away.
‘Yes, they have abandoned Jehovah,
And to children of strangers, they’re now giving birth.
So, they and all that they’d hope to inherit
Will soon be eaten by blight.
‘So, blow the trumpets on the hill tops…
Sound it from all the high places!
In the house of On, you should proclaim it,
So that BenJamin will also be shaken.
For, Ephraim will soon be destroyed
In the day of correction!
‘Though IsraEl’s tribes once put faith in Me,
The rulers of Judah then joined with the rest
That moved the property markers…
So I’ll pour My rage upon them like water!
‘Yes, Ephraim [will be oppressed]
Because he has trampled on justice,
And because he has chased worthless things.
So to Ephraim, I’m sending disturbance,
And to the house of Judah, I’ll now be a spur.
‘Though Ephraim saw his disease,
And though Judah understood his reasons for grief;
Ephraim looked to Assyria
And asked their king for his aid…
But [that king] won’t be able to save them,
And he won’t bring an end to their grief.
‘So to Ephraim, I’ll now be a panther,
And to the house of Judah, a lion…
For I’ll snatch them away and I’ll go…
I’ll grab them and no one will save them.
Then I will go back to My place,
And I won’t be seen again ‘til the time
That they turn and search for My face.
‘But, when they’re oppressed, they’ll rise early;
And then, about Jehovah, they’ll say:
We should return to our God;
For He’ll snatch us away and then heal us.
He’ll attack them and then dress our wounds…
Yes, after two days, He’ll restore us;
Then, by the 3rd day, we’ll be alive
And we’ll be standing before Him!
‘Knowledge of Him, we’ll know and pursue…
We’ll find Him at the first crack of dawn.
Then like morning rain, He will arrive…
Yes, like evening rain on the ground.
‘[Then God said:
O Ephraim, what must I do?
And Judah, what must I do?
For your mercy is like morning fog,
Which like the dew, fades away.
‘So, by the Prophets, I’ve mowed you down,
And I’ve killed you with words from My mouth…
My judgments upon you have gone forth like light.
‘What I want is mercy, not sacrifice…
Higher knowledge instead of burnt-offerings!
But you’ve broken your Sacred Agreement with Me,
And you have shown Me your hatred.
‘GileAd is a city of wasted deeds…
One that muddies the water.
For her strength now comes from her thieves,
And her priests also murder from ambush.
‘So, SheChem has committed unrighteous acts
Against the house of IsraEl,
And causes for shuddering, I’ve seen there;
So because of Ephraim’s whoring,
Both IsraEl and Judah have now been defiled.
Thus they’ll reap [from the vine] of rebellion
Until I bring back My people.’
‘When I brought healing to IsraEl,
It exposed the injustice of Ephraim,
As well as Samaria’s evils.
For at first, they all just told lies;
Then, from among them, came thieves,
And robbers led them out to the highways.
‘They sang together of the evil in their hearts,
Remembering all the [bad things] they’d done.
And now, they are covered by the things that they chose…
What they did in front of My face!
‘And all the bad things that they’ve done
Have gladdened [the hearts] of their kings…
Their lying ways delighted their rulers!
‘Now, all those that are committing adultery
Are in an oven that’s heated for baking by flames…
They’ve been kneaded and allowed to grow fat
And the [whole ball] has fermented.
‘For, in the days of their kings,
Their rulers became enraged by their wine,
And they held out their [arms] toward vile men…
Those whose hearts were burning like kilns.
‘Then, Ephraim’s sleep became filled
With [thoughts of destroying] all night…
And in the morning, they burst into flames.
They all became heated like ovens,
And then they devoured their judges.
So, though all their kings have now fallen,
No one has called out to Me.
‘Now, Ephraim’s people are all intermixed…
They’re like a cake that’s been baked in hot ashes,
Which [no one has bothered] to turn.
‘So, strangers have eaten his strength
While he wasn’t paying attention…
And after that, his hair all turned grey;
Yet, he was still unaware.
‘Now, IsraEl’s insolent ways
Will bring humility to their faces;
For, they haven’t turned toward Jehovah their God…
No, after these things have all happened,
They haven’t gone looking for Him.
‘So Ephraim has become like a dove
That has no mind and no heart.
First, he called out to Egypt,
And then, to Assyria, he [turned].
‘But, when they go there, I’ll throw out My net
And I will catch them like birds…
I’ll drag them down and correct them,
And listen as they are tormented.
‘Yes, woe to them, for they’ve leaped away…
O how wretched their lives have become
In their irreverence toward Me.
‘Though I’m the One that once paid their ransom,
They spoke against Me and lied…
In their hearts, they failed to call out…
They just laid there and shrieked in their beds,
As they sold themselves for wine and for bread.
‘When they were corrected by Me,
I also strengthened their arms!
But then, against Me, they hatched wicked plots.
‘So when they return, they’ll have nothing…
They’ll be like a bow that’s stretched tight,
And their rulers will fall by the sword,
Because they’ve said stupid things;
Then in the land of Egypt, they’ll all be defiled.
‘Yes their land is in [Egypt’s hands],
And against them, an eagle now flies,
Because they’ve broken [God’s] Sacred Agreement,
And they’ve disregarded His Laws.
‘However, before Him, they cry out, O God;
Aren’t we the same ones that have known You?
But they threw away the good things He sent
And turned to His enemies for aid.
‘By themselves, they chose their own rulers
(No, they didn’t ask Me),
And when these men started to rule,
They saw no reason to tell Me.
Then with silver and gold they made idols…
So now, they must be wiped away!
‘O Samaria; get rid of your calves,
Because they provoke Me to rage…
How much longer will IsraEl stay dirty?
For [your calves] are just things that you’ve made [with your hands]…
No, they aren’t really gods!
And Samaria; you have strayed because of your calves!
‘Yes, the seeds of destruction, you’ve sown to the wind,
And now your end is searching for you.
You’re a stalk of grain too weak to give flour,
And if you could give just a little,
It would be eaten by strangers.
‘So IsraEl will be swallowed down,
And they won’t be a power among other nations.
For, up to Assyria she traveled,
And as Ephraim so loves to do,
She offered them bribes [for their aid].
‘So among the nations, they will be scattered
And there, they will just be too weak
To again anoint rulers and kings for themselves.
‘Ephraim has built many altars,
And these alters that she loves are the [roots] of her sins.
So for them, I will write extra laws,
Because she loves those strange altars.
‘But if they place their sacrifices on them,
And if they thereafter eat all the meat;
[God] still won’t receive them in favor.
‘For, their unrighteous ways are what He’ll recall…
And for their sins, He’ll send vengeance upon them.
Yes, they have turned back to Egypt,
And forgotten the One by whom they were made.
‘Sacred precincts have also been established
Within the walls of the cities of Judah.
So, I will send fire to their cities
And burn them to their foundations.
‘Therefore, IsraEl; do not rejoice,
For your people don’t have any reasons for joy.
Since against Jehovah, you’ve been a whore.
‘You’ve loved the gifts of the grain
From the threshing floors where they laid you.
But your threshing-floor grain [will not feed you],
And the wine in your vats will [soon fail].
‘For you chose not to dwell in the land of Jehovah…
Yes, life in Egypt is what you preferred,
And with the Assyrians, you ate what’s unclean.
‘You offered Jehovah no wine,
And set nothing delicious before Him.
So your sacrifices became like the bread
That is offered in mourning…
It defiles all those who would eat it.
‘So, since you can’t bring your bread to [His Temple]
For [the purpose of saving] your lives;
What will you do on your feasts to Jehovah
And on His festival days?
{Look!} For, because you’ve done all of these wicked things,
To the misery of Egypt, I’ll send you!
‘Then, Memphis will watch over you,
And in Machmas, you will be buried.
So then ruin will inherit your silver,
And thorns will grow in your tents.
For the days of His vengeance will have arrived…
The time when you’ll receive what you’re due.
‘As a prophet without inspiration,
Is how IsraEl will view her affliction…
Like a man blown away by the wind.
And because you’ve been so unrighteous,
The pressures [in your lives] will increase.
‘Though Ephraim’s watchmen once [walked] with God;
Their prophets have become crooked snares,
And madness [now reigns] in their temples.
‘Yes, they’ve been corrupt since the days of the hills;
So He won’t forget their unrighteous ways,
And He’ll punish them for all their sins.
‘O IsraEl;
Back when I had first found you,
It was like finding grapes in the desert
Or early figs on a tree.
But thereafter, as I was still watching,
Your fathers [chose to bow to] BaAl Peor…
And that’s when you left [Me] in shame
To become something disgusting…
Something that’s no longer loved.
‘Now, Ephraim’s like a bird that flew [from its nest],
For they’ve lost the glory of [the place of] their birth
As well as their pangs of conception.
So, though they still nourish their children,
They’ll soon be childless along with the rest.
‘O woe, when I tear away all their flesh;
For Ephraim’s young will be treated like game…
Their children will be led out and stabbed!’
Yes, give it to them, O Jehovah…
Yes, please give it to them!
Give them a womb that is childless,
As well as breasts that are dry!
‘In GilGal their evil deeds are now done,
And that’s where [they’ve gained] all My hatred.
Because of the evils they’ve done there,
I’ll throw them away and love them no more,
For none of their rulers [will listen].
‘Though Ephraim was something I tended and hoed,
His roots have still become dry,
And this is why he no longer bears fruit.
Thus, when they give birth, I will destroy
Those that they love from their bellies.
‘Yes, I will push them away,
Because they’re refusing to listen to Me…
Then, among the gentiles, they’ll wander.
‘IsraEl was a vine with many good branches,
And her fruit was [once] straight and true.
But the more of her fruit [I provided],
The more they built altars to others.
And the more prosperity [I brought to] the land,
The more they built [shrines to other gods].
‘Yes they gave their hearts to such things,
So now, they’ll be wiped away.
For I’ll cut their altars down to the ground
And empty out all of their shrines.
‘They say,We don’t have a king anymore…
Someone we feared [more than God];
For, what was Jehovah able to do?
‘So they give excuses and lie;
But because I had an agreement with them,
My judgments will soon rise against them
Like weeds in an untended field.
‘To the calf in the [temple] at BethEl
The people of Samaria now go.
And there, My people have wailed…
Which has embittered My soul.
For when they should have rejoiced in My glory,
They chose to move far away.
‘So Assyrians will chain them and lead them away
As gifts and tributes to their king.
And then it will be by His decree
That Ephraim and IsraEl will be shamed.
‘Samaria threw away her [true] King,
As though throwing a stick across water.
So the shrines at BethEl (IsraEl’s sin)
Will soon be lifted away.
‘Then upon all of their altars
Thorns and thistles will grow.
So, they will say to the mountains,
Come and cover us over,
And they’ll say to the hills, Fall upon us!
‘But for as long as the hills have existed,
IsraEl has stood in her sins.
So no way will her hills [then come to her aid]
When war arrives on her unrighteous young
To correct them and bind them together…
For, it will take [war] to straighten their ways.
‘Ephraim’s a heifer that has learned to love fights;
But, I will [grab hold] of her neck
And lead Ephraim off as [a captive].
I [will also force] Judah [to plow],
And Jacob [to break the hard ground].
‘So, you should sow what is righteous,
And gather the vintage of life!
On yourselves, you should shine light of knowledge,
And keep on seeking Jehovah
Until your [hearts] become righteous!
‘Why prefer to overlook the bad things you do
And gather the vintage of the unrighteous?
For you’re eating fruit that is false,
And in chariots, you’re putting your faith…
You’re trusting in your own power.
But destruction will come to your people,
And all your walled [cities] will fall.
‘O house of IsraEl;
As ShalMan once treated the house of JeroBoam
In the day of their war,
And dashed the mothers on top of their young…
That’s how I’ll treat you for your wicked ways
‘It was early on when they were disowned,
And IsraEl’s kings were also disowned.
But as an infant, IsraEl was so deeply loved,
So I called his children from Egypt.
But, as I was calling them back,
They started turning from Me…
To BaAl Im they brought sacrifices,
And burned incense before the idols they carved.
‘I once held Ephraim [tight]in my arms…
And when he didn’t know Me, I healed him.
While he was in the corrupt state of men,
I wrapped him in the bonds of My love.
‘To him, I became like a [father]…
One that disciplines him…
So I’ll watch over him and I’ll win!
‘But to the land of Egypt, he will not return,
For Assyria’s king will now rule him
Because he refused to turn from [bad ways].
‘So, swords will rage in their cities
And they will consume the bars on their gates…
For their bad decisions, they will be destroyed!
‘Their people have clung to the things in their homes,
And I am enraged by the things they hold dear.
So as the result, I won’t bless them.
‘How should I treat you, O Ephraim…
How can I shield you, O IsraEl?
Should I treat you the same as I’ve treated AdMah?
Will I appoint you as I did to Zeboim?
‘Will My heart be changed in such matters…
Shouldn’t such things upset Me…
Yes, shouldn’t such deeds make Me sad?
‘But no way will I send all My rage upon you…
No way will I wipe Ephraim away.
For, I am your God (not a man)…
I’m the Holy One in your midst,
So I will not enter your cities!
‘But now, you must [return to] Jehovah;
Or He will roar like a lion
And startle your young by the sea in the west.
‘They’ll be startled like a bird out of Egypt,
And like Assyrian doves;
Then I’ll bring them back to their homes, says Jehovah.
‘By Ephraim, I was circled with lies…
By the irreverence of the houses of IsraEl and Judah.
But Jehovah will know them once more
And call them The Holy People of God.’
‘Like an evil wind, Ephraim’s become…
One that pursues burning winds all day long
And does many things that are empty and vain.
With Assyria, he has made treaties of peace,
And he’s traded olive oil down in Egypt.
‘And Jehovah has a case against Judah,
So He’ll punish Jacob according to his ways,
Then pay him back for the bad things he’s done.
‘For, while he was still in the womb,
He caught the heel of his brother
And grew in strength with his God.
With an angel, he wrestled and won;
Then he wept and begged [for a blessing].
‘So, there in [BethEl], he found Me.
And it was also there that I said:
From now on, I must be remembered
As Jehovah, the Almighty [God].
‘So, you should return to your God…
Show mercy and learn to be fair…
Yes, always [stay close] to Jehovah!
‘Yet, in [your land], you have unrighteous scales,
And you love to tyrannize others.
So, Ephraim is saying, I’ve become rich,
And I’ve found many ways to relax.
But he’ll never see the fruits of his work,
Because of the evil he’s doing.
‘I am Jehovah, your God…
I’m the One that led you from Egypt.
And I’ll settle you in your tents once again
As I did in the days of My holiday feasts.
‘Once more, I will speak by My Prophets,
And many visions, I’ll send them;
For it’s through the hands of the Prophets
That I am being described.
‘GilGal no longer exists
Because their kings offered things that were false.
So their altars are heaps of turtle manure…
The type that is found in unplanted fields.
‘To the plains of Syria, Jacob had gone,
As IsraEl’s servant searched for a wife;
Then, for a woman, he watched over sheep.
‘And it was by [JoSeph], a Prophet of God,
That IsraEl was led down to Egypt.
Then, by that very same Prophet,
IsraEl’s people were saved.
‘But now that Ephraim’s provoked [God] to rage;
His blood will be poured out upon him…
For Jehovah will pay him back for his scorn.’
‘According to what Ephraim said;
IsraEl’s righteous laws came from Him…
Then he turned to BaAl and he died.
‘Yet, they’ve continued to sin,
And cast images of idols with their silver,
Which are thereafter finished by craftsmen
Who say, Now we must sacrifice men,
Because there aren’t enough calves anymore!
‘So, they are like morning fog,
Which like the dew, fades away…
As chaff on the floors, they’ll just blow away,
And like tears, they will dry.
‘[God says],
I am Jehovah your God…
I’m the One that led you from Egypt,
And no other God, should you know,
For there are no saviors other than Me!
‘I shepherded you in the desert,
And in barren lands, made pastures for you.
But then, your hearts became haughty,
And because of this, you forgot Me.
So I’ll be like a panther or a leopard to you…
Like the ways of the Assyrian people.
Then like an angry bear, I’ll attack you!
Yes, I will rip you to pieces,
Then feed you to my cubs in the woods…
Wild beasts of the fields will rip you apart!
‘ O IsraEl;
Because you’re now so corrupt,
Who will come to your aid?
And what has happened to your king…
Why isn’t he saving your cities…
Why doesn’t he come and serve as your judge?
‘A long time ago you had asked Me
To give you a king as your ruler!
So I gave you a king in My anger,
And My rage was then satisfied.
‘But from Ephraim, then came much injustice,
And he tried to cover his sins.
So the pangs of birth are now coming to him.
And even his smartest of sons
Won’t stop the destruction of his young.
‘Will I save them from the hands of the grave?
Will I [pay] their ransom from death?
Where is your punishment, O death,
And where is your sting, O place of the dead?
For, consoling them is far from My eyes!
‘This is why I will separate brothers
And send burning winds from the desert to them,
Which will dry up their veins
And wipe away all their springs…
Their land and good things will wither and dry.
‘Samaria will be wiped away
Because she resisted her God.
So her people will fall by the sword…
Then those by her breasts will be dashed [to the ground]
And those in the womb will be shredded!’
‘O IsraEl;
Return to Jehovah, your God!
For because of your sins, you’ve become weak.
Follow your own [good advice]
And then turn back to Jehovah!
‘Just ask Him to please overlook
All of your unrighteous ways
So that you can receive what is good
And be repaid for the fruit of your lips.
‘Assyria will not be your savior,
And upon their war horses, you’ll never ride.
So stop calling those hand-made things gods,
And start showing mercy to orphans!
Then I will repair all your homes;
I will turn back my rage;
And I will confess that I love you!
‘To IsraEl, once more, I will become
Like dew that arrives in the morning;
Then, like a lily, he’ll blossom again
And grow roots like Lebanon’s [trees].
‘Yes his branches will grow very full;
And like olive trees, he’ll bear so much fruit
That to Lebanon, its scent will be carried.
‘Then, they will all be returned,
And in His protection, they’ll sit.
They’ll live amidst plenty of grain,
And like grapevines, they’ll blossom…
They’ll be remembered like Lebanon’s wines.
‘O Ephraim;
What good are all of your idols?
Am I not the One that is humbling you
And the One that can make you strong once again?
For I’m a dense juniper tree,
And it’s only by Me that you can bear fruit!
‘So, who among you is wise,
And who understands all these things…
Who among you can recognize them?
For the ways of Jehovah are straight,
And the righteous will live by these ways
While the irreverent will stumble and fall.’
These are words of Jehovah that came to JoEl the son of BathuEl.
‘Listen to these things, O you elders…
Give ear, all you who live in the land!
Have you seen such things in your [lives]?
Were they seen in the days of your fathers?
‘Describe these things to your children
And to all the generations that follow!
For, caterpillars ate all that there was,
And locusts devoured what they didn’t eat;
Then, grasshoppers ate what remained from the locusts,
And what the grasshoppers didn’t consume
Was thereafter destroyed by the blight.
‘Now, sober up and start crying,
All you that are drunk from your wine;
For, joy and gladness are gone from your mouths,
Since a powerful and populous nation
Has now arrived in your land.
‘They have teeth that are as those of lions
And molars like those of young bears.
They’ve appointed your grapevines to extinction
And condemned your fig-trees to splinters.
They are searching for you and cutting you down,
So now, all of your branches are white.
‘Therefore, wail like woman wearing sackcloth
[That mourns] for the man of her virgin years.
For the drink offerings and other sacrifices
Have been removed from [His Temple].
Yes mourn, O you Priests that serve at the Altar,
For all of the fields now lie bare!
‘And mourn, O land, for the grain is now gone,
Also, the wine has all dried,
And the oil is in short supply,
Because the farmers have withered away.
‘Therefore, wail for all that you own,
Since the wheat and barley are gone from the fields!
‘The grapes [have shriveled and] dried;
Very few fig-trees remain;
The pomegranates, palms, and the melons,
And all the trees in the plains are now dry…
Yes, all that brings joy to sons of men
Has been taken away!
‘So Priests; tie your [hands] and beat on your chests…
Yes wail, you who serve at the Altar!
Go to bed wearing sackcloth,
You who are serving before Me,
Since there’s nothing left to be sacrificed,
And nothing to bring as drink offerings
To the House of Jehovah!
‘Then call for a period of fasting…
Proclaim a solemn assembly!
Gather the elders and all of the people
To the House of Jehovah your God,
Where all must fervently call to the Lord!
‘Woe, woe, woe for this time;
For the Day of the Lord has arrived
And misery upon misery has reached you.
Before your eyes, all the food was destroyed,
With the rest that brings joy to your people.
‘In the stables, the cows are now restless,
Since all that they treasure is gone.
The wine vats have all been cut down,
And all of your grain is now parched…
So you’re left with nothing at all.
‘The herds of oxen are bawling
Because they don’t have any pasture,
And your flocks of sheep have all been destroyed.
So, you should call out to Jehovah,
For your beautiful fields have been burned,
And the flames have consumed all your trees.
‘Now, even the beasts in the plains
Have all started looking to Me,
Because their springs have gone dry,
And the desert’s beauty has vanished.
‘So, sound the trumpets in Zion,
And on the Holy Mountain, you must proclaim
That all should bow to their faces,
For the Day of the Lord is at hand (it is near)!
‘It’s a day that’s gloomy and dark…
It’s a day that’s cloudy with fog.
And as dawn peaks over the mountains,
[You can see] a vast, mighty people.
‘Through the ages, such a thing hasn’t happened,
And through coming years, it won’t happen again…
From one generation to another.
‘A consuming fire is raging before you
And all that’s behind you is burning.
A paradise of delights lies before you,
But all that’s behind is extinction and desert
From which no man can escape.
‘The sight of them is like horses…
Like cavalry in hot pursuit.
Theirs is the sound of chariot wheels
Leaping across tops of mountains…
Like the sounds of flames burning stubble
And of a vast mighty hoard of warriors.
‘Before them, the people will all be destroyed
And their faces will be like burnt pots.
For as soldiers, they will attack you;
And as men of war, they’ll then scale your walls.
‘Each of their men will go their own ways,
And they’ll not be turned from their paths…
But, none will stray far from their brothers.
‘They will arrive here with shields,
And by their arrows, the people will fall…
For no way will they tire [of killing].
‘They will thereafter capture the city,
And along its walls, they will run.
Then, into your homes, they’ll descend
And climb through your windows like thieves.
‘Before their faces, there’ll be just confusion,
And even the skies will be shaken.
Then the sun and the moon will grow dark,
And the brightness of the stars will decrease.
‘Before his armies, the Lord will call out;
For he’s leading a great mighty hoard.
His power will be seen in the things that he does,
For great is the Day of the Lord,
Since none can stand and oppose him.
‘Now run,’ says Jehovah your God!
‘Flee to Me whole-heartedly…
Come fasting, weeping, and beating your chests!’
So, tear at your hearts, not your clothes,
And turn to Jehovah your God!
For, He shows mercy and pity…
He’s gentle and He is forgiving,
[So He’ll overlook] the bad things you’ve done.
Who knows if He’ll stop and consider,
Then change His plans and bless you instead.
So, bring sacrifices and drink offerings
To Jehovah your God!
‘Now, blow the trumpets in Zion…
Proclaim a [day] of holy fasts…
A day of sacred service must be declared!
‘Yes, gather all of the people
And proclaim a holy assembly!
Choose your elders, then gather your young…
Even those that are nursing at breasts!
Call the grooms from their bedrooms
And the brides from their wedding chambers!’
‘Now, Priests, you should all start to weep…
Yes, you that serve before God
At the base of the Altar.
Then pray, Spare Your people, O Lord!
Don’t hand them over for scorning
And to be ruled by the gentiles!
Then the nations will never have reason to ask,
What has become of your God?’
O Jehovah; show zeal for Your land,
And please show mercy to Your people!
O Jehovah; reply to Your people and say:
‘{Look!} I’ll send enough grain that you will be full,
Along with much wine and olive oil…
And you’ll be scorned by the nations no more!
‘Then I’ll drive away those that have come from the north
And push them into a waterless land…
I’ll remove their faces to the farthest of seas,
And their rears to the opposite end,
Where they [will lie] rotting and groaning,
And where nothing that they’ve done can be seen.’
So, be courageous O land…
Yes, you should rejoice and be glad,
For Jehovah will be moved to take action!
Also take courage, you cattle;
For, pastures will burst from the desert
And all the trees will bear fruit…
The fig-trees and grapevines will then yield their strength!
And be glad, O children of Zion…
Find joy in Jehovah your God.
For to the righteousness, He will send food,
And He’ll bring the rains (both the early and late)
Just like He has done in the past.
Then your threshing-floors will be covered with grain,
As your vats of wine and oil overflow.
He will repay you for all of those years
When your things were devoured by blight…
By grasshoppers, caterpillars, and locusts,
And by the great army that He sent against you.
Then you will all eat and be filled,
And you’ll praise the Name of your God…
The One that sent you great wonders.
And thereafter, His people won’t meet with disgrace
Throughout the ages that follow.
‘O IsraEl;
At that time, you’ll come here and know
That I am here in your midst…
Yes Me, Jehovah your God!
For there are no Gods other than Me,
And I’ll not leave My people disgraced through the age!
‘Then, in the last days, I will pour out My Breath,
And your sons and daughters will all prophesy,
Your aged men will dream dreams,
And young men in your midst will see visions.
‘In those days, I will pour out My Breath
Upon My male and female attendants.
Miracles, I’ll bring to the skies,
And fire, smoke and blood to the land.
‘For the sun will then become dark
And the moon [will be changed] into blood
Before the great and apparent
Arrival of the Day of the Lord.
‘Then, all who call on the name of the Lord
Will be the ones that are saved,’ said Jehovah.
‘For, to Mount Zion and JeruSalem
Will come a person that saves
Announcing good news to all those
Who have been called by the Lord.
‘For, {Look!} in those days and at that time,
I’ll return all those that were taken away
From Judah and JeruSalem.
‘Then I’ll gather all of those nations
To the Valley of JehoShaphat;
And on behalf of My people, I’ll judge them…
On behalf IsraEl (My inheritance)…
Those whom I’d scattered among all the nations…
Those among whom I’ve divided My land…
My people, over whom I’ve cast lots…
Those who once gave their boys to the whores
And sold their young women for wine (which they drank).
‘What are you to Me, O Sidon and Tyre,
Or GaliLee of the Philistines?
Shouldn’t I repay you for the things that you’ve done…
What reasons did I give you to hate Me?
‘So I’ll swiftly bring what’s due on your heads;
For you’ve taken My silver and gold,
As well as the things that I’ve chosen,
Then carried it back to your temples!
And the sons of Judah and JeruSalem,
You’ve given to the sons of the Greeks…
You pushed them away from your borders.
‘But Look!
In every place where you’ve sent them,
I will make them stand once again
And I’ll lay the payment for them on your heads.
‘Then, after that, I will give
Your sons and daughters to the sons of the Jews.
And many will be taken as captives
To nations that live far away;
For, I Jehovah, have spoken.
‘So, proclaim these things to the nations!
Declare a holy war against them…
Yes, awaken the soldiers and shout:
[Attack and conquer], O men of war!
Cut your plows into broadswords
And beat your scythes into spears!
Let the weak among you say they are strong
And attack the nations that live roundabout!
Come and assemble [your armies],
And let your meek become warriors!
‘Yes, awaken the gentiles and send them
To the Valley of JehoShaphat;
For there, I will separate nations
(Those that live round-about you),
And then, I will send for the scythes…
For the crops are now ready for harvest!
Climb in and tread, for the wine vat is full…
The vats overflow with their badness!
‘Then throughout the valley, [you will hear] the cries
Of those that are about to be punished;
For the Day of the Lord is at hand!
‘Then the sun and the moon will grow dark,
And the stars will start to grow dim.
And from Zion, the Lord will then shout…
From JeruSalem, his voice will be heard.
‘At that time, the lands and skies will be shaken…
But the Lord will spare all his people.
For I’ll make the sons of IsraEl strong,
And you’ll know that I am Jehovah your God!
‘On Zion, My Holy Mountain, I’ll camp,
And JeruSalem will be holy once more…
The nations will not overrun her again.
‘And in that day;
The mountains will trickle down sweetness,
Milk will flow from the hills,
And from the springs of Judah, water will flow.
‘Then a spring will flow from My [Temple],
And its waters will become a great river!
‘Egypt will no longer be,
And Edom’s land in the plains will be gone;
For to the sons of Judah, they were unfair,
And in their lands, they shed righteous blood.
‘Through the ages, they’ll be living in Judah again…
Through generations of generations in JeruSalem.
Then I’ll avenge all the blood that I’ve not avenged,
And the Lord will be tenting on Zion.’
These are the words of Amos [which tell] of things that took place [while he was at] KiriAth JaiRim in Tekoa and of the things that he saw concerning JeruSalem in the days of UzziAh the king of Judah, and in the days of JeroBoam (son of JoAsh) the king of IsraEl, 2 years before the earthquake.
From Zion,Jehovah spoke out…
From JeruSalem, He spoke and said this:
‘Over their pastures, the shepherds will mourn
About the drought on [Mount] CarMel.’
And Jehovah said:
‘Because of these three godless deeds of Damascus (and even 4),
I won’t turn [My] attention from them.
For they used iron saws to saw open
Those in GileAd with [babies] in their wombs.
‘So, to the house of HazaEl, I’ll send fire
And burn the foundations of the sons of Hadad.
Damascus and those in On’s plains, I’ll destroy;
I’ll cut the men of Edem to bits;
And Assyria’s best men will be captured,’ says Jehovah.
Then Jehovah said:
‘For Gaza’s three godless deeds (and even four),
I won’t turn [my] attention from them.
For they captured Solomon’s captives,
And handed them over to Edom.
‘So, to Gaza’s walls, I’ll send fire,
Which will eat her to her foundations.
I’ll also destroy those in AshDod;
And from AshKelon I’ll remove a whole tribe.
Then I’ll bring My hand against EkRon
And destroy the remaining Philistines,’ says Jehovah.
And then Jehovah said:
‘Because of Tyre’s three godless deeds (and even four),
I won’t turn [my] attention from them.
For they handed captives to Edom…
Forgetting their treaty of brothers.
So, to the walls of Tyre, I’ll send fire,
Which will eat her to her foundations.’
And Jehovah said:
‘Because of Edom’s three godless deeds (and even four),
I won’t turn [my] attention from them.
For they chased their brothers with swords,
And [cut down] the mothers throughout the land…
They seized [the mothers] by force
As proof of their awesome terror,
And they continued to do this until they had won.
So, I will send fire against TeMan
Which will eat her to her foundations.’
And Jehovah said:
‘Because of the three godless deeds
Of the sons of AmMon (and even four),
I won’t turn [my] attention from them.
For in GileAd they went and ripped open
[Women] with [babies] in their wombs,
Just to widen their borders.
‘So I’ll light a fire upon RabBah’s walls,
Which will eat her to her foundations.
Then I’ll raise cries of war in that day…
And they’ll shake in the day she’s consumed.
Into captivity, I’ll then send her king,
Along with her rulers and priests,’ says Jehovah.
And Jehovah said:
‘Because of MoAb’s three godless deeds (and even four),
I won’t turn [my] attention from them.
For, the king of Edom’s bones, they burned into dust.
‘So, I will send fire upon MoAb,
And it will devour their cities’ foundations.
Then MoAb will be left without strength…
She’ll hear cries and the blowing of trumpets.
I’ll destroy all her judges and rulers…
Yes, I’ll kill them all,’ says Jehovah.
And Jehovah said:
‘Because of the three [lawless] deeds
Of the sons of Judah (and even four),
I won’t turn [my] attention from them.
For they pushed [aside all My] Laws,
And refused to follow My orders.
‘So, I will cause them to wander
And follow the foolish idols they’ve made,
Which they’ve followed [since the time of] their fathers.
Then, I will send fire upon Judah,
And wipe JeruSalem to her foundations.’
And Jehovah said:
‘Because of IsraEl’s three godless deeds (and even four),
I won’t turn [My] attention from them.
For, from the righteous and needy
They demanded silver for sandals…
[Things they need] to walk on the dust of the ground.
‘They also trampled the heads of the poor,
And turned the humble away.
Then, with the very same slaves,
Fathers and sons both had sex,
So that they could profane the Name of their God.
‘Then, with their old clothes and rough cords,
They erected booths next to My Altar,
Where they drank the wine that they had extorted
There at the [Temple] of God!
‘Yet for them, I had wiped out the Amorites,
Though they’d become as strong as the oaks
And as tall as the cedars…
I removed all the fruit from their boughs,
As well as the roots underneath them.
‘Then from the land of Egypt, I took them,
And through the desert I led them
During the next 40 years,
So they could inherit the Amorite’s land.
‘I also took their sons as [My] Prophets,
And their young men to serve as My [Nazarites].
O Sons of IsraEl;
Aren’t these the things that I did,’ asks Jehovah?
‘But to those [Nazarites], you then offered wine,
And you told the Prophets not to foretell!
So, because of this, I’ll roll over you
Like a wagon loaded with stubble.
‘Then all hope of flight into exile
By those who can run, will be lost;
For the strong won’t be able to maintain their strength,
And no way will the soldiers save their own lives.
‘Then you’ll find your bowmen unable to stand;
Those fleet of foot will not escape;
Horseman won’t save their own lives;
The strong won’t have mighty hearts;
And in that day, they’ll flee naked,’ says Jehovah.
O house of IsraEl;
Listen to these words of Jehovah
That He is pronouncing against you…
To those tribes that He led out of Egypt.
For, this is what He’s declared:
‘I have known only you
Among all the tribes of earth;
And because of this (because of your sins),
I will take vengeance upon you!’
‘Can two walk together unless they’ve agreed? No!
Will a lion roar from the woods
If he hasn’t [caught] any game? No!
Will a cub call out from his lair
If he hasn’t captured his prey? No!
Will a bird fall to the ground
If it hasn’t [been shot by] a hunter? No!
Will a snare snap shut without catching? No!
Will the sound of the trumpet be heard in a town
Without terrorizing its people? No!
Will harm ever come to a city
Unless it’s been sent by Jehovah? No!
‘There’s nothing that God Jehovah will do,
Unless it’s revealed to His servants, the Prophets.
So as when a lion lets out a roar
And all that hear it are fearful;
When Jehovah God has something to say,
What [Prophet] will not prophesy?
‘So, you must make this pronouncement
To Assyria and those down in Egypt!
Tell them to gather on Samaria’s hills,
And as they gaze at her wonders,
They should notice the tyranny within her.
Then, those that so treasure misery and injustice
Will never see what is coming,’ said Jehovah.
So Jehovah, The God, sends them this message:
‘Tyre and all that’s around it
Will soon become desolation.
For, I will remove all their strength,
And then rip their regions to pieces!
Jehovah says:
‘As a shepherd will pull from the mouth of a lion
Two legs or part of an ear;
That’s how IsraEl’s sons will be ripped
(Those dwelling in Samaria and Damascus)
By a tribe that they haven’t known.
‘And listen to this, O you Priests…
Then to the house of Jacob, you must proclaim it,’
Says Jehovah, the Almighty God!
‘In the day of My vengeance upon IsraEl,
I’ll destroy your altar at BethEl.
And because of the godless things that you’ve done,
They’ll cut off the horns of your altar
Then knock it down to the ground!
‘I will also send you confusion,
And I’ll strike the bins in your barns
Where [the fruits of] your harvests are stored.
Your ivory houses, I’ll also destroy,
As well as the homes roundabout them,’ says Jehovah.
So, hear these words, O heifers of BaShan…
Yes, you in Samaria’s mountains…
You who are tyrants to the needy,
And you who trample the poor...
Those poor that must now beg their masters
To give them something to drink!
For by all that He deems to be holy,
Against them, God swore this oath:
‘Look, the days will soon come
When they’ll gather you and your families
And throw you into hot cauldrons.
You’ll be led away naked in lines,
And they’ll scatter [your bones] on Mount HerMon,’ says Jehovah.
‘For, when you went up to BethEl
You went there to do irreverent things.
And at GilGal you did even worse…
Though you brought sacrifices in the mornings,
And on the 3rd day, you brought in your tithes;
Thereafter, you read outside of the Law,
And demanded [special] offerings for confessions.
‘So against you, I’ve made this pronouncement,
Because IsraEl’s sons have loved all these things:
To your cities, I now will send toothaches,
And I will send famines of bread…
For you left Me and never returned,’ says Jehovah.
‘I’ll hold back the rain on your crops for three months;
Then, I will [send] rain to one town,
But I’ll not send rain on another…
Yes, I will send rain to one portion,
And not send rain to another,
So some places will become very dry.
‘Then, those from two or three cities
Will go to one city to drink…
But no way will they be satisfied,
Because they won’t turn back to Me,’ says Jehovah.
‘Then I’ll strike you with jaundice and fire;
And the vineyards and gardens you’ve gained,
As well as your groves of olives and figs,
Will all be eaten by bugs…
But you still won’t turn back [to Me],’ says Jehovah.
‘Then from Egypt, I’ll send you a plague,
And your young men, I’ll kill by the sword.
Thereafter, I’ll take all your horses…
And because this will just make you angry,
Into your camps, I’ll send fire…
Yet to Me, you still won’t return,’ says Jehovah.
‘Like Sodom and GomorRah, I’ll wipe you away…
I’ll make you like coals that are pulled from the flames…
Yet to Me, you still won’t return,’ says Jehovah.
‘Because of such things, O IsraEl;
Both this and that, I’ll then do to you
Until you are ready to call to your God!
‘Look! I’m the One that sends thunder…
I’m also the One that created the wind
And the One who tells men about His concerns.
‘I’m the One that sends both the dawn and the fog,
And I ride across the heights of the earth…
Yes, I am Jehovah, the Almighty God!’
So, hear the word of Jehovah;
For against you, He sang this lament:
‘The house of IsraEl will fall,
And thereafter, she will not be raised.
IsraEl (the virgin) will trip in her land,
And there will be no one to lift her.’
And thus says Jehovah, [her] God:
‘From a city that 1,000 had left,
Only 100 will return;
And from a town that 100 had left,
Only 10 from IsraEl’s house will return.’
For, thus says Jehovah to the house of IsraEl:
‘Inquire of Me and you’ll live…
Do not [travel to] BethEl
And into GilGal don’t enter,
Nor should you go to the Well of the Oath!
For those going to GilGal will be captured,
And BethEl will be wiped away.’
So inquire of Jehovah and live,
As the house of JoSeph has done…
And then you won’t have to be burned!
For, [fire] will come and consume,
And no one will quench IsraEl’s flames.
From the heights, it’s Jehovah who says what is right
And who sets the earth’s righteous [standards],
For He’s the One that created it all,
And who made everything different!
He’s the One that turns shadows into morning
And the day into the darkness of night;
He’s the One that calls the water from the seas
And pours it back on the face of the ground…
He is Jehovah the Almighty God.
He’s the One that divides the conflicts and strengths
And sends misery into the strongholds
Of those who shout at His Prophets
When they arrive at their gates…
Because they hate those that speak holy words.
They’re the ones that strike the poor with their fists,
And steal their choicest of treasures.
‘Yes, I can see the paneled houses you’ve built…
Homes in which you won’t live.
I can also see the vineyards you’ve planted…
From which you won’t drink the wine.
‘For I know all the [bad] things you’re doing
And of how you’ve trampled the righteous…
How you’ve inflated your prices,
And turned the needy away from your gates.
For during that time, I silently watched
As [you were becoming] more evil.’
‘Now, ask for the good (not the bad)
So that you can continue to live.
If you’ll ask the Almighty to stay among you,
He will provide the things that you need
Whenever you are willing to say,
We hate what is bad and love what is good!’
If you’ll return justice to your [city] gates;
Jehovah the Almighty God
Will show mercy on the remnants of JoSeph.
‘For, it’s because of such things,’
Says Jehovah, the Almighty God,
‘That you’ll beat your chests in your squares,
And cry, Woe [is me], in your streets!
‘Then the farmers will be called to do mourning…
They’ll be wailing and beating their chests.
Yes they’ll know all the ways to beat on their chests,
Because I will go through their midst,’ says Jehovah.
‘Woe to those who wish for the Day of the Lord;
For, after they ask what the Lord’s Day will bring,
They’ll find that it only brings darkness, not light!
‘It’s as when a man is fleeing a lion
Or being attacked by a bear,
And he rushes to his house and grabs hold of its walls…
Just to be bitten by snakes.
For the Day of the Lord will bring darkness, not light…
It will bring dimness, not brightness!
‘So, I have detested and I’ve pushed away
All of your holiday feasts…
For, in such things, I [find no delight].
Therefore, should you bring whole burnt-offerings to Me
Along with other sacrifices;
I won’t receive them in favor
Or approve of your gifts for salvation.
‘So remove the sounds of your hymns…
No I don’t want to hear the tunes of your psalms!
For the waters of judgment will pour down on you,
And the river of righteousness, you will not cross.
‘O house of IsraEl;
You brought victims to Me to be sacrificed
During the 40 years in the desert.
But then, you chose Moloch’s tent
And the star of Raiphan to serve as your gods…
You molded idols of them for yourselves!
So beyond Damascus, I’ll move you,’
Says Jehovah, the Almighty God.
‘Woe to those that are treating Zion with contempt,
And those putting trust in Samaria’s hills…
Those who’ve harvested heads from the nations,
And to whom the house of IsraEl has turned.
‘Now, pass through them all and take a good look;
Travel to HaMath of RabBah
And to Gath of the Philistines.
Is yours any better than these kingdoms?
Are your borders any larger than theirs?
‘So an evil day will soon come,
To those hanging onto false Sabbaths…
Those who sleep in ivory beds
And waste their lives on divans.
‘They eat the kids of the flocks
And the suckling young calves from the midst of the herds.
They clap along as [music] is played,
And think of themselves as [eternal]
(Not as something that’s passing away).
‘They drink [the best] filtered wine;
They wear the best of colognes;
And about the destruction of JoSeph,
They still remain unconcerned.
But soon, they’ll be led into exile,
And their feasting and lounging will end.’
Then Jehovah swore this oath by Himself:
‘Because I abhor the insults of Jacob
And detest their fortified cities;
I will now lift them away
Along with all those that live there.
‘So if 10 should survive in a house,
They will all die after that.
Yes, they’ll walk away from their [loved ones],
And not retrieve their bones from their homes.
‘They’ll just ask those in charge of their homes
If any are still left within them;
And these will answer, No longer.
Then another will say, Just be quiet…
Don’t mention the Name of the Lord.
For, {Look!) He’s the One who gave them the order
To strike our mansions with fractures,
And to shred our small homes!
‘Will horses run in the rocks? No!
Will stallions stay silent near mares? No!
But, you’ve replaced true justice with rage
And turned righteous fruit into bitter.
You are also glad to hear bad reports,
And you say, We’re so mighty that we have grown horns!
‘So; O house of IsraEl, Be careful.
For I’m arousing a nation against you
That will [surround you] and then hem you in
To keep you from running to HamAth
Or from fleeing to the river in the west.
Then {Look!} the Lord showed me a breed of locusts that arrived early in the morning, being led by Gog the grasshopper king.These [locusts] came to devour all the grass in the land. So I shouted:
‘O Lord, please be kind; for, who will raise Jacob again, since so few now remain?O Lord, please change Your mind about this thing that You’re doing!’
But the Lord replied:
‘That won’t happen.’
Then {Look!} the Lord took me and showed me that he’d also called fire down upon them as their punishment… and [this fire] devoured everything to the depths [of the great sea], as well as a portion [of the land].And I said:
‘O Lord God, please stop! Who will raise Jacob again now that so few are left? O Lord, please change your mind about doing this!
But the Lord replied:
‘That won’t happen.’
Then the Lord [took me] and showed me something… {Look!} he was standing on a straight wall with a plumb line in His hand.And the Lord asked me:
‘What do you see, Amos?’
And I replied:
‘A plumb line.’
Then the Lord said to me:
‘{Look!} In the midst of IsraEl, my people,
I have now set a plumb line,
And beyond it, I will no longer pass.
‘I’ll wipe their shrines to laughter away,
And their sites of mystic rites will lie ruined;
For against the house of [King] JeroBoam,
I am now sending the broadsword.’
Well after that, AmaziAh (the priest of BethEl) sent [a message] to JeroBoam (the king of IsraEl) that said:
‘Amos is hatching a plot against you there in the midst of the house of IsraEl, and there’s no way that the land will be able to endure the things that he’s saying.For Amos is [telling the people] that JeroBoam will be destroyed by the broadsword, and that IsraEl will be led away from this land as captives.’
And later, AmaziAh said this to Amos (there in front of everyone):
‘Get out of here and go to the land of Judah! Spend the rest of your life there and do all your prophesying there!You may no longer prophesy here in BethEl, for this is the sanctuary of the king and the place of his royal palace!’
But I (Amos) replied to AmaziAh:
‘I wasn’t a Prophet or the son of a Prophet, I was just a herder of sheep and someone who picked the fruit of mulberry trees.But then Jehovah took me away from my sheep and said to me,
Go and prophesy over My people IsraEl!
‘So now, listen to what the Lord told me:
Because you’ve warned me not to prophesy over IsraEl, and you’ve said,
There’s no way that armies will be led against the house of Jacob,this is what was said by Jehovah:
Your wife will become a city prostitute,
And your sons and daughters will fall by the sword.
Then they’ll measure your land with a plumb line,
And you’ll come to your end in a place that’s unclean.
For, IsraEl will in fact be led from this land…
They’ll be carried away as captives.’
Then {Look!} the Lord came and showed me the cage of a bird hunter,and he asked,
‘What do you see, Amos?’
And I replied,
‘A bird cage.’
Then the Lord said:
‘These things were said by Jehovah:
My people, IsraEl, have now reached their end,
For I’ll overlook what they’re doing no longer.
So in that day;
There’ll be screams from their temples and stock pens…
For there’ll be many [people] that fall there,
As I bring silence to this place.
‘So listen, O you who’re destroying the needy,
And those tyrannizing the poor…
Yes, all of you who keep asking
When the [New Moons] will be over
So that you can go back to your trading…
And you who look for the Sabbaths to end
So that you can open your [cash drawers],
Then measure out small and [unfairly]
By adding weights to the things that you weigh,
And by using unbalanced scales.
Then, from the needy and poor,
You take all of their silver
In return for sandals and [clothes].’
And after that, Jehovah swore this oath against Jacob’s pride:
‘Do you think that I’ll forget about this
And I will allow you to win? Well, I won’t!’
Then [He said]:
‘Won’t this bring disturbance to the land,
And won’t all who live there start mourning?
For destruction will rise like a river,
And in its deep waters they will sink.
Jehovah said:
‘Then the sun will set at midday,
And the land will get dark in the daytime.
So their holiday feasts will turn into mourning,
And all of their songs into wailing.
‘Then, upon every loin, I’ll bring sackcloth,
And baldness, I’ll bring upon every head.
I’ll appoint them as those who mourn loved ones,
And their happy days, I’ll turn into grief.
‘Look, the days are coming,’ says Jehovah,
‘When to this land, I’ll send famine…
But it won’t be a famine of bread
Nor a famine of water,
But a famine of hearing the Word of Jehovah.
‘Then from sea to sea, the waters will shake,
And [people] will run from the north to the east
Seeking the Word of Jehovah.
But then, no way will they find it.
‘In that day, all of your pretty virgins
And all of your [handsome] young men
Will be wilting from thirst.
‘And those that swear oaths by Samaria’s Redeemer,
And say, O Dan, as your god lives,
Or, As your god lives, O BeerSheba…
These will fall and not rise again.’
Well after that, I saw the Lord standing at the Altar, and he said:
‘Strike the Propitiatory and shake all its gates,
Then cut off all of their heads,
And kill the rest with the broadsword!
There’s no way that they can escape,
And no way that they will be saved!
‘So if they should [hide] in the place of the dead;
My hand will [reach down and] grab them.
And if they should [fly] into the sky;
From there, I will drag them back down.
‘If they should hide on [Mount] CarMel,
I’ll search for them there and I’ll grab them.
And if they hide from my eyes in the depths of the seas,
I’ll send a wild beast to bite them.
‘If their enemies should take them as captives,
I’ll instruct their broadswords to kill them…
Yes, it’s for the bad, not for the good
That I have set my eyes on them.
‘For Jehovah, the Lord God Almighty
Has grabbed the land and ordered a shaking.
Then, all who dwell there will mourn…
It will rise and fall like the Nile.
‘And the One who built His [home] in the skies…
The One who founded the earth…
The One who calls water out of the seas
And pours it back on the land…
The One whose Name is Jehovah, says this:
‘O sons of IsraEl;
To Me, you aren’t like the descendents of Kush,
For I’m the One who led you from Egypt,
And from the Cappadocian Philistines,
Then from the Syrians of Kir.
‘{Look!} For My eyes watch the kingdoms of sinners
Whom I then remove from the face of the earth.
But the one that I won’t completely remove
Is the house of [My servant] Jacob, says Jehovah.
‘But, {Look!} I will issue My orders
And cause IsraEl’s house to be threshed
[Along with] the rest of the nations
In the same way that you’d winnow with a shovel…
And no broken pieces will [be overlooked].
‘Then, it will be by the broadsword
That the sinners among My people will end…
Yes, all of those who now say:
Such bad things will never approach us…
These things won’t happen to us!
‘And in that day, the tent of David that has fallen
Will thereafter stand once again
And its [broken] things, I’ll rebuild…
The things I cut down, I will raise…
I’ll rebuild it as it had been before.
‘Then, those that are left of the nations
May inquire of those that have called on My Name,
Says Jehovah (the One that will do all these things).
‘For the days are coming, says Jehovah,
When the harvests will last to the threshing
And grapes will stay ripe until planting.
The mountains will trickle down sweetness,
And [there will be] crops upon all the hills.
‘Then, I will bring back My people
(Those that were carried away…
The IsraElites that had been captured)
And they will rebuild their cities
(Yes, they will live in them again).
Then, they will plant vineyards and drink their own wine…
They will plant gardens and eat their own fruit!
‘Upon their own ground, I will plant them,
And from this land that I gave them,
They won’t be plucked up thereafter,
Says Jehovah, The God.’
This is the vision of ObadiAh.
Jehovah God said this against Edom (I heard this report from Jehovah, and it’s a summary of what He sent to the nations):
‘{Look!} Arise against her in battle!
‘Among the nations, I’ve left you just few,
And upon you, I’ve brought much disgrace.
For, you have made your hearts proud
By camping in cracks in high rocks;
And you have said in your hearts,
From here, who can drag us down to the ground?
‘But if you could fly as high as an eagle
And put your nest up in the stars;
From there, I would lead you back down,’ says Jehovah.
‘Now if thieves were to enter among you,
Or robbers were to come during the night;
[How many things] would you lose?
Wouldn’t they take just the things [that they want]?
And if those that [steal] grapes came among you,
Wouldn’t they leave you a gleaning?
‘But, there will come those that will search Esau through
And take even the things that you’ve hidden away.
Then, to your borders, they’ll drive you,
Where your allies will fight against you and win…
Yes, men with whom you’re at peace
Will then rise up against you,
And they’ll not understand why they did this.
‘So, in that day,’ says Jehovah,
‘I’ll destroy all of Edom’s wise men.
And thereafter, in the mountains of Esau,
Understanding will be gone from the land.
‘For they’ll frighten your Temanite warriors;
And then, from the mountains of Esau,
Every man will be carried away.
‘Because you’ve been so defiant
And brought slaughter to Jacob, your brother;
You will be covered with shame,
And through ages thereafter, you will be gone.
‘For, from the day that you faced and opposed them
To the day that strangers captured their army
And foreigners entered their gates,
Who then cast lots for JeruSalem’s spoils,
You were considered to be one of them.
‘So you shouldn’t have [sneered at] your brothers
On the day that those strangers arrived…
You shouldn’t have rejoiced at their downfall,
And [approved of the killing] of Judah’s sons.
‘You shouldn’t have [laughed] in the day of their pain,
And you shouldn’t have entered their gates
On that day of their misery!
‘Especially you should never have looked
Upon them in joy at their ruin.
Nor should you have joined to attack them
In the day that they were destroyed.
‘In their mountain passes, you shouldn’t have stood
To destroy those that tried to escape…
No you shouldn’t have locked up those fleeing
In their day of affliction.
‘But now,the Day of the Lord has arrived
Upon all those nations [that did this].
So, all of the [bad] that you did to them
Is what they’ll now do to you…
What you did will come upon your own heads!
‘So, as you drank wine on My Holy Mountain,
The nations will drink wine from you…
Yes, they will swallow you down,
And it will be as though you never had been.
‘But salvation will come to Mount Zion,
And My Holy Place will stand there again.
Then the house of Jacob will inherit
All those that have inherited them.
‘Like the fire that came upon Jacob’s house
And the flames that came upon JoSeph…
Like stubble, they’ll burn the house of Esau,
Yes among them, the fire will burn and consume,
And there’ll be no wheat harvest in Esau!
For I, Jehovah, have spoken.
‘At that time, the Mountains of Esau
Will be owned by those in the Negev.
And those that live in the Philistine ShepheLa
Will inherit Ephraim’s mountains,
Along with Samaria and BenJamin’s plains,
And all of GileAd’s land.
‘For the sons of IsraEl who will then return
Will inherit all of your land
From CanaAn all the way to ZarEphath.
And those who return to JeruSalem
Will inherit the Negev to EphRatha.
‘So the survivors [that return to] Mount Zion
Will take vengeance on the mountains of Esau,
And then your kingdom will belong to Jehovah.’
The Word of Jehovah came to Jonah (the son of AmaThi), and said:
‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh and make this proclamation against it; for, cries of their evil have reached up to Me.’
However, Jonah got up and decided to flee from the face of Jehovah [all the way] to Tharsis. For he went down to JopPa and there he found a boat that was sailing to Tharsis, then he paid his fare, boarded, and preceded to sail away from the face of Jehovah.
But then Jehovah raised a wind over the sea that created huge swells, and [soon] the boat was in danger of breaking up.Of course, this made the sailors so fearful that they each started yelling out to their own gods, and they started throwing things into the sea to lighten the load.
Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the ship’s hold and fallen asleep, and then he started snoring.So the ship’s captain went down to him and said,
‘Why are you [just lying there] snoring? Get up and call to your God so He’ll save us and we won’t be destroyed!’
Well at that, each man started saying to his companion:
‘Come, let’s throw lots so we can determine the reason why this evil has befallen us!’
So they threw lots, and the lot fell to Jonah.And they asked him if he knew the reason why this evil had come down upon them. They also asked what he did for a living and where he came from (what kind of place and what kind of people).
Then he told them:
‘I am a servant of Jehovah the God of the heavens… I worship the One that made the seas and the dry land.’
Well at that, the men became very fearful and they asked him what he had done, because they realized that he was running away. So he explained [to them all that had happened].
Then they asked him:
‘So, what must we do to you in order to calm the sea?’
And just as they asked this, the sea rose in a great swell.
So Jonah told them:
‘Just pick me up and throw me into the sea… then it will become calm for you. For I know that it’s because of me that these great swells have come upon you.’
Nevertheless, the men pressed on and they tried to reach land… but they were unable, for the sea [kept pushing] against them.So they called out to Jehovah and said:
‘Please don’t destroy us over the life of this man, because we don’t want the blood of the righteous held against us! But for You, O Lord, we’ll do whatever You wish.’
So then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea… and suddenly the sea became still and stopped tossing about.As the result, the men became very fearful of Jehovah, and they made vows to Him and offered sacrifices to Him.
Then Jehovah ordered a great sea creature to swallow Jonah, and he stayed in its belly for three days and three nights.
Well, from from the belly of the sea creature, Jonah prayed to Jehovah his God,saying this:
‘In my affliction, I called out to You,
O Jehovah, my God,
And You paid attention to me.
I’ve called from the belly of the place of the dead,
And from there, You listened to my voice!
‘You threw me into the heart of the sea…
Into the depths of its waters,
And by the sea, I was covered.
‘Then I asked, as their waves and crests poured upon me,
Have I been pushed away from Your eyes…
Won’t I see Your Holy Temple again?
‘But the waters were rolling around me,
And then, they entered my soul…
By the deep, I was encircled,
And my head went under the water.
‘I went down between mountain fissures…
Through the earth and its bars of the ages.
And I said, O Jehovah, my God;
Let my soul rise above this corruption!
‘Then, as my life was reaching [its end],
You noticed [my bad situation];
For my prayers had ascended to You…
Yes, to You in Your Holy Temple!
‘Some pay attention to things that are foolish,
While others will listen to lies…
For they’ve given up on Your mercy.
But, with my voice, I will praise You,
And I’m offering [this song] as my sacrifice.
For I’ll do everything that I’ve promised
If you will just save me, Jehovah!’
And at that, the Lord gave orders to the large sea creature, and it vomited Jonah out on dry land.
Well thereafter, The Word of Jehovah came to Jonah a second time and said:
‘Now, you must get up and travel to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim My words over it, just as I told you before!’
So Jonah got up, and for the next three days he traveled to Nineveh, just as the Lord had told him (for God considered Nineveh to be a great city).Then when Jonah arrived at the city, he spent [a full] day traveling through it proclaiming:
‘In just three days, Nineveh will be wiped away!’
Well, because the men of Nineveh believed in God, they called for a fast and for everyone (from the least to the greatest) to wear sackcloth.And when [Jonah’s] words reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, removed all of his clothes and put on sackcloth, and then he sat in ashes.
The king and his great men also sent a proclamation throughout Nineveh, that said:
‘The people may not eat anything, [nor may they feed] their cattle, oxen, or sheep… they may not eat or drink anything at all!They must each wrap themselves and their cattle in sackcloth as they all fervently call out to God! Also, every man must turn from his wicked ways and from the sins of his hands and say,
Who knows if God will change His mind and turn from the anger of His rage, so that we will not perish?’
Well, when God saw what they were doing and that they had turned from their wicked ways, He changed His mind over the evil things that He said He would do to them, and He didn’t do anything.
However, Jonah was very upset and confused by this,so he prayed to Jehovah and said:
‘O Lord; Wasn’t this the same thing that I said [would happen] when I was back in my own land? It was because of something like this that I thought about fleeing to Tharsis! For I knew that because You are kind, sympathetic, lenient, and full of mercy, You’d change Your mind about doing such evil.So now, O Master and Lord; please kill me… for it would be better for me to die than to go on living!’
And the Lord asked:
‘Has this [really] grieved you that much?’
Well thereafter, Jonah left the city and sat down in front of it… he erected a shelter and just sat there, staring at it.
Then Jehovah God provided a gourd [plant] that grew up over Jonah’s head to shade him during this bad [time]. And Jonah became very happy and joyful over the gourd [plant].
But then, early the next morning, God sent a worm that killed the [plant] and dried it up.And just as the sun was rising, God also sent a burning wind, which (along with the sun) burned Jonah’s head. So he became discouraged to the point where he wanted to just resign from life. For he said,
‘It’s better for me to die than to live!’
Then God asked Jonah:
‘Are you [really] that grieved over the gourd [plant]?’
And he replied:
‘Yes, I’m grieved to the point of death!’
And the Lord said:
‘You treated that plant so tenderly… you nourished it and worked hard over it, though it grew up in a single night, and before the next evening it was gone.So, shouldn’t I spare this great city where 120,000 people now live that don’t know their right hands from their left… along with all of their cattle?’
The Word of Jehovah came to MicAh the Morasthite in the days of JoTham, Ahaz, and HezekiAh (kings of Judah) and said this about the things he saw going on in Samaria and in JeruSalem.
‘Hear these words, O you peoples;
Also pay attention, you lands
And those that are dwelling within you!
For, from His Most Holy [Place],
Jehovah will now testify.
‘{Look!} Jehovah will come from His place
And go down upon your high places,
Then seat Himself in the heights.
‘The mountains will shake underneath Him,
And like beeswax in fire, the valleys will melt,
Then flow like water that rolls down a slope.
‘Yes, He will do all these things
Because of Jacob’s irreverent ways
And because of the sins of the house of IsraEl.
‘Isn’t Samaria the irreverence of Jacob
And isn’t Judah’s sin, JeruSalem?
‘So I’ll turn Samaria into a barn
Where the fruits of the fields can be stored
Along with the [grapes] of the vineyards.
I’ll tear down her stones in great chaos,
And her foundations, I will expose.
‘I’ll cut her carved idols to pieces;
Her temple whores, I’ll burn in a fire;
And I’ll appoint her idols to extinction.
For she hired whores and gathered them there…
So the wages of whores are what I’ll destroy.
‘For this, she’ll wail and beat on her breasts…
She will go barefoot and naked…
She’ll beat on her chest like a dragon,
And mourn like chained demon’s daughters.
‘This calamity upon her will surely arrive;
For she went to Judah and JeruSalem
And touched the gates of my people.
‘Now, those in Gath shouldn’t feel special,
Nor should those that are living in BakaIm…
And don’t laugh as you try to rebuild your homes,
For the land will be strewn with your laughter,
And nothing good will come to your towns.
‘Then, those in ZaAnan will beat on their breasts
On behalf of the houses next door…
They’ll be grieved by the things that will happen to you.
‘For then, who’ll console her when she is sad
Over the bad things Jehovah will send,
Which will reach all the way to JeruSalem’s gates?
‘They’ll hear the sounds of chariots and riders
[Attacking the City] of LachIsh.
For, they’re the ones who’ve been taking the lead
In the sins of the daughters of Zion…
All of IsraEl’s godless deeds can be found there!
‘Because of this, they’ll be carried away
And become the inheritance of Gath…
Yes, even their poorest of homes.
‘There, IsraEl’s kings won’t be valued…
The inheritance of Gath, they’ll become.
The people of LachIsh will then be their [slaves].
And off to AdulLam, they will carry
The glory of IsraEl’s daughters.
‘So, shave [the heads of] your beloved young…
Make them as bald as the vultures;
For, they will all be carried away.
‘When they came here, they were looking for trouble
And doing what’s bad in their beds.
They did it all during the daytime,
And they wouldn’t raise a hand to Jehovah.
‘Then, because they desired more fields,
They plundered orphans and tyrannized homes…
They plundered the people along with their homes…
Both the men and the things they’d inherit.
‘It’s because of this, that thus says Jehovah:
{Look!} Against their tribe, I’m bringing what’s bad,
And thereafter, they won’t lift their necks
Or in any way walk erect…
Yes for them, it will be a very bad time!
‘In that day, they’ll be saying these words…
They’ll raise this lament in a song:
In our miserable condition, we knew misery;
For our people were [led off in] lines,
And no one [came here] to stop it
Or to bargain for their return;
So their fields were thereafter divided [as loot].
‘Now, no one will measure allotments
For those in the Lord’s congregation.
You’ll weep and cry for these things;
But I won’t remove all your scorn.
‘Then, this is what they’ll say about you:
Because the house of Jacob provoked
Jehovah’s Spirit to rage,
These are the things that He did;
For His words and His ways are all straight and good!
‘[Through the years], my people have shown
A hatred and resistance to peace.
So they’ve flayed the skin [of those passing by],
[And brought on themselves] the conflict of war.
‘Now the leaders of my people will be driven from their homes…
They’ll be pushed away, because they’re so bad!
So, flee to the mountains of the ages,
Since for you, there will be no rest,
Because you’re corrupt and unclean!
‘So you’ll run when no one is chasing,
Because of your lying spirit,
Which trickles upon you like the wine and strong drink
That you’ve gained from the sweat of your people.
‘But, after some time, they’ll return…
I’ll gather Jacob along with the rest,
And I’ll search for IsraEl’s remnants…
I’ll collect them and I will return them
Like sheep that have gone through hard times…
They will jump away from those people,
And in their own pastures, they’ll live as one flock.
‘They’ll [run] though the breach that’s before them,
For the gate will be cut so they can escape.
And before them, will travel their king…
Yes, they will be led by their Lord.
‘So listen, you head ones of Jacob,
And the rest that are left of IsraEl’s house!
‘When will you learn to do what is fair?
Since you’ve hated what’s good and searched for what’s bad;
They’ll reach out for you and tear off your skin,
Then rip the flesh from your bones,
The same as you’ve eaten the flesh of my people
And flayed off all of their skin…
Then you broke their bones as flesh for the pot,
And as meat for the cauldron.
‘So, you will cry out to Jehovah,
But He won’t listen to you…
He’ll just turn His face at that time,
Because of the wicked things that you’ve done.
‘So, to the prophets, Jehovah declares
(To those misleading His people…
Those clenching their teeth as they proclaim peace
When [God hasn’t put] any [words] in their mouths):
A holy war, I’ll be sending to you
Because [you have told them] such things.
‘Then you’ll see no more visions during the nights…
You’ll just see darkness (not light).
For the sun will not rise on you prophets,
And the days will darken before you.
‘Disgrace will then come to those that dream dreams,
And those telling the future will be ridiculed.
About them, all will speak badly,
And no one will listen to the things that they say.
‘However, I will be filled
With the strength and the Breath of Jehovah,
As well as with His justice and might,
So I can report the irreverence of Jacob
And speak to IsraEl about all their sins.
‘Therefore, listen to this, O leaders of Jacob,
And you remnants of the house of IsraEl…
You who hate what is fair and twist what is straight…
You who’ve built Zion on blood
And filled JeruSalem with injustice!
‘For your leaders take bribes when they judge;
Your priests require a wage for replies;
And your prophets ask for silver when they prophesy.
Yet they still rest upon Jehovah and say:
Isn’t Jehovah among us?
No way will He bring bad things on us!
And it is for all of these reasons
That Zion will be plowed like a field;
JeruSalem will become empty barns;
And the Temple Mount, just a place in the woods.
‘But, in the last days,
They will see the Mountain of Jehovah
Sitting above the rest of the mountains,
Raised higher than all of the hills,
And to it, all the peoples will run.
‘Many nations will go there and say:
Let’s ascend the Mountain of Jehovah
And enter the [Temple] of Jacob’s God.
For there, He will show us His ways,
And we will thereafter walk in His paths!
‘For, Laws will come out of Zion…
And from JeruSalem, the Word of Jehovah
Will serve as judge between peoples,
And make decisions among distant tribes.
‘Then they’ll cut their swords into plows,
And [they’ll beat] their spears into sickles.
Nation won’t rise against nation again,
Nor will they learn war anymore.
‘Under their own grapevines, each person will sit,
And they’ll rest beneath their own fig trees…
For, none will make them afraid anymore.
(This was said by the mouth of Jehovah the Almighty).
‘And though other people may go their own way;
You will walk in the Name of your God
From the present and into the ages.
‘And in that day, says Jehovah;
I’ll regather all those that were broken
(The ones that I once had discarded),
And I’ll welcome back those that I’ve pushed away.
‘Yes, those that are broken, I’ll welcome,
And I’ll make a great nation of them once again…
Of those that I once pushed away!
And thereafter, and into the ages,
Their Lord will rule from Mount Zion.
‘But now, upon you, O tower of the flock…
Yes you, O JeruSalem’s daughter
(You austere offspring of Zion);
The foremost of Babylon’s kings
Will come here and enter your [gates]!
‘For, why did you learn to do such bad things…
Wasn’t there a king here among you,
And has all good council now perished?
‘So, pangs are what you’ll have to endure
Like a woman that’s about to give birth.
But hang on and take courage, O daughter of Zion,
As [a woman] that is giving birth!
‘For what’s coming to you is a city
That will set up its camps in your plains…
And then, to Babylon, they’ll take you.
But your God, Jehovah, will save you from there,
And ransom you from your enemies’ hands.
‘Now, many nations have come against you,
And this is what they are saying:
Our eyes will rejoice as we gaze on Zion!
‘But they don’t know the ways of Jehovah,
And His council, they don’t comprehend.
For like sheaves [of grain], they’ll be gathered,
And on a threshing floor, they’ll be piled,
So that you can thresh them, O daughter of Zion!
‘For I’ll turn your horns into iron,
And I’ll turn your hoofs into brass.
Then, I will dissolve many peoples,
And you will carry all their abundance
As well as their strength to the Lord of the earth.
‘Now the daughter of Zion has a reason to fear,
For upon her, He has decreed war,
And they’ll strike IsraEl’s tribes on the jaw!
‘Then from you, O BethLehem of EphRatha
(The few among the thousands of Judah),
Will come a man who’ll be IsraEl’s king…
One whose [roots] are from the most ancient times
And from the days of the ages.
‘And because of this, he’ll appoint her
A time that will be [like the giving] of birth.
For thereafter, she’ll [really] give birth
To the remnant of those who are brothers,
And to the sons of IsraEl, they will return.
‘Yes, by the strength of Jehovah,
A shepherd will rise to [watch over] them,
And they’ll bask in the glory of the Name of their God,
Which will then become known to the ends of the earth.
‘And this is [the sign that there will be] peace:
When the Assyrians arrive in your land
And they climb onto your place.
But 7 shepherds will then rise against them
[And whip them] with the 8 strokes of men.
‘They’ll shepherd Assyria with a broadsword,
And the land of NimRod [will serve as] her grave.
For, from the Assyrians, He’ll save you,
When against your land, they’ve ascended,
And when they’ve crossed over your borders.
‘Thereafter, the few of Jacob that remain
Will [be scattered] among many peoples.
But, like the dew that falls from the Lord,
And like the lambs [that are fed] on wild grass;
They will be gathered by no one,
Nor before sons of men, will they stand.
‘And though the remnant of Jacob
Will be [scattered] among all the nations
And dwell among many peoples;
They will be like lions among cattle …
As bear cubs among flocks of sheep.
‘Then they will go through and scatter their prey…
None of which will be saved.
Then they’ll lift their hands against their opponents,
And their enemies will all be destroyed.
‘But [before] that day, says Jehovah;
I’ll destroy all your horses and chariots…
All the cities in your land will wiped away,
And I will remove all your forts.
‘From your hands, I’ll wipe out your potions,
And there’ll be no fortune tellers among you.
I’ll also destroy all the idols you’ve carved
And remove the sacred stones from your midst…
You’ll [no longer] bow to the works of your hands.
‘I’ll cut down all of your sacred poles
And wipe away all of your cities.
Then, in My anger and rage,
I’ll send My vengeance to the rest of the nations,
Because they too failed to listen!
‘So, hear indeed, what Jehovah has said!
Arise and plead with the mountains…
Let all the hills hear what He’s said!
‘Yes, listen, O mountains, to the judgments of God…
You foundations of the earth and its valleys!
For between Jehovah and His people
There is a case to be tried…
And with IsraEl, He’s going to war!
‘O My people, what did I do…
Tell Me what trouble I’ve caused you!
From the land of Egypt, I led you…
From the house of slaves, I ransomed you back,
And before your face, I had sent you
MiriAm, Aaron, and Moses!
‘Remember the plans that MoAb’s King Balak
Had once made against you,
And the answers that BalaAm (the son of BeOr)
Was given from Shittim to GilGal,
So he’d know the righteous ways of the Lord.
‘Yes, how can you conquer Jehovah?
Can you snatch Him down from the heights?
With your whole burnt-offerings, can you beat Him,
Or with [the blood of] 1-year-old calves? No!
‘Will Jehovah [be swayed] by 1,000 male sheep
Or 10,000 1-year-old calves? No!
For your sins, can you offer your first-born? No!
Can you offer the first fruits that come from your bellies
To cover [the sins] in your lives? No!
‘To you, He’s explained it, O man…
All the things that are righteous.
And all that Jehovah requires
Is for you to be fair and love mercy,
And to be ready to walk with your God!
‘So the voice of Jehovah is calling to you,
And those fearing His Name will be saved.
So, listen to this, O you tribes:
Who will be the adornment of your cities?
Won’t the homes of Law breakers be burned
Along with [the houses] of those loving crimes…
All the insolent and the unrighteous?
‘Will I overlook all of your wicked scales
And your bags of deceptive weights?
Will your irreverent ways be covered by wealth?
And all you liars that live there;
Will your [wicked] tongues [bring praise] from your mouths? No!
‘For your sins, I’ll torment you to extinction,
Then you’ll eat and never be filled.
I’ll banish you, and you will be lost
(No way will you be preserved);
And the survivors, I’ll hand to the broadsword.
‘Then, though you may plant, you won’t reap;
And though you’ll press olives, you will not anoint,
Nor will you drink any wine…
Since the Laws of My people will be wiped away.
‘For the rules of OmRi, are what you have chosen,
As well as the deeds of the house of Ahab.
Yes, you have chosen their plans
So you wouldn’t be laughed at by others…
Thus, I’m bringing extinction upon you.
‘I’m like a man that gleans stubble in the harvest,
Or one who gleans grapes after they’re gone…
Those ripe ones for which my soul craves (woe is me)!
‘For the upright have all been wiped from the land…
Those that walk straight, no longer exist,
And all righteous blood has been squeezed
By the oppression of their neighbors,
Whose hands are doing whatever is bad.
‘Your rulers now ask you for gifts
And your judges [give rulings] for bribes…
Yet, this is what your souls have desired!
‘So He’ll take away all your good things
Like a moth chewing through woolen clothes
[On behalf of those] found walking straight lines
In the day that they’re being inspected.
‘Yes, woe to you, for your punishment is due,
And soon you all will be weeping.
‘So, don’t confide in your friends,
And put no hope in your leaders!
Watch out for the one who sleeps in your bed…
To her, show nothing at all!
‘For, sons will dishonor their fathers,
And daughters will oppose their own mothers…
It is daughters-in-law against mothers-in-law,
And your enemies will be those in your own homes.’
But, I will look to my Lord…
On my Savior, Jehovah, I’ll wait,
And my God will listen to me.
So, enemies of mine, do not rejoice,
For though I’ve fallen, I will rise again.
And if I must sit in the darkness,
Jehovah will provide me with light.
Yes, I’ll endure the rage of Jehovah;
For against Him, I’m also a sinner.
But I’ll wait until He sends justice…
Until He shows me His judgments
And leads me into the light,
Where I’ll look to His righteous ways.
Then, upon my enemies, I’ll gaze,
For then, they must bear all their shame;
Since they’re the ones that once asked me,
So, where is Jehovah, your God?
[For Jehovah says]:
‘My eyes have noticed these things,
So I’ll trample on her like mud in the streets…
Like mortar on bricks, she’ll be wiped away,
And her rules will be gone in that day.
‘Your cities will then all be leveled
And by the Assyrians, they’ll be subdivided.
Yes your fortified cities will be given away
From Tyre down to the [Nile] river…
From mountain to mountain and sea to sea!
‘For the land will all be destroyed,
Along with [the people] who live there…
It’s the fruitage of the things that they’ve done.’
[O God;]
Tend Your people with Your mighty rod;
For, they are Your inherited sheep…
May they camp all alone in the woods
And [on the sides] of [Mount] CarMel!
In BaShan and GileAd, please feed them
As You did for them back in that age
When [You led] them from Egypt.
‘Yes, wonderful things, I will show them,
Which the nations will see in disgrace.
For [the nations will lose] all their strength…
They’ll place their hands over their mouths
And they will cover their ears.
Then they’ll lick the dust just like snakes
That slither along on the ground.
And because of this, they’ll then be confused.’
Yes by God, they will be amazed…
But, they must learn how to fear Him!
For, to what other god can He be compared?
[O Lord];
As You remove the unrighteous,
[Please overlook] the irreverence
Of Your inherited ones that are left…
Hold back Your rage for the things that You’ve seen,
And please show mercy upon us!
Please turn around and show pity on us,
But, sink our unrighteous ways…
Cast our sins into the depths of the seas.
Then to Jacob, please send what is true,
And on AbraHam’s [seed], please show mercy,
As You swore in Your oath to our fathers.
The concern over Nineveh. This is the scroll of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
Because He is very zealous,
Jehovah will not fail to punish.
In His rage, Jehovah will punish
All those that are standing against Him…
He’ll destroy all those who oppose Him.
Jehovah is patient and mighty,
And the [guilty], [He] will not acquit.
For His ways are rumbling and final.
There are clouds of dust under His feet,
And He can squeeze the seas and cause them to dry.
He also desolates rivers,
Which is how He weakened BaShan and CarMel,
And it’s why Lebanon’s blossoms have failed.
Before Him, the mountains have shaken,
And [before Him], the hills have all trembled.
They rise at His presence throughout the whole earth,
As do all [the peoples] who dwell there.
Before His rage, who can stand…
Yes, who can withstand His anger?
For, sovereign rulers melt at His rage,
And even the rocks split apart.
Yet He’s kind to those who [put faith] in Him
In their day of affliction…
And He knows all those who respect Him.
Like a downpour, He wipes away and consumes
All those who’ve been roused [to oppose Him],
And He chases His enemies into the dark.
So against Jehovah, what plans can you make,
For He can wipe you away.
But He will not punish you twice,
Or punish you for the same [errors].
His enemy’s [cities], He will lay bare
To their very foundations.
Like twisted yews, they will be burned…
As though they are very dry stubble.
Yet, against Jehovah, you have made plans…
Against Him, you’ve made wicked plans.
So Jehovah (who rules all the waters) says this:
‘I will send them away
And they’ll not be heard from again.
For I’ll lift their whips from [your backs],
And I will remove all their shackles.’
It was concerning [the Assyrians], that Jehovah said this:
‘Your name won’t be mentioned again;
For, I will destroy all your idols
(Those that you molded and carved),
Then a time will be set for your funeral,
Which will arrive very soon.
‘Look! Upon the mountains, he’s coming…
The feet of the one announcing good news
And the one with reports about peace!
‘So in Judah, declare a holiday [feast],
And you must get ready to pay all your vows,
So that never again will they enter [your gates],
Nor again, should they see your corruption.’
Now He’s finished [His work] and He has consumed…
This One that came and breathed in your face…
This One that [brought] you affliction!
So, watch the roads and [wrap up] your loins…
Be very manly and strong!
For Jehovah has taken away
The haughtiness of Jacob’s [tribes],
As well as IsraEl’s insolent ways.
And now, He is ready to shake off
Those that have been shaking you,
And He’ll bring their branches to ruin.
For under Him, there are men that have weapons,
And laugh at fire, because of their might.
Their chariots have now been prepared,
And their horsemen will make many wail.
Their chariots will wreak havoc along all the roads,
And thereafter, they’ll meet in [Assyria’s] squares.
The sight of them is like burning lamps,
And lightning [is found in their wake].
So all of [Assyria’s] mighty men
Should stop and think about this…
For in the daytime, they’ll flee.
And as they leave, they’ll be feeble,
Then between their walls, they will run
From the troops in the lead that arrive.
Then their city gates will be opened wide,
And all their great homes will be ruined…
Yes, all their supports will lie bare.
Then their [women] will appear with their servants,
And as meek as doves, they’ll be led away
To the flutter of their own beating hearts.
For, Nineveh is a pool amidst waters,
And her men won’t resist, they’ll just flee
When no one is paying attention.
So their silver and gold will be looted…
There are no limits to all that they’ll take.
And those looters will then be weighed down
With [the city’s] most desirable things.
There’ll be thrusting, shaking, and tumult…
Hearts will be breaking and knees will be weak…
Loins will all become loose,
And their faces will look like burned pots!
So, where is this great lion’s den…
Yes, where is the pasture [where she hides] her cubs…
Where has the [great] lion gone?
She’s gone away to be with her cubs
Who ran when there was nothing to fear.
She is the same lion that once snatched away
All that her cubs had required.
And for her, the cubs strangled their prey,
Until their den became filled with game…
Their home was filled with the things she had seized.
‘But look!
I’m the One that is coming against you,’
Says Jehovah, the Almighty,
‘And all of your army, I’ll burn into smoke.
‘I’ll devour your lions with the broadsword,
And I’ll take all the game from your land,
So that none of the things you’ve accomplished
Will ever be mentioned again.
‘O you city of blood
And of all that is false and unrighteous;
You’ll no longer be in charge of your game.
For the sounds of whips, [you will hear],
Along with the rumble of [chariot] wheels…
The hot pursuits upon horses,
And the dust that they’ll raise with their wheels…
The attacks of men riding steeds…
The shine of their swords and the flashing of shields.
‘Great multitudes will be slaughtered;
For a downfall is coming to you.
Unnumbered nations will come there,
And from [looting and rape], they will tire.
‘You’re a whore who once satisfied men,
And in the making of potions, you took the lead.
Then you sold your whoring to the nations,
And your potions, you sold to their tribes.
‘So look… I’m the One that’s against you,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty!
‘I will uncover your backside,
And show all the nations your shame…
Other kingdoms will see your dishonor!
‘Because of all your uncleanness,
I’ll bring what’s disgusting upon you…
I’ll use you as an example.
‘Then, all who see you will leave you and say,
O Nineveh, you great wretched one;
Who will now mourn over you,
And where can they search to send comfort?
‘So, tune up the strings of your lyres,
And prepare your potions for Amun
([Your god] who inhabits the rivers);
For your walls are surrounded by water,
From which you have ruled all the way to the sea.
‘Though Ethiopia and Egypt have served as your strength,
They’ll [be no help] when you’re taken away…
There’ll just be Libya and the Sudan
That will come to your aid.
‘Your [people] will be captured and taken to exile,
And your infant’s [heads] will be dashed on the walls.
For your honorable things, they’ll cast lots,
As your great men are tethered and bound.
‘So, you’ll be provoked and get drunk,
As from your enemies, you seek shelter.
But what will happen to those in your forts,
Is the same as what will happen to you.
‘For, you will then be the fruit…
And when they start shaking the [tree],
You will fall into the mouths
Of those that have come to consume you.
‘{Look!} Your enemies will view you as women,
So they’ll burn the bars off your gates
And open all doors throughout your land!
‘Then you’ll have to draw water from your rivers
To rescue all of your burning forts!
So, you should tread mortar and mix it with straw…
Then make it stronger with bricks!
For fire and the sword will destroy you…
They will consume you like locusts,
And by grasshoppers, you’ll be oppressed.
‘Though you once grew your trade higher
Than all the stars in the skies;
Grasshoppers are coming to spread [over you]…
Small locusts will leap and consume,
And cover your fences like frost.
Then, as the sun rises, they’ll just hop away…
And woe, because you won’t know where they’ve gone!
‘And you, O Assyria’s king;
All of your shepherds have fallen asleep
And all of your mighty are resting.
Your people [have fled] to the mountains,
And no one is searching for them.
Thus there’ll be no one to heal your destruction,
And your wounds will soon be inflamed.
‘Yet, those hearing this message about you
Are all now clapping their hands…
For to them, you have done evil things.’
These are the things that the Prophet HabakKuk saw:
How long, O Lord, must I cry out
As You don’t listen [to me]?
How long should I yell to You over wrong
As You don’t bring us salvation?
Why have You shown toil and trouble to me,
As you look upon misery and irreverence?
Right opposite me, there’s judging going on…
But it is the judge that carries away!
Because of this, the Law has been shaken,
And in the end, there’s no justice;
For the godless are tyrannizing the righteous,
And the justice they receive is perverted!
[Then the Lord replied]:
‘Look, O you who is speaking such words…
Gaze and wonder at wonders,
And thereafter, just pass away!
For I’ll do a work in your day,
Which you won’t believe and none can describe.
‘{Look!} I’ll awaken the Chaldean people,
And they’ll travel across the breadth of the earth
To inherit tents not their own.
‘[Their king] is known to be fearsome,
And he [creates] his own kind of justice,
For his only concern is himself.
‘His horses leap higher than leopards,
And [their teeth] are like those of Arabian wolves.
‘His horsemen will make great advances…
They’ll spread [their wings] out like eagles
That are eager for something to eat.
‘Then, upon those that don’t show him respect,
He will bring a consumption…
It will come upon all who oppose him,
And he’ll gather captives like sand.
‘Then among all their kings, he will revel…
Their sovereignty will be things he plays with,
And he will mock every fortress…
He’ll build siege mounds around them and win!
‘But thereafter, his spirit will change;
For, he will repent and then say,
This power has come from my God!
‘O Jehovah, my God and most Holy One;
You are from the beginning!
But, though there’s no reason for us to die,
You have ordered up justice…
For discipline and correction, You’ve shaped us.
If Your eyes are too pure to look at the bad,
And You will not view any evil;
Why do You endure those that hate You?
And why do You remain silent and watch
As the impious are consuming the righteous?
Will You let us be like the fish in the sea
Or like things that crawl [on the ground]
Where no one is taking the lead?
You’ve let [Babylon’s king] catch destruction…
Yes, he pulled it up with a hook
And lifted it up with his net…
Then he brought it all in with his dragnet,
And this is why he’s so joyful.
So to his dragnet, he’ll offer sacrifices,
And to it, he will also burn incense.
For by it, he has fattened his portion,
And provided himself the choicest of food.
So he’ll keep on casting his net
To destroy many nations, not spare them!
[Now I’ve told You] that during my watch,
I’ll be the one that stands guard…
I’ll climb on the rocks and observe,
Then listen to all that You’ll tell me,
So I’ll know what I must say in reply
When I am receiving correction.
Then the Lord told me this… He clearly said:
‘Now, you must write down this vision
To elevate those who will read it.
It’s a vision of a time in the future…
It’s what will happen in the time of the end.
‘Be patient if it seems to be late;
For it will surely arrive…
No way will its coming be tardy.
‘To the depths of My core, I do not find favor
In one that would hold back [these words].
Yet, by their faith, the righteous will live!
‘But, those that are arrogant and filled with hate,
And any man who’s a braggart
Will receive no [blessings] at all.
‘Now he’s widening his soul like the grave,
And like death, he never gets filled.
So, if he should assemble all nations
And gather their peoples [under his rule];
Wouldn’t they say this against him…
Wouldn’t they speak this riddle and say:
‘Woe to the one that takes what’s not his…
How long [can he stand] all the pressure?
For suddenly, there’ll come those who’ll bite him…
Yes, those plotting against him will awaken
And then they will saw him in two.
‘For, many nations, he’s ravaged.
But those that remain, will soon ravage him
Because of all the blood that he’s shed,
And the things that he did to their cities and lands…
What he did to all those that lived there.
‘O you who’ve desired all their wealth;
These same things will come upon you and your house…
Yes, on you who’ve arranged your nest in the heights,
And whose hands have brought evil [to others].
‘For, you have shamed your own house!
Since, throughout your life, you have sinned,
And you’ve ended [the lives] of [many great] men.
‘Therefore, from your stone walls, I will yell,
And the beetles in the woods will repeat it:
Woe to those that build their cities on blood,
And [grow] their countries by doing what’s wrong!
‘Yet, it’s by Jehovah the Almighty
That so many have been tested by fire,
And the nations have proven faint-hearted!
‘So, like the waters that cover the seas,
The earth will soon become filled
With the knowledge about all His glory.
‘But, you have forced your neighbors to drink
Something intoxicating and cloudy
In order to gaze on their private parts.
‘So drink deeply to the glory of your dishonor
And get extremely excited!
For thereafter, you’ll be completely surrounded
Within the cup in Jehovah’s right hand,
Where your glory will meet with dishonor.
‘By Lebanon’s irreverence, you’ll also be covered,
And the misery of wild beasts will terrify you,
Because of the blood of men that you’ve shed,
And the badness within [your] cities and lands,
Along with the [evil] of your people.
‘So, what good are the idols that they have carved,
Or the molded castings they’ve shaped…
The false things that they can see with their eyes?
For your people rely on things that they’ve shaped…
On idols that they’ve made, which can’t speak!
‘So, woe to those who say to the wood,
[It’s time for you to] awaken and rise,
And who say to things made of stone, Become great!
For, they are just things you can look at…
Things that you’ve hammered from silver and gold,
Which are still unable to breathe.
‘But, in His Temple, Jehovah’s [alive]!
So in every land, they should bow before Him!’
The prayer of HabakKuk (the Prophet) in a song:
O Lord;
I heard Your report and I was afraid.
O Jehovah;
I thought of your works and I trembled.
You stand between the two cherubs,
And in coming years, all will know You…
Yes, when that time arrives, You’ll be seen.
And when disturbance comes into my life,
You’ll think of [me] and show mercy.
For, God will come out of TeMan…
Yes, from the shadow of Mount Paran,
The Most Holy one will arrive.
PAUSE
His virtues cover the skies
And His praises fill the [whole] earth…
Like all kinds of light is His brightness.
In His hands, He carries a trumpet;
And by His might, He sends us His love.
So, from His face, a word will go forth,
Which will travel from there to the plains;
And where His feet stand, the [whole] earth will shake.
When He looks upon them, the nations dissolve…
By [His] might, the mountains will break
And the hills of the ages will melt.
On the tents of Ethiopian peoples,
I saw distress about to arrive,
And the tents of Media were also disturbed.
Were You provoked by their rivers, O Lord…
Did their rivers make You so angry
That against their sea, You took action?
O you who’re arriving on horses;
As you ride, are you bringing salvation?
No, Jehovah has told you to stretch out…
Against their tents, you must stretch tight your bows!
PAUSE
You’ll divide up their lands by their rivers,
And when they see you, they’ll start having birth pangs;
For they’ll know that the rivers will be their new borders.
Then the abyss will shout to the heights
When it sees that you are arriving.
For the sun will not rise in the sky,
And the moon will fail and stand still.
But, by the flash of your arrows
And sparks from your weapons, they’ll move.
When [God] threatens, He’ll leave just few in their lands;
For in His rage, He wipes nations away.
But to His people, He’s bringing salvation,
And He will save His anointed.
But to the heads of the lawless, He will send death…
First, He’ll put chains on their necks,
Which will shake and astonish the mighty,
And then He will chop off their heads.
PAUSE
Yes, He’ll split the heads of the mighty,
After He makes them all shiver.
So then they will put down their reins
And look for places to hide…
Where they will be fed like the poor.
For He’ll lead their horses into the sea,
And there they will muddy its waters…
Which will bring fear to all, when they see it.
On my lips, there was the sound of a prayer…
Trembling entered my backside and bones…
Yes, all of my ways were disturbed.
But I will find rest in that day of distress…
When I leave the people to whom I was sent.
For their fig trees won’t bear fruit anymore,
And there’ll be no grapes on their vines.
Their olives will also be gone,
And there’ll be no crops in their fields.
At that time, there will be no more sheep,
And there’ll be no oxen left in their barns.
But I’ll shout in joy to Jehovah…
I’ll rejoice over my Savior, God!
For Jehovah God is my strength,
And He’s provided straight paths for my feet…
Upon a high place, He has set me,
And by His song, I will win!
The Word of Jehovah came to ZephaniAh (the son of Cushi, grandson of GedaliAh, and great-grandson of AmariAh, the son of HezekiAh) in the days of JosiAh (the son of Amon) the king of Judah, and said:
‘When it comes to being in want,
Let all on the face of the earth be in want,’ said the Lord!
‘Let men and their cattle all be in want;
Let things that fly in the sky be in want,
As well as the fish in the seas.
‘May the irreverent all become ill
Because of their lawless deeds;
For, from the land, I’ll remove them,’ said the Lord.
‘Then over Judah and JeruSalem
I will stretch out my hand,
And the name of BaAl, I’ll remove from this place,
Along with the names of his priests
And the things dedicated [to him].
‘[I’ll remove] all those that bow on their roofs
Before the [stars] in the skies,
As well as those that bow low
And swear their oaths by their masters,
Or those that swear oaths by their king.
For, they have all turned from Jehovah,
And they are not seeking their Lord…
[To Him], they haven’t stuck closely.
‘So be cautious before Jehovah [your] God,
For the Day of the Lord is at hand!
Jehovah has readied His [great] sacrifice,
And made His Chosen One holy.
‘For the day of sacrifice will arrive
When I will take vengeance upon all their rulers,
As well as on the house of their king,
And on those who wear foreign clothes.
‘When I take vengeance, you’ll see it;
For, it will come to the gates in that day
Of those filling the House of Jehovah
With their treacherous, ungodly ways.
‘And in that day,’ said the Lord,
‘There’ll come the sounds of cries from the gates…
[The sounds] of people that are being stabbed through.
And from the second quarter, the screams of the women,
As the battles rage on in the hills.
‘So wail, all you who dwell in this place
That soon will be cut to pieces.
For [as happened] to the people of CanaAn;
Those who carry silver will be slaughtered!
‘And in that day;
I’ll search JeruSalem through with a lamp
And take vengeance upon all the people
Who’ve paid no attention to my orders,
And on those who have said in their hearts,
Jehovah will do neither evil nor good!
‘Then I’ll give them the power to ravage
And ruin all of your houses.
So, you will build homes in which you won’t live,
And plant vineyards, from which you won’t drink the wine.
‘For the Day of the Lord has approached…
Yes, it will come very soon!
And the sounds of the Day of the Lord
Are ordered to be bitter and harsh.
‘It will be a day of His rage;
A day of distress and affliction;
A day of misery and extinction;
A day of dimness and darkness;
A day of clouds and [thick] fog.
‘It’ll be a day when the trumpets are blown,
And cries will arise from all your walled cities,
As well as from your high towers.
For, I will squeeze out the people,
And then they will walk like the blind
Because of their sins against [God].
‘I’ll pour their blood out in the dust,
And I’ll [pour] their flesh out like dung.
Then their silver and gold will not save them
In the Day of the Rage of Jehovah.
For the fire of His zeal will consume the whole land.
‘In a diligent way, He will bring it
Upon all those that dwell in this land.
‘So, gather and be bound together,
You nation that cannot be taught,
Before this day passes by like a blossom…
Before [God’s] wrath has come upon you…
Before the day of His anger and rage.
‘So, seek Jehovah, you meek of the earth…
Seek what is righteous and fair!
Give truthful answers to all,
And tell them to hide in the Day of God’s wrath.
‘For, it will bring plundering to Gaza,
And AshKelon will be wiped away.
AshDod will fall at mid-day,
And EkRon will soon be uprooted.
‘Woe to you in the lands by the sea…
All you that have [moved there] from Crete.
For the Word of Jehovah is coming against you
(You Philistines within CanaAn’s land),
And I’ll destroy all the places where you dwell.
‘[Your lands] will become pastures for flocks…
They’ll be safe havens for sheep.
And the lands of those that dwell by the sea
Will be given to the remnants of Judah.
‘AshKelon’s homes will then become [pens]
Where sheep will rest [in the heat of the day].
Then the sons of Judah, Jehovah will visit,
And from captivity, return them.
‘For I’ve heard the scorning of MoAb
And of their mistreatment by AmMon’s sons
When they berated My people,
And forced themselves over My borders.
‘Because of this, as I live;
Says IsraEl’s God, Jehovah of Armies,
MoAb will soon be like Sodom,
And the sons of AmMon, like GomorRah.
‘Damascus will also come to its end
And be heaps of salt through the age!
They’ll be plundered by what remain of My people…
They’ll be inherited by the remnant of My nation.
‘This will happen because of their insolent ways…
Because they berated [God’s people],
And because they put themselves higher
Than Jehovah, the Almighty God.
‘Then before them, the Lord will appear
To destroy the gods of those nations and countries,
And thereafter, they’ll all bow before him…
Each man within his own land
And the gentiles that live in the islands.
‘Then, the Ethiopian peoples;
I will put to death with my broadsword!
And I’ll stretch out my hand toward the north,
Then the Assyrians too, will be wiped away…
I’ll turn Nineveh into a desert!
‘Flocks will then feed in her midst
Beside the wild beasts of the land.
Chameleons and hedgehogs will live in her fretwork,
Wild beasts will roar in her ditches,
And crows will nest in her gates.
‘But because she has been a tall cedar,
This city that has paid no attention
Will still have hope that she can survive.
‘For, she has said in her heart:
I am, and after me, there will be no others!
But soon, she won’t be anymore…
She’ll be a place where wild beasts will dwell,
And all that thereafter go through her
Will whistle and just wring their hands.
‘And you, O great city of [JeruSalem]…
O my dove, whom I have repurchased;
To His voice, you just wouldn’t listen,
And you chose not to follow His orders…
Upon Jehovah, you wouldn’t rely…
You refused to turn back to your God.
‘So your rulers are like roaring lions,
And your judges are like Arabian wolves
That leave nothing over ‘til morning.
‘Your prophets are all wanton liars
[Whose words] are blown by the winds.
And [God’s] Holy Things are profaned by your priests
Who have no respect for His Laws.
‘But among you, Jehovah’s been righteous…
No way has He been unjust…
Each morning, He sends you justice and light.
But, nothing is hidden from Him,
And He doesn’t put up with injustice.
‘So the wicked will all come to shame,
And He will tear down your proud,
Then destroy all the places where they hide.
‘He’ll also wipe away all your roads,
So that no one will pass through your cities.
Then all of your towns will be wiped away…
No one will dwell there, because they’ll be gone!
‘I told you to fear Me and do as I say,
So I would not have to destroy you.
But now, prepare for the vengeance
That I will be bringing upon you.
For, I will rise early and reap,
And even your gleanings, I’ll ruin, said Jehovah.
‘Then, upon the gathering of nations,
I will thereafter pass judgment,
And I’ll pour out My rage on their kings…
Yes, all of My anger and rage
And the fire of My zeal will consume them.
‘Then, to that generation, I’ll bring just one language
So that all can call on the name of the Lord
And serve him under one yoke.
‘From the ends of Ethiopia’s rivers
I’ll welcome back those that were scattered,
And to Me, they’ll bring sacrifices.
‘In that Day, you won’t be disgraced
By the disrespect that you’ve shown Me.
For I’ll remove your insolent ways
And the careless attitudes that you’ve shown…
Then about My Holy Mountain, you’ll boast once again.
‘But among you, I’ll leave the humble and meek
(Those who respect the name of the Lord).
And this remnant of IsraEl will not be unrighteous…
Of vain things, they will not speak,
And no way will their tongues then deceive.
Then they will eat as they lie in their beds,
And no one will make them afraid.
‘So rejoice, O daughter of Zion…
O JeruSalem’s daughter, shout loudly…
Whole-heartedly [cry out in] joy…
JeruSalem’s daughter, yell in delight!
For Jehovah has removed your offenses
And ransomed you from your enemy’s hands.
For IsraEl’s King, Jehovah, is with you,
So you’ll no longer see any evil!
‘To JeruSalem, I’ll say at that time:
Be courageous, O Zion,
And don’t let your hands become weak!
For Jehovah your God is among you…
The Almighty has brought you salvation!
‘Then, He will spread gladness among you,
And because He cares, He’ll revive you.
He’ll be as glad and delighted with you
As He was in the days of your holiday feasts.
‘Then I’ll gather back those that are broken,
And bring woe upon any that scorn you!
{Look!} In that time, I will act on your behalf…
I will save all those that were pressured,
And I’ll welcome back those that I once pushed away.
Then I’ll make them [a people] of boasting and fame
In every place throughout the whole earth.
‘At that time, your enemies will all be disgraced
And I’ll do whatever you think to be good;
Because, in that time, I’ll accept you…
I’ll make you famous and reasons to boast
Before the rest of the nations on earth.
For in front of their eyes, I’ll return you
From the places where they once held you captive, said Jehovah.’
In the 2nd year [of the reign] of King Darius, in the 6th month and on the 1st day of the month, The Word of Jehovah came by the hand of HagGai the Prophet and said,
‘Speak to ZerubBabel the son of ShealtiEl from the tribe of Judah and to JoShua (son of JoZadek) the High Priest, and tell themthat Jehovah the Almighty says this:
‘These people say that the time isn’t right
To rebuild the House of Jehovah.’
Then the Word of Jehovah went on to say this through the hands of HagGai the Prophet:
‘Is it indeed the right time
For you men to live in nice houses
While this [Temple] is lying in ruins?
‘And now, says Jehovah the Almighty,
Arrange your hearts for the ways you must go!
For you plant a lot, but you don’t harvest much;
You eat, but not ‘til you’re full;
You drink, but not ‘til you’re drunk;
You wear clothes that don’t keep you warm;
And those to whom you’ve paid wages
Keep them in bags full of holes.
‘So, thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
Get your hearts ready to travel,
And go to the mountains to cut the wood
With which you’ll rebuild [My Temple].
For, if you choose to do this,
I will think well of you,
Because that would glorify Me, says Jehovah.
‘Now you look for much [but find] little,
And after you carry it home,
I just blow it away.
This happens, says Jehovah the Almighty,
Because you’ve abandoned My House
While you each [repair] your own homes.
So the sky is withholding its dew,
And the ground is withholding its blessings.
‘Therefore, to your land and its mountains;
Also, to your oil and your grain,
And to the ground that brings wine to men,
I will be sending the sword.
I’ll also send the sword to your cattle,
And [to the things that you make with] your hands.’
Well, ZerubBabel (the son of ShealtiEl) from the tribe of Judah, and JoShua (the son of JoZadek) the High Priest (as well as all the rest of the people) listened to the voice of Jehovah their God and to the words of HagGai the Prophet – to all [the words] that Jehovah their God had sent to them – and the people became fearful before Jehovah.
Then HagGai, one of the messengers of Jehovah, told the people this:
‘Jehovah says, I am with you!’
So thereafter, Jehovah awakened the spirit of ZerubBabel (the son of ShealtiEl) from the tribe of Judah, the spirit of JoShua (the son of JoZadek) the High Priest, and the spirits of the rest of the people, and they went to work on the [Temple] of their God Jehovah the Almighty.They started [the project] on the 24th day of the 6th month in the 2nd year [of the reign] of King Darius.
Then on the 21st day of the 7th month, the Word of Jehovah came again by the hand of HagGai the Prophet. He said,
‘Speak to ZerubBabel (the son of ShealtiEl) of the tribe of Judah, and to JoShua the High Priest (the son of JoZadek), and to all the rest who are left there, and ask them this:
‘Who among you had seen this [Temple]
In [the days of] its glory?
Do you see what it has become…
It no longer exists here before you!
‘So ZerubBabel, you must be strong, says Jehovah;
And High Priest JoShua, you must be strong…
And you people of the land must also be strong;
For, if you choose to [obey Me],
I will be there with you,
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘This is the same thing that I said to [your fathers]
When they were fleeing from Egypt…
And then, I sent them My Breath.
So now, you must also show courage!
‘For, thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
Once again, I will shake the lands and the skies,
As well as the seas and dry ground.
I will also shake all the nations,
And My chosen ones will return…
Then I’ll fill this [Temple] with glory,
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘For, all the silver is Mine,
And all the gold is Mine also,
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
So the glory of this [Temple] will be greater…
The last will be greater than the first,
Says Jehovah the Almighty!
‘And to this place, I’ll bring peace,
Says Jehovah the Almighty…
Peace that will save all the lives
Of those who rebuild this Temple.’
Then it was on the 24th day of the 9th month in the 2nd year of Darius that these words came from the Lord to HagGai the Prophet. He told them thatJehovah the Almighty said this:
‘Ask the Priests, concerning the Law:
If a man should touch holy meat
With just the edge of his clothes,
And the edge of his clothes should thereafter touch
Bread, stew, wine, or olive oil
(Or any other such food);
Would it make those things holy?’
And all the Priests replied,
‘No!’
Then HagGai asked,
‘But, if they should touch a dead person,
Would any of these things still be clean?’
And the Priests replied,
‘[No, they’d] be defiled!’
Then HagGai told them that this is what Jehovah said:
‘So it will be of these people
(Of this nation that stands here before Me
And of the works of their hands)…
Those who come here will all be defiled
If they’re more concerned about their own [homes].
‘Such ones, should rather be grieving
About the wicked things that they’ve done;
For they have hated [the Prophets]
That scolded them at their gates.
‘So, take [these words] to your hearts from this day
Before laying stone upon stone
To [rebuild] the House of Jehovah:
‘Remember when you went to your stores
To get 20 measures of barley
And found there were only 10 measures;
Or, when you went to the wine vat
To draw 50 measures [of wine]
And found there were just 20 measures.
‘Well, I am the One who had struck you
With this lack of production…
[I’m the One who struck] the works of your hands
And sent hail and strong wind upon you,
Because you refused to turn back to Me, says Jehovah.
‘So, keep this in your hearts from this day…
From the 24th day and 9th month…
From the day the Temple’s foundation was laid…
Yes, store it deep in your hearts!
‘Will the threshing-floor still [be empty]? No!
And will the grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, or olives
Fail to put out their fruit? No!
Because, from this day, I will bless them!’
Then the Word of the Jehovah came to HagGai the Prophet a second time (on the 24th day of the month), and he said:
‘Speak to ZerubBabel (the son of ShealtiEl) of the Tribe of Judah, and this is what you must tell him:
‘I will shake the ground and the sky,
As well as the sea and dry land.
Then I’ll wipe away the thrones of the kings
And I will destroy all the power
Of the nations [that are living around you]!
‘Their chariots and horsemen will be wiped away…
Their horses and horsemen will fall,
And they’ll each turn their swords on their brothers.
‘O ZerubBabel;
On this day, I’ve chosen you as My servant,
Says the Almighty Jehovah.
I’ve established you as a seal,
For you’re the one that I’ve chosen,
Says the Almighty Jehovah.’
It was in the 8th month in the 2nd year [of the reign] of Darius that the Word of Jehovah came to ZechariAh (the son of BarachiAh and grandson of IdDo) the Prophet and said:
‘Jehovah was provoked by your fathers
And [driven] into great rage;
So, tell them that thus says Jehovah of Armies:
Return to Me, says Jehovah of Armies,
And then, I’ll turn back to you.
‘Do not be like your fathers
Whom the Prophets accused.
For they came beforehand and warned them…
They said that Jehovah of Armies
Had warned them to turn from their wicked ways
And from the bad things they were doing.
But they just paid no attention,
And chose not to listen to Me, says Jehovah.
‘Now, where are your fathers and where are those Prophets…
Have they lived into this age?
‘You have My words and My Laws;
Yes, all that I sent by My Spirit
Through My servants the Prophets…
Those whom were seized by your fathers.
‘For [your fathers] gave this reply to [the Prophets]:
Whatever Jehovah of Armies had planned
Because of our sins and our evil ways
Has already been fulfilled upon us!’
Well, it was on the 24th day of the 11th month (the month of Shebat), in the 2nd year [of the reign] of Darius, that the Word of Jehovah came to me (ZechariAh the Prophet, the son of BarachiAh and grandson of IdDo).For during the night, I looked up and saw a man that was riding a red horse. He was standing in the shade between the mountains, and behind him were red horses with white spots.So I asked,
‘What is this, O Lord?’
And [God’s] messenger (the person that was speaking to me) replied,
‘I will show you what all these things mean.’
Then the man that was standing between the mountains spoke to me and said:
‘These [men] were sent by Jehovah
To travel throughout the whole land.’
And thereafter, the men that were standing between the mountains said to the messenger of Jehovah:
‘We have finished our travels throughout the whole land,
And Look! It is all tranquil and filled.’
So the messenger of Jehovah said this:
‘O Jehovah of Armies;
How long will you fail to show mercy
On JeruSalem and the cities of Judah?
For, this is the 70th year of Your rage.’
And Jehovah replied to the messenger:
‘You, the one who is speaking for Me,
Must send him good words that bring comfort.’
So then the messenger spoke to me and told me that I should start shouting [in joy], because Jehovah the Almighty had said this:
‘I have a great zeal for JeruSalem…
Over Zion, I am very zealous!
And I’ve been provoked by the nations,
Because they had joined to attack you.
‘But, though you people provoked Me,
They planned their attack for bad [reasons].
And because of this,’ said Jehovah,
‘On JeruSalem, I will show mercy,
And My Temple will soon be rebuilt there.’
Then Jehovah added:
‘So, I’m stretching a line over JeruSalem.’
‘[And the messenger said],
‘Therefore, shout aloud [in joy] once again!
For Jehovah of Armies said this:
To your cities, I’ll be sending good things;
For, I will show mercy on Zion,
Since JeruSalem is the place that I chose!’
Then, when I raised my eyes and looked, I saw 4 trumpets.So I asked the messenger (the one who was speaking to me):
‘What are these, O Lord?’
And he replied:
‘These are the trumpets…
The ones that brought scattering to Judah,
As well as to IsraEl and JeruSalem.’
Then the Lord showed me 4 workers.So I asked him,
‘What have these come to do?’
And he replied to Me, saying,
‘They’ve come to cut down the trumpets
That brought scattering [to the people of] Judah,
And so much destruction upon IsraEl
That those who lived there could not raise their heads…
They’re the horns that the nations had raised
To scatter the land of Jehovah.’
Then I raised My eyes and I saw a man; and in his hand was the string of a surveyor.So I asked him,
‘Where are you going?’
And he said,
‘I’m going to measure JeruSalem…
To determine its length and its width.’
Well at that, {Look!} the messenger who was speaking to me stopped, and another of [God’s] messengers came to meet him,and said:
‘Tell him that JeruSalem
Will be lived in again…
Within her, there’ll be crowds of cattle and men.
‘And [tell him] that Jehovah says this:
I’ll be a wall of fire to surround her
As well as the glory within her.
‘So now, flee from the land in the north,
says Jehovah;
For I’ll gather you from the four winds,
And those who dwell among Babylon’s daughters
Must get up and run back to Zion.’
Then [the messenger said]:
‘I was sent to the nations by Jehovah,
In order to establish your glory
Among the people that sacked you.
‘For, those who have dared to touch you
Have touched the pupil of my eye.
So {Look!} against them, I’ll now raise my hand,
And they will then be the spoils
Of those who had once been their slaves…
And then you will know I was sent
By Jehovah the Almighty.
‘So be glad and rejoice, O daughter of Zion;
For I will return and camp in your midst.
Then, many nations will come seeking refuge
Among Jehovah and His people…
For, I will be there in your midst,
And you’ll know that Jehovah the Almighty
Was the [One] that sent me to you.
‘Yes, Judah will be His inheritance again
(His portion in His holy land),
And JeruSalem is His chosen city, once more.
So to Jehovah, all flesh must now bow;
For, from His holy cloud, He’s awakened.’
Then the Lord showed me JoShua (gr. Jesus) the High Priest. And standing before him was the messenger of Jehovah… but the Slanderer was also there, standing to his right in order to serve as his opponent.
Then [the messenger] of Jehovah said to the Slanderer:
‘O Slanderer;
May Jehovah send His reproach upon you…
May the Lord who chose JeruSalem
Speak condemnation against you!
For, doesn’t [JoShua now look like] an ember
That has been snatched from the fire?’
Well, [I noticed that] JoShua was wearing filthy clothes as he was standing there in front of [God’s] messenger.So the messenger said to those that were standing before him:
‘Now, remove all of his filthy clothes!’
Then he said:
‘{Look!} And after you’ve removed all of these dirty things;
In a full-length robe, you must dress him!’
Then he said:
‘Dress him in the [robes of a Priest],
And on his head, you must place a clean turban!’
So they dressed him in the official [garments], placed a clean turban on his head, and wrapped the [official] robe around him.
And thereafter, the messenger of Jehovah stood there and testified to JoShua saying,
‘Thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
If you will walk in My ways
And keep strict watch on My orders,
I’ll [assign you to be over] My [Temple]
And to keep watch on My courtyard.
Then I’ll give you [guards] that will pace
Between other [guards] that stand still.
‘O High Priest JoShua, listen to this…
Yes, you and your neighbors that are sitting before you!
For these men [will serve as] observers of signs…
They’ll be witnesses that I gave to My servant
Something that will raise his position!
For I’ll place a stone before JoShua’s face,
And on this stone, there will be 7 eyes.
‘{Look!} Then upon it, I will engrave an inscription,
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
It’ll say that I’ll [wipe out] injustice…
In a day, I’ll wipe injustice away
In all places throughout the whole land.
‘And then, in that day, says Jehovah;
They will each call to their neighbors and brothers
From under their own grapevines and fig trees.’
Then the messenger that was speaking to me returned and woke me up in the same way that you’d wake up a man that was sleeping.Then he asked me:
‘Now, what do you see?’
Well when I looked, I saw a gold lampstand and a bowl of oil… there were 7 lamps on [the stand] and 7 oil funnels for the 7 lamps.There were also two olive trees… one was on the right of its bowl, and the other was on its left side.So I asked the messenger that was speaking to me:
‘What are these things, O Lord?’
And the messenger that had been speaking to me replied:
‘Don’t you know what all these things mean?’
And I answered:
‘No, O my Lord.’
Then he told me this:
‘They’re the words of Jehovah to ZerubBabel;
For, you must say this to him:
Not by strength or great power,
But just by My Breath,
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘So, who are you, O great mountain,
To stand before ZerubBabel’s face?
For, you will become just a plain
Before My inherited rock
Upon whom I’ll show My favor and care.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to Me and said:
‘ ZerubBabel’s hands that laid the foundation
Will also be the hands that complete it.
Then you’ll know that Jehovah the Almighty
Is the One that sent Me to you.
‘For, those who’ve despised the days of small things
Will rejoice when they see the stone plumb bob
Held in ZerubBabel’s hands…
The stone with the eyes of Jehovah
That look upon the whole earth.’
Then I asked him:
‘But what do the two olive trees signify… the ones on the right and left sides of the lampstand?’
And I asked him again:
‘What [is the meaning of] the two branches of the trees that are around the gold handles that are used to do pouring… and the gold funnels?’
So he spoke again and asked me:
‘Don’t you know what all these things mean?’
And I replied:
‘No, O Lord.’
And he said:
‘These are two sons of the oil (or ‘fat,’ likely anointed ones),
Who will stand beside the Lord of the earth.’
Then I turned and raised my eyes and saw what looked like a flying sickle.And he asked me:
‘What do you see now?’
And I replied:
‘I see a flying sickle… it’s 20 forearms long and 10 forearms wide!’
Then he said:
‘This is the curse…
The one that will go ‘cross the face of the earth.
One side brings death to all thieves,
And the other, to those that would lie in a trial.
‘For Jehovah the Almighty says this:
I will [soon] send it forth…
I’ll send it to the thieves that would enter My House
And to those that swear false oaths in My Name.
It will come and enter their houses,
And then it will wipe them away,
Along with their woodwork and stones.’
Then the messenger that was speaking to me came up and said:
‘Now, raise your eyes and see what is coming!’
And I asked him:
‘What is it?’
And he said:
‘What’s coming is the measuring basket
That will measure the land’s unrighteous ways.
Look… I have a measure of lead.
And look… there’s a woman inside of [that basket]!’
Then he said:
‘This [lead] is their lawless ways!’
And at that, he threw [the lead] at the basket, and it fell into the woman’s mouth.
Then I raised my eyes and I saw two more women coming. Both had wings that were like those of a hoopoe bird, and [their wings] thereafter became filled with the wind. Then they picked up the basket and lifted it between the land and the sky.
So I asked the messenger that was speaking to me:
‘Where are they taking the basket?’
And he replied:
‘To the land of Babylon, they’ll take it,
In which there [will be] a house,
That they have prepared for it there.’
Then I turned and raised my eyes and I saw 4 chariots coming from between two mountains… mountains that were made out of brass!The 1st chariot [that I saw] was pulled by red horses, the 2nd was pulled by black horses,the 3rd was pulled by white horses, and the 4th was pulled by horses that were spotted dapple gray.
So I spoke to the messenger and asked him (this one who was speaking to me):
‘What are these, O my Lord?’
And the messenger that was speaking to me replied:
‘These are the four winds of the heavens,
And they will stand next to the Lord of the earth.
The black ones will go to the land of the north;
The white ones will follow behind them;
And the spotted are going to the land of the south.’
Then the dapple-gray ones left, and they traveled around the whole earth. For he told them:
‘Go and travel around the whole earth!’
So then they went and traveled throughout all the lands [of the earth].
Then he yelled out to me and said:
‘Look! The ones that are going to the land of the north
Have brought rest to My rage in the north.’
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘Take [silver and gold] from the rulers,
As well as from those that are wealthy,
And from those that have greater knowledge!
[You will find them] in the house of JosiAh (son of ZephaniAh),
Who has just returned from Babylon.
‘Then, with the silver and gold, make a crown,
And place it upon JoShua’s head
(The son of JoZadek, the High Priest).
And tell him that thus says Jehovah:
‘{Look!} There’s a male whose name is The Sprout,
And he will grow from below
To rebuild the House of Jehovah.
‘Then, he will receive all the greatness he needs
To sit and rule from his throne.
For there’ll be a Priest on [God’s throne],
And there’ll be peace and purpose between [those two roles].
‘This crown will remain [in the Temple]
As a reminder to those that showed recognition
And favor to the son of ZephaniAh…
This will serve as a psalm in the House of Jehovah.
‘And thereafter, from far-away places, will come
Those who’ll rebuild the [Temple] of [God].
Then you’ll know that I had been sent
By Jehovah the Almighty.
And all who hear this will [wish]
That they had paid closer attention
To the voice of Jehovah their God.’
It was in the 4th year of [the reign] of King Darius, on the 4th day of the 9th month (which is Chislev) that the Word of Jehovah came to ZechariAh.For the king had sent SherEzar (as well as Regem and his men) to BethEl to atone [for their sins] before Jehovah.Then they said to the Priests at the [Temple] of Jehovah the Almighty and to the Prophets:
‘The holy offering has been brought here again in this 5th month, as we have been doing for a good number of years now.’
And thereafter, the Word of Jehovah of Armies came to me and said:
‘Speak to the people throughout the land
And to all of the Priests,
Then tell them [that thus says Jehovah]:
‘In the 5th and 7th months, you have fasted
And you’ve beat on your chests for 70 years;
But, during all of this fasting,
Were you really fasting to Me?
For, when you are eating and drinking,
Aren’t you eating and drinking just for yourselves?
‘Now, aren’t these the same words that Jehovah once spoke
By the [mouths] of the Prophets
When He was blessing JeruSalem
As well as those in the cities [of Judah],
And those in her mountains and plains?’
And thereafter, the Word of Jehovah came to ZechariAh and said,
‘Jehovah the Almighty said this:
I told them to make righteous judgments…
To show mercy and compassion to their brothers…
Not to tyrannize orphans or widows,
Or the needy, or people from foreign lands.
And no matter what harm their brothers may do;
In their hearts, they shouldn’t hold grudges.
But, they resisted and paid no attention…
They turned their backs and just ranted,
Covering their ears, so they couldn’t hear.
‘They set their hearts to resist My persuasion,
And to My Laws, they chose not to listen,
Or to the words that came from their Lord
By My Breath through the hands of the Prophets
(Those whom I’d sent to give them a warning)…
So thereafter, I poured My rage upon them.
‘It’s the same as I’ve told them before;
When they refuse to listen to Me,
I’ll not listen to them when they call out to Me,
Said Jehovah the Almighty.
‘So among the gentiles, I tossed them
(Among nations that they didn’t know).
And from their land, they were wiped away
And they weren’t allowed to return…
For they’d brought extinction upon their choice land.’
Then The Word of Jehovah the Almighty came to me and said:
‘I’ve shown zeal for Zion and JeruSalem…
In My rage, I’ve been jealous on their behalf,said Jehovah.
So to Zion, I will now return,
And in JeruSalem’s midst, I will camp;
Then, it will be called The City of Truth…
The Holy Mountain of Jehovah the Almighty.
‘And after that, Jehovah the Almighty told me to say this:
Old men and women will once again sit
In JeruSalem’s squares,
Each with their canes in their hands…
For they will have lived many days.
And the city will also be filled
With boys and girls that will play in her squares.
‘Then Jehovah the Almighty said this:
Couldn’t this have happened to those that remained…
To those who were left back in those days? No!
But, is this something that I cannot do,
Asks Jehovah the Almighty? No!
‘For thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
{Look!} I’ll [return] My people from the lands in the east
And from the lands in the west.
Yes, I will bring them all back,
And in JeruSalem, they will camp.
Then, they will be My people again,
And in truth and righteousness, I’ll be their God.
‘For, thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
O you who listened during these days;
Strengthen your hands [to follow] the words
That have come from the mouths of the Prophets
Since the Temple’s foundation was laid
And in the day that they built it…
Back when their wages bought nothing,
And nothing was paid for in cattle.
‘For those that entered and those that went out,
There was only affliction, not peace;
And against their neighbors, I turned every man.
‘But, I won’t treat the few [that remain]
The same as I did in the past,
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘Rather, I will send peaceful times;
The grapevines will then produce fruit;
The land will yield its abundance;
And the sky will bring forth its dew…
Yes, I’ll bring this to those that remain.
‘And as for you, house of Judah;
Though you were a curse among nations,
I’ll now send salvation to you,
And you’ll be a blessing once more.
But, [you must now] be courageous,
And you must strengthen your hands!
‘Thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
Though I once thought to bring evil on you
Because your fathers provoked Me to rage
(And until now, I hadn’t relented),
Says Jehovah the Almighty;
I’ve reconsidered and I am now ready
To do good for those living in Judah
And for those that are living in JeruSalem…
So, you must now be courageous!
‘And these are the things you must do:
You must each speak truth to your neighbors;
You must make decisions that bring about peace;
And justice must be returned to your gates!
‘Against your neighbors, you must not consider
Doing evil things in your hearts…
And do not love lying oaths!
For, I detest all such things,
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
Then the Word of Jehovah came to me and said:
‘You must fast in the 4th and 5th months,
And fast in the 7th and 10th.
Then to Judah, I’ll bring joy and gladness,
And you’ll carry good things to your holiday feasts.
You’ll all be glad, for then there’ll be truth…
There’ll be peace and love [throughout the whole land].
‘For, thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
Many peoples will then come among you,
And there’ll be many cities in which they can dwell.
Then, in those cities, they’ll gather and say:
Let’s go beg before the face of the Lord…
Let’s seek the face of Jehovah…
Yes, all should go there with me!
‘Then, to JeruSalem, they will come
Seeking the face of Jehovah
In order to bow down before Him.
‘Thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
In those days, 10 men from all nations and tongues
Will come to grab hold of the hem of each Jew,
And this is what they will say:
We wish to come [and live] among you,
Because we’ve heard God is with you!’
This is a proclamation… it’s the word of Jehovah against the land of HadRach, and against [the city of] Damascus where they offer sacrifices [to him]. For Jehovah examines all men (not just the tribes of IsraEl).[This proclamation is also] for HamAth, as well as Sidon and Tyre, since all their people have the same mindset.
‘Tyre has made a fortress of herself…
She’s treasured up silver like dust,
And gathered gold like mud in the streets.
So, by Jehovah, she will be owned.
He’ll strike down her power over the seas,
And she will be burned in a fire.
‘Then, AshKelon will see this and fear,
And Gaza will be very grieved.
In EkRon, her errors will bring her much shame,
And the kings of Gaza will perish.
‘In AshKelon, no one will live,
And in AshDod, foreign peoples will dwell;
For, I will soon wipe away
The insolence of the Philistines…
I’ll remove all the blood from their mouths,
And the disgusting things from their teeth.
‘Then they’ll leave their things to your God
And submit to a general from Judah.
And what happened to the Jebusi,
Is the same that will happen to EkRon.
‘[For Jehovah said:]
Then, I’ll stand in My [Temple] there in the heights
And I will not leave it again.
No way, will [armies] march on it;
For upon it, My eyes will keep watch.
‘So rejoice, O daughter of Zion;
Shout aloud, you daughters of JeruSalem;
For {Look!} your king will be coming to you…
The righteous one who’s your Savior.
‘He will be [a person that’s] gentle,
And on a beast of burden, he will arrive…
Yes, even upon a young foal!
‘Ephraim’s chariots, he will destroy,
As well as JeruSalem’s horses.
He’ll destroy [all the weapons] of warfare,
And send you peace with the nations roundabout.
Then he’ll rule from the waters of the [great] sea
To the rivers and passes throughout your land.
‘Then by his blood of My Sacred Agreement,
From dry pits, he will ransom your captives.
Those that were captives, he’ll settle in forts,
And for each day that they have [been there],
He will repay them with double.
‘O Judah; I’ve held you tight to Myself…
[As tight] as I’d hold a bow.
‘So, Ephraim will be [free] once again,
And I’ll awaken your children, O Zion,
Against the sons of the Greeks…
Like a warrior’s sword, I will use them.
‘Then the Lord will be seen as your leader,
And he’ll [shoot] his arrows like lightning.
Then, from the Lord Jehovah, a trumpet will sound,
Which will send intimidation on them.
‘For Jehovah the Almighty will serve as your shield
As you bring them [destruction].
Upon them, your [sons] will be heaping sling stones,
And drink their blood as though it were wine…
Like basins for the Altar, their bowls will be filled.
‘In that day, Jehovah will be known as your God,
And He’ll save the sheep of His people…
They’ll be like [gems] in His land.
‘Then for all that are found to be good,
And for all that are found to be fair;
The young men will be given their grain,
And there’ll be fragrant wine for the virgins.
‘Then you can ask Jehovah for rain in each season
(Both the early and late rains),
And Jehovah will do what’s fantastic…
To all their pastures and fields,
He will send winter rains.
‘But now, there are those declaring big things…
Things that will only bring trouble.
And there are those that are having false visions…
False dreams that offer no comfort.
So [my people now wander] like sheep…
They are ill and they haven’t been healed!
‘So, since those shepherds have provoked [God] to rage,
He will come and visit His lambs.
Yes, Jehovah God the Almighty
Will visit the house of Judah (His flock).
‘And as He will do to His handsome horse,
He will order up war [on those prophets]…
In His rage, He will look [down] upon them,
And [arrows will be shot] against them.
‘Yes, He’ll send [His armies] against them
And His warriors will tread mud in battle.
For Jehovah will [bless] the attack,
And to their cavalry, He’ll bring disgrace.
‘But the house of Judah, I’ll strengthen,
And house of JoSeph, I’ll save…
Because I love them, I’ll save them,
And they’ll be as before I disowned them.
Yes, because I am Jehovah their God,
I’ll pay attention to them once again!
‘Then they’ll be like Ephraim’s soldiers…
They’ll rejoice in their hearts as though drinking wine.
They’ll look at their children in joy,
And rejoice in their hearts over their Lord.
‘I’ll give them a sign that I will accept them…
I’ll pay their ransom and then they will grow
To be as many as they’d been before.
Then I’ll plant them among all the peoples,
And I’ll be remembered by those far away.
‘They’ll return and nourish their children…
From the land of Egypt, I’ll bring them back,
And from Assyria also.
Then to GileAd and Lebanon, I’ll send them,
And none will be left behind (no, not one)!
‘Through the narrows of the sea, they will march;
For, they will strike the waves of the sea
And before them, the rivers will dry to their depths.
‘Then the insolence of Assyria will vanish,
And Egypt’s scepter will no longer be.
[Yes I swear] by Jehovah their God,
That I will then make them mighty…
And about His Name, they will boast,’ said the Lord.
‘O Lebanon; open your doors
And let fire devour all your cedars!
Then, all the pine trees will shriek
Because the cedars have fallen…
Yes, misery will come to your great ones.
‘And oaks of BaShan, you should now howl,
For the groves that you’re planted will all be cut down!
‘There’s the sound of the wailing of shepherds,
Because their greatness is gone.
And there’s the sound of the roaring of lions,
For no one’s keeping watch at the JorDan.
‘So, thus says Jehovah the Almighty:
Tend the sheep for the slaughter…
Those that were bought by the butcher,
And those that haven’t repented.
For those who sold them have said:
Praise the Lord, because we’ve gained wealth!
And their shepherds have suffered no loss.
‘So, I will not spare those that live here,’ said the Lord.
‘{Look!} To his neighbor, I’ll hand every man,
And into the hands of their king.
Then, they will divide up their land,
And from their hands, I’ll not save them.
So in CanaAn’s land, I will tend them…
All of these sheep for the slaughter.
‘Then I’ll take two sticks for myself;
The first one, I will call Beauty,
And the other, I’ll call Measured Land…
And then, I will tend all those sheep.
‘In the 1st month, I’ll take the three shepherds,
And my soul will be heavy against them,
For their souls have roared out against me!
‘So I told them that I will not tend them…
I’ll let the ones that are dying just die,
And the ones that are failing just fail…
And let the rest eat the flesh of their neighbors!
‘Then I’ll take my stick (the one [I called] Beauty)
And I will throw it away
To erase [God’s] Agreement with them.
It will be erased in that day,
And those in CanaAn that have guarded my sheep
Will know that I am The Word of Jehovah.
‘And then, I’ll tell them to do
Whatever they find to be good…
Yes, pay my wage or forbid it!
So, they established my wage…
It was 30 pieces of silver.’
Then the Lord said to me:
‘Now, throw them into the [Temple]…
But check to make sure that the [coins] are all pure;
For, this is my [value] before them.
So [he’ll] take the 30 pieces of silver
And throw them into the Temple.
‘That’s when my second stick will be thrown
(The one that I called Measured Land),
For I’ll wipe IsraEl and Judah away
From [the land] that they’ve owned.’
And the Lord said to Me:
‘Now, gather a shepherd’s tools for yourself…
The tools of one that’s unqualified.
For {Look!} against the land, I’m sending a shepherd…
One that won’t visit the [weak],
And one that won’t search for the scattered.
Those that are broken, he will not heal,
And those that are well, he won’t lead.
He will just [break] all their necks
And devour their choicest of meats.
‘So, you who are tending to vain things
And leaving behind all my sheep;
A sword will come against your right arms
As well as against your right eyes.
For your arms will then become withered,
And your right eyes will be blinded.’
The matter of the Word of Jehovah over IsraEl.
‘Thus says Jehovah,
The One who stretched out the skies,
Who laid the foundations of the earth,
And from Himself, shaped the breath of mankind:
‘{Look!} I’ve appointed JeruSalem’s thresholds
To be shaken by the people roundabout them.
So, into Judea, they’ll come,
And they will surround JeruSalem.
‘In that day, I’ll appoint JeruSalem
To be a stone that is trampled by the nations.
For, all nations of the earth will [attack] her;
And those that trample upon her
Will mock and poke fun at her.
‘And in that day, says Jehovah the Almighty;
I will strike [Judah’s] horses with wonder
And drive their riders to ranting.
‘On the house of Judah, I’ll then raise My eyes,
And I’ll strike all their horses with blindness.
But the generals of Judah will say in their hearts:
JeruSalem’s [people will always be safe]
Under Jehovah, their Almighty God.
‘But then, I’ll make Judah’s generals
Like burning coals amidst wood
And as flaming torches in stubble.
For they’ll devour everyone that’s around them
(Both those on their right and those on their left).
‘Yet, JeruSalem will be lived in again
As it had been before.
Then the Lord will save Judah’s tents
As he did back in the beginning.
But they won’t have any reason to boast
Over the house of [King] David,
Or to think themselves better than Judah.
‘So the Lord will be the shield in that day
For those that live in JeruSalem.
And in that day, even the least
Will be like David among them.
‘And the house of David will then come to be
Like the Temple of God…
As the angel that’s standing before them.
‘And in that day, I’ll lift away all the nations
That marched against JeruSalem.
Then, upon the house of King David,
And on JeruSalem’s people,
I’ll pour the spirit of mercy and care.
‘So they’ll turn to Me and beat on their chests
Like those that beat on their chests
Over the death of a loved one,
Because they’ve been disrespectful to Me.
And they will mourn with the grief
Of someone who has lost his first-born.
‘Yes, on that day in JeruSalem,
They’ll all be beating their chests
As though they’d lost groves [of fruit trees].
And the land will beat on its chest
For each of the tribes [by its name]…
The house of the tribe of David
As well as all of its women…
The house of the tribe of Nathan
As well as all of its women…
The house of the tribe of Levi
As well as all of its women…
The house of SimeOn’s tribe
As well as all of its women…
And the houses of the rest of the tribes
As well as all of their women.’
‘In that Day, the [springs] will all open
For the rinsing and cleansing of David’s house
And to cleanse [the people] of JeruSalem.
‘In that Day, says Jehovah of Armies,
The names of their idols, I’ll wipe from the land
So they’ll be remembered no more.
And false prophets that have unclean spirits,
I’ll also remove from the land.
‘So, if there’s a man that still prophesies;
His father and the mother that bore him
Must tell him that he can no longer live
Because he’s told lies in the Name of the Lord.
Then his father and the mother that bore him
Must bind him, because of his prophecies.
‘And in that Day, their visions will bring them disgrace,
As will the things that they prophesied.
They’ll cover their heads with animal hides,
Because all will know that they’ve lied.
‘And they’ll say, No, I’m not a prophet;
I’m a man that just works the ground…
This is all that I’ve done since my youth!
‘But I’ll ask: Then, what are these wounds in your hands?
And they’ll say that these are the wounds they received
In the house of a friend.
‘O broadsword, awaken against [such] a man
And against the shepherds [that live in] My land,
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
Strike the shepherds and scatter the sheep…
For against the shepherds, I’m raising My hand.
‘And in that Day, says Jehovah,
2/3 will be wiped away,
But 1/3 will be allowed to remain.
‘Then, like trying gold, I’ll try all the rest.
I’ll speak to those that have called on My Name,
And tell them, You are My people,
And they will reply, Jehovah’s my God.’
‘{Look} The Day of the Lord has approached
When they will divide up the loot.
For, to JeruSalem, I’m gathering nations,
And the city will thereafter be taken.
‘All of its homes will be looted,
And all the women defiled.
Then, half of the city will be led away,
And the rest (those who are My people)
Will not be destroyed from the [land].
‘But then the Lord will return
And he will attack all those nations
In his battle, on the day of the war.
‘And in that Day, his feet will then stand
On the Mount of Olives (to JeruSalem’s east).
Then in chaos, the Mount of Olives will split
In halves to the east and the west.
Half of the mount will lean toward the north,
And half will then lean toward the south.
‘So, flee to the valley of My Mountain,
Which [runs] to the [Wadi] AzaEl.
You must flee as in the day of the earthquake
[That happened] in the days of UzziAh.
‘For then, [your Lord] will arrive,
And bring all his Holy Ones with him.
There’ll be no light in that Day…
There’ll be just coldness and ice.
‘But, this will all last just one day,
Which is only known by Jehovah.
There’ll be no daytime or night,
But light will arrive toward the evening.
‘In that day, from JeruSalem,
Life-giving waters will flow…
Half will flow to the [Dead] Sea,
And the rest, in other direction…
This will happen in the springtime and summer.
‘Then Jehovah will be the King of the earth;
And in that Day, there’ll be just one Lord,
And he will have just one name.
‘Then around the land, there’ll be deserts…
From JeruSalem south to RemMon and Geba
(Though RamAh will still remain in its place);
From the BenJamin Gate to the First Gate,
And the Corner Gate to the Tower of HananeEl,
To where the king’s wine vats are stored.
‘Then JeruSalem will be a safe place,
And there won’t be any more danger.
‘But, there will be a great downfall
When Jehovah strikes down the peoples
That against JeruSalem, marched.
Their flesh will melt as they stand on their feet;
Their eyes will flow from their sockets;
And their tongues will melt in their mouths.
‘And in that Day, there will come
Astonishing things from Jehovah.
Each man will grab hold of his neighbor’s hand
(Yes they’ll join hand-to-hand with their neighbors),
And there within JeruSalem,
Judah’s people will ready themselves
To collect the might of those living roundabout…
All of their silver and gold,
As well as huge numbers of clothing.
‘I will bring the downfall of their horses and mules,
As well as their camels and burros.
Yes, to all the cattle that’s found in their camps,
It’ll be a day of great downfall.
‘Then, all that remain from the nations
That marched against JeruSalem
Will ascend each year to bow to the King
– To the Almighty Jehovah –
And observe the feast of the Pitching of Tents.
‘Then to all that won’t come [in that Day]
To bow before the Almighty
From all the tribes of the earth;
Bad things will then come upon them,
And they won’t receive any rain.
‘So, if the tribe of Egypt won’t come;
The same downfall will happen to them
That the Lord will bring to the nations…
To those that would not observe
The feast of the Pitching of Tents.
‘For, this will be Egypt’s sin,
As well as the sin of all nations
When they refuse to ascend
To observe the feast of the Pitching of Tents.
‘In that Day, this is what will be [written]
Upon the bridles of their horses:
Holy to Jehovah the Almighty.
‘And then the stew pots of Jehovah
Will be like the bowls in front of the Altar.
And throughout Judah and JeruSalem,
They’ll treat the stew pots as holy
To the Almighty Jehovah.
And that’s where those that bring sacrifices
Will take them to cook all the meat.
‘And in that Day, there will be no CanaAnites
To oppose Jehovah of Armies.’
This is the matter of the word of Jehovah concerning IsraEl [that came] by the hand of His messenger.
‘I have loved you,’ says Jehovah.
‘But you’ve asked, How have You loved us?
‘Wasn’t Esau the brother of Jacob,’ asked Jehovah?
‘Yet, though I loved Jacob,I disliked [his brother];
So I ordered an end to his borders
And I gave him a home in the desert.
‘And because Edom will say,
Although we have been cut down,
We will return and rebuild our [homes]…
For this,’ says Jehovah the Almighty;
‘If they rebuild them, I’ll still knock them down;
For the Lawless Borders, is what they’ll be called,
And a People Opposed to Jehovah.
‘And when your eyes see this, you’ll say:
Jehovah has been magnified
Far beyond IsraEl’s borders.
‘Fathers are glorified by their sons
And servants bring glory to their masters.
But if I’m you father, where is My glory,
And if I’m your Master, where is [your] fear,’
Asks Jehovah the Almighty?
‘You Priests treat My Name with contempt,
Then ask how you’ve shown it dishonor…
By bringing unclean bread to My Altar!
‘Then you ask how you’ve made it unclean…
You do it when you say that My table’s unclean,
And you treat it with contempt by the things that you bring.
‘For, when you offer [a lamb] that is blind;
Isn’t this something that’s evil?
And when you bring Me the lame and the ill;
Isn’t this [something that’s] wrong?
‘Carry it instead to [your king]
(The man that [rules over] you)…
Will this gift bring you his favor?
Yes, when you present it to him,
Will he bestow honor upon you,’
Asks Jehovah the Almighty? ‘No!’
‘Now, repent before the face of your God…
Yes, come before Me and beg!
With all the bad being done by your hands,
Should I accept such things from your souls,’
Asks Jehovah the Almighty? ‘No!’
‘Thus to you, the doors will be closed…
So don’t come and ask for My favor
By igniting a fire on My Altar.
‘There is nothing at all that I need from you,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘So I won’t accept any [gifts] from your hands.
‘Among the rest of the nations
(All from the sunrise to the sunset)
My Name has been glorified.
For, to My Name, they burn incense,
And what they offer before Me is pure!
‘Yes My Name is great among even the gentiles,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘But, you still profane it whenever you say,
The table of Jehovah is unclean,
And you treat the food that is set before Me
As something that’s worthy of contempt.
‘For you say, It’s just too much trouble…
And then, you [sniff in distain],’
Says Jehovah the Almighty,
‘As you bring Me game and the lame and the ill.
‘Yes you’ve offered such things up to Me.
But, when I receive these things from your hands,
Do you think that I’ll show you favor,’
Asks Jehovah the Almighty? ‘No!’
‘Cursed is the powerful man
That has a male [sheep] in his flock
And whose vow [to Me] is now due…
But he offers Me something imperfect instead!
For, no one is greater than Me,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty…
‘My Name is known among even the gentiles!’
‘O Priests; this is what I am saying:
If you won’t listen and take it to heart
That My Name must be glorified,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty;
‘I will send curses upon you…
I will curse all the things that you want me to bless…
I’ll curse them and not let them happen
If you do not take this message to heart.
‘{Look!} Though I’ve given the [lamb’s] shoulders to you;
I can throw their dung in your faces…
Their manure, I’ll send to your holiday feasts,
And after that, I’ll remove you!
Then you’ll know that I am the One
Who sent these instructions to you.
‘This is what I promised to Levi,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty God.
‘For I made an agreement with him…
An agreement that brings life and peace.
I also [taught him to] fear Me,
As I prepared him to glorify My Name.
‘The law of truth, [I put] into his mouth,
And unrighteous words weren’t found on his lips.
Straightforward in peace, he traveled with Me,
And many, he turned from injustice.
‘So the Priests must safeguard the knowledge
That used to come from his lips,
And seek the laws that came from his mouth;
For, he had served as an angel
Of Jehovah the Almighty God.
‘But, you have turned from his ways,
And many, you’ve turned from the Law…
You’ve corrupted My sacred agreement with Levi,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty!
‘So I have now handed you over
To those whom you view with contempt…
To those whom even the gentiles
Fail to view with respect.
For, you haven’t guarded My ways,
And My people, you’ve turned from My Laws.
‘Don’t you each have one father,
And weren’t you formed by one God?
So, why have you each let your brothers
Profane My Agreement with your fathers?
‘For this, I’m abandoning Judah…
Because in IsraEl and JeruSalem,
Disgusting things are now being done!
‘Judah has profaned [My] most holy things
(Things that I [dearly] loved)
When they [turned] to alien gods.
‘So the Lord will destroy those who’ve done this,
And Jacob’s tents will be humbled…
Those that carry sacrifices [before Me].
‘Yes, you’re the ones that have done all these things,
And that’s why I’ve come to hate you…
For you’ve covered My Altar with tears!
‘You’ve brought weeping and moaning upon it,
Because of the troubles you’ve caused.
For you thought I’d accept whatever you bring
As though it was truly worthy!
‘So the time has arrived when you’ll ask Me,
Why have You done this [to us]?
It’s because the Lord has served as a witness
Between you and the wives of your youth…
Those whom you’ve sent away…
Those that have [long] been your partners…
Those to whom [you’ve sworn oaths]!
‘Because you’re doing such things,
Don’t expect Me to send anything good
With even small portions of My Holy Breath!
‘Then you asked, What more than a seed does God want?
[I want you to] safeguard your spirits,
And not to abandon the wives of your youth!
‘No, do not detest them and send them away,
Then cover it up in your minds,’
Says Jehovah, IsraEl’s God.
For, thus says Jehovah the Almighty God:
‘Keep a close watch on your spirits,
And do not abandon [your women]!
‘You also provoke [Me] with things that you say…
And then you ask how you’ve done this.
You do it by saying before Him
That even the wicked are good…
That He really thinks [kindly] of them,
And that God doesn’t truly want justice.
‘So, {Look!} I’ll be sending My messenger to you,
To prepare the way for the face of the Lord
(The one for whom you’ve been searching),
And he’ll suddenly arrive at My Temple…
This messenger of [My] Sacred Agreement.
‘Look, he’s coming,’ says Jehovah the Almighty,
‘And who can endure the Day he arrives…
Yes, when he appears, who will stand?
For he’ll enter like the fire of a furnace
And like bleach that’s used to do washing.
‘He’ll put his melting pot into a furnace
As they do when they refine silver;
Then the sons of Levi, he will refine,
And he’ll pour them out like silver or gold.
‘Then they’ll finally be found worthy to serve
[Before Jehovah, the Almighty]…
And they’ll offer sacrifices that are righteous.
Then once again, I’ll be as pleased
With the offerings of Judah and JeruSalem
As I was in the days of the ages,
And in the years of long ago.
‘Then I’ll come against you in judgment,
And against all those that make potions.
I’ll also be a swift witness
Against those who’re committing adultery
And swearing false oaths by My Name…
Those that don’t pay their employees…
Those who tyrannize orphans and widows,
And to foreigners, won’t give any justice.
‘Yes, these are the ones that don’t fear Me,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty…
‘I’m Jehovah, your God, and I never change!
‘For you sons of Jacob just won’t turn away
From the sins of your fathers…
You’ve not turned from them or guarded My Laws!
‘[All I ask] is for you to turn back to Me,
And then I’ll turn back to you,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty!
‘Yet you ask, From what do you want us to turn?
‘Will a man be stomped on by God? No!
Yet, you [are guilty] of stomping on Me!
Then you ask, How have we been stomping on You?
By holding back your first-fruits!
For you’ve turned from Me and stashed them away…
This is how you are stomping on Me!
‘This year has now come to an end,
And you’ve harvested produce and stored it in barns…
But your homes will soon all be ravaged!
‘If you’ll just offer to Me what [is due],’
Says Jehovah the Almighty;
‘See if I do not open to you
An outpouring of rain from the skies!
‘Yes I’ll pour My blessings upon you
Until you’ve received [more than] enough.
For you, I will set aside food,
And I’ll not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor will I weaken your grapevines,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘Then, all the nations will say you are blest,
And your land will be one that’s desired,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘But, you’ve put Me down with your words,’ says Jehovah.
‘And then you dare to [come here and] ask:
How have we spoken against You?
‘By your saying, Our service to God is in vain!
And, Though we have kept His instructions;
Before Him, we still must come begging!
Therefore, we will bless foreign peoples,
As well as those that are breaking the Law…
And say that those who oppose God will live!
‘Yet, there are some that still council their neighbors
And speak of their fear of Jehovah.
So the Lord will take notice and listen to this,
Then write [their names] in the scroll
Of those that show honor and still fear My Name.
‘And in that Day, they’ll be Mine,’
Says the Almighty Jehovah;
‘I’ll prepare a procurement and set them aside
As a man [shows favor] to the son that [obeys].
‘Then you’ll turn to look and you’ll see
The things that will happen to the sinners…
Yes, you’ll see what happens to those that serve God
And to those that prefer not to serve Him.’
‘Look! The Day is about to arrive
When they’ll be consumed in an oven…
I’ll blaze against their arrogance and evil…
In that day, they’ll be burned up like stubble,’
Says Jehovah of Armies…
‘No way will a branch or a root still remain!
‘But upon those that still fear My Name,
The sun of righteousness will shine,
And healing [will follow on] its wings.
Then you’ll come here and leap like young calves
That have been spared from the stock pens.
‘And on the lawless, you’ll trample…
They’ll be like ashes under your feet
In the Day that I have prepared,’
Says Jehovah the Almighty.
‘Remember the Laws of My servant Moses…
Those that I gave him in that dry place,
As well as the orders and decisions
That I gave to IsraEl through him!
‘{Look!} I’ll send EliJah, the Prophet
Before the Great Day of the Lord.
He’ll restore the hearts of fathers to sons,
And the hearts of men to their neighbors…
So I won’t have to strike the whole land.’
This is the scroll of the origins of Jesus the Anointed, the Son of David, the Son of AbraHam.
AbraHam fathered IsaAc. IsaAc fathered Jacob. Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers.Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez fathered HezRon. HezRon fathered Ram.
Ram fathered AmiNadab. AmiNadab fathered NaShon. NaShon fathered SalMon.SalMon fathered BoAz by RaHab. BoAz fathered Obed by Ruth. Obed fathered JesSe.JesSe fathered David, the king.
David fathered Solomon by the wife of UriAh.Solomon fathered RehoBoam. RehoBoam fathered AbiJah. AbiJah fathered Asa.Asa fathered JehoShaphat. JehoShaphat fathered JehoRam. JehoRam fathered UzZiAh.
UzZiAh fathered JoTham. JoTham fathered Ahaz. Ahaz fathered HezekiAh.HezekiAh fathered ManasSeh. ManasSeh fathered Amon. Amon fathered JosiAh.JosiAh fathered JeconiAh and his brothers before the deportation to Babylon.
After the deportation to Babylon, JeconiAh fathered ShalathiEl. ShalathiEl fathered ZerubBabel.ZerubBabel fathered AbiUd. AbiUd fathered EliAkim. EliAkim fathered Azor.
Azor fathered ZaDok. ZaDok fathered Achim. Achim fathered EliUd.EliUd fathered EliAzar. EliAzar fathered MatThan. MatThan fathered Jacob.Jacob fathered JoSeph [the father of Mary] from whom Jesus (who is called the Anointed One) was born.
So there were fourteen families from AbraHam to David, fourteen families from David until the deportation to Babylon, and fourteen families from the deportation to Babylon until [the coming of] the Anointed One.
This is the way that Jesus the Anointed One started out:
While his mother Mary was promised in marriage to JoSeph, she was found to be pregnant by [God’s] Holy Breath before the marriage was consummated.
However, because JoSeph (her man) was righteous and didn’t want to make [Mary] a public spectacle, he planned to release her secretly.
But after he decided to do that, {Look!} Jehovah’s messenger appeared to him in a dream, saying:
‘JoSeph, son of David; Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your woman, because what has been fathered in her is from [God’s] Holy Breath.She will give birth to a son and you must call his name Jesus (Jehovah Saves), because he will save his people from their sins.’
This whole thing happened so that what was spoken by Jehovah through the Prophet would be fulfilled:
‘{Look!} A virgin will get pregnant and then bear a son
Whose name you must call, ImManuEl.’ (With Us is God).
Well, after JoSeph woke up, he did what Jehovah’s messenger told him to do, and he took the woman.However, [JoSeph] didn’t have sexual relations with her until after she had given birth to a son, whom he called by the name Jesus.
Then, after Jesus was born (in BethLehem of Judea during the days of King Herod), {Look!} Magi from the east came to JeruSalem,asking:
‘Where is this one that was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and we came to bow low before him.’
Well, when he heard about this, King Herod was very disturbed (as was everyone else in JeruSalem).So he gathered all the Chief Priests and the peoples’ Scribes and asked them where this Anointed One was to be born.And they replied:
‘In BethLehem of Judea… because, this is what was written through the Prophet:
And you, O BethLehem in the land of Judea
Will no way be the least among rulers of Judah.
For from you, will come forth a leader,
Who will shepherd IsraEl, My people.’
Then Herod secretly called for those Magi and carefully determined from them when the star had appeared.And before he sent them on to BethLehem, he said:
‘Search carefully for the young child; and when you find him, report back to me, so I can go and bow before him also.’
Well, when they saw the star [do this], they were beside themselves with joy.
And after they entered the house, they saw the little boy with Mary (his mother), and they fell down and bowed before him. Then they opened their treasures and gave the child gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
However, because they had been given a divine warning in a dream that they weren’t to return to Herod, they went back home via another route.
Well, after they left, {Look!} Jehovah’s messenger appeared to JoSeph in a dream and said:
‘Get up! Take the boy and his mother, then hurry to Egypt and stay there until I tell you otherwise, because Herod is going to search for the boy to destroy him!’
So he got up during the night and took the child and his mother, and they left for Egypt,where they stayed until after Herod died… so the thing that was said by Jehovah through the Prophet would be fulfilled:
‘I called My son out of Egypt.’
Well, when Herod saw that the Magi had outwitted him, he was furious. So he sent [a proclamation] throughout BethLehem and its districts to have all the boys that were two-years-old and younger to be gathered [for destruction], since that was the period he had determined so carefully from the Magi.
And that’s also when the thing that was spoken through the Prophet JeremiAh was fulfilled, which said:
‘A voice was heard crying from RamAh…
The sounds of weeping, wailing, and grief.
It was the voice of RachEl, crying for her sons,
And she refused to accept any comfort,
Because they’re no longer [alive].’
Well, after Herod died, {Look!} Jehovah’s messenger appeared in a dream to JoSeph while he was in Egypt,and he said:
‘Now, get up and take the child and his mother back to the land of IsraEl, because those that wanted to take the child’s life are dead!’
So [JoSeph] got up and took the child and his mother back to the land of IsraEl.
However, when he heard that ArcheLaus had become the ruler in Judah in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, because of a divine warning that he had received in a dream.
As the result, he traveled to the territory of GaliLee,and they went to live in a city named Nazareth.
So the thing that was spoken through the Prophet was fulfilled:
‘A Nazarene is what he’ll be called.’
It was back in those days that John the Baptist came preaching in the desert around Judea,saying:
‘Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God) has drawn near.’
He’s the one about whom the Prophet IsaiAh spoke, saying:
‘A voice is calling out in the desert:
Prepare the way for the Lord…
Before him, straighten the roads!’
John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, he had a thick leather belt around his waist, and what he ate was locusts and wild honey.
Then, [people from] JeruSalem (as well as from the rest of Judea and the area all around the JorDan) came to himto be baptized in the JorDan River, as they openly admitted their sins.
And when he saw many of the Pharisees and SadDucees (actually, Sad/dou/kai/um) coming to be baptized, he said to them:
‘Children of vipers; Who has shown you the need to flee from the coming rage?You should first produce the [type of] fruit that proves you are worthy of repentance!
‘And don’t be so bold as to say, Our father is AbraHam; for I tell you that God can make children of AbraHam from these stones!
‘Now the ax is already lying at the roots of the trees and every tree that isn’t producing good fruit is going to be cut down and thrown into the fire!
‘Indeed, I baptize you in water [as a sign of your] repentance. But the one that is coming behind me is greater than me… in fact, I’m unfit to remove his sandals!
[When he arrives], he’ll baptize you in fire and Spirit…yes, he’ll [take] his shovel into his hands and completely clean up his threshing floor, then he’ll gather the wheat into his storehouse and burn all the chaff with a fire that can’t be extinguished!’
Then sometime later, Jesus came from GaliLee to see John at the JorDan River in order to be baptized by him.
But [John] tried to prevent him, saying:
‘Since I’m the one that should be baptized by you; Why are you coming to me?’
But Jesus told him:
‘Let it be like this for now… this is the right thing for us to do, so we can fulfill all that is righteous.’
And at that, [John] no longer tried to stop him.
Well, after Jesus was baptized – immediately after he come up out of the water – {Look!} the heavens opened up before him, and [John] saw God’s Breath descending upon him [in the form of] a dove.
And {Look!} there was also a voice that came out of the sky that said:
‘This is My dearly-loved Son with whom I am well pleased.’
Then [God’s] Breath led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Slanderer.And after he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, he became very hungry.So the Tempter came to him and said:
‘If you are [really] the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread!’
And [Jesus] replied:
‘It is written:
Man doesn’t live by just bread alone,
But by every word that comes from God’s mouth.’
Then the Slanderer took him to the Holy City and put him up on one of the Temple’s high battle towers.And he said:
‘If you are [really] a son of God, jump down! For it is written:
He’ll assign [His] messengers around you,
And on their hands, they will lift you,
So you’ll not hit your foot on a stone.’
But Jesus told him:
‘Once again, it is written:
Don’t put Jehovah your God to the test.’
Then the Slanderer took him to an unusually high mountain where he showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.And he said:
‘I will give all of these to you if you’ll just bow before me with your face to the ground.’
But Jesus replied:
‘Go away Slanderer, because it is written:
Indeed; you must worship Jehovah, your God,
And Him alone should you serve.’
Well after that, the Slanderer left him, and {Look!} [God’s] messengers came and started serving [Jesus’ needs].
Then, it was after he heard that John had been arrested that [Jesus] returned to GaliLee…he moved out of Nazareth and started living in CapharNaum (which is by the sea in the districts of ZebuLun and NaphTali).
This was done so [the prophecy] that was spoken through the Prophet IsaiAh could be fulfilled:
‘O lands of ZebuLun and NaphTali…
You coasts and those on the JorDan’s east shore,
And you, O GaliLee of the gentiles;
The people that were traveling in darkness
Then saw a [very] bright light.
For a light will shine upon those
That live in the place of the shadow of death.’
Well, from that time on, Jesus started preaching and saying:
‘Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God) has drawn near!’
Then, it was while he was walking along by the Sea of GaliLee that he saw two brothers, Simon (the one called Peter) and his brother Andrew… fishermen that were casting their nets on the sea.
And he said to them:
‘Follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men!’
Well they immediately dropped their nets and started following him.
And as he traveled on from there, he saw two more brothers, James [the son] of ZebediOu, and his brother John.
They were in the boat with ZebediOu their father repairing their nets, when he called them…and right away, they left the boat and their father and they also started following him.
Thereafter, [Jesus] traveled throughout all of GaliLee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and curing all the peoples’ diseases and infirmities.
As the result, people heard about him all the way to the land of Syria, and they also brought their sick (those with various diseases and ailments, the demon-possessed, as well as epileptics and paralyzed persons), and he cured them all.
So huge crowds from GaliLee, the DecaPolis, JeruSalem and the rest of Judea, as well as those from the other side of the JorDan started following him.
Well, when [Jesus] saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down, and his disciples came to him.Then he opened his mouth and started teaching them, saying:
‘Blest are the humble;
For theirs is the Kingdom of [God].
‘Blest are those that are sad;
For they will be given comfort.
‘Blest are also the meek;
For they will inherit the land.
‘Those hungering and thirsting for righteousness are blest;
For they will find satisfaction.
‘Blest are those that show mercy;
For mercy is what they’ll receive.
‘Blest are those with pure hearts;
For they will [come to] see God.
‘Blest are those that make peace;
For they will be called Sons of God.
‘Blest are those that receive persecution
For doing [things that are] righteous,
Since theirs is the Kingdom of [God].
‘You’re blest when they [shout] insults at you,
And when they persecute you,
Then say many bad things about you
And lie about you for my sake.
For this, you should [cry out in] joy;
Since your reward in the heavens is great,
For that’s how they treated the Prophets before you.
‘You are the salt of the earth;
But if salt becomes weak, is it still salt?
No, when it no longer has strength,
It’s thrown outside to be walked on.
‘You are the light of this world…
And a city on a hill can’t be hidden!
‘You don’t light a lamp
And then put it under a basket…
You put it on a lampstand instead,
Where it can shine throughout the whole house!
‘So let your light shine before all,
Then they can speak of the good things you’ve done
And give glory to your Father in the heavens.
‘Don’t think that I came to destroy
The Law or the [words of the] Prophets…
For I came to fulfill, not to destroy.
‘I’m telling you the truth when I say:
It’s more likely that the land and the skies would pass away than for an iota or a small point on a letter of the Law to pass away before it is all fulfilled.
So, whoever breaks the least of the Commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, while those that teach and follow [the Law] will be called great in the Kingdom.
‘I also say this to you:
If you aren’t more righteous than the Scribes and Pharisees, you won’t enter the Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God).
‘You’ve heard that the ancients were told:
You must not commit murder, for those that murder will be judged.
However, I tell you this:
Anyone that stays angry with his brother will have to be judged, and anyone that calls his brother empty-headed must stand before the religious court. Also, anyone that [calls his brother] a moron will be [condemned] to the garbage-dump fires.
‘And if you bring a gift to [God’s] Altar, but while you’re on the way you remember that your brother holds something against you; without a cause]leave your gift at the Altar and go.
First make peace with your brother, and then return to offer your gift.
‘Also, while you’re on your way [to a court], you should quickly work out an agreement with your adversary, so you won’t have to leave the matter in the hands of the judge, who may hand you over to the bailiff, who will then lock you in jail.
If that happens, I tell you this for a fact:
You won’t be released ‘til you’ve paid your last cent.
‘You’ve all heard that it’s said:
You must not commit Adultery.
But I tell you that any man that stares at a woman and develops a desire [to have] her, has committed adultery [with her] in his heart.
‘So if your right eye becomes a trap to you, pull it out and throw it away! For it’s better to lose a piece of yourself than to lose your whole body in the garbage dump.
Or if your right hand becomes a trap to you, cut it off and throw it away! For it’s better to lose a piece of yourself than to lose your whole body in the garbage dump.
‘It is also said that [any man] that releases his woman should give her a certificate of rejection.But I say:
[Any man] that releases his woman except on account of sexual immorality, leads her into adultery.
And [any man] that marries a woman that has been released is committing adultery.
‘Again, you heard it was said long ago:
You must not swear a false oath; rather, you must do as you vow to Jehovah. (paraphrase of Numbers 30:2)
However, I tell you this:
Swear oaths by nothing at all!
Don’t swear by heaven, for that is God’s throne;
Nor should you swear oaths by the earth,
Because that is also [God’s] footstool;
And do not swear by JeruSalem,
For that is the city of the great king.
‘Don’t swear oaths by the hairs on your head,
For you can’t turn a hair black or white!
Let your yes just mean yes,
And let your no just mean no,
For it’s things like this that lead you toward evil.
‘You’ve also heard it was said:
Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.
But I am telling you this:
Do not oppose evil men.
So if someone slaps your right cheek,
Turn the other to him also.
And if someone wants to take you to court
And sue for your underwear,
Give him the rest of your clothes!
Or if someone makes you to serve him for a mile,
Go with him for two miles!
Yes, give freely to all those that ask,
And don’t turn away those wishing to borrow.
‘You’ve heard the saying that goes:
You must love all your neighbors
And dislike [all of] your enemies.
But I say:
Show love for your enemies
And pray for those that persecute you;
For by doing this, you’ll prove yourselves
The sons of your Father in the heavens
Who lets the sun arise on the wicked and the good,
And sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous.
‘For if you only love those that love you;
What reward are you really due…
Don’t tax collectors do the same thing?
And if you greet only your brothers;
What are you doing that’s special…
Don’t the gentiles do the same thing?
So, just be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect!’
‘Be careful not to practice your righteousness before other men so that they can see what you’re doing; for if you do, you won’t receive a reward from your Father in the heavens.
‘And when you’re giving gifts to the needy, don’t blow a trumpet in the synagogue or out in the streets like the hypocrites do so they can be praised by the people. I tell you the truth; when they do this, that’s the only reward they’ll receive.
Rather, when you give gifts to the needy, don’t [tell] your left hand what your right hand is doing.Give your gifts to the needy in secret, and then your Father who watches in secret will be [the One] that repays you.
‘And don’t pray like the hypocrites do, for they [like to] pray as they’re standing in their synagogues and on the corners of the main streets, so that people will notice what they’re doing. I tell you the truth; that is their full reward.
Rather, when you pray, go into your room and after shutting the door, pray to your Father in secret. Then you’ll be repaid by your Father who is watching in secret.
Also, when praying, don’t babble the same words like the gentiles do. For they think that they may only be heard through the use of many words.No, don’t act like them, for your God and Father already knows everything that you need before you ask Him.
‘Now, this is how you should pray:
Our Father who is in the heavens;
May Your Name be treated as Holy
And may Your Kingdom arrive…
May Your Will take place on the earth
As it has in the heavens.
‘Give us our bread for this day
And please forgive all our debts
As we’ve forgiven our debtors.
Into temptation, may we not be led,
And from the wicked [one], save us.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. [spurious]
Amen.
‘For if you’re willing to forgive other people’s errors, your Father in the heavens will overlook yours.
However, if you aren’t willing to forgive their errors, your Father won’t forgive yours either.
‘Also, when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites do, because they contort their faces to make sure that everyone knows they’re fasting. I tell you the truth; this is all the reward they’ll receive.
But whenever you fast, wash your face and rub your head with oil,so that no one will know that you’re fasting other than your Father who is watching in secret… and then your Father who is watching in secret will be [the One] that repays you.
‘Stop storing up treasures on here on the earth that can be eaten by rust and by moths, or which thieves can break in and steal.Rather, store your treasures in the heavens where they can’t be consumed by moths or by rust, and where thieves can’t break in and steal them.
For your hearts will be wherever your treasures are.
‘Your eyes are the lamps of your bodies, and if [you keep] your eyes simple, they’ll make your whole bodies bright.But if your eyes are just wicked, they’ll make your whole bodies dark. And when the only light within you is darkness; how great that darkness will be!
‘No one can slave for two masters; for you’ll [find that] you won’t care for the one, but you’ll love the other… yes, you’ll be devoted to this one, but you’ll despise the other…
And this is why you can’t slave for God and for wealth!
‘I’m also telling you that you shouldn’t worry about your lives, or what you’ll eat, or what you will drink or your bodies and what you’ll wear. The person you are inside is more important than food; your body is more important than clothes.
Rather, notice the birds in the skies… they don’t plant seeds, or harvest, or put things in storage sheds, because your Father in the heavens provides their food… and aren’t you [greater than] they are?
Which of you can through worry add even a smidgen of the length to your lives?
‘Also, when it comes to clothes, why should you worry? Rather, pay attention to the way that lilies grow in the fields. For though they don’t work or spin cloth,not even Solomon in all of his glory was as well-dressed as them.
So if God so well dresses the plants in the fields that are here today and thrown into the oven tomorrow; wouldn’t He rather clothe you… you with so little faith?
‘Therefore, never be worried and ask,
What are we going to eat or drink,
or,
What are we going to wear?
For these are the types of things that the gentiles are concerned with… and your Father in the heavens already knows that you need these things!
Rather, put the Kingdom and righteousness first, and then all these other things will be given to you.
‘No, don’t worry about what tomorrow will bring,
For tomorrow will have its own problems,
And each day will have its own badness.’
‘Do not judge others, so you won’t be judged…
For the [rules] by which you judge others
Are the rules they will use to judge you.
And the standards you are setting for them
Are the standards that they’ll set for you.
‘Why look for the chaff in your brother’s eye,
When you can’t see the rafter in yours?
For, how can you say to your brother,
Let me remove this chaff from your eye,
When {Look!} there is a rafter in yours?
‘Hypocrites!
Remove first the rafters from your own eyes,
And then you’ll be able to see
How to take chaff from the eye of your brother.
‘And don’t lay your holy things before dogs
Nor throw your pearls before pigs,
So they can’t trample them under their feet
And then turn around and gore you.
‘Keep asking and you will receive…
Keep searching and you will find…
Keep knocking and [the door] will be opened.
For all will receive that keep asking…
All that keep searching, will find…
And [the door] will be opened to all those that knock.
‘For about which man, isn’t this true:
If his son should ask him for bread,
He will not hand him a stone.
Or if he should ask for a fish,
He will not hand him a snake.
‘So if you, in your wicked condition,
Will provide good gifts to your children;
How much more will your Father in heaven
Give good things to those that keep asking?
‘Also, as you would like to be treated,
Is the way that you should treat others.
For, that’s [the whole point] of the Law and the Prophets!
‘You should enter through the gate that is narrow;
For the road to destruction is both broad and wide,
And that’s the way most people are going.
But the gateway to life is narrow and tight,
And few are those that can find it.
‘Beware of false prophets that come dressed as sheep,
But on the inside, are just hungry wolves.
You’ll recognize them by the fruit that they bear…
For you don’t pick grapes from the briers,
And you don’t pick figs among thistles.
‘A good tree will bear fruit that is good,
While the rotten ones bear fruit that is bad.
So a good tree won’t bear fruit that’s bad,
And a rotten tree won’t bear fruit that is good.
Then the trees that don’t bear good fruit
Will be cut down and thrown in a fire…
So you’ll recognize them by the fruit that they bear!
‘Not all that shout Lord, Lord, to me
Will enter the Kingdom of [God]…
Just those that are doing the will
Of my Father in the heavens.
‘Yet, many will say, O Lord;
In your name, didn’t I prophesy,
And in your name, didn’t I cast out demons…
Yes, haven’t we done great deeds in your name?
But I’ll tell them, I never knew you…
Get away from me, you lawbreakers!
‘Now, those that listen and do as I say
Are like the very wise man
That founded his home upon rock.
So because of its solid foundation,
It will be able to stand
When winds, floods, and rains beat on his house.
‘Yet, those that hear and don’t do as I say
Are like fools that build their houses on sand.
For, when they face winds, rains, and floods,
Their houses will fall in a mighty collapse.’
Well after Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were awe-struck by his way of teaching.Because unlike their Scribes, he taught with authority.
Then, as he was coming down the mountain (along with a large crowd that was following him),{Look!} a man with leprosy came up and bowed low before him, and said:
‘Lord, if you just want to, you can make me clean!’
So [Jesus] stuck out his hand and touched him, and said:
‘I want to… be clean.’
And [the man] was immediately wiped clean of his leprosy.
Then Jesus said to him:
‘Don’t tell anyone [about this]… just go and show yourself to the Priests,then offer the gift that Moses specified, so they can testify to what happened.’
And as he was entering CapharNaum, a [Roman] Centurion came up to him and said:
‘Lord; My [house]boy is so paralyzed that he can’t leave my home, and he’s in a lot of pain!’
So [Jesus] told him:
‘I’ll cure him when I get there.’
However, the Centurion said:
‘Sir, I’m unfit to have you enter my house… just say the word and I know that he will be healed.For I’m also a man that has been given a lot of authority, because I have many soldiers under me.
So if I tell this one, Be on your way, he’s on his way; if I say to another, Come, he comes. So, whatever I tell my slave to do, he does.’
Well, Jesus was amazed at this, and he said this to those that were following him:
‘I tell you the truth; I haven’t found anyone in IsraEl with this much faith.
So I’m saying this; many will be coming from the sunrise to the sunset, and they will recline [at the table] along with AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob in the Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God),while the Sons of the Kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness, where they’ll cry and grind their teeth.’
Then Jesus said to the Centurion:
‘Just go on… let it be just as you’ve believed!’
And the man’s [house]boy was healed in that very hour.
Well, when he finally arrived at Peter’s house, Jesus saw [Peter’s] mother-in-law lying down, because she had a fever.
So he touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and started serving him.
Then later that evening, people started bringing him many of the demon-possessed.
So, he cast out the spirits with a word and he cured all of those that were ill,so that the words that were spoken through the Prophet IsaiAh could be fulfilled:
‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.’
However, when Jesus saw that a huge crowd had started to form, he said to [his disciples]:
‘Let’s go over to the other side [of the Sea of GaliLee].’
But [as they were leaving], a scribe came up to him and said:
‘Teacher, I’ll follow you wherever you go!’
And Jesus said to him:
‘Though foxes have burrows and birds in the skies have their nests,
The Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’
Then another disciple came up to him and said:
‘Lord, please allow me to go and bury my father first.’
But Jesus said to him:
‘Just keep on following me and let the dead bury their own dead.’
Well after that, Jesus and his disciples stepped into a boat and left.
But soon {Look!} the sea became agitated and waves started crashing over the boat… yet, [Jesus] was just lying there sleeping.So [the disciples] went over and woke him up, and said:
‘Lord, please save us, for we’re about to be destroyed!’
But [Jesus] asked:
‘Why are you so afraid… you with so little faith?’
Then he got up and scolded the winds and the sea, and a great calm set in,which caused the [disciples] to start wondering and asking each other:
‘What kind of person is this; for even the winds and the seas obey him?’
Well, when they got to the other side [of the sea], into the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men came out from among the tombs to meet him.
They were so unusually fierce that no one else had the courage to even pass that way.
Then {Look!} they started shouting:
‘What do you want with us, O Son of God? Did you come here before the appointed time to torment us?’
Well, it so happened that at the time, there happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding [in a field] some distance away.So the demons started begging [Jesus], saying:
‘If you’re going to cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs!’
And [Jesus] said to them:
‘Then go!’
So they came out and went into the pigs, and {Look!} the entire herd ran down a steep cliff into the sea, where they [drowned] in the water.
Well after that happened, the people that had been keeping watch over the pigs in the field ran away. And when they got to the city, they told everyone about the things that they saw… including what [Jesus had done] to the demon-possessed men.
So {Look!} all the people in the city then came out to meet Jesus.
However, when they saw him, they begged him to just cross back [over the sea] and leave their district.
So then he stepped back into the boat, and they traveled back to the town where he had been staying.
And when he got there, {Look!} some people brought him a paralyzed man that was lying on a cot.
Then when he saw that the man had a lot of faith, Jesus said to him:
‘Take courage child; your sins are forgiven.’
However, {Look!} some Scribes [who heard him say this] were thinking to themselves:
‘He’s blaspheming!’
But Jesus (who knew what they were thinking) asked them:
‘Why are you thinking such wicked things in your hearts?
Is it easier to say, your sins are forgiven, or just, get up and walk?
However, I want you to know that the Son of Man has the power to forgive sins here on the earth.’
So at that, he said to the paralyzed man:
‘Now, get up, pick up your cot, and go home.’
And the man just got up and went home.
Well when the crowds saw this, they were all frightened and they started praising The God that gives such powers to men.
So thereafter, he left that place, and as he was traveling on, Jesus noticed a man named Matthew sitting in a tax office, and he said to him:
‘Be my follower.’
And immediately, [Matthew] got up and started following him.
Then later, while [Jesus] was reclining at a table in [Matthew’s] home, {Look!} many tax collectors and sinners started coming in and reclining next to Jesus and his disciples.
But on seeing this, the Pharisees asked [Jesus’] disciples:
‘Why is your teacher eating with these tax collectors and sinners?’
Well, [Jesus] overheard them saying this, so he told them:
‘Healthy people don’t need doctors… only the sick do.
Now, go and learn the meaning of the words, I want mercy, not sacrifice. For I didn’t come here to call the righteous, just the sinners.’
Then some of John’s disciples came to [Jesus] and said to him:
‘We and the Pharisees always fast… so, why don’t your disciples fast?’
And Jesus answered:
‘The bridegroom’s friends don’t have any reason to be sad when he’s with them, do they?
However, the day is coming when the bridegroom will be taken away from them… and then they will fast.’
‘Understand that nobody sews a patch of un-shrunk cloth onto old clothes, because its [shrinking] strength will pull the clothes and make the tear worse.
And people don’t put new wine into old wineskins; for if they do, the old wineskins will burst, spilling the wine and ruining the skins… this is why people put new wine into new wineskins, so that both things are preserved.’
Well, as he was saying this, {Look!} a certain ruler came up and bowed low before him, saying:
‘By now my daughter may have died… so please come and lay your hands on her to bring her back to life!’
Therefore, Jesus got up and followed the man (as did his disciples).
However, [as he was on the way], {Look!} a woman that had suffered from a blood flow for some 12 years came up behind him and touched the fringes on his robe.
[She did this] because she kept saying:
‘If I can just touch his clothes, I’ll be saved [from this illness].’
Then when Jesus turned around and saw her, he said to her:
‘Take courage daughter; Your faith has saved you.’
And from that hour on, the woman was healed.
Thereafter, when he got to the house of the ruler and saw flute players and a wailing crowd,Jesus said:
‘You should all leave now, because the little girl isn’t really dead, she’s just sleeping!’
Well, everyone started laughing and making fun of him because of this.
But after the crowd had been ushered outside, [Jesus] went in and took hold of her hand, and the little girl stood up!
So, word of what happened there was quickly spread throughout that whole area.
Then, just as Jesus was leaving that place, two blind men came up and started following him, hoarsely shouting:
‘Have pity on us, O Son of David!’
And when he entered the house [where he was staying], these blind men followed him inside.
So Jesus asked them:
‘Do you really believe that I can do this thing?’
And they answered:
‘Yes, Lord!’
So he touched their eyes and said:
‘As you believed, may it happen to you!’
And at that, their eyes were opened.
Then Jesus warned them sternly:
‘Now, don’t tell anyone about this!’
But after they left, they started spreading the news [about what he had done] throughout that whole area.
And then, before he could leave, {Look!} some more people brought him a man that couldn’t speak, because he was demon possessed.
And after Jesus cast out the demon, the man was able to speak, which amazed the crowds.
So they were saying:
‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in IsraEl.’
However, the Pharisees were saying:
‘He’s casting out demons by the ruler of the demons!’
Well from there, Jesus traveled throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and curing every sort of disease and infirmity.
For when he looked at the crowds, he felt pity, because they were scraped and knocked about like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples:
‘There is in fact a huge harvest, but there aren’t enough workers.
So, beg the Master of the harvest to send more workers into the field to do His harvesting.’
Well after that, he called 12 of his disciples to him and he gave them the power to dominate and throw out unclean spirits and to cure every sort of disease and infirmity.
These are the names of those 12 Apostles:
First there was Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew.
And there was James the son of ZebediOu and his brother John.
There was also Philip, BarTholomew ([NathaniEl]), Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (the son of Alpheus), ThadDeus ([Judas]),Simon (the CanaNaean), and Judas IsCariot (who [later] betrayed him).
Jesus thereafter sent these 12 out, giving them the orders:
‘Don’t go to the gentiles or to any of the Samaritan cities…just go to the lost sheep of the house of IsraEl.
‘[You should each] go your own way; and as you go, you should proclaim that the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.
‘Cure sick people, raise the dead (questionable phrase), make lepers clean, and throw out demons… you received it freely, so give it freely!
‘You won’t have to carry along any gold, silver, or copper [coins] in your waist sashesor a food pouch for the trip; nor should you carry two pairs of underwear, or extra sandals, or walking sticks, because the worker has earned his provisions.
‘Then, whenever you enter a city or village, you should search for those that are deserving and stay with them until you must travel on.
And when you enter any house, offer the household a greeting of peace…and if the house is worthy, let peace come into it. But if it isn’t worthy, let the peace return to you.
‘Wherever the people don’t take you in and listen to your words; when you leave that house or that city, just shake the dust off your feet.For I tell you the truth;
On the Judgment Day, it will be more bearable for the lands of Sodom and GomorRah than for that city.
‘Look! I’m sending you out as sheep among wolves.
So, prove yourselves to be as cautious as snakes while remaining as innocent as doves.
‘Now, be careful, because men will carry you before religious courts and they’ll whip you in their synagogues.
Yes, you’ll be taken before governors and kings for my sake as a witness to them and to the gentiles.
But when they bring you up [for trial], don’t worry about what you should say or how you should say it, because, what you must say will be given to you in that hour…
You won’t be the one doing the talking, the Breath of your Father will be speaking through you.
‘For, brothers will hand their own brothers over for death, and fathers will do the same to their children.
Yes, even children will rise against their own parents and hand them over for death.
Everyone will hate you because of my name… but those that endure to the end will be saved.
‘So when they chase you out of one city, just run to another. For I tell you the truth;
You may not get to all of IsraEl’s cities before the Son of Man arrives.
‘Understand that a disciple can’t be greater than his teacher and a slave can’t be greater than his master.
However, a disciple may become like his teacher and a slave may become like his master.
But if they’re calling the master BeElZebub; how much more [will they say this] of those in his home?
So [expect this] to happen to you and don’t be afraid!
‘For there’s nothing that’s covered which will not be shown
And there are no secrets that will not be known.
What I say in darkness, you must say in the light;
And whatever is whispered to you in your ear
Must be proclaimed from the rooftops!
‘Don’t fear those that can kill the body,
But can’t kill the person within.
Rather, fear the One that can fully destroy
The person and his body in the garbage.
‘Don’t two sparrows cost very little?
Yet whenever one falls to the ground,
Your Father’s aware of what happened…
For He’s even counted the hairs on your head!
So you have no reason to fear;
For, more than many sparrows, is your value to Him!
‘If you’ll admit that you’re with me to others,
I’ll also admit that I am with you
Before my Father in the heavens.
But if you deny that you know me to men,
I’ll also deny knowing you
Before my Father in the heavens.
‘Don’t think that I came to bring peace to the earth;
For I’m not bringing peace… just the sword!
I came to divide fathers from sons,
As well as daughters from mothers
And brides from their mothers-in-law.
‘Your enemies will be those in your own homes;
But those that care less for me
Than for their fathers or mothers,
[Will never] be worthy of me.
And the one that cares less for me
Than for his sons or his daughters,
Isn’t worthy of me.
‘Those that won’t lift their own torture poles
And follow behind me, aren’t worthy.
For those who seek first their own lives
Are really the ones that will lose them;
But they’ll find them, if they lose their lives for my sake.
‘Those that invite you into [their homes]
Are also inviting me in.
And those that are inviting me in,
Are inviting the One by whom I was sent.
‘Those that welcome a Prophet because he’s a Prophet,
Will receive a Prophet’s reward.
And those that welcome the righteous because they are righteous,
Will receive the reward of the righteous.
‘For whoever gives one of these least ones
So much as a cold cup of water
Because he is my disciple…
I swear that he won’t lose his reward.’
Now, after Jesus had finished giving his 12 disciples these instructions, he went out to preach and teach in their cities.
However, because John [the Baptist] (who was in jail) heard about the things that the Anointed One was doing, he sent his disciples to ask himwhether he was really the one that was to come, or if they should expect someone else.
And this is what Jesus told them:
‘Go back and report to John all that you’re seeing and hearing.
Tell him that the blind are seeing, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, and the poor are being taught the good news.
So, anyone that doesn’t stumble over me will be blest.’
Then after [John’s disciples] had left, Jesus asked the crowd this about John:
‘What did you go to the desert to see…
Reeds being blown in the wind?
Yes, what did you go out to see…
A man that is dressed in soft clothes?
‘Those wearing soft clothes live in mansions!
So, why did you really go out there?
Did [you go there] to [visit] a Prophet?
Yes, and one that’s more than a Prophet!
For, this is the one of whom it was written:
{Look!} I will send My messenger ahead
To prepare the road that’s before him!
‘I tell you the truth; Of those born to women, none have been raised that are greater than John. But the least in the Kingdom of heaven (or, of God) will be greater than him.
For from the time of John [until now], the Kingdom of the heavens has been taken by force… and the forceful are the ones that have seized it.
Indeed, this was all prophesied in the Law and the Prophets.And if you are willing to accept it; he’s the EliJah that was to come [first]…
Let those who have ears pay attention!
‘To whom can I liken this people?
They’re like children playing in the markets that shout at their mates:
We played the flute, but you didn’t dance…
We wailed, but you didn’t beat on your chests!
‘When John came along; because he didn’t eat fine food or drink any [wine], they said that he had a demon!
But because the Son of Man loves fine foods and wine, they call him an alcoholic and glutton… a friend of tax collectors and sinners!
Yet, wisdom is proven righteous by its results.’
And then he started to berate the cities where he had done most of his powerful deeds, because they hadn’t repented.
He said:
‘Woe to you, O ChoraZin, and woe to you, O BethSaida; for if the powerful deeds that had happened in you had also happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
‘And you, O CapharNaum; will you be raised to the heavens? No, you’ll go down to the place of the dead!
For if the powerful deeds that happened in you had also happened in Sodom, [that city] would still be here today.
‘So I tell you that it will be better for the land of Sodom in the Judgment than it will be for you.’
Then it was concerning this that Jesus prayed:
‘I publicly praise you O Father,
Lord of the heavens and earth;
For You’ve hidden these things from the smart and the wise,
While You revealed them to infants.
Yes Father; this is the thing that You have approved.
‘All that I have came from my Father;
For no one knows the Father as well as His son,
And no one knows the son as well as his Father…
Or those to whom he’s revealed Him.
‘So, come to me, you who’ve worked hard
And you who have born heavy loads,
Because I will bring you refreshment.
‘Yes, learn from me and put on my yoke.
For I am meek and I have a kind heart,
So your souls will find refreshment in me.
This yoke of mine is very gentle
And the load [I give you] is light!’
Well, as Jesus was traveling through some grain fields on a Sabbath, his disciples got hungry and they started plucking some of the grain and eating it.
But when the Pharisees saw this, they said:
‘Look! Your disciples are doing what’s illegal on the Sabbath!’
And [Jesus] said to them:
‘Haven’t you read what David did when he and his men got hungry…how they entered the House of God and ate the show bread on Jehovah’s table, which wasn’t legal for them to eat, since it was only for the Priests?
Or haven’t you read in the Law that the Priests in the Temple can break the Sabbath rules [by offering sacrifices] and not be found guilty?
‘So I’m telling you that something greater than the Temple is here now!
And if you understood what the words mean, I want mercy, not sacrifices, you probably wouldn’t be condemning these innocent ones.
For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath!’
Then from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,where {Look!} he found a man that had a withered hand.
So [those Pharisees] then asked him:
‘Is it legal to heal on the Sabbath?’
(They said this so they could find something that they could accuse him of doing wrong).
And he asked them:
‘If any of you had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath; which one of you wouldn’t go there to lift it out?
‘So, since a man is worth much more than a sheep… yes, it is legal to do good things for him on the Sabbath!’
And at that, he said to the man:
‘Now, stretch out your hand.’
And when he stretched it out, it became healthy just like the other hand!
Well thereafter, the Pharisees then went out and assembled a counsel to destroy [Jesus].
However, Jesus knew what they were planning, so he left that place.
There were many [people that traveled] with him at that time, and he cured them all.But he sternly warned them not to expose him,so that the words spoken through the Prophet IsaiAh might be fulfilled:
‘{Look} My servant, whom I have chosen…
My loved one who’s approved by My Soul!
In him, I will now put My Breath,
And he’ll tell the nations about My decisions.
‘Yet, he will not argue or shout,
Nor in the main streets, will they hear his voice.
He will not crush a bruised reed,
Nor will he extinguish a smoking flax wick
Until he brings triumph to justice
And the nations put hope in his name.’
Well after that, they brought him a demon-possessed man that was blind and couldn’t speak, and he cured him so that he could both speak and see.
This amazed the crowds and they all started asking:
‘Isn’t this the Son of David?’
However, when the Pharisees heard them saying this, they said:
‘He’s throwing out demons by [the power of]BeElZebub the ruler of the demons!’
Of course, [Jesus] knew what they were thinking, so he said this to them:
‘A kingdom that’s divided will fall,
And a city or house that’s divided won’t stand.
So if the Opposer casts out the Opposer,
He’s fighting himself and his kingdom won’t stand.
‘Now, if I’m really using BeElZebub’s [power] to cast out demons, then whose [power] are your sons using when they cast them out?
‘You see; it’s things like this that condemn you!
For if I am really casting out demons by means of God’s Breath, then God’s Kingdom has rolled over you!
After all; no one can break into the house of a powerful person and steal his things unless they first tie him up… only then can they loot his house.
‘So now; those that aren’t with me are against me, and those that aren’t on my side will be scattered.
And I’m telling you this:
All sins and blasphemies can be forgiven… but not blasphemy against [God’s Holy] Breath. That will not be forgiven!
‘If someone speaks badly against the Son of Man, this is something that can be forgiven. But if someone blasphemes [God’s] Holy Breath, he won’t be forgiven… no, not in this age or in that to come.
So, either declare the tree and its fruit to be good or declare it [all] to be rotten. For you will recognize the trees by the fruit that they bear.
‘O you offspring of vipers; How can evil people like you speak of good things, since what you’re saying is coming from your hearts?
A good man will bring what’s good from the good [that’s in his heart], while the evil just bring bad things from what is stored there.
‘So I’m telling you now that when the Judgment Day arrives, you will each answer for the things that you’ve said to mislead…
You’ll either be found righteous, or you’ll be condemned by the things that you are saying.’
Then some of the Scribes and Pharisees came up to him and said:
‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from you!’
And [Jesus] replied:
‘A wicked and adulterous people [is always] looking for signs. However, they won’t receive one other than the sign of Jonah the Prophet.
For as Jonah was in the sea creature’s belly for three days and three nights; the Son of Man will be in the heart of the ground for three days and three nights.
‘Then the men of Nineveh will stand in the Judgment along with this people and they will condemn it; for they repented at what Jonah preached…
But look; something greater than Jonah is here!
‘The Queen of the South will also arise in the judgment and she will condemn this people; for she came from the ends of the land to listen to Solomon’s wisdom…
But look; something greater than Solomon is here!
‘When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it travels through [many] dry places searching for a [good] place to rest.
But if it can’t find one, it says:
I’ll just go back to the house that I left.
‘And then, upon his return; if he finds [the house] empty, furnished, and swept,he’ll move back in, bringing along seven more spirits that are even more wicked than himself.
So then, after [he] gets inside [of the man], the others will dwell in him also, making things worse for him than they were before… yet, that’s how this people will be.’
Well, while he was still talking to the crowds, {Look!} his mother and brothers showed up and they were standing outside waiting to speak to him.
So someone said to [Jesus]:
‘Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside and waiting to speak to you.’
But he said:
‘Just who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’
Then he held out his hand toward his disciples and said:
‘Look… my mother and my brothers!For all those who are doing the will of my Father in the heavens are my brothers, sisters, and mother.’
Then one day, Jesus came out of the house and he was sitting by the sea,when a huge crowd came and gathered around him.
So he stepped into a boat and [started teaching] those that were standing there on the beach,and he did so using parables… for he said:
‘{Look!} A farmer went out to do planting,
And some of his seeds fell by the road,
Where birds quickly came there and ate them.
‘Others fell among rocks where there wasn’t much soil,
Yet, they quickly started to sprout.
But when the sun rose, they were scorched,
And they withered, because they couldn’t spread roots.
‘Still others fell among briers,
Which [quickly] grew and choked them all out.
‘Yet the rest fell upon the good soil,
And there they started producing [much] fruit…
This one 60, that one 100,
And just 30 for another…
Let those that have ears, pay attention!’
Well later, the disciples came up to him and asked him why he was speaking to the crowd in parables.
And he replied:
‘Though you’ve been allowed to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God), they haven’t.
So, those that have will be given more,
And they’ll have more than enough.
But, as for those that don’t have…
Even what they own will be taken from them.
‘Therefore, this is why I’m speaking to them in parables; because when they look they can’t see, and when they listen they don’t hear or understand the meaning of it.
‘And in this, the prophecy of IsaiAh is being fulfilled in them that says:
By listening, you will hear, but not understand,
And by looking, you will look, but not see.
For the hearts of these people have grown thick;
So their ears now listen very slowly,
And all their eye lids are closed.
So they are unable to see with their eyes,
And they can’t hear with their ears,
Nor can they understand in their hearts,
Then turn back, so that I can heal them.
‘However, your eyes are blest because they can see, as are your ears, because they can hear.
‘I tell you the truth; many of the Prophets and righteous men wished to see the things that you’re seeing today… but they didn’t see them.
And [they wished] to hear the things that you’re hearing… but they didn’t hear them.
‘So now, listen to the [meaning of the] parable of the farmer that planted:
Whenever someone hears about the Kingdom but doesn’t understand it, the wicked one comes and snatches away whatever has been planted in his heart.
This is the one that grew alongside the road.
‘As for the one that grew among the rocks; he hears the word and quickly accepts it with joy.
But because he has no roots, he just lasts a short time… when hard times or persecution come along because of the word, he’s immediately trapped.
‘As for the one that grew among the thistles;
This one hears the word, but the concerns of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke out the word, so he doesn’t produce any fruit.
‘But as for the one that is planted on good soil;
He hears the word, understands it, and actually puts out fruit… this 100, that one 60, and the other 30.’
Well after that, he gave them another parable. He said:
‘The Kingdom of the heavens is much like a man
That planted good seeds in his field.
But while all his people were sleeping,
An enemy scattered weed seeds over his wheat.
So when the blades started sprouting with fruit,
The weeds also appeared.
‘Then the master’s slaves came and asked him:
Lord, weren’t those good seeds [that you gave us] to plant?
And if so, then, why are there so many weeds?
‘And he replied:
It was an enemy of mine that did this.
‘So they asked him:
Then, should we go and pull up [the weeds]?
‘And he told them:
No, for as you’re pulling up weeds,
You may also uproot the wheat!
Let them grow together ‘til the harvest arrives.
Then I’ll tell the reapers to collect the weeds first,
And put them in bundles and burn them;
Then, gather the wheat into my barn.’
Thereafter, he told them another parable, saying:
‘The Kingdom of the heavens is like mustard seeds
That a man had planted in his field.
Though it’s [one of] the smallest of seeds;
It can grow to become the largest of plants…
[It can grow as large as] a tree
In whose branches, the birds in the skies can then roost.’
And he told them another parable:
‘The Kingdom of the heavens is like a bit of [yeast]
That a woman hid within in three scoops of flour…
So it soon became filled with [the yeast].’
Jesus said all these things to the crowds in parables. And it’s a fact that if he wasn’t using parables, he wasn’t talking to them.This was done so as to fulfill what was spoken through the Prophet, who said:
‘With parables, I’ll open my mouth.
And I’ll talk about things that have been hidden
Since the founding of the world.’
Then, after dismissing the crowds, he went back into the house. And there his disciples came to him and asked him to explain the parable of the weeds in the field.
So [Jesus] told them this:
‘The one that planted the good seeds is the Son of Man,and the field is this system of things.
The good seeds are the sons of the Kingdom, the weeds are the sons of the wicked one,and the enemy who planted them is the Slanderer.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are [God’s] messengers.
‘So, just as the weeds are collected and burned in a fire; that’s what will happen at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his messengers to collect all the snares and all the lawless people out of his Kingdom,and they will be thrown into a flaming furnace, where they will cry and grind [their] teeth.
But after that, the righteous will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father…
Let those who have ears pay attention to this!
‘For the Kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure that a man found and hid in a field.
Then to [get that treasure], he went and sold everything that he had to buy that field.
‘The Kingdom of the heavens is also like a traveling merchant who was searching for good pearls;
And when he found one very valuable pearl, he went away and quickly sold everything that he had to buy it.
‘Again, the Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God) is like a net that is dropped into the sea and collects all sorts [of sea creatures];
Then, when it’s full, they haul it onto the beach and sit down to collect the good things, which they throw into baskets, while they toss all the bad things away.
Yes, that’s how it will be at the end of the age… [God’s] messengers will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous,and they will throw [the wicked] into a flaming furnace, where they’ll cry and grind their teeth.’
[Then Jesus asked them]:
‘Do you understand all these things?’
And they replied:
‘We do.’
So Jesus said:
‘Well, this is how all the disciples of the Kingdom of the Heavens will teach… they’ll be like a man (a master of his house) who brings both old and new things out of his stores.’
Well, after Jesus had finished explaining these parables, he left that areaand traveled to the place where he was raised, and there he started teaching in their synagogue.
This dumbfounded the people, for they asked:
‘Where did this man get such wisdom and powers?
Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, JoSeph, Simon, and Judas?
And his sisters… aren’t they all with us? Where did he get all these things?’
So they were stumbled over him.
But Jesus said:
‘A Prophet is never treated with dishonor except in the place where he was raised and within his own home.’
Therefore, he didn’t do many powerful deeds there, because of their lack of faith.
It was around this time that Herod (the ruler over that area) heard about Jesus.
And he said to his boys:
‘This is really John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead, and this is why he can do such powerful things!’
He said this because Herod had arrested John and thrown him in prison due to things that [John had said about] his brother’s (Philip’s) wife.
For, because John had told him that he had broken the Law by taking her,[Herod] wanted to kill him. [Yet, he couldn’t], because he was afraid of the people, since they considered [John] to be a Prophet.
However, at Herod’s birthday party, the daughter of Herodias [came out and] danced before him, and this pleased Herod so muchthat he promised with an oath to give her anything that she asked.
So, (with her mother’s coaching) she said:
‘Then, give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter!’
Well, the king was really saddened by this; but because he had given his word (and because of those that were eating at the table with him), [Herod] gave the commandto have John beheaded in prison.
Then when his head was brought in on a platter, he gave it to the young girl, who took it to her mother.
Well afterward, [John’s] disciples went to get his body and buried it, then they reported everything that had happened, to Jesus.
And when Jesus heard about this, he got into a boat to find a quiet place where he could be alone.
However, the crowds noticed [where he was going] and they followed him on foot from the towns.So when he got to that place, he saw a huge crowd of people.
And because he felt sorry for them, he went on to heal their sick.
Then later that evening, [Jesus’] disciples came to him and said:
‘This is a very remote place and it’s getting late, so we should send the crowds off into the villages around here so they can buy something to eat!’
But Jesus said to them:
‘They don’t have to go… why don’t you give them something to eat?’
And [the disciples] answered:
‘But all we have is just 5 loaves [of bread] and 2 fish!’
So Jesus told them:
‘Bring them to me.’
Then he told the crowd to lie down on the grass, and he took the 5 loaves and 2 fish, and after looking into the sky, he spoke a blessing, and he started breaking the bread and handing it to the disciples, who then passed it out to the crowd…
And everyone ate until they were full!
Well, when they picked up the scraps, they found that there were 12 baskets full of leftovers.Yet there were about 5,000 men (as well as many women and children) that ate.
Then [Jesus] dismissed the crowd and he told his disciples to take the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side [of the sea].
And after most of the people had left, he went up the mountain to a private spot where he could pray.
So, though it was getting dark, he stayed there all alone.
Meanwhile, the boat [that the Apostles were rowing] had gotten a long way from land. But they had been fighting the waves, because there was [a strong] wind blowing against them.
And then, sometime just before sunrise, [Jesus] came to them, walking across the sea.
Well when they saw him walking on the water, the disciples were terrified and they shouted,
‘It’s a vision!’
And they started screaming out of fear.
But right away, Jesus told them:
‘Be brave… don’t be afraid, it’s me!’
Then Peter said:
‘Lord; If it’s you, then command me to come out to you on top of the water!’
So [Jesus] said:
‘Then come on!’
Well, Peter got out of the boat and started walking across the water toward Jesus.
But then he got distracted by the windstorm and got frightened… and he started to sink, so he shouted:
‘Lord, please save me!’
Then Jesus immediately reached out his hand and grabbed him, and he said:
‘O you with so little faith; Why did you start to doubt?’
Well, after they both got into the boat, the windstorm subsided,and the others in the boat all bowed low before him and said:
‘You truly are the Son of The God!’
Then, after they had finished the crossing, they docked their boat at GenNesaret.
And there, the people recognized him and sent word throughout the surrounding countryside, so they started bringing all those that weren’t doing well to him…they were all begging to just touch the fringes on his clothes.
And all that touched them were made completely well.
It was sometime later that some Pharisees and Scribes came from JeruSalem to see Jesus, and they asked him:
‘Why are you allowing your disciples to overstep the traditions of the elders?
For example, they don’t wash their hands before they eat bread!’
But [Jesus] said to them:
‘Then, why do you overstep the Commands of God with your traditions?For God told you to honor your fathers and mothers, and to have those that speak badly to their fathers or mothers put to death!
Yet you're telling your fathers and mothers that all you might have to give to them is already [dedicated] as a gift [to God].So [what you’re really saying] is that you don’t have to honor your parents at all.
And when you do this, you’re voiding the word of God with your traditions.
‘You hypocrites! How well IsaiAh prophesied about you, when he said:
Though they offer Me praise with their lips,
They’re far away from Me in their hearts!
So it’s in vain that they come to bow before Me,
Since they’re teaching the ideas and instructions of men.’
Then he called the crowds closer and said to them:
‘Listen and understand…it isn’t the things that go into a man’s mouth that dirty him, it’s the things that come out of his mouth that pollute him!’
Well later, the disciples came up to him and said:
‘Don’t you know that the Pharisees were stumbled by what you said?’
But he replied:
‘Anything that my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.
So just let them go, for they are blind guides! And if a blind man leads a blind man, they will both fall into a pit.’
Then Peter said:
‘Well then; please explain the meaning of that parable to us.’
And [Jesus] asked:
‘Don’t you get the point?Don’t you realize that whatever you put into your mouth just goes into your belly and then into the sewer?
However, the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart… these are the things that dirty a man.
For out of the heart comes wicked thinking, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, thievery, false testimonies, and blasphemy.
These are the things that pollute a man! But eating with unwashed hands doesn’t make him dirty.’
Well, after he left that place, Jesus traveled up into areas of Tyre and Sidon.And there {Look!} a Phoenician woman that lived nearby came to him and started shouting:
‘Have mercy on me O Lord, son of David; for my daughter is badly demon possessed!’
Now, [Jesus] didn’t pay any attention to her.
But his disciples begged him to [do something], because she kept following them and shouting at them.
So he said to them:
‘I wasn’t sent here to [help] anyone other than just the lost sheep of the house of IsraEl.’
But then, the woman came up to [Jesus]. She bowed low and said:
‘Lord, please help me!’
And he said to her:
‘It isn’t right to take bread from the children and throw it to the puppies.’
But she replied:
‘Yes Lord; but aren’t puppies allowed to eat the crumbs that fall from the tables of their masters?’
Well at that, Jesus said to her:
‘O woman; you have a lot of faith… may it be as you wish.’
And her daughter was healed from that hour on.
Then, going cross-country from that place, Jesus traveled along the Sea of GaliLee. And finally, he climbed a mountain and sat down…and large crowds started coming to him, bringing people that were lame, injured, blind, and those that were unable to speak (along with many others).
They almost threw them at his feet, and he cured them all.
So the crowds were amazed when they saw the speechless talking, the lame walking, and the blind seeing… and they praised the God of IsraEl.
Well later, Jesus called his disciples to him and said:
‘I’m concerned for the crowds, because they’ve stayed with me for three days and they don’t have anything to eat.
I certainly don’t want to send them away hungry, because they might give out on the road!’
However, the disciples asked:
‘Where could we get enough bread to satisfy this large a crowd in such a remote location?’
So Jesus asked them:
‘How many loaves do you have?’
And they replied:
‘7, plus a few little fish.’
So he told the crowd to recline on the ground.
Then he took the 7 loaves and the fish, and after offering thanks, he broke them up and gave them to the disciples, who [distributed them] among the crowd…and everyone ate until they were satisfied.
And after they picked up the scraps, they found that they had 7 provision baskets full,though there were some 4,000 men, plus women and children, that ate!
Well finally, after dismissing the crowd, he got into the boat and they traveled to the area of MagaDan.
This is where the Pharisees and SadDucees came to [Jesus] and tried to tempt him by asking for a sign from heaven.
He answered and said to them:
‘When it’s evening, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red.’Then in the morning, ‘It will be bad weather, because the sky is red and overcast.’ [spurious text]
Hypocrites! You know how to read the sky, but you can’t read the signs of the times.’
But he said:
‘A wicked and adulterous people is always looking for signs.
However, no sign will be given other than the sign of Jonah [the Prophet].’
Then he just walked away and left them.
Well, after Jesus and his disciples got to the other side [of the sea], they [realized that they] had forgotten to bring along any bread.
And when Jesus told them to keep their eyes open and watch out for the fermentation of the Pharisees and SadDucees,the disciples started saying to each other:
‘Why [did he say this]? Is it because we didn’t bring any bread along?’
Well, because Jesus knew [what they were thinking], he said:
‘You with so little faith; Why are you talking about not having any bread?
Don’t you get the point… don’t you remember how many baskets you picked up after [we fed] 5,000 [with just] 5 loaves;or how many provision baskets you picked up after we fed 4,000 with just 7 loaves?
Why don’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread… [I’m telling you to] watch out for the fermentation of the Pharisees and SadDucees!’
Well with that, they [finally] realized that he wasn’t telling them to watch out for fermentation in bread, but for the teachings of the Pharisees and SadDucees.
Thereafter, he traveled on to Caesarea Philippi, and there Jesus asked his disciples:
‘Who are people saying that the Son of Man is?’
So they told him:
‘Some say you’re John the Baptist, others EliJah, and still others are saying that you are JeremiAh or one of the Prophets.’
Then he asked them:
‘But, whom do you say that I am?’
And Simon Peter answered:
‘You’re the Anointed One; the Son of the Living God.’
So Jesus said to him:
‘You are blest, Simon son of Jonah, because this wasn’t shown to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in the heavens.
‘I also tell you this:
As you are Rock (Peter), I will build my congregation on this bedrock so that the gates of the place of the dead won’t overpower it.
I will also give you the keys to the Kingdom of the heavens, so that whatever you bind on earth will be bound in the heavens, and whatever you set free on the earth will be set free in the heavens.’
Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Anointed One.
And that’s when Jesus (the Anointed) started showing his disciples that he would have to go to JeruSalem and suffer many things at [the hands of] the elders, Chief Priests, and Scribes… and though he would be killed, [he would thereafter be] raised on the 3rd day.
But at that, Peter took him aside and started scolding him, saying:
‘Be kind to yourself Lord; this isn’t going to happen to you!’
However [Jesus] turned to Peter and said:
‘Get behind me opposer! You’re a trap to me, because you aren’t thinking God’s thoughts, but those of men.’
Then Jesus said this to his disciples:
‘If anyone wants to follow me, he’ll have to deny his own needs, then pick up his impaling pole and travel behind me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘So, what good it would do for a man to gain the whole world, if he just loses his life… and what will a man give [to save] his own life?
‘Well, the Son of Man is about to come into the glory of his Father and of His messengers, and then he will repay each one for the things that he has done.
Yet, I tell you the truth when I say that some of you that are standing here won’t taste death at all until you see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.’
Well, it was just 6 days later that Jesus took Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) to a private spot on a high mountain,where he changed form in front of them… his face became as bright as the sun and his clothes became as white as light…and {Look!} they saw Moses and EliJah speaking to [Jesus].
So Peter said to Jesus:
‘Lord, it’s good for us to be here… and if you want, I’ll put up three tents; one for you, one for Moses, and one for EliJah.’
But just as he said this, {Look!} a bright cloud covered them and {Look!} a voice came out of the cloud that said:
‘This is my beloved Son whom I have approved… listen to him!’
Well when they heard that, the disciples were frightened and they fell to their faces.
But Jesus went over to them and touched them, and said:
‘Get up; don’t be afraid!’
Then when they looked up, they saw just Jesus all by himself.
Well, as they were walking down the mountain, Jesus gave them this warning; he said:
‘Don’t tell anyone what you saw here until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’
Then sometime later, the disciples asked him:
‘Why do the Scribes say that EliJah must come first?’
And Jesus told them:
‘EliJah does indeed come and he restores everything.
However, I tell you that EliJah has already come and they didn’t recognize him.
So they did whatever they wanted to him… and this is the same way that the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands!’
Well, it was then that the disciples finally realized that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
And as they were approaching a crowd, a man came up to Jesus, then he kneeled down, and said:
‘Lord, please show mercy on my son!
He gets loony and he often falls into the fire or into the water.
Though I brought him to your disciples, they haven’t been able to cure him!’
It was then that Jesus said:
‘O [what a] faithless and twisted people; how much longer must I be with you? How much longer will I have to put up with you?
Bring him here to me!’
So Jesus thereafter scolded the demon and it came out, and the boy was cured from that hour on.
Then the disciples came to Jesus while he was alone and asked:
‘Why couldn’t we cast it out?’
And he replied:
‘Because of your lack of faith!
I tell you the truth; If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it would go… nothing would be impossible for you!’
However, this kind won’t go out except by prayer and fasting. [spurious words]
Then, while they were all gathered in GaliLee, Jesus said to them:
‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of menwho will kill him… but he will be raised on the 3rd day.’
And this made them all very sad.
Well, after they arrived in CapharNaum, the men that collected the double-silver [tax] came up to Peter and asked:
‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the double-silver [tax]?’
And he replied:
‘Yes he does.’
Then, after he went back into the house, Jesus was already ahead of him and he asked [Peter]:
‘What do you think, Simon; From whom do the kings of the earth get their duties and head taxes… from their sons, or from strangers?’
And [Peter] answered:
‘From strangers.’
Then Jesus said:
‘So, the sons are really tax-free, aren’t they?But because we don’t want to stumble them; go over to the sea and cast out a hook, then take the first fish that you catch. And when you open its mouth, you’ll find a coin.
Take [the coin] and give it to them for both you and me.’
It was less than an hour later that the disciples came up to Jesus and asked:
‘Which [of us] will be the greatest in the Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God)?’
So [Jesus] called a little boy over and stood him in their midst, and said:
‘I tell you the truth; Unless you change your ways and become like this little boy, you won’t get into the Kingdom of the heavens!
But the one that humbles himself like this little boy will be the greatest in the Kingdom of the heavens.And whoever welcomes someone like this little boy in my name, welcomes me.
But if anyone sets a snare before one of these little ones that believes in me; it would be better for him to have the type of millstone that’s turned by a burro hung around his neck and then to be dropped into the open sea.
‘Woe to this system of things because of its snares!
Of course, there will always be snares… but woe to the man that sets them!
‘So if your hand or foot is a snare to you, cut it off and throw it away. For it’s better to enter life maimed or lame than to be thrown into the age-long fire with two hands or two feet.
Also, if your eye is a snare to you, rip it out and throw it away. For it’s better to enter life with one eye than to be thrown with two eyes into the fires of the garbage dump.
‘This is why you should never disregard any of these little ones!
For I tell you: Their messengers in the heavens gaze upon the face of my Father in the heavens!For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost. [spurious text, copied from Luke 19:10]
‘What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep and 1 of them strays, won’t he leave the 99 and search in the mountains [spurious words] for the 1 that has strayed?
Then, if he happens to find it, I tell you; he’ll be happier over that 1 than over the 99 that didn’t stray!
‘So it is with my Father in the heavens… He doesn’t want even one of these little ones to perish.
Therefore, if your brother should fail in some way, take him aside and discuss it between you and him alone; then if he listens to you, you’ll have won over your brother.
But if he doesn’t listen, you should bring along one or two others, so that whatever is said can be proven by the mouths of two or three witnesses.
However, if he refuses to listen even to them, you should speak to the congregation. And if he refuses to listen to even the congregation, let him become as a gentile or as a tax collector among you.
‘I tell you the truth; everything that you bind on the earth will be bound in the heavens, and everything that you set free on the earth will be set free in the heavens.
‘Again, I truthfully say;
If two of you agree to anything on this earth that you must request, it will happen because of my Father in heaven.
For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I will be there among them.’
Then Peter came up to him and asked:
‘Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me… up to seven times?’
But Jesus replied:
‘I tell you; not up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times!
To illustrate; The Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God) is like a man, a king, who wanted to settle some accounts with his slaves.
So he started by bringing in a man that owed him 10,000 large silver coins.And because he couldn’t repay it, the master ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything that he owned was to be sold to make the payment.
‘However, the slave fell down with his face to the ground before [the master] and begged:
Be patient with me and I’ll pay back everything that I owe you!’
‘Well, [the king] was moved to pity at this, so he forgave him and freed him from his entire debt.
‘But shortly thereafter, the slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves that owed him just 100 small coins, and he grabbed him and started choking him, saying:
Pay back everything that you owe me!
‘Then his fellow slave fell down and started begging him, saying:
Be patient with me and I’ll pay you back.
However, [the first slave] had the man locked up until he could pay everything that he was owed.
‘Well, when all the other slaves saw this they became very upset, so they went and told their master what had happened.
Then the master summoned him and said this:
Wicked slave; I canceled all that debt for you because you begged me.So, why didn’t you see the need to show the same type of mercy for your fellow slave that I had shown to you?
And the master became so furious that he had him taken off to jail until he could repay all that he owed.
‘Now, this is how my heavenly Father will deal with you if you don’t forgive your brothers from your hearts.’
Well after Jesus had finished saying these things, he left GaliLee and traveled to the Judean border across the JorDan River,and because huge crowds followed along, he cured them there.
However, the Pharisees came to test him, asking:
‘Is it legal for a man to divorce his woman on any grounds?’
And [Jesus] replied: ‘You’ve read that the One who created them long ago made them male and femaleand said:
This is why a man will leave his father and mother and join to his woman making the two one flesh.
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, no man should split apart what The God has yoked together!
And they said:
‘Then, why did Moses say that we could give them divorce certificates and dismiss them?’
And he replied:
‘Moses realized how hardhearted you would be, so he allowed you to release your women… but that hasn’t always been the way!
I tell you that whoever divorces his woman except on the grounds of sexual immorality and marries another, is an adulterer!
And whoever marries a released woman is an adulterer.’
Then [one of] his disciples said:
‘If this is true of a man and his woman, then it’s probably best not to marry at all!’
And Jesus said:
‘Yes, but this is something that not every man can do… just those who have the gift.
For there are eunuchs that were born that way, eunuchs that were made that way by men, and those that have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of the heavens.
So let those that can make room for it, make room for it!’
Well after that, [people] started bringing their young children to him so that he could lay his hands on them and offer a prayer, but the disciples started scolding them.
However, Jesus told them:
‘Leave the children alone and don’t stop them from coming to me, because the Kingdom of the Heavens is for people just like this!’
And after he laid his hands on them, he traveled on.
Then later, {Look!} someone came up to [Jesus] and asked:
‘Teacher, what sort of good things must I do in order to receive age-long life?’
And [Jesus] replied:
‘Why are you asking me about doing what is good? There’s just One that is truly good… but if you want to enter into the life, just follow the Commandments!’
Then [the man] asked:
‘Which ones?’
And Jesus replied:
‘You must not murder, you must not commit adultery, you must not steal, you must not testify falsely,you must honor [your] father and mother, and you must love your neighbor as yourself.’
And the young man said to him:
‘Well, I’ve kept all these things… so what else am I lacking?’
And Jesus said to him:
‘If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your belongings and give to the poor, then come follow me and you’ll have treasures in the heavens.’
However, after the young man heard this, he left very sad, because he owned many things.
So then Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I tell you the truth; It will be difficult for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of the heavens.
Let me put it this way… it would be easier [to thread] a rope through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God.’
Well, the disciples were very surprised at hearing this, and they asked:
‘Then, who can really be saved?’
And looking them straight in their faces, Jesus said:
‘With men, this is an impossibility. However, all things are possible with God.’
But then Peter said to him:
‘{Look} Since we’ve left everything to follow you, what will we really get?’
And Jesus replied:
‘I tell you the truth; In the rebirth – when the Son of Man sits down on his glorious throne – you who have followed me will sit on 12 thrones and you’ll judge the 12 tribes of IsraEl.
Also, anyone that has left a house, or his brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or land for the sake of my name will receive many times more, and he will inheritage-long life.
Yet, many that are the first will be the last, and the last will be the first.
‘For the Kingdom of the heavens is like a man, the master of his house, who went out very early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.
And when they agreed on a payment of one silver coin per day, he sent them out to work in his field.
‘However, he thereafter went out again (about the 3rd hour) and noticed others that were standing in the marketplace looking for work,and he said:
You go into the vineyard also, and I’ll pay you whatever is fair.
So off they went.
‘Then he went out again about the 6th and the 9th hours and he did the same thing.
And finally (about the 11th hour), he went out and found more workers standing around, and he asked them:
Why have you been standing here all day long unemployed?
And they said:
Because nobody has hired us!
So, he said to them:
Then you go into my vineyard too.
‘Well, later that evening, the master of the vineyard told the man in charge to call in all the workers and pay them their wages… and he told him to pay the last ones first.
‘So [after] the 11th hour, the men came in and he started paying each of them a silver coin.
However, when it came time [to pay] the first, these figured that they would be getting more… yet they were also paid a [single] silver coin.
And as they were receiving it, they started complaining about the master, saying:
Though these last ones just put in only one hour’s work, he paid them the same as those of us that worked all day long in the burning heat!
‘But in reply to one of them, [the master] said:
Man, I haven’t done you any wrong! Didn’t we agree on one silver coin?Take what is yours and go. I paid the last ones the same as you, because I want to!
And isn’t it legal for me to do whatever I wish with my own things… are you viewing me as wicked because I’ve done something good?
‘So understand this:
The last will be the first and the first will be the last.’ For many are called, but few chosen. [spurious words, copied from Matthew 22:14]
Then, as they were starting down the road to JeruSalem, Jesus took the 12 disciples off privately and explained this to them… he said:
‘{Look!} We’re heading up to JeruSalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the Chief Priests and Scribes, and they will condemn him to death.
Then they’ll hand him over to the gentiles, who will make fun of him, whip him, and impale him… but on the 3rd day he’ll be raised!’
Well sometime later, the mother of the sons of ZebediOu came up to him with her [two] sons, and she bowed low as if to request something.
So he asked her:
‘What is it that you want?’
And she said:
‘[Promise me] that my two sons will sit, one at your right hand and one on your left, in your Kingdom.’
But Jesus replied:
‘You don’t really know what you’re asking… can they drink from the same cup that I’ll be drinking?’
And [her sons] answered:
‘Yes we can!’
So he said to them:
‘You will indeed drink from my same cup! But sitting on my right and left isn’t mine to give… it belongs to those for whom my Father has prepared it.’
Well when the 10 other [disciples] heard what the brothers had done, they became very angry with them.
However, Jesus called them all to him and said this:
‘You know how the rulers of the nations like to be masters over [the people] and keep them under their feet…but you shouldn’t be like that! Rather, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.
For this is how the Son of Man came… not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
Then, as they were leaving JeriCho with a large crowd following them,{Look!} there were two blind men sitting alongside the road who heard that Jesus was passing by.
So they shouted:
‘Lord… have mercy on us, Son of David!’
But though the crowd told them to be quiet, they shouted even louder:
‘Lord… have mercy on us, Son of David!’
So Jesus stopped and called them over, and asked:
‘What do you want me to do for you?’
And they replied:
‘Lord; We want you to open our eyes!’
Then, moved with pity, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they were able to see… and they started following him.
Well, when they got close to JeruSalem and arrived at BethPhage (on the Mount of Olives), Jesus sent two disciples ahead,telling them:
‘Go into the village that’s across from us, and you’ll immediately find a burro that’s tied next to its colt. Untie them and bring them here to me.
If anyone asks you about it, just tell him that the Lord needs them, and he’ll send them with you.’
Of course, the reason why this happened is so that the thing spoken through the Prophet might be fulfilled:
‘Say this to the daughter of Zion:
Look! Your King is coming to you!
[He’s] gentle and comes riding the colt of a burro…
The foal of a creature that bears heavy loads.’
So the disciples went and did just as Jesus told them.They brought the burro and its colt to him, then they put their robes [over its back] for him to sit on.
Also, many in the crowd spread their robes out on the road ahead of him, while others cut branches from trees and spread them out on the road.
So, part of the crowd walked ahead of him, while the rest followed behind him shouting:
‘[God] save the Son of David!
Praise the one that comes in the Name of Jehovah…
Save, we pray, from the heights!’
Well, as he was entering JeruSalem, this caused quite a stir throughout the city, [for people were asking]:
‘Who is this?’
And the crowd [that was with Jesus] replied:
‘This is Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth of GaliLee!’
Well from there, Jesus entered the Temple and drove out all those that were buying and selling. He also overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those that were selling doves,saying to them:
‘It is written: My house will be called a house of prayer… but, you’re turning it into a den of thieves!’
And after that, people that were blind and lame started coming to him in the Temple, and he cured them.
But when the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things that he was doing and they heard all the children shouting in the Temple, ‘[God] save the Son of David,’ they became very upset.
So they said to him:
‘Don’t you hear what they’re shouting?’
And Jesus replied:
‘Yes… haven’t you ever read this:
From the mouths of infants and babies
You have ordered up praises.’
And with that, he left them… he walked out of the city and went to BethAny, where he spent the night.
Well, while he was on the way back to the city early the next morning, he was hungry.So he walked over to a fig tree that was growing alongside the road, but found nothing on it but leaves, so he said:
‘Let no fruit come from you anymore through the rest of the age.’
And the fig tree withered instantly.
Then when the disciples saw this, they wondered:
‘How can a fig tree wither instantly?’
And Jesus said:
‘I tell you the truth; If you have faith (and you must not doubt), not only will you be able to do what I did to this fig tree, but you could say to this mountain, Lift up and be thrown into the sea, and it will happen…you will receive anything you ask for in prayer if you have faith.’
Then after he had entered the Temple and started teaching, the Chief Priests and the peoples’ elders came up to him and asked:
‘Who authorized you to do these things… who said that you could do this?’
In reply, Jesus said:
‘Let me ask you something, and if you answer me, I’ll tell you who authorized me to do these things.
What was the source of John’s baptizing… did it come from heaven or from men?’
So they started reasoning among themselves and saying to each other:
‘If we say from heaven, he’ll ask us, Then why didn’t you believe him?But if we say from men, we’ll have to deal with the crowd, because they think John was a Prophet.’
So they told Jesus:
‘We don’t know.’
And he told them:
‘Then I’m not going to tell you where I got the authority to do the things that I’m doing.
‘What do you think?
There was once a man that had two children. He went to the first one and said,
Son, I want you to work in the vineyard today.
This one answered,
Yes sir…
But he didn’t [do it].
‘Then [the man] went to the second son and said the same thing. And he replied,
I don’t want to…
But later, he felt sorry and he did go [to work in the vineyard].
‘So, which of the two did what their father wanted?’
And they replied:
‘The second one.’
Then Jesus said to them:
‘I tell you the truth; tax collectors and whores will go ahead of you into the Kingdom of God,because John came to you [preaching] the ways of righteousness, but you didn’t believe him.
However, tax collectors and whores believed him… and though you saw this, you didn’t feel sorry later and put faith in what he was saying.
‘Listen to another parable:
There was a man – the master of his house – that planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, built a tower [to protect it], and hired [people to] cultivate it before he traveled abroad.
Then when the [harvest] season arrived, he sent his servants to the farm hands to collect the fruit.
‘However, those farm hands took his slaves and beat the first one up, threw stones at the second, and killed the third one.
So he then sent other slaves to them (more than the first)… but they did the same things to these.
‘Finally, he sent his son to them, saying:
They will show respect for my son.
‘But when they saw the son, the farmers said:
This is the heir! Let’s kill him and get his inheritance!
‘So they grabbed him and threw him out of the vineyard, then they killed him.’
‘Now, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what do you think he’ll do to those farm hands?’
And they replied:
‘Because they’re so bad, he’ll destroy them in a painful way, then he’ll hire others who will cultivate the vineyard and give him the fruit when it’s due.’
And Jesus said to them:
‘Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures,
The stone that the builders rejected
Has become the foundation cornerstone…
By Jehovah this was done,
And this is a wonderful thing in our eyes? (Psalm 118:22)
‘This is why I tell you;
The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that produces its fruit.
For the person that falls on this stone will be shattered, and anyone it falls on will be smashed!’
Well, after the Chief Priests and the Pharisees heard these parables, they realized that he was talking about them.
Yet, though they were looking to grab him, they didn’t, because they were afraid of the crowds, since [the people] viewed him as a Prophet.
Then Jesus gave them another parable. He said:
‘The Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God) is like a man… a king, that arranged a wedding banquet for his son.
And thereafter, he sent his slaves out to call all those that he wished to invite.
However, none of the people wanted to come.
‘So then he sent other slaves, giving them these instructions:
Tell those that I invited that {Look!} the banquet is ready… bulls and fattened animals have been slaughtered, and everything is prepared, so they should come to the feast!
‘However, none of them paid any attention. One went out to his field, another to his business,and the rest grabbed his slaves, abused them, and then killed them.
‘Of course, this sent the king into a rage!
So he sent his army to destroy those murderers and to burn their city.
‘And after he did that, he said to his slaves:
The marriage feast is indeed ready, but those that I invited were unworthy.
So, go out to the roads that lead into the city and invite everyone that you can find to my wedding banquet!
‘Therefore, the slaves went out to the roads and they gathered everyone they could find (both the wicked and the good), and the banquet hall was soon filled with people reclining at the tables.
‘But then, when the king came in to inspect the guests, he noticed a man that wasn’t properly dressed for a wedding celebration.
So he asked him:
How did you get in here [dressed like that]?
‘Well, the man was speechless.
‘Then the king said to his servants:
Tie him hand and foot and throw him into the darkness outside, where he can cry and grind his teeth.
For, many are called, but few are chosen.’
Well, after he said that, the Pharisees all went off and held a meeting [to discuss ways to] catch [Jesus] in something that he might say.
So they sent some of their disciples along with some of the followers of Herod to ask him this:
‘Teacher, we know that you tell the truth and what you teach about the way of God is right.
We also know that you aren’t overly impressed by anyone, because you don’t look at what a person seems to be on the outside.So, tell us what you think:
Is it right for us to pay Caesar’s head tax, or not?’
But Jesus (knowing their wickedness) said to them:
‘Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that you use to pay the head tax.’
So they brought him a silver coin,and he asked them:
‘Whose image and inscription is on this?’
And they replied:
‘Caesar’s.’
Then he said to them:
‘Pay Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.’
Well when they heard that, they were bewildered. So they left him and went away.
Then on that same day, the SadDucees (actually, Sah/doo/kai/um) (who don’t believe in a resurrection) approached [Jesus] and asked him this:
‘Teacher; Moses said that if a man dies without having children, his brother must take his woman and sire [children] for his brother.
‘So now, let’s say there were 7 brothers.
The first one married and died without having [children], leaving his woman to his brother.
Then the same thing happened to the 2nd and to the 3rd, until [she had gone] through all 7.
Finally the woman died.
So, to which of the 7 will she be married in the resurrection, since they all had her?’
And Jesus replied:
‘This is why you’re headed in the wrong direction… for you don’t understand the Scriptures or the power of God.
In the resurrection, they won’t marry or be given in marriage, for they’ll be like the angels in the heavens.
‘Also, haven’t you read what God told you about the resurrection of the dead [when he said]:
I am the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob?
He isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living!’
Well when the crowds heard that, they were amazed by his [way of] teaching.
Then after the Pharisees heard how he had muzzled the SadDucees, they all came up to him as a group.
And one of them that was well-versed in the Law asked (to test him):
‘Teacher, which is the greatest Commandment of the Law?’
And Jesus replied:
‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart, soul, and mind.
This is the first and the greatest Commandment.
‘The second, which is like it, is this:
You must love your neighbor as yourself.
These two commandments are the basis of the whole Law and all the [words of the] Prophets.’
Then as all the Pharisees were still there in front of him, Jesus asked them:
‘What do you believe about the Anointed One…
Whose son is he to be?’
And they replied:
‘David’s.’
So he said:
‘Then why did David (through the Breath [of God]) call him his Lord, when he said:
Jehovah said this to my lord: Sit here at my right hand,
‘Til I set your enemies as a stool for your feet?
‘So if David called him Lord; how could he be his son?’
Well, nobody was able to say even a word in reply, nor did anyone dare to ask him any more questions from that day on.
Then Jesus spoke to the crowd and to his disciples, and said this:
‘Since the Scribes and Pharisees have put themselves in the seat of Moses,you should do whatever they tell you to do… yes, do and pay attention! But don’t do as they do, because they like to talk, but they don’t [practice what they preach].
Rather, they bundle heavy loads to lay on men’s shoulders, which they are personally unwilling to try to lift with even a finger,since everything that they do is done just to be seen by men.
They broaden the [scripture-carrying] cases they wear, they make the fringes [on their clothes] a bit longer,they like the first places at meals and the front seats in the synagogues,and they enjoy being greeted in the markets and having people call them Rabbi.
‘But not you!
Don’t [have people] call you rabbi, for you only have one teacher, while you’re all just brothers.
Nor should you address anyone on this earth as Father, because there’s just One that is your Father, the Heavenly One.
Don’t even be called leaders, because you only have one Leader, the Anointed One.
Rather, the greatest among you must be your servant.
For those that promote themselves will be humbled, while those that humble themselves will be promoted.
‘Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – for you’re blocking the way into the Kingdom of the heavens.
You don’t enter it, and you don’t allow the rest that are on their way to enter it!Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer. Therefore, you shall receive the greater damnation. [spurious words, copied from Luke 20:47]
‘So, woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – because you travel land and sea to make a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of the garbage dump as yourselves!
‘And woe to you blind guides that say:
If someone swears an oath by the Temple, it doesn’t mean anything.
But if he swears by the gold in the Temple, the oath is binding.
‘Morons and blind men!
Which is really greater… the gold, or the Temple that makes the gold holy?
‘You also say:
If someone swears an oath by the Altar, it doesn’t mean anything.
But if anyone swears by the gift on [the Altar], the oath is binding.
‘Blind men!
Which is really greater… the gift, or the Altar that makes the gift holy?
Those who swear an oath by the Altar are not only swearing by it, but also by everything that’s on it.
Also, those who swear an oath by the Temple are swearing by the One that dwells there,and those who swear an oath by heaven are swearing by the throne of God and by the One that is sitting upon it!
‘Yes, woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites – for though you contribute even 1/10th of your mint, dill, and cumin; you ignore the deeper things of the Law, like justice, mercy, and faith!
Yes, you should do those things also… in addition to the rest.[However, you are just] blind guides that strain out weevils as you gulp down camels!
‘Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites – because you wash the outsides of cups and dishes that are still filled with theft and excesses on the insides.
Blind Pharisees; first clean the insides of the cups and dishes, so that the outsides can also be clean!
‘Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites – because you’re like whitewashed graves that look beautiful on the outside, but you’re full of dead men’s bones and every sort of filth on the inside…
You look like righteous men on the outside, but on the inside, you’re full of hypocrisy and lawlessness!
‘Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites – because you build tombs to dead Prophets… yes, you decorate the tombs of the righteous and say:
If we had lived back in the days of our forefathers, we wouldn’t have shared in [spilling] the blood of the Prophets.
But when you say this, you’re testifying against yourselves that you are the sons of those that murdered the Prophets…
And now [it’s time] for you to fully measure up to [the badness of] your ancestors!
‘Yes, you snakes and children of vipers; How can you escape the judgment of the garbage dump?
‘Look! I will be sending you Prophets, wise men, and writers, whom you’ll kill… you’ll hang some on poles, and you’ll whip others in your synagogues and chase them down in one city after another.
And that’s when you’ll become responsible for all the righteous blood that has been spilled on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of ZechariAh (the son of BarachiAh), whom you murdered between the Holy Place and the Altar.
Yes, I’m telling the truth when I say that all of this [guilt] will be laid upon this people!
‘O JeruSalem, JeruSalem… you killer of Prophets and stoner of those that were sent to you!
How often I’ve wanted to gather your children the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings… but you didn’t want that!
So look… your house has been taken from you!
‘I tell you the truth;
You won’t see me again until you say,
Praise the one that comes in the Name of Jehovah!
Well, after Jesus had left the Temple, his disciples came up to him and were pointing admiringly toward its buildings.
So he said to them:
‘Do you see all these things?
I tell you the truth; there won’t be a stone left on top of a stone here that won’t be thrown down.’
Then, as he was sitting in a quiet spot on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came up to him and asked:
‘Tell us when these things will happen. What will be the sign?’ of your coming and the end of the world? [Possibly spurious words]
And Jesus replied:
‘Watch out so that no one misleads you;for many will come in my name, saying, I am the Anointed, and they will mislead many.
You will also hear of wars and reports of wars, but don’t let that frighten you, for these things must happen too… but that isn't the end.
Yes, nations will be rising against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms, and there’ll be famines and great shakings in many places…
Yet, these will just be the beginnings of the birth pangs.
‘Then people will hand you over to be persecuted and killed… you’ll be hated by all the nations on account of my name.
And because many will be stumbled, they will dislike each other and they’ll even betray each other!
‘There will also be false prophets that will arise and mislead many;and because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the majority will grow cold.
However, those who endure to the end will be saved.
For this good news of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole habitation of mankind as a testimony to all the nations before the end arrives.
‘So when you see the disgusting destroyer that was spoken of through the Prophet DaniEl standing in the Holy Place (let the reader pay attention to this),those [who are living] in Judea should flee to the mountains!
The man that is standing on his roof shouldn’t go down to remove things from his house,and the man that is standing in his field shouldn’t [go back home] to get his clothes.
‘Also, woe to those that are pregnant and those that are nursing babies in those days…they should keep praying that their time to run doesn’t arrive in the winter or on a Sabbath!
For a difficult time will then arrive that will be unlike anything that has happened since the beginning of this arrangement until now, nor should ever happen again!
And if those days weren’t going to be shortened, no flesh could be saved… but for the sake of the elected, those days will be shortened.
‘Then if anyone should say:
Look! Here (or there) is the Anointed One, don’t believe it!
Because, false anointed and false prophets will arise and they’ll perform such great omens and signs that they could possibly mislead even the elected!
‘Now, I’ve warned you!
So if people should say,
Look! he’s in the desert… you shouldn’t go there;
Or,
Look, he’s in that barn… you shouldn’t believe it.
For as lightning flashes across the skies from the east to the west; that’s how you’ll know the Son of Man is nearby…as when vultures gather at a carcass.
‘Then immediately after that difficult time;
The sun will grow dark,
The moon won’t give out its light,
The stars will fall from the skies,
And the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
‘Thereafter, the Son of Man’s sign will appear in the skies, and all the peoples of the earth will beat themselves in grief as they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky with great power and glory.
For He’ll send his messengers [blowing] loud trumpets that will then collect his elected from the four winds… from one end of the skies to the other.
‘Now, learn this from the story of the fig tree:
When its young branches grow tender
And it starts putting out leaves,
You know that summer is near.
‘So when you see these [things start to happen], know that it’s near… at the doors!
‘I tell you the truth;
This nation will not pass away until these things have all been fulfilled.Though the skies and the lands may all pass away, my words will not pass away!
‘Yet, no one knows that day or hour, not the angels in the heavens or the Son… just the Father.
For as it was in the days of Noah is how it will be at the arrival of the Son of Man.
‘Back in the days that led up to the Downpour, the people were all eating and drinking, getting married and being taken in marriage, right up to the very day that Noah entered the Chest.
Yes, they were unaware until the Downpour came and swept them all away!
And that’s how it will be when the Son of Man arrives.
‘Then, where there are two men in a field; one will be taken along while the other is abandoned.
Also, where two women are grinding [grain] at one mill; one will be taken along, while the other will be abandoned.
‘So [you should all] stay awake, since you don’t know the day that your Lord will arrive.
‘I want you to recognize this:
If the master of the house had known in which watch the thief would be coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be [broken into].
So always prove yourselves ready; for the Son of Man will arrive at a time that he isn’t expected.
‘Who is the faithful and sensible slave that the master has put in charge of his household to provide them their food at the right times?
That slave will be blest if he’s found doing this when his master arrives…
I tell you the truth; he’ll put him in charge of everything that he owns!
‘However, if that bad slave should ever say in his heart,
My master is late in arriving,and then he starts beating his fellow slaves and eating and drinking with the drunks;
That slave’s master will arrive on a day and hour that he isn’t expected,and he’ll cut him down and assign him among hypocrites, where he’ll weep and grind his teeth.’
‘For the Kingdom of the heavens is like ten virgins that took their lamps and went out to meet the groom and his bride.
five of them were wise, but [the other] five just didn’t care.For though they brought their lamps, they didn’t bring any oil,while the wise brought jars of oil for their lamps.
‘Well, as the bridegroom was taking his time, they all nodded off and went to sleep.
But in the middle of the night, someone shouted:
Look, it’s the groom [and his bride]… let’s go out and meet them!
So thereafter, all the [wise] virgins got up and started preparing their lamps.
However, those that didn’t care then said to the wise:
Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are about to go out!
‘But the wise replied:
There probably isn’t enough for us all, so you’d best go to the store to buy your own.
‘Well, the [bride and] groom happened to arrive just as these ones were leaving.
So those that were ready entered the wedding banquet along with him… and then the door was closed.
‘Well later on, the other virgins finally showed up and they shouted:
Lord! Lord! Open to us!
‘But he said to them:
I tell you the truth; I don’t know you.
‘So, this is why you must stay awake… for you don’t know the day or the hour!
‘It’s [the same] as when a man that was about to travel abroad called for his slaves to entrust his belongings to them.
To one he gave five [silver] coins, to another he gave two, and to another he gave just one (each according to their abilities);
And thereafter, he left on his trip.
‘Well, the one that got the five went right out and put [his five coins] to work, gaining five more coins.
‘The same was true of the slave who’d received two; he gained two more.
‘But [the slave] that received just one went and dug a hole in the ground, where he buried his master’s silver.
‘Then after some time, the master of those slaves [finally] returned and he called them in for an accounting.
‘So the one that received the five coins came forward carrying the five more and said:
Lord, you gave me five coins, and look… I’ve gained you five more!
‘And his master said:
Well done, good and faithful slave!
Since you’ve been faithful in a few things, I’ll appoint you over many… enjoy the favor of your Lord!
‘Next, the one that received the two coins came forward and said to his master:
Lord, you gave me two coins, and look… I’ve gained you two more!
‘So his master said to him:
You’ve done well, my good and faithful slave!
You were faithful over a few things, so I’ll appoint you over many… share in the joy of your Lord!
‘Finally, the [slave] that was given the one coin came up to his master and said:
Lord, I know that you’re a hard man who reaps where he doesn’t sow and harvests where he doesn’t plant.So because I was afraid, I hid your coin in the ground.
Now see; I give you what is yours!
‘In reply, his master then said to him:
O you wicked and lazy slave; So you know that I reap where I don’t sow and I harvest where I don’t plant, do you?
Then you should have deposited my silver with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received what is mine with interest!
‘So now; take the coin away from him and give it to the one that has 10 coins.Because, more will be given to those that have, and they will have plenty.
But all will be taken from those that don’t have.
‘Now, throw this useless slave into the darkness outside, where he will weep and grind his teeth!
‘Likewise, this is what’s going to happen when the Son of Man arrives in his glory along with all of the messengers… he’s going to sit down on his glorious throne,and all nations will be led before him.
Then he’ll separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He’ll put the sheep on his right, but the goats on his left.
‘And at that, the king will say to those on his right:
Come, you who’ve been praised by my Father; inherit the Kingdom that has been prepared for you since the founding of the arrangement.
For when I was hungry, you fed me; when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink; when I was a stranger, you took me in;when I was naked, you clothed me; when I was sick, you looked after me; and when I was in prison, you came to me.
‘Then the righteous will ask:
Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you?
Yes, when did we see you sick or in prison and come to your [aid]?
‘And the king will say:
I tell you the truth; when you did it for the least of my brothers, you also did it for me.’
‘Then he will say to those on his left:
Leave me, you who’ve been cursed into the age-long fire that was prepared for the Opposer and his messengers.
For when I was hungry, you didn’t feed me; when I was thirsty, you gave me nothing to drink;
When I was a stranger, you didn’t take me in;
When I was naked, you didn’t clothe me; and when I was sick and in prison, you didn’t come to my aid.
‘Then they will also ask:
Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and not serve your needs?
‘And he will answer:
I tell you the truth; when you didn’t do it for one of these least ones, you didn’t do it for me.
‘Then these will go into an age-long lopping off, as the righteous go into age-long life.’
Well, after Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples this:
‘You know that the Passover will be here in just two days, and the Son of Man is going to be betrayed and hung on a pole.’
Meanwhile, the Chief Priests and the peoples’ elders had all gathered in the courtyard of the High Priest (who was called CaiAphas)to discuss sneaky ways to grab Jesus and kill him.
However, they decided not [to do it] at the festival, because that would have created a commotion among the people.
Then it was while Jesus was in BethAny at the house of Simon the leperthat a woman arrived carrying an expensive alabaster case of perfumed oil… she came to him as he was lying down and started pouring it over his head.
And when the disciples saw what she was doing, they were bothered by this and they asked her:
‘Why are you wasting this?We could have sold this for a lot [of money] and given it to the poor!’
But Jesus asked:
‘Why are you bothering this woman? She just did a nice thing for me!
You will always have the poor, but you won’t always have me.
When this woman poured the oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for my burial.
And I tell you the truth; wherever this good news is preached throughout the entire world, what this woman did for me will be told in memory of her.’
Well after that, one of the 12 (the one called Judas IsCariot) went to the Chief Priestsand asked them:
‘What will you give me if I betray [Jesus] to you?’
And they told him that they would pay him 30 silver coins ([about a month’s wage]).
So from that point on, [Judas] started looking for a good opportunity to betray [Jesus].
Now, since it was [just before] the 1st day of [Passover], Jesus’ disciples came up to him and asked:
‘Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?’
And he told them:
‘Go into the city to (a certain person), and tell him that the Teacher says,
My appointed time is near, so I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your home.’
Therefore, the disciples went and did just as Jesus told them and they got everything ready for the Passover.
Then later that evening, while [Jesus] was reclining at the tableeating with the 12 disciples, he said to them:
‘I tell you the truth; one of you will betray me.’
Well, they were all deeply saddened by this, and they each asked him:
‘Lord, it isn’t me, is it?’
Then he said:
‘One that has dipped his hand into this bowl with me will betray me.
‘It’s a fact that the Son of Man must leave… just as it was written about him.
But woe to the one through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him had he never been born!’
Then Judas (the one that was about to betray him) asked:
‘That isn’t what I am, is it Rabbi?’
And [Jesus] replied:
‘You said it yourself.’
Well thereafter, as they were eating, Jesus took a loaf, and after giving thanks, he broke it and distributed it among the disciples and said:
‘Take some of this and eat it, because this is my body.’
He also took a cup [of wine], and after giving thanks, he passed it among them and said:
‘All of you should drink from this;for indeed, this is my blood of the Sacred Agreement with the many, which is being poured out for the forgiveness of their sins.
‘However, I’m telling you now that I definitely won’t be drinking the product of the vine anymore until the day that I drink it with you as it has never been drunk before, in the Kingdom of my Father.’
And finally, after singing songs of praise, they walked out to the Mount of Olives.
[It was there that] Jesus said to them:
‘All of you will be stumbled [by what will happen to] me tonight, because it’s written:
When the shepherd is struck, the sheep will be scattered.
But after I wake up, I will go ahead of you into GaliLee.’
However, Peter said to him:
‘Though the others may be trapped, I’ll never stumble!’
And Jesus said:
‘I tell you the truth; before a rooster crows tonight, you’ll have denied knowing me three times.’
Yet, Peter just kept on talking. He said:
‘Even if I have to die with you, I’ll never deny knowing you!’
And all the other disciples were saying the same thing.
Then Jesus took his disciples to the spot called GethSemane (the Oil Press), and he said to them:
‘Now, sit here while I go over there to pray.’
Well, he took Peter and the two sons of ZebediOu with him… and then he became very sad and deeply disturbed,and he said to them:
‘My soul has been saddened to the point of death; so, please wait here and stay awake with me.’
Then, going a little way forward, he fell to his face and started praying, saying:
‘My Father; if it’s possible, let this cup pass from me. However, not my will, but Yours.’
However, when he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping.
So he asked Peter:
‘Aren’t you strong enough to stay awake with me for just one hour?You should stay awake and pray that you won’t be put to the test! But indeed… though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.’
So he went off and prayed a second time, saying:
‘My Father; if this can’t pass and I have to drink it, may Your Will be done.’
And when he got back, he found them sleeping again, because their eyes were heavy.
So then he left them and went to pray a third time, and he said the same things once more.And when he got back to his disciples, he said to them:
‘Here you are resting and sleeping… and look!
The time has arrived when the Son of Man will be handed over to sinners.
Get up… let’s go! Look! Here comes my betrayer!’
And while he was still speaking, {Look!} Judas (one of the 12) arrived with a large mob of Priests and elders, each of whom was carrying a sword or a club!
Now, the betrayer had given them a sign to watch for.
He said:
‘Whomever I kiss is the one… grab him!’
And going straight up to Jesus, [Judas] greeted him with the words,
‘Rejoice, Rabbi!’ as he tenderly kissed him.
But Jesus said to him:
‘Man, just why are you here?’
Then [some of the mob] came up and grabbed Jesus, and they tied him up.
However, {Look!} one of those that was with Jesus reached down and unsheathed his sword, and he struck the Chief Priest’s slave, taking off his ear.
But then Jesus said to him:
‘Put your sword away; for all who take up the sword will perish by the sword!
‘Don’t you realize that I can ask my Father to immediately send more than 12 battalions of angels?
But if [I did] that, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?’
Then Jesus spoke to the mob and said:
‘Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like some robber? I used to sit and teach in the Temple every day, and you didn’t choose to grab me then!
However, all of this has happened so that the writings of the Prophets can be fulfilled.’
Well at that, all the disciples ran away and left him.
So then, those that had arrested Jesus carried him off to [the house of] CaiAphas the High Priest, where the Scribes and the elders had already assembled.
Meanwhile, Peter followed the group some distance behind all the way to the courtyard of the High Priest.
Then he went inside and sat among the building supervisory staff, to see what would happen.
At the time, the Chief Priests and those of the Judean High Court had been trying to find [someone who would] lie about Jesus, so they could condemn him [to death].
However, of all those that came forward, none were willing to perjure themselves.
Yet later on, two did come forward that said:
‘This man told us that he could tear down the temple sanctuary of The God and rebuild it in just three days.’
And after they heard that, the High Priest stood up and asked Jesus:
‘Don’t you have a reply?
What are these people accusing you of?’
However, Jesus just remained silent.
So the High Priest said to him:
‘By the living God; I put you under oath to tell us whether you’re the Anointed One… the Son of The God!’
And Jesus replied:
‘You’re saying it yourself!
Now, let me tell you something; from this point on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at [His] powerful right hand and coming on the clouds in the sky!’
Well at that, the High Priest ripped his clothes and he shouted:
‘He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses?
See… now you’ve actually heard the blasphemy!
Therefore, what is your opinion?’
And everyone shouted:
‘Hold him for death!’
Then after that, some of them started spitting in his face and hitting him with their fists, as others were slapping himand saying:
‘Prophesy to us, O Anointed One… which of us hit you?’
Meanwhile, as Peter was still sitting outside in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said:
‘You were also with this Jesus the Galilean!’
However, he denied it in front of everyone, and said:
‘I don’t know what she’s talking about!’
Then as he [was walking out toward] the gatehouse, another girl noticed him and said to everyone there:
‘This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!’
And once again he denied it with an oath, saying:
‘I never knew the man!’
But then all those that were standing around came up and said to him:
‘Sure, you’re one of them! Why, your accent gives you away!’
So Peter started cursing at them and swore:
‘I don’t know the man!’
And immediately, a rooster crowed.
It was then that Peter remembered Jesus’ words:
‘Before a rooster crows you will have denied that you know me three times.’
So he went outside and cried bitterly.
Then the next morning, all the Chief Priests and peoples’ elders held a meeting to discuss ways to have Jesus put to death.
So they bound him and took him to be handed over to Governor Pilate.
It was then that Judas (who had betrayed [Jesus]) realized that he was condemned.
So, feeling deeply regretful about what he had done, he tried to return the 30 silver [coins] to the Chief Priests and elders,saying:
‘I sinned when I betrayed righteous blood.’
But they replied:
‘What is that to us? It’s your problem!’
So at that, he threw the silver into the Temple and left… and then he went out and hung himself.
Well, the chief priest then [picked up] the silver coins and said:
‘It isn’t legal for us to put these [coins] in the sacred treasury, because they’re the price of blood.’
So after discussing it further, they decided to use them to purchase the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners.
And to this day, that field has been called, ‘The Field of Blood.’
It was then that the words of the Prophet were fulfilled that he would take the 30 pieces of silver (which was the price that was put on a man, as was set by the sons of IsraEl)and use them to pay for the field of the potters, as Jehovah had said.
Next, they brought Jesus and stood him before the governor, who asked him:
‘Are you the king of the Jews?’
And Jesus replied:
‘You’re saying it yourself.’
However, when the Chief Priests and elders were accusing him, he didn’t say anything.
Then Pilate asked:
‘Don’t you hear all the things that they’re saying against you?’
But [Jesus] wouldn’t answer him – he didn’t say a word – and that really got the governor to wondering.
Now, it was the governor’s custom to release whichever prisoner the crowd wanted during these festivals.And at that time, they were holding a particularly notorious criminal called BarAbbas.
So when the people gathered before him, Pilate asked:
‘Which do you want me to release to you, BarAbbas or Jesus… the so-called Anointed One?’
Well, [Pilate] knew that the only reason they had bound [Jesus] over, was because they were jealous of him.
Also, while he was sitting on his judgment seat, [Pilate’s] wife had sent [a message] to him, saying:
‘Don’t have anything to do with that righteous man, because I suffered a lot in a dream today over him.’
However, the Chief Priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for BarAbbas, and to demand to have Jesus destroyed.
So when the governor asked which of the two they wanted released, everyone shouted:
‘BarAbbas!’
And when Pilate asked:
‘Then, what should I do with this Jesus, the so-called Anointed One?’
They all shouted:
‘Hang him up on a pole!’
But he asked:
‘Why? What crime has he committed?’
And they all kept shouting louder and louder:
‘Hang him up on a pole!’
Well, when he saw that he wasn’t doing any good and he was just inciting a riot, Pilate got some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying:
‘I’m innocent of this man’s blood… you take the responsibility for this on yourselves!’
And all the people said:
‘May we and our children be responsible for his blood!’
So he then released BarAbbas to them, and he had Jesus whipped and bound over for impaling.
Thereafter, the governor’s soldiers took Jesus inside the palace and they brought in the whole Battalion.
There they removed [Jesus’] clothes, wrapped a scarlet cape around him,braided a crown of thorns and slipped it over his head, and they put a piece of cane in his right hand.
Then, kneeling down, they made fun of him by shouting the greeting:
‘Rejoice, O you King of the Jews!’
They also spit on him and they took the cane and started hitting him on the head with it.
Finally, after they had tired of their fun, they took off the cape, put his clothes back on, and took him out to be impaled.
Well, as they were leading him out, they found a man from Cyrene [Libya] whose name was Simon, and they made him carry the pole.
Then when they got to the place called GolGotha (Skull Place),they offered [Jesus] some wine mixed with gall to drink.
But after he tasted it, he wouldn’t drink it.
It was after [they had nailed] him on the pole that [the soldiers] then divided his clothes by throwing lots.
And thereafter, they all just sat around and watched him.
They also put a sign over his head that showed the charge against him:
‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.’
Two robbers were also hung on poles beside him… one on his right and the other on his left.
Then those that were passing by started shouting terrible things at [Jesus], shaking their headsand saying:
‘O you who would tear down the Most Holy and rebuild it in three days; save yourself… if you’re a son of The God, come down off the pole!’
That’s the way the Chief Priests, Scribes, and elders also made fun of him.
They were saying:
‘He saved others, but he can’t save himself! If he’s the King of IsraEl, let him come down from the pole and we’ll believe him.
He has put his trust in God, so let [God] rescue him if He wants him. After all, he says, I’m God’s Son.’
In fact, even the robbers that were hung on poles with him started saying cruel things to him.
Then from the 6th to the 9th hours, darkness fell over the whole land.
And at about the 9th hour, Jesus called out in a loud voice:
‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’
That is:
‘My God, my God;why have you abandoned me?’
Well when some of those that were standing around heard this, they thought he was calling for EliJah.And immediately, one of them ran and took a sponge, soaked it in vinegar, then lifted it on a reed to give him something to drink.
But the rest of them said:
‘Leave him alone! Let’s see if EliJah comes to save him!’
Finally, a man took a spear and jabbed it into his side, and blood mixed with water poured out.
Then Jesus cried out loudly and gave up his breath.
And at that, {Look!} the Temple’s [inner] curtain ripped in two from the top to the bottom, as the ground shook and rocks split. and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raisedand came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. [spurious text]
But the army officer and those with him that were watching over Jesus (after they saw the earthquake and the other things that had happened) were really frightened and said:
‘This truly was God’s Son!’
Well during this entire time, many women were standing around and watching from a distance.
These women had traveled with Jesus from GaliLee in order to serve him.
They included Mary from Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of ZebediOu.
Then later that afternoon, a rich man from HariMathea named JoSeph (who was also a disciple of Jesus)went to Pilate and asked for his body.
So Pilate commanded that it should be given to him.
Therefore, JoSeph took the body, wrapped it up in fine clean linen,and laid it in a new tomb that had just been quarried in the bedrock.
And after rolling a large rock against the tomb entrance, he left.
Meanwhile, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary just sat there across from the tomb.
Then the next day (after the Preparation), the Chief Priests and Pharisees gathered and they went before Pilate to say:
‘Lord; We remember that while he was alive, that impostor said,
In three days I will be raised.
Therefore, order the grave to be made secure until the 3rd day, so his disciples don’t go there and steal him, then tell the people that he was raised from the dead.
For that would make this last deceit even worse than the first!’
But Pilate replied:
‘You have watchmen; Go make it as secure as you know how.’
So they went and made the grave secure by sealing the stone and posting guards.
It was after the Sabbath, in the early morning light of the 1st day of the week, that Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
But {Look!} something tumultuous had occurred… Jehovah’s messenger had come down from heaven and rolled away the stone, and there he was sitting on top of it.
He looked like lightning and his clothes were as white as snow…which made the watchmen shake in fear and become as dead men.
Then the messenger said to the women:
‘Don’t be afraid, for I know that you’re looking for Jesus who was impaled.
He isn’t here, because he was raised, just as he said [would happen].
Come and see the place where he was lying,then hurry and tell his disciples that he was raised from the dead.
Why look… he has gone ahead of you into GaliLee!
Look! You’ll see him there, just as I said.’
So they quickly left the tomb (both in fear and great joy), and they ran to report [what they had seen] to his disciples.
However, {Look!} Jesus then [appeared] to them, greeting them with the word:
‘Rejoice!’
So they both went up to him and bowed low at his feet.
And Jesus said:
‘Don’t be afraid! Go and report [what you’ve seen] to my brothers.
[Tell them to] go back to GaliLee… they’ll see me there.’
Meanwhile, as [the women] were on their way back, {Look!} some of the guards had returned to the city to report all that had happened to the Chief Priests.
And after holding a conference and meeting with the elders to ask for advice, they all [bribed] the soldiers with enough silver,and said:
‘Tell the people that his disciples came during the night and stole [his body] while you were sleeping.And if the governor hears about this, don’t worry; we’ll persuade [him] to release you.’
So [the guards] took the silver and did as they were told.
And the story that they made up has been spread among Judeans everywhere down to this day.
However, the 11 disciples then went back to GaliLee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged [to meet] them.
And when they saw him, they all bowed low before him (though there were some that doubted).
Then coming toward them, Jesus spoke and said:
‘All the power in the heavens and on the earth has now been given to me.
So now, go make disciples in all the nations in my name,and teach them to obey all the things that I’ve commanded.
Look… I will be with you every day until the end of the age!’
This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Anointed.
This was written by the Prophet IsaiAh:
‘Look!
I’m sending My messenger ahead
To prepare the road that’s before you.
Listen!
Someone calls out in the desert,
Prepare the way for the Lord;
Straighten out all of his roads!
So, this is why John came… to do baptizing in the desert and to preach a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
And throughout Judea and JeruSalem, people were going there to be baptized by him in the JorDan River, as they openly confessed their sins.
John wore clothes that were made of camel’s hair and he wore a wide leather belt around his waist.
His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey,and this is what he preached:
‘Someone greater is coming behind me
Whose sandals I’m unworthy to bend and untie.
And while I baptize in water,
He will baptize you in [God’s] Holy Breath.’
Well back then, Jesus came from Nazareth of GaliLee to be baptized in the JorDan by John also.
And immediately after coming up out of the water, [John] saw the sky split open and the Breath [of God] descending upon [Jesus in the form of] a dove.
Then a voice came from the sky that said:
‘You’re My Son that I love and with whom I’m well pleased.’
Then [God’s] Breath immediately forced [Jesus] into the desert,where he spent 40 days among the wild animals, as he was being tempted by the Opposer.
However, the messengers [of God] [thereafter came and] served him.
Well, it was after John had been arrested that Jesus went into GaliLee and started preaching the good news of God.
For he was saying:
‘This period has reached its fulfillment
And the Kingdom of God is at hand.
So, believe the good news and repent!’
Then, as he was walking along by the Sea of GaliLee, [Jesus] noticed Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets on the sea (because they were fishermen).
So Jesus said to them:
‘Come follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.’
And right away, they released their nets and started following him.
Then as he traveled on a little farther, he saw James the son of ZebediOu and his brother John sitting in their boat mending their nets.
So he called to them, and they immediately left their father ZebediOu and his crew in the boat, and they started following [Jesus].
From there, they all traveled on to CapharNaum, where on the Sabbath, [Jesus] entered their synagogue and started teaching…which amazed everyone, because (unlike the Scribes) he taught with great authority.
Well at the time, there was a man in the synagogue that was under the influence of an unclean spirit, which caused him to shout,
‘What dealings do I have with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come here to destroy me?
I know who you are; you’re The Holy One of God!’
But Jesus scolded [the spirit], saying:
‘Put a muzzle on it and come out of him!’
So the unclean spirit (after throwing the man into convulsions and causing him to yell loudly) came out.
This shocked the people, and they started asking each other:
‘What is this, some new teaching? For he has the power to give orders to unclean spirits and they obey him!’
So after that, the story about him was spread throughout all the country around GaliLee.
Well from there, [Jesus] left the synagogue along with James and John, and they went directly to the home of Simon and Andrew,where they found Simon’s (Peter’s) mother-in-law lying down and burning up with a fever, which they immediately pointed out to [Jesus].
So he took her by the hand to help her up, then the fever left her and she started serving them.
Well that evening, after sunset, people started bringing all those that were ill and the demon-possessed to him…
Virtually the whole city had gathered at their door!So he cured their various illnesses and expelled many demons.
However, he wouldn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew that he was the Anointed One.
Then early the next morning, while it was still dark, he got up and went outside to a remote place where he started praying.
However, Simon (and those that were with him) searchedfor him, and when they found him they said:
‘Everyone has been looking for you!’
But he said to them:
‘Let’s go into the nearby villages, so I can preach there also. For, that’s why I came outside.’
And [after that], he traveled throughout all of GaliLee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
It was while he was there that a leper came to him, who got down on his knees and said:
‘If you just want to, you can make me clean!’
And moved with pity, [Jesus] stuck out his hand and touched him, saying:
‘I want to… be clean.’
Then the leprosy immediately left him and he became clean.
But [Jesus] sent him away and gave him strict ordersnot to tell anyone what he had done.
He just told him to go and show himself to the Priests and to bring along the offering of cleansing that was specified by Moses, as a witness to them.
However, after the man left, he started telling everyone and spreading the word around, so that Jesus wasn’t able to enter the cities openly and he had to camp out in lonely places…
Yet [the people] still kept coming to him from all directions.
Well after several days, [Jesus] returned to CapharNaum, and when word got out that he was back home,so many people came to him that there wasn’t any room around the door.
Then he started preaching the word to them.
Thereafter, 4 people came to him carrying a man that was paralyzed.But because the crowd was so large, they couldn’t get him to [Jesus].
So they dug an opening through the part of the roof where [Jesus] was standing, and lowered down the cot on which the [man] was lying.
Then when Jesus saw how much faith they had shown, he said to the paralyzed man:
‘Child, your sins are forgiven.’
Well, when they heard him say that, some of the Scribes that were sitting there started reasoning in their hearts:
‘Why is he talking in such a way, for this is blasphemy!
Who is able to forgive sins other than the one God?’
And through the spirit, Jesus immediately realized that they were reasoning in this way inside themselves, so he asked them:
‘Why are [such bad] thoughts entering your hearts?
Which is easier; to tell the paralyzed man
Your sins are forgiven,
or,
Get up, pick up your cot, and walk?
Well, so that you men will know that the Son of Man has been authorized to forgive sins on the earth,’[he then said to the man],
‘Get up, pick up your cot, and go home.’
And immediately, the man got right up, picked up his cot, and walked out in front of everyone.
Well, all those that were there were beside themselves and they started glorifying God, saying:
‘We’ve never seen anything like this!’
Then later, he went outside to the seashore, where huge crowds came to him and he taught them.
It was as he was passing the tax office that he noticed Levi the son of AlphaEus, sitting there.
So [he] said to him:
‘Follow me’…
and [Levi] got right up and went with him.
Then later [that day], as Jesus was reclining at the table in [Levi’s] home, several tax collectors and sinners started coming and reclining with him and his disciples (many of whom became Jesus’ followers).
But when the Scribes and Pharisees saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples:
‘Why is he eating with the tax collectors and sinners?’
And because Jesus overheard this, he said:
‘Those that are well don’t need a doctor, only the ill do.
So I didn’t come to call the righteous, just the sinners.’
Well, back then, John’s disciples (who practiced fasting, as did the Pharisees) came to [Jesus] and asked,
‘Why is it that while the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, your disciples don’t fast?’
And Jesus replied:
‘The sons of the bride chamber can’t fast while the bridegroom is among them, because as long as he’s with them, there’s [no reason to] fast.
But the days are coming when the groom will be taken away… and then they will fast.
‘Understand that no one sews patches of new cloth onto old clothes, for if they do, the new [cloth] will shrink and stretch the old cloth, which will make the tear worse.
Also, if you put young wine into old wineskins, the [new] wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the skins will be lost.
So it’s best for people to use new wineskins for new wine.’
Then on another day, as [Jesus] was walking through the grain fields on the Sabbath, his disciples started plucking heads of grain [to eat] as they were traveling along.
And the Pharisees asked him:
‘{Look!} Why are they doing something that’s illegal on the Sabbath?’
But he replied:
‘Haven’t you ever read what David did when he was in need and he and the men that were with him got hungry (in the account about AbiAthar, the High Priest)…
How he entered the House of God and ate the Presentation Bread, which isn’t legal for anyone to eat other than the Priests, and how he also gave some of it to the men that were with him?’
Then [Jesus] said this:
‘The Sabbath came into existence for the sake of mankind, not mankind for the Sabbath.
But you should also know that the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath.’
On another occasion, he entered a synagogue where there happened to be a man with a withered hand…
And [the Pharisees] were watching [Jesus] closely to see if he would cure him on the Sabbath, because they were trying to find something that they could accuse him of doing wrong.
However, [Jesus] said to the man with the withered hand:
‘Get up and come into the center [of the room].’
Then he asked everyone there:
‘Is it legal to do something good or bad, or to save a life or destroy it on the Sabbath?’
But no one would answer.
Then after looking around at them angrily (because he was saddened by the dullness of their hearts), he said to the man:
‘Now, stretch out your hand.’
So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
Well, right away the Pharisees went outside and met with the followers of Herod and they started talking about ways to destroy him.
Meanwhile, Jesus and his disciples got up and walked out to the sea, followed by a huge crowd that had come from all around GaliLee and Judea.
For people were coming to him from as far away as JeruSalem,Idumea, the other side of the JorDan, and the area around Tyre and Sidon…
Huge numbers came to him when they heard of the things that he was doing.
Well, to keep the crowds at bay, [Jesus] had instructed his disciples to always have a little boat available for him.For because he cured so many that had terrible diseases, people were literally falling on him just to touch him.
And when unclean spirits saw him, they would bow low before him and shout:
‘You’re the Son of The God!’
However, he scolded them and warned them not to expose him.
Then [Jesus] walked up a mountain, where he called for those whom he’d chosen,and he formed a [special] group from these 12 that he started calling Apostles (Sent Ones), that were to stay with him.
Thereafter, he also sent them out to preach,and he gave them the power to cast out demons.
The names of those in the group of 12 that he formed were Simon (Peter),
James (the son of ZebediOu) and his brother John (he called them BoanErges, which means Sons of Thunder),
Andrew, Philip, BarTholomew ([NathaniEl]), Matthew, Thomas, James (the son of AlphaEus), ThadDaeus (Judas), Simon the CanaNaean,
and Judas IsCariot (who later betrayed him).
Well, whenever he went into a house after that,so many people would show up that they couldn’t even eat a meal.
And when [Jesus’] relatives heard what was happening, they tried to take him away, because they said that he’d lost his mind.
There were also some scribes that had come down from JeruSalem that were telling people he was [under the influence of] BeElZebub, and that he was using the ruler of the demons to cast out the demons.
So he called [the scribes] to him and he reasoned with them using [these] parables:
‘How can the Opposer throw out the Opposer?
For a kingdom divided cannot stand.
Nor can a house that’s divided.
So, if the Opposer is divided,
He cannot stand and he’s reaching his end.
‘Also, no one can enter a mighty man’s house
And rob him of all his things
Unless he first ties him up…
Only then can he loot his house.
‘So I tell you this as the truth:
Sons of men can be forgiven for all,
No matter what sins that they might commit
Or whatever blasphemies they speak.
But whoever blasphemes [God’s] Holy Breath
Will not be forgiven through the age,
And it remains a sin through the ages.’
Of course, [Jesus] was saying this to them because they had accused him of having an unclean spirit.
Meanwhile, [Jesus’] mother and brothers had arrived and were standing outside, so they asked [someone] to call for him,because there was a crowd sitting around him at the time.
Therefore, someone went up to him and said:
‘Look! Your mother and brothers are outside and they’re looking for you!’
But he said to them all:
‘Just who are my mother and brothers?’
Then he looked at those that were sitting around him in a circle and said:
‘Look… my mother and brothers!
For, all that do the will of our God
Are truly my brothers, sisters, and mother.’
Well on another occasion, as he was teaching by the seashore, such a huge crowd came to him there that he had to step into a boat and sit out on the sea, as the crowd stood on the shore.
Then he taught them many things through parables, saying:
‘Now, pay close attention!
{Look!} A farmer went out to do planting.
And as he was scattering seeds,
A few fell alongside the road,
Which were thereafter eaten by birds.
‘Other seeds fell among rocks,
And they sprouted where there wasn’t much ground.
But because there was too little soil;
When the sun arose, they were scorched…
They withered, because they didn’t have roots.
‘Other seeds fell among briers,
Which grew and choked out those seeds,
So they couldn’t produce any fruit.
But others fell upon good soil,
Where they flourished and grew, producing much fruit,
Some 30, some 60, or 100 times more.’
Then he added:
‘Let those that have ears pay attention!’
Well later, the 12 (as well as the rest that were around him) asked [Jesus] what the parable meant.And he told them this:
‘The mystery of the Kingdom of God has just been given to you; for those on the outside only hear the stories.
So when they can look, they can’t see, and when they hear, they don’t really listen and understand, so they can ever turn back and be forgiven.
‘However, if you don’t understand the meanings of these parables, how will you be able to understand all the rest?
‘The one that is scattering the seeds is planting the word,and where it falls beside the road, the Opposer immediately comes and snatches away all that was dropped there.
‘The same is true of those that fall among the rocks; these are the ones that joyfully accept the word as soon as they hear it,but because they don’t have roots, they only last a little while.
For when some difficulty or persecution comes along over the word, they are stumbled.
‘Likewise, those that are planted among the thorns are the ones that hear the word,but let it get choked out by the concerns of this life, the allure of wealth, and desires for other things, so they become unfruitful.
‘However, those that are planted on the fine soil are the ones that listen to the word and accept it…
Then they bear fruit 30, 60, and 100 times more.’
So Jesus went on to tell them this:
‘You don’t put a lamp under a basket,
Nor do you put it under a bed…
You it put on a table, instead.
So there is no secret that won’t be made known,
Or anything hidden that will not be shown…
Let those that have ears pay attention!’
He continued:
‘Pay attention to the things that I’m saying!
Whatever amount that you measure for others
Is the amount that you will receive…
And more will be added to that.
For those that have will be given more,
While all will be taken from those that don’t have.’
Then he went on to say:
‘The Kingdom of God is much like a man
Who scatters his seeds on the ground,
And goes to sleep through the night.
Then, when he wakes up the next morning,
He finds that the seeds have sprouted and grown,
And he doesn’t really know how it happened!
‘For the ground produces fruit by itself…
First the blades, then the stalks,
And finally, the full heads of grain.
Then as soon as it has all ripened,
The man arrives with his sickle…
For the time to harvest has arrived.’
And he asked:
‘To what [else] can the Kingdom of God be compared…
What parables can we use to describe it?
It’s much like the small mustard seed,
Which, before it’s planted under the ground
Is one of the smallest seeds on the earth.
Yet, after it’s planted, it grows
To be larger than all vegetation…
It grows branches that can be so great
That birds in the skies can dwell in its shadow.’
Yes, this is the way he taught the word to them, speaking in parables for as long as they were able to pay attention.
It’s a fact that if he wasn’t speaking in parables, he wasn’t talking to them.
However, when they were all alone, he thereafter explained everything to his disciples.
Well, later that evening, he said to them:
‘Now, let’s cross over to the other shore.’
So after they dismissed the crowd, they left in the same boat that he had been teaching from (along with some other boats that came with them).
However, a gale-force wind then arose and waves were pouring into the boats until it was nearly full [spurious words];but meanwhile, [Jesus] was peacefully sleeping on a pillow in the stern.
So they woke him up and said:
‘Teacher, aren’t you worried that we’re about to die?’
So he got up and scolded the wind, then he said to the sea:
‘Be quiet! Hush!’
And at that, the wind died down and a great calm set in.
And he asked them:
‘Why are you so cowardly? Don’t you have any faith?’
Well, this really frightened them and they started asking each other:
‘Who really is this? For even the wind and the sea obeys him!’
Then when they got to the other side of the sea to the country of the Garasenes,[Jesus] got out of the boat and was immediately confronted by a man with an unclean spirit, who had come from the tombs.
For he lived among the tombs and no one had been able to restrain him, even with chains.
In fact, he had often been bound with leg irons and chains, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons, for nothing was strong enough to hold him.
So all day and all night long he would go yelling crazily amid the tombs and in the mountains, while he beat on himself with rocks.
Then when he saw Jesus coming in the distance, he ran up to him and bowed low,screaming:
‘What dealings do I have with you, Jesus, the Son of the Most High God?
I put you under oath by God not to torment me!’
[He said this] because [Jesus] had told the unclean spirit to come out of the man.
Then [Jesus] asked [the spirit],
‘What is your name?’
And it replied,
‘My name is Legion, because there are many of us!’
And [the spirits] repeatedly begged [Jesus] not to drive them out of those fields.
Well at the time, there was a large group of pigs feeding on the mountain.So [the demons] begged Jesus to send them into the pigs,and he gave them permission.
So the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, then they all ran down a steep drop-off and fell into the sea, drowning about 2,000 of them.
Well thereafter, the herdsmen ran off and reported this to the people in the cities and the fields roundabout, and then all the people went there to see [what had happened].
And when they got to Jesus, they could see that the man that had once been possessed by the legion [of demons] was just sitting there wearing clothes and in his right mind… and this frightened them.
Then after [the herdsmen] that had been there explained all that had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs,the people begged [Jesus] to leave their district.
Well, as [Jesus] got back into the boat, the man that was once demonized started begging to let him come with them.
However, [Jesus] wouldn’t allow this, for he said:
‘Go back to your home and family and tell them all the things that Jehovah has done for you, and about the great mercy He has shown to you.’
So [the man] went back to the DecaPolis and started telling everyone about what Jesus had done for him, which amazed all the people.
Well, after they had crossed back to the other side [of the sea] in the boat, a huge crowd started to gather as Jesus arrived.
Then one of the [local] synagogue’s head people (a man named JaiRus) came and fell at his feet,and he kept begging [Jesus], saying:
‘My little daughter is [about to breathe her] last.
Please come and lay your hands on her so she can recover and live!’
So [Jesus] went off with him, and a huge number followed along, all crowded against him.
Among [these people] was a woman that had [endured] a blood flow for some 12 years…she’d suffered a lot at the hands of the healers, and she’d spent everything she had to no avail (she only got worse).
So when she heard about Jesus, she came up behind [him] in the crowd and touched his clothes;for she kept saying:
‘If I can just touch his clothes I’ll be saved [from this condition].’
And right away, her fountain of blood dried up and she knew in her body that she had been healed of this plague.
However Jesus also recognized in himself that some power had left him when this happened.
So he turned around in the crowd and asked:
‘Who touched my clothes?’
And his disciples replied:
‘You see all these people crowded around you and you ask, Who touched me?’
But he kept on looking around to see who did this.
Then the woman (who was frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her) came and fell down before him and told him the truth.
And he said to her:
‘Daughter; Your faith has saved you! Go in peace… and may this be the last of the plague.’
Meanwhile, as he was still speaking, a messenger came from the home of the synagogue chief, who told him:
‘Your daughter has died, so don’t bother the teacher.’
But when Jesus overheard this, he told the chief of the synagogue:
‘Don’t be afraid, just have faith.’
Well [when he reached the home], he didn’t allow anyone to go with him other than Peter, James, and John (James’ brother).
And when he got inside the synagogue-chief’s house and saw all the confusion, crying, and wailing,he asked:
‘Why are you creating such an uproar and crying?
The little girl isn’t dead, she’s just sleeping!’
Well at that, they all started laughing at him.
But after he ushered them outside, he took the father, mother, and those that were with him into [the room] where the child was.
Then he took [the little girl] by the hand and said:
‘Talitha; Cumi!’ (which translates as, ‘Little girl; Wake up!’).
And the 12-year-old girl got up right away and started walking around.
Well, [the parents] were beside themselves [with joy].
Then he told them to give her something to eat, and he repeatedly ordered them not to tell anyone what had really happened.
Thereafter, he left that place and traveled with his disciples to the town where he had been raised.
And when the Sabbath arrived, he went into their synagogue and started teaching.
Well, most of those that heard him were shocked, and asked:
‘Where did he get all these things? Why has such wisdom been given to this man, and why are such powerful deeds being performed through his hands?
For isn’t this the carpenter – the son of Mary and the brother of James, JoSeph, Judas, and Simon – and aren’t his sisters here among us?’
So they were stumbled over him.
And Jesus told them:
‘A Prophet doesn’t go without honor anywhere other than in his own home, among his relatives, and in the area where he was raised.’
And because of this, he wasn’t able to do any powerful deeds there, other than to lay his hands on a few [sick ones], whom he cured.
For he was amazed by their lack of faith.
Well from there, he traveled around to the local villages in a circuit, teaching.
Then he called the 12 and started sending them out by twos, and he gave them power over the unclean spirits.
He ordered them not to carry anything with them other than a walking stick… no bread and no food pouch or copper money in their sashes.And he told them not to tie on their sandals or to [carry extra] underclothes.
For he said:
‘Wherever you enter a house, stay in that place until you get ready to leave.
But in those places where they don’t invite you in or listen to you; shake the dirt off your feet as you leave, as a witness against them.’ Truly I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgement, than for that city. [spurious words, copied from Matthew 10:15]
So they all went out and preached, calling for people to repent,as they were casting out many demons and greasing sick people with oil to cure them.
Meanwhile, King Herod had heard about how famous [Jesus] was becoming.
For some people were saying,
‘John, the man that did the baptizing, has been raised from the dead, and now there are great powers working through him.’
However, others were saying that he was EliJah, and some were saying that he was a Prophet like one of the Prophets [of old].
But after he had listened to all of this, Herod concluded:
‘The John whom I beheaded has been raised!’
For it was Herod himself that had John arrested and locked in prison over the matter of his taking Herodias (his brother’s woman),since John kept telling Herod that he had broken the Law by taking her.
And this is why Herodias hated him and wanted him killed… however [until then], she’d been unable to do so.
Herod was actually afraid of John, because he knew that he was a righteous and holy man; and as the result, he kept him safely [locked away].
For after he had listened to him for a while, Herod was at a loss as to what to do with him; so, he gladly just kept on listening to him.
However, there came a day that turned out to be convenient for Herod… it was when he was holding a banquet to celebrate his birthday, to which he had invited several high-ranking men, military commanders, and the foremost people of GaliLee.
And there the daughter of Herod and Herodias came in and danced before them, which pleased Herod and those at the table so much that the king said to the little girl:
‘Ask for whatever you wish and I’ll give it to you.’
Yes, he swore to her:
‘Whatever you ask of me I’ll give you, up to half of my kingdom!’
So she went out and asked her mother,
‘What should I ask for?’
And [her mother] replied,
‘Ask for the head of John, the one that does the baptizing.’
So she ran back to the king and said,
‘I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter… right now.’
And though this deeply disturbed the king, he didn’t want to ignore her because of the oaths and because of those that were reclining at the table.
So the king immediately sent his bodyguard and commanded him to bring back [John’s] head.
And that’s when [the guard] went off and beheaded John in prison,after which he brought in his head on a platter and gave it to the young girl, who gave it to her mother.
Well when [John’s] disciples heard about this, they came and took his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
Meanwhile, all of the Apostles had assembled with Jesus, and they were reporting to him about everything that they’d been teaching and doing.
So he told them:
‘I want you to come with me to a private place where you can rest up for a while.’
Of course, he said this because there were always so many people coming and going that they didn’t have enough free time to even eat a meal.
So they all traveled by boat to a remote place where they thought they could be by themselves.
However, some people noticed them leaving and they started telling many others, who all ran from the cities on foot and got ahead of them.
So when [Jesus and his Apostles] got out of the boat, they saw an enormous crowd.
Yet, he felt sorry for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and so he started teaching them many things.
Well, it was getting quite late, so the disciples came up to Jesus and said:
‘This is a very remote place and it’s getting late,so we should send the people off into the countryside and villages around here so that they can buy some food for themselves.’
But [Jesus] said to them:
‘Why don’t you give them something to eat?’
And they said:
‘Well, that would take almost 8 months of a man’s wages!
Are we to go and spend that much on bread just to feed them?’
Then [Jesus] asked them:
‘How many loaves do you have? Go see!’
And after checking, they said:
‘5, plus 2 fish.’
So he told all the people to lie down on the green grass in rows,and they reclined in rows of 50s and 100s.
Then [Jesus] took the 5 loaves [of bread] and 2 fish, and he looked up toward the heavens and spoke a blessing, then he broke up the bread and divided the 2 fish and started giving it to the disciples so they could set it in front of the people…
And thereafter, everyone ate until they were full.
Well, when they went to pick up the scraps, they found they had 12 baskets full, which didn’t even include the fish!
However, there were about 5,000 men that ate the bread.
Then right after that, [Jesus] instructed his disciples to get into their boat and travel ahead of him toward BethSaida, which was across [the lake] on the opposite shore, and he also dismissed the crowd.
And after excusing himself, he went up the mountain to pray.
But then, later that evening (as the boat was well out to sea and [Jesus] was there by himself on the land),Jesus could see [from a distance] that they were still out there rowing with all their might, since they had a strong headwind blowing against them.
So the next morning (while it was still dark), he walked out toward them on top of the sea… in fact, he started to walk right past them!
Well when they saw him walking on top of the sea, they thought,
‘It’s a vision,’
and they started screaming in fright.For they all saw him and everyone was deeply disturbed.
But right away, he spoke to them and said:
‘Be brave… it’s me! Don’t be afraid.’
Then he got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
However, all of these events left them stunned,because they didn’t really understand the meaning of the bread, since their hearts had been dulled.
Well soon thereafter, they reached land, arriving at GenNesaret, where they docked.
However, as soon as they got out of the boat, some people recognized [Jesus],and they ran [to tell others] throughout all that area.
So, many people came to that place where they’d heard that Jesus was, carrying their ill to him on cots.
And thereafter, wherever he entered any village or city (or fields or markets), they would all bring their sick and beg him just to let them touch the fringes of his clothes.
And all that touched them were healed.
Now, some Pharisees and Scribes had come from JeruSalem and surrounded him,because they had noticed some of his disciples eating bread with unwashed hands.
For none of the Pharisees (or any of the Judeans for that matter) would eat [anything] unless they vigorously washed their hands first, since they followed the traditions of the elders…nor did they eat anything that they brought [home] from the market until after they had carefully rinsed it.
And they observed many other traditions like this that had been passed down, such as soaking their cups, pitchers, and copper pots in water.
So these Pharisees and Scribes asked him:
‘Why don’t your disciples follow the traditions of the elders?
Look, they eat bread without washing their hands first!’
But [Jesus] replied, ‘IsaiAh prophesied well about you hypocrites when he wrote:
With their mouths, these people approach Me,
And with their lips, they offer Me praise.
But because they’re far from Me in their hearts,
They bow before Me in vain,
Since they teach the ideas and instructions of men!
‘You’re really ignoring the Commandments of God with all these traditions of men…yes you zealously push aside the Commandments of God so you can observe your own traditions!
[For example];
Though Moses told you to honor your father and mother and that anyone that says bad things to his father or mother should be put to death,you say that a man should tell his father and mother that everything he owns with which he might help them has already been set aside as a holy gift!So you don’t allow [people] to do anything at all [to help] their parents!
And by these traditions that you’re passing on, you’re nullifying the Word of God… yes, you’re doing so many things like that!’
Then he called the crowd to him again and said to them:
‘I want all of you to pay close attention and be sure that you understand!
There’s nothing on the outside that goes into a man, which can make him unclean. Rather, it’s the things that come out of a man that dirty him.’If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. [spurious words, probably copied from Mark 4:9 and 4:23]
Then, after he left the crowd and went back inside the house, his disciples asked him what he meant by these things that he said.
And he said:
‘Don’t you understand either?
Nothing from the outside that enters a man can make him unclean,for [such things] don’t go into his heart, but into his belly and then into the sewer.
Therefore, everything that you eat is really clean!
Rather, it’s the things that come out of a man that make him unclean.It’s things that come from the inside – from the heart – that bad thoughts come… things such as immorality, thievery, murder,adulteries, selfish desires, wicked actions, deceitfulness, lack of restraint, eyes that are wicked, blasphemy, arrogance, and unreasonableness.
It’s all these wicked things that come from inside of a man that make him unclean.’
And at that, he got up and left.
Well from there, he traveled [north] into the area of Tyre and Sidon, where he entered a house. And though he didn’t want anyone to know where he was, he couldn’t escape being noticed.
So when a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard where he was, she came to him and bowed low at his feet(she was a Greek woman of Syrian-Phoenician extraction). And she kept asking [Jesus] to cast the demon out of her daughter.
But he told her:
‘The children should be satisfied first… it isn’t right to take bread from the children and throw it to the puppies.’
But she replied:
‘Yes Lord; but don’t the puppies under the table eat the crumbs [that fall from] the little children?’
So he said to her:
‘Because you said this, go! The demon has left your daughter.’
Then when she got back home, she found the child lying on her bed, and the demon was gone.
Thereafter, he left the area of Tyre and traveled on through Sidon to the Sea of GaliLee, and then through the middle of the region called the Ten Cities.
There they brought him a man that was deaf and dumb, and they begged [Jesus] to lay his hands on him.
So [Jesus] led him away from the crowd to a private spot, and he put his fingers in the man’s ears. And after that, he spit and touched the man’s tongue.
Then he looked up into the sky and groaned and said:
‘Eph phatha,’ (which means, ‘Be opened’).
Well, the man was thereafter able to hear and the thing that held his tongue was loosened, so he started speaking normally.
However, Jesus commanded those that were there not to tell anyone about this… but the more he commanded them, the more they talked about it.For everyone was amazed beyond belief, and they were saying:
‘He does everything well… he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak!’
Back in those days, there was another huge crowd [listening to him] that had nothing to eat. So [Jesus] called his disciples and said to them:
‘I feel sorry for the crowd, because they’ve stayed here with me for the past three days and now they have nothing to eat.
If I just send them home hungry, they may give out on the road, for some of them have for a fact come a long way.’
But his disciples asked:
‘Where could anyone find enough loaves [of bread] here in this isolated place to satisfy that many people?’
So he asked them:
‘How many loaves do you have?’
And they replied:
‘Seven.’
Then he told the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the 7 loaves, gave thanks, broke them, and handed them to his disciples to serve… and they passed them out to the crowd.
They also had a few little fish. And after offering a blessing over them, Jesus told [the disciples] to serve these also.
Well, everyone ate until they were satisfied, and when the disciples picked up the leftovers, [they filled] 7 provision baskets with them,though [there were] about 4,000 that were fed!
Then after that, he sent the crowd away,and he immediately got into the boat with his disciples and traveled into parts of DalmaNutha.
It was there that the Pharisees came up and started arguing with him, demanding that he give them a sign from heaven (so as to test him).But he breathed a deep sigh and asked them:
‘Why is this people always looking for signs?
I tell you the truth; this people won’t be given a sign!’
And with that, he walked over and got back into the boat, and traveled on to the opposite shore.
Meanwhile, it so happened that [the Apostles] had forgotten to bring along any [bread] for the trip.
Therefore, except for one small loaf, they had nothing to eat in the boat.
And as the result, when [Jesus] started warning them saying,
‘Keep your eyes open and watch out for the fermentation of the Pharisees and the fermentation of Herod,’they started quarreling with each other over the fact that they didn’t have any bread.
And when [Jesus] recognized this, he asked them:
‘Why are you arguing about not having any bread… don’t you understand yet and don’t you get the meaning… are your hearts so dull when it comes to understanding?
You have eyes; Can’t you see?
You have ears; Can’t you hear?
Do you remember whenI broke 5 loaves [to feed] 5,000, and how many baskets full of leftovers were you able to pick up?’
And they replied:
‘Yes, 12.’
‘And when I broke the 7 loaves [to serve] 4,000 men; [do you remember] how many provision baskets full of leftovers you picked up then?’
And they said:
‘Seven.’
So he asked them:
‘Don’t you understand all of this yet?’
Well from there, they traveled on to BethSaida, where the people brought him a man that was blind, and they begged [Jesus] to just touch him.
So he took the blind man by the hand and led him outside of the village, then he spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him and asked:
‘Do you see anything yet?’
And the man looked up and said:
‘Yes, I see men… they look a little like trees, but they’re walking around.’
So [Jesus] laid his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, and after that, the man started seeing better.
And before long, [his eyesight] was completely restored and he was able to see everything clearly.
So [Jesus] sent him home with the warning:
‘Don’t go back into that village.’
Well from there, Jesus and his disciples traveled on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi.
And as they were on the way, he asked his disciples:
‘Who are the people saying that I am?’
And they replied:
‘[Some say you’re] John the Baptist, others say you’re EliJah, and yet others say you’re one of the Prophets.’
Then he asked:
‘But whom are you saying that I am?’
And Peter answered:
‘You’re the Anointed One.’
Then he ordered them not to say this to anyone.
And that’s when he started teaching them that the Son of Man would have to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, Chief Priests, and Scribes, and then be killed… but after three days, he would arise.
Yes, he told them plainly [what was about to happen to him]. But at that, Peter took him aside and started scolding him.
Then [Jesus] turned and looked at his disciples, and he started scolding Peter, saying:
‘Get behind me opposer, because you aren’t thinking God’s thoughts, but those of men!’
Well after that, he called the crowd and his disciples to him and he said this:
‘If any of you wish to be my disciples, [you’ll have to] deny your own desires, then pick up your impaling poles and keep on following me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever is willing to lose his life for my sake and for the [sake of the] good news, will save it.
‘What good would it do for a man to gain the whole world and still lose his life…and what would a man give in exchange for his life?
Well, if anyone is ashamed of me and my words before this adulterous and sinful people; the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he arrives in the glory of his Father with his holy messengers.’
Then he went on to say this to them:
‘I tell you the truth; some of you that are standing here won’t taste death before you see the Kingdom of God coming in power.’
And just 6 days later, Jesus took just Peter, James, and John along to a private spot on a high mountain, where he changed form in front of them.For his clothes started to glow much whiter than anyone on earth that washes and bleaches clothes could whiten them…and then EliJah and Moses appeared and started talking to Jesus.
Well in reaction, Peter said to Jesus:
‘Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here. So, let us erect three temporary structures… one for you, one for Moses, and one for EliJah.’
However, he really didn’t know what he was saying, because they were all so frightened.
Then right away, a cloud formed that covered them all, and a voice came from the cloud that said:
‘This is My Beloved Son; Listen to him!’
And when they looked around, they suddenly saw just Jesus standing by himself.
Well, as they were coming back down the mountain, [Jesus] ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had been resurrected from the dead.
So they took these words to heart.
However, shortly thereafter, they started talking among themselves about what [Jesus meant] when he spoke of being resurrected from the dead.
Then later, they asked him:
‘Why do the Scribes say that EliJah must come first?’
And [Jesus] replied:
‘EliJah does indeed come first and he restores everything.
But, why do you suppose it was written about the Son of Man that he will be tried, suffer greatly, and be treated as a no-account?
I tell you this: EliJah has in fact already come and they did whatever they wanted to him, just as it was written about him.’
Then when they got back to the rest of the disciples, they found that a large crowd had gathered around them, and there were some Scribes that were arguing with them.
But when the crowd saw [Jesus], they were all stunned and everyone ran up to him and started greeting him.
So he asked [the disciples]:
‘What have you been arguing about?’
And someone in the crowd replied:
‘Teacher, I was bringing my son to you, because he has a spirit that won’t allow him talk.
And whenever it takes control of him, it throws him on the ground, he foams [at the mouth] and grinds his teeth, and then he just goes limp.
I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn’t do it.’
And Jesus said:
‘O you faithless people; How much longer do I have to be with you? How much longer must I put up with you?
Bring him to me!’
So they brought [the boy] to him, and at the sight [of Jesus], the spirit immediately threw [the child] into convulsions… he fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming [at the mouth].
Then [Jesus] asked the father:
‘How long has this been happening to him?’
And he replied:
‘Ever since he was a child,it has thrown him into the fire and into the water repeatedly, trying to destroy him.
So if you can do anything, [please] feel pity and help him!’
And Jesus replied:
‘You said, If you can! Don’t you know that everything is possible for those that have faith?’
Then the father of the young boy immediately shouted:
‘I do have faith… but help me to have more faith!’
Well at the time, Jesus could see that more people were running toward [them]; so he scolded the unclean spirit and said:
‘I order you to come out of him, you spirit of speechlessness and deafness, and don’t go back into him anymore!’
Then, after shouting and going through several convulsions, [the spirit] came out.
However, [the boy] then looked like he was dead. So most of the crowd started shouting,
‘He’s dead!’
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand erect.
Well after that, [Jesus] went back into the house, and his disciples went in with him.
But they asked him in private why they couldn’t cast it out.And [Jesus] told them:
‘This is the kind that will only come out through prayer.’
Then from there, they traveled on through GaliLee.
But [Jesus] didn’t want anyone to know [where they were going],because he wanted to spend what little time he had left teaching his disciples.
And that’s when he went on to explain to them that he (the Son of Man) was going to be betrayed into the hands of men that would kill him… but after being dead for three days, he would stand again.
Nevertheless, they still couldn’t grasp the meaning of what he was saying, and they were all afraid to ask him any more questions.
Well, they finally got back to CapharNaum (which is where [Jesus was staying]).
And when they got there, he asked them:
‘What were you arguing about along the road?’
However, none of them wanted to answer, because they’d been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
So he sat down and called the 12 over; then he said this to them:
‘Whoever wants to be first must be the last and the servant of the rest.’
Then he took a little boy and stood him in their midst, and he put his arms around him and said:
‘Whoever welcomes anyone like this little boy in my name, also welcomes me. And anyone that welcomes me, is welcoming the One that sent me.’
[Then later], John said to him:
‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he isn’t one of your followers.’
But Jesus told him:
‘Don’t try to stop him, because those that do powerful deeds in my name won’t be too quick to say bad things about me…
For those that aren’t against us are for us.
‘I tell you the truth;
Anyone that gives you so much as a cup of water to drink because you’re walking in the name of the Anointed One… that person will not lose his reward.
But as for anyone that becomes a snare to one of these little believers… it would be better if the type of millstone that’s turned by a burro was hung around his neck and he was cast into the open sea!
‘Therefore, if your hand traps you, cut it off; for it is better to enter life physically handicapped than to have both hands and go into the garbage dump… into the fire that can’t be put out.
Where the worm doesn’t die, and the fire isn’t quenched. [spurious, copied from verse 48]And if your foot is a trap to you, cut it off; for it’s better to enter life lame than to have both feet and end up in the garbage dump.
Where the worm doesn’t die, and the fire isn’t quenched. [spurious, copied from verse 48]Also, if your eye is a trap to you, pluck it out and throw it away; for it is better to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than to have both eyes and be thrown into the garbage dump,(IsaiAh 55:24) where the worms won’t come to an end and the fire is never extinguished.
For you will all be salted with fire in the same way that a sacrifice is [offered with] salt.
And though salt is good; if it loses its salty flavor, how can it be used for seasoning?
So, you should each keep salt in yourselves by staying at peace with each other.’
Well from there, he traveled on to the border of Judea and he crossed the JorDan, where great crowds came [to see] him.
So, as was his custom, he started teaching them.
However, the Pharisees also came there, and to test him they asked him whether it was legal for a man to divorce his woman.
So [Jesus] asked them:
‘What Commandment did Moses give you?’
And they replied:
‘Moses allowed [us to] write out a certificate of dismissal and let her go.’
Then Jesus said:
‘He wrote this commandment for you because you’re so hardhearted.
However, back in the earliest [days] of their creation, [God] made them male and female [and said]:
This is why a man will leave his father and mother,and the two will become one flesh.
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Therefore, what God has put together under the same yoke shouldn’t be separated by any man.’
Well when they got back home again, the disciples asked him about this.And he told them:
‘Whoever divorces his woman and marries another is committing adultery against her.
And if a woman leaves her man and marries another, she is committing adultery.’
Then after that, people started bringing their young children to [Jesus] so that he could just touch them… but the disciples started scolding them.
And when Jesus saw this, he was irritated and said to them:
‘Let the young children come to me… don’t try to stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to people like this.
I tell you the truth; Anyone that doesn’t welcome the Kingdom of God like a young child won’t ever get into it.’
Then he took the children in his arms and started blessing them, laying his hands on them.
Well, as Jesus was leaving, someone ran up and fell to his knees before him and asked:
‘Good Teacher; what must I do to inherit age-long life?’
And he said to him:
‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God.
You know the Commandments: Don’t murder; don’t commit adultery; don’t steal; don’t give false testimony; don’t defraud; honor your father and mother.’
But the man said:
‘Teacher, I’ve kept all of these things since my youth.’
Well, because Jesus saw what the man was on the inside, he felt love for him and he said:
‘Then there’s just one thing that’s missing;
Go and sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in the heavens… then come and be my follower.’
But at that, [the young man] grew very sad and went off grieving, because he owned so many things.
Then Jesus looked around and said this to his disciples:
‘It is a difficult thing for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God!’
And because the disciples were surprised at those words, he added:
‘Children, it will be difficult to enter the Kingdom of God.In fact, it would be easier [to thread a rope] through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God.’
Well when they heard this, they were even more shocked and they asked:
‘Then, who can actually be saved?’
And looking straight at them, Jesus said:
‘With men, this is impossible… but that isn’t true of God, for all things are possible with [Him].’
Then Peter said to him:
‘Look! We’ve left everything to follow you!’
And Jesus told him:
‘I tell you the truth; All those that are willing to leave their homes, or their fields, or their brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, or children for my sake and for the sake of the good newswill get 100 times more houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions [spurious words] along with age-long life in the era that’s coming.
However, many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.’
Well, as they were traveling up to JeruSalem, Jesus started walking out in front of them, which amazed everyone (and it worried his followers).
So he took the 12 aside and told them everything that was about to happen to him, saying:
‘{Look!} We are heading toward JeruSalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the Chief Priests and Scribes, who will then condemn him to death and hand him over to the gentiles.
They in turn will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and finally kill him…
But after three days, he will stand again.’
Then [sometime later], James and John (the two sons of ZebediOu) came up to him and said:
‘Teacher, we want to ask you to do something for us.’
And he asked:
‘What do you want?’
So they said:
‘Allow us to sit, one at your right hand and the other on your left, in your glory.’
But Jesus replied:
‘You don’t know what you’re asking. Can you drink from the same cup that I’ll be drinking and can you be immersed in the same type of baptism with which I’ll be baptized?’
And they replied:
‘We can.’
Then Jesus told them:
‘You will indeed drink from the same cup that I’ll be drinking and be immersed in the baptism with which I will be baptized.
However, sitting at my right or left isn’t mine to give. That belongs to those for whom it has been prepared.’
Well, when the 10 others heard what the [two men] had asked, they became very irritated with James and John.
But Jesus called [them all over] to him and said:
‘You know that those who appear to be ruling the nations act like masters over [their subjects]… and [you know] how the greatest among them like to use their power.
This isn’t the way it should be among you. For whoever wants to become great among you must become your servant,and whoever wants to be first among you must become everyone’s slave.
[Remember that] the Son of Man didn’t come here to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
Well before long, they finally arrived at JeriCho.
Then as [Jesus] was leaving JeriCho (along with his disciples and quite a crowd), there happened to be a man called BarTimaeus (a blind beggar) that was sitting alongside the road.And when he heard that Jesus the Nazarene [was passing], he started shouting,
‘Jesus… son of David… have mercy on me!’
Then when many [in the crowd] told him to be quiet, he started shouting even louder:
‘Son of David… have mercy on me!’
So Jesus stopped and said,
‘Call him over.’
And they called the blind man over and told him:
‘Cheer up and come here, because he’s calling for you!’
Well at that, the man threw off his robe, jumped to his feet, and went over to Jesus.
And Jesus asked him:
‘What do you want me to do for you?’
And the blind man replied:
‘My Teacher; Let me see again!’
Then Jesus said to him:
‘Go on, for your faith has made you well.’
And immediately, he was able to see! So he too started following Jesus.
Now, as they were getting close to JeruSalem (they were near BethPhage and BethAny on the Mount of Olives), he sent two of his disciples aheadand told them:
‘Go into the village across from us, and as soon as you enter you’ll find a colt that is tied, which no man has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
And if anyone asks why you’re doing this, just tell him that the Lord needs it, and he will immediately let you take it.’
So they went and found the colt tied outside of a door on a side street, and they untied it.
Then when some of those that were standing there asked why they were untying the colt,[the disciples] told them what Jesus had said, and they let them take it.
Thereafter, they brought the colt to Jesus, so they put a robe over it and he mounted it.
Then many [of his disciples] started spreading their robes out over the road, while others were laying down palm fronds that they’d cut from trees in the fields.
And those that walked in front of him and behind him started shouting,
‘May [God] save him! Praise the one that comes in the Name of Jehovah!
Praise the Kingdom of our Father David that is about to arrive!
Save him, we pray, from the heights!’
Well from there, [Jesus] rode into JeruSalem. [And when he got there], he went into the Temple and looked around.
But because it was late,he just [went back] to BethAny with the 12.
Then the next morning (as he was leaving BethAny), because he noticed some leaves on a fig tree,and because he was hungry, he went over to see if he could find some [fruit].
But when he got there, he found nothing but just the leaves, because it was [a little early in the year] for figs.
So [Jesus] said to [the tree]:
‘May no one eat fruit from you for the rest of the age’ (and his disciples heard [him say] this).
Well from there, they traveled on into JeruSalem.
Then [Jesus] entered the Temple and started throwing out those that were buying and selling. He also pushed over the moneychanger’s tables and the seats of those that sold doves…and he wouldn’t allow anyone to carry things through the Temple.
He kept instructing them and saying,
‘Though it is written, My house will be called a House of Prayer for all nations; you’ve turned it into a den of thieves!’
And when the Chief Priests and Scribes heard about this, they started looking for ways to destroy him.
However, they were afraid of him, because his teaching always amazed the crowds.
Then (since it was late), they left the city.
And as they were returning early the [next] morning, [the disciples] noticed that the fig tree had become all withered up from its roots.
So, because he remembered what Jesus had said to it, Peter pointed this out and said to him:
‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered!’
And Jesus said:
‘You must have faith in God.For I tell you the truth; If you would say to this mountain, Rise and be thrown into the sea… and if you did it without any doubts in your heart but had total faith; whatever you say will happen, will in fact happen.
This is why I’ve told you that if you believe that you will receive anything you ask for in prayer, you will receive it.
However, as you stand there praying, you must [also remember to] forgive anything that others may have done to you, so that your Father in the heavens will forgive your errors.’But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven won’t forgive your sins. [spurious, copied from Matthew 6:15]
Well, after they got back to JeruSalem and as Jesus was walking around in the Temple, the Chief Priests, Scribes, and elders all came up to himand asked:
‘Who told you that you could do these things… who gave you the authority?’
And Jesus replied:
‘I’m going to ask you a question, and if you answer me, I’ll tell you where I got the authority to do these things.
Did John’s baptism come from heaven or from men? Tell me!’
So they started reasoning among themselves and saying,
‘If we say it was from heaven, he’ll ask: Then why didn’t you believe him?But if we say it was from men…’
Therefore, they didn’t answer him because they were afraid of the crowds, for [the people] believed that John was a Prophet.
So they told Jesus: ‘We don’t know.’
And Jesus said:
‘Then I’m not going to tell you where I got the authority to do these things.’
Well after that, Jesus used this parable to teach them.
He said:
‘There was once a man that planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a vat for a wine press, built a lookout tower [to protect it], and then he rented it out to some tenant farmers before he traveled abroad.
Then when the [harvest] season arrived, he sent a slave to the farmers to get some of the vineyard’s fruit.
However, they grabbed [the slave], beat him up, and sent him away with nothing.
So then he sent another slave to them. This one they hit on the head and treated dishonorably.
Then he sent another, whom they killed… and [he sent] many others, some of whom they flayed with whips and others whom they murdered.
‘Well, [the master] had one last [person that he could send], a dearly-loved son.
So he sent his son to them, saying,
Surely they’ll respect him!
‘But those farmers said to each other:
This is the heir! Let’s kill him, and then his [land] will be ours!
So they grabbed him and killed him, then they threw [his body] outside of the vineyard.
‘Now, what do you think the owner of the vineyard will do?
Surely he would go there and destroy those tenant farmers, and then entrust the vineyard to others, wouldn’t he!
‘Have you ever read the scripture that says:
The stone that the builders rejected
Has become the foundation cornerstone…
It’s by Jehovah that this came to pass,
And it’s a wonderful thing in our eyes.?’ [Psalm 118:22]
Well [when he said] this, they started to realize that he was applying the parable to them. So after that, they started looking for ways to arrest him.
However, because they were afraid of the crowds, they just released him and left.
Thereafter, they sent some of the Pharisees and some of the followers of Herod to him to try to get [Jesus] to say something [that they could use against him].
So these people came up to him and said:
‘Teacher; we know that you tell the truth and that you aren’t impressed by anyone, for you don’t look at what men are on the outside, but you truly teach the ways of God.
So tell us: Does the Law require us to pay the head tax to Caesar or not…should we pay, or shouldn’t we pay?’
But noting their hypocrisy, he said:
‘Why are you testing me? Bring me a silver coin.’
So they brought him [a coin].
Then he asked:
‘Whose image and inscription is on this?’
And they replied:
‘Caesar’s.’
Then Jesus said:
‘Pay Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God’…
And that left them bewildered.
Now, the SadDucees (who say there’s no such thing as a resurrection) then came to [Jesus] and said:
‘Teacher; Moses wrote that a brother of any man that dies and leaves his woman without a child should take his woman and sire offspring for him.
So, let’s say that there were 7 brothers. The first one took a woman, but he died without offspring.
Then the 2nd took her, but he also died without offspring, as did the 3rd, and so on…therefore, none of the 7 left her with any offspring.
And finally, she also died.
So, whose woman will she be in the resurrection, since all 7 of them had her as theirs?’
Then Jesus replied:
‘This is why you’re so misled, for you don’t understand the Scriptures or the power of God!
When the dead are resurrected, they won’t marry or be married, because they will be like [God’s]messengers in the heavens.
‘And when it comes to the dead that will be raised; haven’t you read in the book about Moses (in the story about the thorn bush) that God said to him,
I am the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob?
Notice that He isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living!
Yes, you are very misled!’
Well, one of the scribes that had just arrived and overheard the things that were being said knew that [Jesus] had given a good answer.
So he asked:
‘Then, which is the primary Commandment?’
And Jesus answered:
‘The primary one is this:
Hear, O IsraEl; Jehovah your God is your only Lord.
So, you must love your God Jehovah with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The second one is this:
You must love your neighbor as yourself.
No Commandments are greater than these.’
Then the scribe said:
‘That’s good… you’re speaking the truth, teacher, when you say that He is One and there is no other,and that loving Him with our whole heart, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves is worth much more than all of our whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’
And when Jesus recognized that [the scribe] had responded intelligently, he said to him:
‘You aren’t far from the Kingdom of God.’
Well from then on, no one else had enough courage to ask him any more questions.
So in reply to a question that had been raised while Jesus was teaching in the Temple, Jesus went on to ask [the Scribes] this:
‘Why do you say that the Anointed One is to be a son of David?For through the Holy Breath [of God], David said,
Jehovah said to my Lord;
Sit here at my right hand
‘Til I put your enemies under your feet.
So if David called him Lord; how could he be his son?’
[Well, all the while], the huge crowd was listening to him with a lot of pleasure.
So as he was teaching, he gave them this warning:
‘Watch out for the Scribes who like to walk around in robes, who wish to be greeted in the markets,and who want the front seats in the synagogues and the first positions at the meals.
For despite the fact that they devour the homes of widows, they like to put on great pretenses and deliver very long prayers.
So, this is why they’re going to receive a heavier judgment.’
Then, as he was sitting across from the [Temple] Treasury, he noticed the crowd dropping money into the box, and he could see that the rich people were dropping in many coins.
But then he also noticed a poor widow that went up and dropped in just two small copper coins (they weren’t worth very much).
So, [Jesus] called his disciples over and said to them:
‘I tell you the truth; this poor widow put in more than all the rest that were dropping their money into the Treasury chest,because they’re throwing in something of which they have plenty.
However, this needy woman dropped in everything that she had… her whole [means of] living!’
Then as he was leaving the Temple, one of his disciples said:
‘Teacher; just look at these stones and these buildings!’
And Jesus said to him:
‘Do you see these great buildings?
There won’t be a stone left on top of a stone here that won’t be thrown down.’
Then, as he was sitting in a quiet spot on the Mount of Olives across from the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him and asked:
‘When will these things happen… what will be the sign that all these things are about to end?’
So Jesus said to them:
‘Be careful so that no one misleads you;for many will come in my name, saying, I’m [the one], and they will mislead many.
And when you hear of wars and reports of wars, don’t worry, because [these things] must happen… that isn’t the end.
For there will be wars between nations and nations and kingdoms and kingdoms, and there will also be famines and rumblings in one place after another.
Yet, these things will be just the beginning of the birth pangs.
‘At that time, watch out for yourselves, because you’ll be led before religious courts, you’ll be whipped in the synagogues, and you’ll have to stand before governors and kings for my sake, as a witness to them…
But before that, the good news must be preached to all the gentiles.
‘Now, when these things happen to you and they’re leading you off to face your accusers;
Don’t worry about what you should say… just say whatever will be given to you in that hour, since [God’s] Holy Breath will be doing the speaking, not you.
‘At that time, brothers will hand over their brothers for death, fathers [will hand over] their children, and children will oppose their parents and have them put to death!For everyone will hate you because of my name.
However, those that endure to the end will be saved.
‘Now, when you see the disgusting destroyer standing where it shouldn’t (the readers should pay attention to this), those in Judea should flee to the mountains.
The man that is standing on his roof top shouldn’t go down to take anything out of his house,and the person that is out in a field shouldn’t go back home to pick up his clothes.
‘Also, woe to those that are pregnant and those that are nursing babies in those days…keep praying that this doesn’t happen during the winter!
For a difficult time will arrive in those days that won’t be like anything that has happened since the earliest creation by God until now, or should ever happen again.
And if Jehovah hadn’t shortened those days, it’s likely that no flesh would be saved… but for the sake of the elected ones whom He’s chosen, He will shorten those days.
‘Then if anyone says to you,
Look; here’s the Anointed One!
or,
Look; there he is!
Don’t believe it!For false anointed and false prophets will arise bringing signs and omens that could possibly mislead even the elected!
‘Now, you must be careful, because I’ve warned you!
‘Then in the days that follow this difficult time,
The sun will grow dark and the moon will not shine;
The stars will be falling out of the skies,
And the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
For they’ll see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds
With great power and glory.
Then he’ll send his messengers to collect his elected
From the four winds [of the earth]…
From the ends of the lands to the ends of the skies!
‘Now, you should learn this from the parable of the fig tree:
When its branches grow tender
And it starts putting out leaves,
You know that summer is near.
So, when you see these things start to happen,
Know that he’s near… at the doors.
‘I tell you the truth; this people will not pass away until all of these things have happened.
For even if the lands and skies should pass away; my words will not pass away.
‘However, no one knows that day or hour – not the messengers in the heavens or the Son, just the Father.
Therefore, you should stay awake and keep watching, because you don’t know when he will arrive!
‘It’s like a man, who before leaving his house and traveling abroad, instructed each of his slaves to just go on doing their jobs… but he commanded his doorkeeper to stay awake.
This is why you must stay awake, because you don’t know when the Master of the house will return… whether it’s in the evening, at midnight, at rooster crowing, or early in the morning.
Just be sure that when he suddenly arrives, he doesn’t find you sleeping!
‘So, what I’m saying to you, I’m saying to everyone:
Stay awake!’
Now, it was just two days before Passover and the festival of No fermentation, and the Chief Priests and the Scribes were trying to come up with devious ways to grab [Jesus] and kill him.
But they said:
‘Not at the festival… not at any time when it will create a commotion!’
Well, as [Jesus] was reclining at a meal in the house of Simon the leper (in BethAny), a woman arrived that was carrying a very expensive alabaster jar of perfumed oil (genuine nard). And after breaking open the alabaster, she poured it over Jesus’ head.
But when she did that, some [of his Apostles] started grumbling among themselves and asking each other,
‘Why [is she] wasting this perfume?We could have sold the ointment for as much as 300 silver coins and given it to the poor!’
So they were very displeased with her.
But Jesus told them:
‘Leave her alone… why are you making trouble for her? She just did a good thing for me!
You will always have the poor with you, and you can do good things for them whenever you wish; however, you won’t always have me.For when she poured the perfumed ointment over me, she was doing everything that she could to prepare my body for its burial.
And I tell you the truth:
Wherever the Good News is preached anywhere in the world, what this woman did for me will be told in memory of her.’
[Well after that], Judas IsCariot (one of the 12) went to see the Chief Priests so as to betray him.And when they heard [his offer], they were delighted and they promised to pay him in silver.
So, that’s when he started looking for an opportunity to betray [Jesus].
Well, it was just before the 1st day of No Fermentation (the day when the Passover sacrifices are offered) that [Jesus’] disciples asked him:
‘Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?’
So he sent two of his disciples off, giving them these instructions:
‘Go into the city, and there you will meet a man that is carrying a large clay jar of water… follow him,and wherever he goes inside, tell the master of the house that the Teacher wants to know where the guest room is that he can use to eat the Passover with his disciples.
He will then show you a large upper room that’s already furnished… make your preparations there.’
Therefore, the disciples left and went into the city, where they found everything just as he said, so they prepared for the Passover.
Then that evening, [Jesus] went there with the 12,and as they were reclining and eating at the table, Jesus said:
‘I tell you the truth; One of you that is eating with me here will betray me!’
Of course, they were all deeply saddened by this, and each one asked whether he was the one.
But he told them:
‘It’s one of the 12 that is dipping into the common bowl with me.
It’s a fact that the Son of Man is going to be taken away, just as it was written about him… but woe to the one that betrays the Son of Man, for it would be better had he never been born!’
Well, as they were eating, [Jesus] then took a loaf, and before breaking it, he offered a blessing over it.
Then he passed it among [his Apostles] saying,
‘Take it, for this is my body.’
And after that, he took a cup, and after offering thanks for it, he handed it to them and they all drank from it.
Then he said to them:
‘This is my blood of the Sacred Agreement that is being poured out [on behalf of] many.
I tell you the truth; I definitely won’t drink from the fruit of the vine again until the Day that I drink it new in the Kingdom of The God.’
And finally, after singing songs of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
It was there that Jesus said to them:
‘All of you will be stumbled over me tonight, because it is written:
I will strike down the shepherd,
And all the sheep will be scattered.
But after I wake up, I will go ahead of you into GaliLee.’
Well at that, Peter said to him:
‘Even if all the others are stumbled, I won’t be!’
And Jesus said to him:
‘I tell you the truth; today… tonight… before a rooster crows twice, you will deny knowing me three times.’
Yet [Peter] kept insisting, saying:
‘Even if I have to die with you, I definitely won’t deny you.’
And all the others were saying the same thing.
Then later, when they got to a place called GethSemane (the Olive Press), he said to his disciples:
‘Now sit here, while I [go over there] to pray.’
So he took Peter, James, and John along with him, and then he became deeply upset and bothered.For he said to them:
‘My soul is grieved to the point of death… so wait here and stay awake!’
Then he went a little way forward and fell to the ground, praying that if it was possible, he could be freed from that hour.
And he said:
‘Papa! Father! Everything is possible for You, so remove this cup from me!
Yet, not as I wish, but as You wish.’
Well, when he returned, he found them all sleeping. And he said to Peter:
‘Simon, are you sleeping? Didn’t you have enough strength to stay awake for just one hour?
Now, stay awake and keep praying that you won’t be put to the test!
But indeed; though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.’
Then he went off and prayed once more, saying the same things.
However when he came back, he found them all sleeping again, because their eyes were heavy… and they just didn’t know what to say to him.
[And finally], after he returned a third time, and said to them:
‘Here you are resting and sleeping. That’s enough! The time has arrived!
Look! The Son of Man has now been betrayed into the hands of sinners!
Get up, let’s go!
Look… my betrayer is nearby!’
Well immediately (while he was still talking), Judas (one of the 12) arrived with a mob, which included the Chief Priests, Scribes, and elders, all of whom were carrying swords and clubs.
Then the betrayer gave the sign that they had agreed on, for he’d said:
‘The one that I kiss is him… grab him and arrest him!’
Therefore, he went straight up [to Jesus] and said:
‘Rabbi!’
And then he kissed him tenderly.
Well at that, the men grabbed [Jesus] and bound him.
However, one of those that was standing nearby drew his sword and struck the Chief Priest’s slave, cutting off his ear.
But then Jesus said to [the mob]:
‘Did you come here with swords and clubs to arrest me like some robber?
I was with you in the Temple where I taught for days, but you didn’t grab me then.
However, this has happened so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.’
Then [the Apostles] all abandoned [Jesus] and ran away.
However, a certain young man (who had slipped a linen nightgown over his naked body) started following close behind them… and [the mob] tried to grab him too,so he ran away naked, leaving his covering behind.
Well from there, they led Jesus to the [house of the] High Priest, where all the Chief Priests, elders, and Scribes had already assembled.
Then Peter (who had been following at some distance) went into the courtyard of the High Priest and sat there among the building supervisors that were warming themselves in front of the fire.
Meanwhile, the Chief Priests and those of the Jewish religious court were trying to find witnesses against Jesus so that they could hand him over for execution. However, they couldn’t find any.
Many did come forward to give false testimony against him, but their stories just didn’t agree.
Then some stood up and perjured themselves with the words,
‘We heard him say that he will tear down this Most Holy Place that was made with hands and build another that isn’t made with hands in just three days.’
Yet, even these witnesses couldn’t agree.
So finally, the High Priest stood up in their midst and questioned Jesus, asking:
‘Don’t you have an answer… what is it that they’re accusing you of?’
But [Jesus] remained silent and he didn’t reply to anything that he asked.
Then the High Priest questioned him again, and when he asked:
‘Are you the Anointed One, the Son of the Praised One?’
Jesus spoke up and said:
‘I am… and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of the skies!’
Well at that, the High Priest ripped his clothes and said:
‘Why do we need any more witnesses?
You’ve heard the blasphemy! What is your opinion?’
So they all [voted to] condemn him and hold him for execution.
Then some started spitting on him, and they covered his face and started hitting him with their fists, shouting,
‘Prophesy!’
[And finally], the building supervisors (after slapping him in the face) took him into their custody.
Meanwhile, Peter was still in the courtyard below, and there, one of the High Priest’s servant girlsnoticed him [standing there and] warming himself. She looked at him very hard, and then she said:
‘You were also with the Nazarene… this Jesus!’
But he denied it, saying:
‘I don’t know him and I don’t know what you’re talking about!’
Then when he went outside to the courtyard entrance,the servant girl saw him again and said to those that were around her:
‘He’s one of them!’
But once more, he denied it.
However, some that were standing around him said to Peter:
‘Sure you’re one of them, because you’re also a Galilean!’
But Peter started cursing and swore:
‘I don’t know this man that you’re talking about!’
Well right away, a rooster crowed a second time, and that’s when Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him:
‘Before a rooster crows twice you will have disowned me three times.’
And at that, he broke down and cried.
Well at dawn, the Chief Priests sat down with the elders and Scribes to consult with the complete Jewish religious court; and thereafter, they bound Jesus and handed him over to Pilate.
So Pilate asked him:
‘Are you the King of the Jews?’
And he replied:
‘You’re saying it yourself!’
Then the Chief Priests started accusing him of many other things.
So Pilate questioned him again and asked:
‘Don’t you have any reply? Look at all the charges they’re bringing against you!’
But Jesus wouldn’t say anything more, which amazed Pilate.
Well, it was [Pilate’s] custom to release any prisoner that they asked for at the festivals.And at the time, there was one man in jail called BarAbbas that was with a group of rebels who had committed murder during a rebellion.
So when the crowd came [to Pilate] to petition him to release a prisoner (as it was their custom),Pilate asked:
‘Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?’(because he knew that the Chief Priests had only handed him over because they were jealous of him).
But the Chief Priests stirred up the crowd and had them call for the release of BarAbbas instead.
So Pilate asked:
‘Then, what shall I do with this one whom you call, the King of the Jews?’
And once again, they shouted:
‘Impale him!’
But Pilate asked:
‘Why? What crime did he commit?’
However, they just kept shouting louder and louder,
‘Impale him!’
So, to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released BarAbbas to them.
Then after having Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be impaled.
Well from there, the soldiers took him out into the courtyard of the Governor’s Palace and assembled all the troops.
There they covered him with purple [cloth] and braided a crown of thorns, which they slipped over [his head],and they started greeting him, saying,
‘Rejoice, O you King of the Jews,’as they were hitting him on the head with a measuring rod and spitting on him.
Then they got down on their knees and bowed to their faces before him.
Finally (after they’d had their fun), they stripped him of the purple [cloth], put his clothes back on, and took him out to be hung on the pole.
So they drafted a man named Simon (a Cyrenian that was coming in from the fields… the father of Alexander and Rufus) to carry the pole.
And from there, they took him to GolGotha (which translates as Skull Place).
Then, when they tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, he wouldn’t take it.
So finally, they hung him on the pole and they threw dice to see which ones would get his clothes.
It was during the 3rd hour that they hung him on the pole,and they put a sign over him that showed the charge against him:
‘The King of the Jews.’
There were also two robbers that were hung on poles along with him, one on his right and the other on his left.And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ [spurious, copied from Luke 22:37]
Then those that were passing by started saying terrible things to him, shaking their heads and shouting,
‘Bah! O you that would tear down the Temple and rebuild it in three days…save yourself! Come down from the pole!’
And that’s also the way that the Chief Priests and Scribes were joking about him, saying,
‘He saved others, but now he can’t save himself!Let the Anointed One who is the King of IsraEl come down from his pole so we can witness it and believe in him!’
And even those that were hanging with him mocked him.
Thereafter, [a great] darkness came over the whole land from the 6th to the 9th hours.
And at the 9th hour, Jesus shouted in a loud voice,
‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ (which translates as, ‘My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?’).
And when some of those standing there heard it, they said,
‘Look; He’s calling for EliJah!’
So, someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine and held it up on a reed to give him something to drink. But the rest said,
‘Leave him alone… let’s see if EliJah comes to take him down.’
But then Jesus let out a loud groan and died.
Well at that, the curtain [that separated] the Most Holy ripped in two from the top to the bottom.
And when the centurion who was standing across from him saw all the things that happened when he died, he said:
‘This man truly was God’s Son!’
Meanwhile, there were some women that had been watching from a distance.
Among them was Mary of Magdala, Mary (the mother of Little James and Joses), Salome,and many others that had traveled with Jesus to JeruSalem and that used to serve him back in GaliLee.
Well, since it was already late in the afternoon, and because it was Preparation (the day before the Sabbath),JoSeph of HariMathea (a well-known member of the Council that was also awaiting God’s Kingdom) got up enough courage to go before Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus.
However, Pilate didn’t know if he was dead yet, so he called the centurion to ask if he had died.
Then, after checking with the centurion, he released the body to JoSeph.
So JoSeph then went out and bought some fine linen. And after taking Jesus down, he wrapped him in the cloth and laid him in a tomb that had been cut into the bedrock, then he rolled up a stone over the tomb’s entrance.
Meanwhile, Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joses [just sat there] looking at the place where he had been laid.
Then, after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spiced ointments to grease his body(they went to the tomb early the next morning after sunrise).
And one asked the other,
‘Where can we find someone to roll the stone away from the tomb entrance for us?’
But when they looked up, they saw that the extremely large stone had already been rolled away.
So when they entered the tomb, they saw a young man that was sitting on the right side wearing a white robe, and they were shocked!
But he said to them:
‘Don’t be surprised; you’re looking for Jesus the Nazarene who was impaled… but he isn’t here, he has risen!
Look, here’s the place where they laid him!
Now, go tell his disciples and Peter that he’s going ahead of them into GaliLee… they’ll see him there, just as he said.’
Well when they came out, they ran from the tomb, because they were shaking with excitement.
But then they didn’t say anything to anyone, being too afraid because ...
Since many others have already taken on the job of putting together a statement of the facts regarding the things we believeas they were given to us by those that were eyewitnesses from the earliest [times] and by caretakers of the message;it seemed good for me to trace everything accurately from the start, then write it down for you in the order that it happened, O mighty TheoPhilus,so that you can have confidence in the things you’ve been taught by word of mouth.
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a Priest named ZechariAh who was of the division of AbiJah.
He had a woman named EliZabeth (My God has Sworn), who was a descendant of Aaron.Both of them were found righteous by God, because they obeyed all the commandments and requirements of Jehovah.
However, they never had children and they were both well up in years, so EliZabeth was [beyond child-bearing age].
Then, it was while he was assigned as the Priest before God in his division of Priests that(following the custom of the Priesthood) [ZechariAh] had been chosen by lot to enter the temple sanctuary of Jehovah to burn incense there.
And because it was the hour that the incense was to be offered, a large crowd of people had assembled outside to pray.
It was there that Jehovah’s messenger appeared to [ZechariAh], just to the right of the incense altar.
Well, ZechariAh was very disturbed and frightened by what he saw.
However, the messenger said to him:
‘Don’t be afraid ZechariAh, because the things that you’ve begged for in your prayers have been favorably heard. So your woman EliZabeth will give birth to a son for you, and you must call his name John (gr. YoHanain – Jehovah Is Merciful).
This will make you very happy and you’ll dance with joy… in fact, many people will rejoice at his birth,because he will be great in the eyes of Jehovah.
‘[This son] may not drink any wine or liquor at all, and he will be filled with [God’s] Holy Breath while he’s still in his mother’s womb.
Thereafter, he will turn many sons of IsraEl back to their God Jehovah,and he will travel before him with the power and spirit of EliJah as he prepares a people for the Lord by turning the hearts of fathers back to their children and the [hearts] of those that don’t obey to righteous good sense.’
But ZechariAh asked the messenger:
‘How can I be sure of this? After all, I am quite old and my woman is well up in years.’
Then the messenger replied:
‘I am GabriEl – someone who stands before God – and I was sent to bring this good news to you.
But because you don’t believe these words (which will come true right on time), {Look!} you will be silent and you won’t able to talk until the day that these things happen.’
Meanwhile, the people that were waiting [outside] for ZechariAh started wondering why he was taking so much time in the temple sanctuary.
Then when he came out of the sanctuary and couldn’t speak, they realized that he had just seen something very unusual… he could gesture signs to them, but he couldn’t talk.
Well, when the period of his assigned [Temple] service was finished, he went back home,and that’s when EliZabeth (his woman) became pregnant.
However, she hid herself for 5 months, because she said:
‘It is Jehovah’s Will that I do this, so that people won’t laugh at me.’
Well, it was in her 6th month that the Messenger GabriEl was sent from God to a city in GaliLee called Nazareth,to a virgin that was engaged to a man named JoSeph who was from the house of [King] David. This virgin’s name was Mary (gr. Mariam).
And when he came to her, he said:
‘Rejoice, you most beloved person, because Jehovah is with you!’
Well, these words bothered her, because she wondered just what type of greeting that was.
Then the messenger said:
‘Don’t be afraid Mary, because you’ve found God’s favor.
Look! You will conceive in your belly and give birth to a son whom you are to name Jesus (heb. YehoShuah or Jehovah’s Salvation).He will be great and he’ll be called the Son of the Most High, and Jehovah God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
He will then rule over the house of Jacob through the ages, and there will be no end to his Kingdom.’
But Mary asked the messenger:
‘How can this be possible, since I haven’t been with a man?’
And the messenger replied:
‘The Holy Breath of God will come over you and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you, so that what will be born will be called Holy… God’s Son.
Look! Your relative EliZabeth is also pregnant with a son, even in her old age. And this is the 6th month for this so-called sterile woman,because nothing is impossible when God says it will happen.’
Then Mary said:
‘Look! I am Jehovah’s slave girl! May this thing that you told me about, happen to me!’
And at that, the messenger left her.
So after that, Mary got up and quickly traveled to a Judean city located in the hill country, where sheentered the home of ZechariAh to speak to EliZabeth.
And just as EliZabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb jumped, and EliZabeth was filled with the Holy Breath [of God],for she shouted aloud:
‘You’re a blest woman, and the fruit of your womb is blest!
So, how is it that the mother of my Lord has come to me?
Look! When I heard the sound of your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy!
The woman who has faith will be blest, and all things that were spoken to her by Jehovah will come true.’
Then Mary said:
‘I give glory to Jehovah with my whole soul,
And over my God and my Savior,
My body will cry out in joy,
For He has looked down on His lowly slave girl.
‘{Look!} By all peoples, I’ll be called blest,
For the Almighty One did great things for me…
The One whose Name is Most Holy.
‘For generations, He has shown mercy
To those who show that they fear Him.
But, with His strong arm, He will scatter
Those who think in their hearts that they’re better.
‘He removes kings from their thrones,
And He puts the humble in charge.
He fills the hungry with good things,
And He sends the rich off as starved.
‘He sent help to IsraEl, His child,
And He remembered His mercy
As He promised to AbraHam, our father,
And to his seed, through the ages.’
So, Mary stayed there with EliZabeth for about three months before she went back home.
Well, it soon came time for EliZabeth to deliver her baby, and she had a son.
So when her neighbors and relatives heard how Jehovah had shown such magnificent mercy toward her, they were all overjoyed.
But when they went to circumcise the boy on the 8th day, they expected that he would be named after his father, ZechariAh.
However, his mother said:
‘Absolutely not! He’ll be called John.’
But [the neighbors] said:
‘That isn’t the name of any of your relatives!’
So they nodded to the father, to ask what he wanted to call it.
And after asking for a tablet, he wrote:
‘His name is John.’
And this really caused them to wonder.
Well at that, [ZechariAh] was suddenly able to speak… his tongue came loose, and he started talking and praising God(which frightened all the neighbors).
And thereafter, these things were talked about throughout the hills of Judea.
Also, everyone that heard about it made a note of it in their hearts, for they were all wondering what this little boy would [grow up to] be, since the hand of Jehovah was upon him,
Then ZechariAh ([the boy’s] father) became filled with [God’s] Holy Breath and he spoke this prophesy:
‘Praise Jehovah, IsraEl’s God,
For He looked down and set free His people.
He raised the horn of salvation for us
In the house of his servant David,
Just as He promised through the mouths of the holy
Back in the age of the Prophets,
To save us from our enemy’s hands,
And from the hands of all those that hate us,
To fulfill [His] mercy to our fathers
By remembering His Holy Sacred Agreement,
And His oath to AbraHam, our father,
That we don’t have to fear our enemy’s hands;
For because we’re His servants, He’ll save us,
And we’ll loyally stand here before Him
As righteous, throughout [the rest of] our days.
‘But, as for you, little boy;
You’ll be called a Prophet of the Most High,
And you will travel ahead of Jehovah,
To prepare the road that’s before him.
‘You’ll tell his people how [they can] be saved
By seeking forgiveness of their sins,
Through the tender mercies of God,
Who looks down on us from above
As though it were a new day,
Which is shining on those in the darkness,
And on those that are sitting in the shadow of death.
For he’ll straighten [the paths for] our feet,
And guide us in the ways that are leading to peace.’
Well, the little boy thereafter grew and he kept getting stronger in the Breath [of God].
Then he went and lived in the desert until the day that he presented himself to IsraEl.
Back in those days, Caesar Augustus had decreed that everyone in the land had to be registered,and this first registration took place when QuiRinius was the governor of Syria.
So, everyone had to return to his hometown to be registered.
As the result, JoSeph had to travel from Nazareth in GaliLee to David’s city of BethLehem in Judea (because he was from the house and family of David)to be registered with Mary, who was pregnant, and whom he married as he had promised.
Well, it was while they were there that it came time for her to have her baby.
So she gave birth to her first son and wrapped him tightly in a cloth, then laid him in a feed trough, because there wasn’t any room for them in the lodge.
At the time, there were some shepherds that had been staying outdoors in the surrounding countryside, keeping watch over their flocks throughout the night.
Then a messenger of Jehovah [appeared] to them and the glory of the Lord started shining around them, which frightened them.
But the messenger told them:
‘Don’t be afraid. Look! I’m bringing you good news of great joy for everyone,because a Savior – the chosen Lord – has been born to you today in David’s city.
This is the sign to look for: You’ll find an infant wrapped tightly in a cloth and lying in a feed trough.’
And after that, a large heavenly army suddenly appeared along with the messenger, praising God and saying:
‘Glory in the highest to God,
And on the earth, [may there be] peace
Among the people with whom He is pleased.’
So after the messengers [of God] went back up into the sky, the shepherds said to each other:
‘Let’s go to BethLehem and see this thing that the Lord has revealed to us.’
Therefore, they went and quickly found Mary and JoSeph, along with the infant, who was lying in the feed trough.
So when they saw this, they explained to them what they had been told about the little boy.
Well, all those that heard about this were amazed by the things that the shepherds were saying,and Mary started preserving all these words, drawing conclusions about them in her heart.
Meanwhile, the shepherds kept on glorifying and praising God for all the things that they saw and all the things that they’d heard… just as it had been spoken to them.
Then 8 days later, when the time arrived to circumcise the boy, he was given the name Jesus (gr. YaySous, heb. YehoShua), the name that [God’s] messenger said he was to be called before he was conceived in Mary’s] womb.
Well, it was at the end of the [7] days of purification that were required by the Law of Moses that they took him to JeruSalem to present him to Jehovah,exactly as it was written in His Law, which said:
‘Every male that opens a womb must be called holy to Jehovah.’
So they offered the sacrifice that was specified in the Law, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
{Look!} [Well at the time], there was a man in JeruSalem named SimeOn.
He was a righteous and devout person who had been awaiting IsraEl’s comforter, and [God’s] Holy Breath was in him.For it had been divinely shown to him by the Holy Breath that he wouldn’t die before he saw the Anointed of Jehovah.
And it was because [God’s] Breath was leading him that he came to be in the Temple that day.
So as the parents were carrying the boy (Jesus) in to do what the Law customarily required,[SimeOn] took him in his arms and praised God saying:
‘Now, O Sovereign Lord,
You can set Your slave free in peace, as You said,
For my eyes have now seen this one that will save…
The one You provided for all men to see…
The revealing light to all nations,
And a glory to IsraEl, Your people.’
Well, [Jesus’] father and mother were amazed by all the things that he said about him,and SimeOn also blest them.
However, he said this [Jesus’] mother (Mary):
‘Look… this young one has been appointed
To elevate and debase many in IsraEl.
He will serve as a sign that is spoken against,
So your soul will be run through, as by a sword,
For [he’ll] reveal what many have thought in their hearts.’
There was also the Prophetess AnNa (a daughter of the tribe of Asher).
This woman was well up in years and had only been married for 7 years from her virginity.
She was an 84-year-old widow that was always at the Temple, serving there day and night, fasting, and praying.
And in that same hour, she stood up and gave thanks to the Lord as she talked about [the child] to all those that were awaiting JeruSalem’s release by ransom.
Then, after [JoSeph and Mary] did everything that Jehovah’s Law required, they went back to their home in Nazareth of GaliLee.
So the little boy grew to become strong and filled with wisdom, as God continued to show favor upon him.
Well, each year his parents would travel to JeruSalem for the Festival of the Passover.And when he was 12 years old, they again followed the custom of going to the festival.
But after the festival days were over and as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in JeruSalem… and his parents didn’t notice it.
So, assuming that he was somewhere in the company of all the people that were traveling with them, they were a day’s journey away before they finally started searching for him among their relatives and friends.
And when they couldn’t find him, they returned to JeruSalem to look for him.
It took them three days, but they finally found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking questions…and his understanding and answers amazed everyone that heard him.
Well, since they had been in such a panic as they searched for him, his mother said:
‘Child; Why did you treat us this way? Your father and I have been worried to death searching for you!’
But he replied:
‘Why did you have to search for me? Didn’t you know that I would be in the House of my Father?’
However, they really didn’t grasp the meaning of all that he was saying.
Then, after he returned home to Nazareth with them, he always obeyed them, and his mother carefully kept all these things that were said in her heart.
So Jesus continued to progress in wisdom, physical growth, and in the favor of God and men.
It was in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Herod was district ruler of GaliLee (but Philip his brother was district ruler of the countries of Ituraea and Trachonitis), and Lysanias was district ruler of Abilene,in the days of High Priests AnNas and CaiAphas, that God’s words came to John the son of ZechariAh [while he was] in the desert.
So he traveled throughout the country around the JorDan preaching a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins,just as it was written about him in the book of the Prophet IsaiAh:
‘Listen!
Someone calls out in the desert:
Prepare the way for the Lord.
Straighten out all of his roads;
Fill the gullies and level the mountains and hills;
Straighten the curves and smooth-out the ruts,
So all flesh will be able to see
What God has provided to save them.’
And as he saw the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, he said to them:
‘Offspring of vipers; Who has frightened you into fleeing the rage that is about to arrive?
For you must first produce the type of fruitage that shows you’re ready for repentance!
‘And you shouldn’t say of yourselves,
We have AbraHam as our father,
because I tell you that God has the power to raise children of AbraHam from these stones!
‘Why, the ax is now lying at the roots of the trees and every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire!’
So the crowds started asking him:
‘Then, what we must do?’
And he replied:
‘Those that have two suits of clothes should share them with those that have none, and those that have something to eat should do the same thing.’
Then even the tax collectors came to be baptized.
And when they asked, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’
He told them, ‘Just collect a fair tax.’
Also, when those in the military came and asked him what they should do, he told them that they shouldn’t harass or falsely accuse anyone, and to be satisfied with just their provisions.
Well, since the people had been looking for [the coming of the Messiah] at that time, everyone was wondering in their hearts whether John was the Anointed One.
But John told them this:
‘My part is just to baptize in water.
However, someone greater is coming behind me
Whose sandals I’m unfit to untie,
And he’ll baptize you people with fire and [God’s] Breath.
His shovel is already in his hand,
And he’s going to sweep his threshing floor clean.
Then he’ll carry the wheat to his barn,
But he’ll burn the chaff with an unquenchable fire.’
[John] also said many other encouraging things as he was preaching the good news to the people.
However, Herod (the district ruler) had been scolded [by John] because of Herodias (his brother’s woman), and because of all the other bad things that he was doing.
And [eventually], Herod added to this [badness] by locking John in jail.
Well, it was after all the [other] people had been baptized that [John] also baptized Jesus.
And as [Jesus] was praying, the sky opened upand the Holy Breath came down upon him in the shape of a dove.
Then a voice came out of the sky [that said]:
‘You’re My Beloved Son and I approve of you.’
Well, Jesus came into his power when he was about 30 years old, being the son (as the opinion was) of JoSeph, of Heli,of MatThat, of Levi, of Melchi, of JanNai, of JoSeph,of MatTathias, of Amos, of Nahum, of Esli, of NagGai,of MaAth, of MatTathias, of Semein, of JoSech, of Joda,of JoAnan, of Rhesa, of ZerubBabel, of ShealthiEl, of Neri,of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of ElMadam, of Er,of JoShua, of EliEzer, of JoRim, of MatThat, of Levi,of SymeOn, of Judas, of JoSeph, of JoNam, of EliAkim,of Melea, of MenNa, of MatTatha, of Nathan, of David,of JesSe, of Obed, of BoAz, of SalMon, of NahShon,of AmiNadab, of Arni, of HezRon, of Perez, of Judah,of Jacob, of IsaAc, of AbraHam, of Terah, of NaHor,of Serug, of Reu, of Peleg, of Heber, of SheLah,of Kainan, of ArPachShad, of Shem, of Noah, of Lamech,of MethuSelah, of Enoch, of JaRed, of MaHalaleEl, of Kainan,of Enosh, of Seth, of Adam, of God.
[Well after this happened], Jesus became filled with the Holy Breath.
Then he left the JorDan, and [God’s] Breath led him into the desert,where he was tempted by the Slanderer for 40 days.
But because he hadn’t eaten anything during that entire period, he became very hungry.So the Slanderer came to him and said:
‘If you are a son of The God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread!’
But Jesus told him:
‘It is written that People can’t live on just bread… they also need the Word of God.’
So [the Slanderer] took him up on a mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth in an instant of time,and he said:
‘I will give you glory and power over all of these. For they’ve all been given to me, and I can give them to whomever I wish.
They will all be yours if you’ll just bow to your face before me.’
But Jesus replied,
Get behnid me, Satan, for [spurious, copied from Mark 8:33] ‘It is written:
You should only bow to Jehovah your God,
And Him alone, should you serve.’
Then [the Slanderer] took him into JeruSalem and put him on one of the Temple’s highest towers, and said:
‘If you’re a son of The God, jump down from here;for it is written:
He’ll order His messengers to protect you;
So they’ll lift you up on their hands,
And you won’t bump your foot on a stone.’
But Jesus replied:
‘It is also said, You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’
So after the Slanderer finished his tempting, he left him until the appointed time.
Then the Power of [God’s] Breath moved Jesus to return to GaliLee, and his fame spread throughout all that area.
He also started teaching in the synagogues, where he was honored by everyone.
Well, when he got to Nazareth (where he was brought up); as was his custom on the Sabbaths, he went into the synagogue and stood up to read.
Then someone handed him the scroll of the Prophet IsaiAh to read, so he opened it and found the place where it said:
‘Jehovah’s Breath is upon me,
And I’ve been anointed by Him
To teach good news to the poor.
‘He sent me to heal broken hearts;
To proclaim a release to the captives;
A regaining of sight to the blind;
Deliverance to those that have been oppressed;
And to announce the year of Jehovah’s favor.’ (Isaiah 61)
Thereafter, he rolled up the scroll and handed it back to the attendant, and he sat back down, as everyone in the synagogue was staring at him.
Then he said:
‘Today this scripture that you just heard, has been fulfilled!’
Well after that, everyone started praising him as they marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.
But they were also asking, ‘Isn’t this JoSeph’s son?’
So he told them:
‘You would undoubtedly like to apply the words to me,
Heal yourself, doctor!
And,
Do all the things that we heard you did in CapharNaum here in your own hometown!’
Then he said to them:
‘I tell you the truth when I say that no Prophet is ever accepted in his own hometown.
Therefore, though it’s a fact that there were many widows in IsraEl back in the days of EliJah – back when the skies were closed up for 3-1/2 years, causing a terrible famine in the land –EliJah wasn’t sent to any of them. Rather, he was just sent to a widow in the land of Sidon.
And though there were many lepers in IsraEl during the time of the Prophet EliSha; the only one that was cleansed was NaAman, a Syrian.’
Well, this made everyone that heard him say this in the synagogue very angry,so they got up and pushed him outside to the edge of the mountain upon which the city was built, and they wanted to throw him down headfirst.
But he just walked through their midst and continued on his way.
From there, he went on to CapharNaum (a city in GaliLee), where he again taught on the Sabbath.And those [people] were amazed by his way of teaching, because he spoke with such great authority.
There he found a man in that synagogue [who was possessed by] an unclean demon.
And [the demon] shouted at him:
‘Ah! What dealings do we have with you, Jesus… you Nazarene? Did you come here to destroy us?
I know exactly who you are; [You’re] the Holy One of God!’
But Jesus scolded it saying:
‘Put a muzzle on it and come out of him!’
So the demon threw the man down in their midst, then it came out without hurting him.
Well, everyone was astonished and they all started speaking to each other and asking:
‘What kind of talk is this? He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power, and out they come!’
So the news about him was echoed everywhere throughout that entire region.
Then, after he left that synagogue, he went to Simon’s house. And there, Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, so they asked him to help her.
Therefore, he stood over her and scolded the fever, and it left her.
Then she got right up and started serving him.
Well after sunset, all those that had people who were sick with various infirmities brought them to him, and he laid his hands on each one and cured them all.
Demons also came out of many of them, shouting:
‘You’re the Son of The God!’
But because they knew that he was the Anointed One, he scolded them and he wouldn’t allow them to speak.
Then the next day, he walked out by himself to an isolated place.
So the crowds started searching for him, and when they finally found him, they tried to keep him from leaving.
But he told them:
‘I have to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to other cities… that’s the reason why I was sent here.’
So thereafter, he preached in the synagogues throughout all of GaliLee.
Well, there was an occasion when people were crowded very close to [Jesus] as they listened to the word of God. And at the time, he happened to be standing beside Lake GenNesaret.
So, noticing two boats that were docked at the lakeside where the fishermen had gotten out and were washing off their nets,[Jesus] got into one of the boats that belonged to Simon, and he asked him to pull out a short distance from the land.
Then he sat down and he started teaching the crowds from the boat.And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon:
‘Now, pull out to where it’s deep and let down your nets for a catch.’
But Simon replied:
‘Lord; We worked all night long and we didn’t catch anything.
However, because you asked, I’ll lower the nets.’
Well when they did this, they netted a huge number of fish. In fact, their nets started to rip,so they waved to their partners in another boat to come help them.
And when they got there, they filled both boats to the point where they were about to sink!
Well upon seeing this, Simon (Peter) fell down at Jesus’ knees and said:
‘Get away from me, because I’m a sinful man, O Lord!’
[He said this] because when they’d brought in so many fish, Simon and those who were with him were amazed and overwhelmed…as were his partners James and John (the sons of Zebedaiou).
But Jesus said to Simon:
‘Stop being afraid! For from now on, you’re going to be catching men!’
So then they rowed their boats back to land and they just walked away from everything to follow him.
On another occasion, while he was in one of the cities, {Look!} there was a man who was full of leprosy.
And when he saw Jesus, he fell to his face and begged:
‘Lord; If you just want to, you can make me clean!’
So [Jesus] stuck out his hand and touched him, saying:
‘I want to… be clean.’
And immediately, the leprosy left the man.
Thereafter, he ordered the man not to tell anyone about this. He just said:
‘Go and show yourself to the Priests and give an offering for your cleansing as a witness to them, just as Moses commanded.’
However, word about him kept spreading, and huge crowds would assemble both to listen and to be cured of their illnesses.
As the result, [Jesus] had to go out into the desert to even pray.
Well, several days later (as he was teaching), some Pharisees and teachers of the Law were there [sitting among a crowd] of people that had come from every village of GaliLee, Judea, and from JeruSalem, because [Jesus] was healing by the power of Jehovah.
Then {Look!} some men arrived that were carrying a paralyzed man that was lying on a cot, and they were trying to find a way to bring the man to [Jesus].
But because they couldn’t get through the crowd, they climbed up on the roof and lowered the little cot through the tiles, down in front of Jesus.
And when he saw their faith, he said:
‘Man; Your sins are forgiven!’
Well at that, the Scribes and Pharisees started asking each other:
‘Just who is this that talks so blasphemously?
Who can forgive sins other than The God?’
But Jesus recognized what they were thinking and he asked them:
‘What are you concluding in your hearts?Which is easier to say,
Your sins are forgiven,
or,
Get up and walk?
But, just so you’ll know that the Son of Man has been given the authority to forgive sins on the earth,’
he then said to the paralyzed man:
‘I tell you; Get up, pick up your little cot, and go home!’
And at that, the man stood right up before them all, then he picked up the [cot] that he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.
Well, everyone was delighted and they all started glorifying God. But they were also frightened and said:
‘We’ve seen some very strange things today!’
Then sometime later, [Jesus] went out and happened to notice a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax office, and he said to him:
‘Come be my follower!’
Well, [Levi] got right up, and leaving everything behind, he started following him.
Then that evening, Levi held a big reception feast for [Jesus] in his home, where a large crowd of tax collectors and others were reclining with him at the meal.
So the Pharisees and their Scribes started complaining to the disciples, asking:
‘Why is he eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners?’
But Jesus told them:
‘Those that are healthy don’t need a doctor, only the sick do.
So I came to call sinners to repentance, not righteous people.’
Then later on, they said this to him:
‘Why is it that though John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees fast frequently in order to make requests [of God], your [disciples] just go on eating and drinking?’
And Jesus told them:
‘Friends of the bridegroom can’t be expected to fast while the groom is with them, can they?
But the days will surely come when the groom will be taken away; and in those days, they will fast.’
Then he gave them this illustration:
‘No one cuts a patch from new cloth
To repair a rip in old clothes.
For if they do, the patch will rip out…
And the new patch won’t match the old anyhow.
‘And they don’t put new wine in old wineskins.
For new wine will burst the old skins,
Breaking the skins and spilling the wine…
So, new wine is put in new wineskins.
And all that have tasted the old wine
Don’t want the new, anyhow;
For they say that the old [wine] is better!’
Now, [Jesus] happened to be walking through some grain fields on a Sabbath and his disciples had been picking the grain, rubbing it in their hands, and eating it.
So some of the Pharisees asked him:
‘Why are they doing something that isn’t legal on the Sabbath?’
And Jesus replied:
‘Haven’t you ever read how David did the same thing when he and his men got hungry…how he went into the Temple of God and ate the presentation bread, sharing some with his men… something that isn’t legal for anyone to eat other than the Priests?’
Then he added:
‘The Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath!’
And on another Sabbath, he again went into the synagogue and started teaching.
Well, there he found a man whose right hand was withered,and the Scribes and Pharisees were watching [Jesus] closely to see if he would cure him on the Sabbath, so they could accuse him of some wrongdoing.
However, because [Jesus] knew what they were thinking, he said to the man with the withered hand:
‘Get up and go stand in the center [of the room].’
So [the man went over there] and stood.
Then Jesus asked them all:
‘Is it legal to do good or bad, or to save a life or destroy it on the Sabbath?’
And after looking around at everyone, he said to the man:
‘Now, stretch out your hand.’
And when he did, his hand was healed!
Nevertheless, [the Scribes and Pharisees] went into a rage and they started talking to each other about what they could do to Jesus.
It was also about this time that Jesus went up a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night there in prayer to God.
Then the next day, he called his disciples to him and chose 12 of them whom he started calling Apostles (Sent Ones).
There was Simon (whom he also named Peter) and his brother Andrew, as well as James, John, Philip, BarTholomew ([NathaniEl]),
Matthew, Thomas, James ([the son] of AlphaEus), Simon (who is called the zealous one),Judas ([ThadDaeus]) [the son] of James, and Judas IsCariot (who turned traitor).
Well, after they came down [the mountain], he found a level spot where a large group of his disciples, as well as a huge crowd of people from Judea, JeruSalem, and the seaside areas of Tyre and Sidon came to listen to him and to be healed of their illnesses.
And there, as many people that were bothered by unclean spirits were being healed,everyone else in the crowd was trying to touch him.
So power flowed from him, and he healed them all.
Then he looked at his disciples and he said this to them:
‘Blest are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of God;
Blest are the hungry, for they will be filled;
And blest are those that are crying,
For they will find reasons to laugh.
‘You are blest whenever men hate you
And do not wish to be among you;
Or when they say bad things about you
And call you wicked for the Son of Man’s sake.
In that day, be happy and jump for joy,
For {Look!} your reward in the heavens is great,
Since these are the very same things
That their fathers used to say of the Prophets.
‘But, woe to those that are rich,
For they won’t receive any comfort.
And woe to those with full [stomachs],
For they’ll be the ones going hungry.
Also, woe to those that are laughing,
Because they will be crying and mourning.
And woe when people say nice things about you,
For that’s what their fathers said of false prophets.
‘I say this to all that will listen:
Show love for those that oppose you,
And do good to all those that hate you.
Yes, praise the ones that would curse you,
And pray for those that insult you.
‘If someone should slap you on [the right] cheek,
Turn [your left] to him also.
And if someone should take all your clothes,
Offer your underwear too.
‘Yes, to each one that asks, you should give,
And don’t tell them that they must repay…
Treat others as you wish to be treated!
‘And if you love just those that love you,
What kind of good are you doing?
Even sinners love those that love them.
‘Also, if you’re just good to those that do good for you,
What kind of kindness are you showing?
Even sinners will do that same thing.
‘And if you choose to lend without interest
To those whom you know will repay you,
What kind of good deed are you doing?
For, sinners lend to sinners without interest
When they know that they’ll be paid back.
‘So love those [that hate you] and do what is good,
And lend without hope of return;
Then you will receive a better reward…
You’ll be the sons of the Most High,
Who is kind to even the ungrateful…
Yes, show mercy as your Father shows mercy.
‘Do not judge [others], so you won’t be judged…
Do not condemn, and you won’t be condemned…
Set free, and you’ll be set free.
‘Give to others and you will receive…
They’ll give you a generous portion,
Overflowing and tightly packed down.
For the amount that you measure [to others]
Is the amount that they’ll measure to you.
Then he spoke these parables to them:
‘If a blind man leads another who’s blind,
Won’t both fall into a pit?
‘A disciple isn’t over his teacher,
But those that learn [from their teachers]
Will then become like their teachers.
‘Why look for chaff in your brother’s eye,
When you can’t see the rafter in yours?
For, how can you say to your brother,
Let me remove that [chaff] from your eye,
When you can’t see the rafter in yours?
Hypocrite!
First remove the rafter from your own eye,
And then you’ll be able to see clearly
How to take the [chaff] from your brother’s eye.
‘A good tree doesn’t produce rotten fruit
And a rotten tree doesn’t give good fruit…
So all trees are known by their fruit.
As you don’t pick figs from the briers,
And you don’t cut grapes from thorn bushes.
‘So good man brings good from the good in his heart,
While the wicked bring bad things from theirs;
For their mouths speak from all the badness
That they have treasured within their hearts.
‘And why cry out to me, O Lord, O Lord,
If you don’t do the things that I say?
Those that come here to listen and do as I say
Are like the man that dug down to rock
To lay the foundation for his house.
So when floods and the river washed on it,
It stood, because it was built upon rock.
But those that don’t listen and do as I say
Are like the man that built his house on the sand.
So when the river washed on it,
It collapsed, resulting in damage.’
Well, after he had finished saying all these things within earshot of the people, he traveled on to CapharNaum.
And there, a [Roman] centurion who had a trusted servant that was sick and near deathsent some Judean elders to ask him to come and save his slave’s life (for he’d heard about Jesus).
So they quickly went to Jesus and begged him, saying:
‘[The centurion] is worthy of your doing this for him,because he loves our nation and he built a synagogue for us!’
So Jesus went off with them. But he wasn’t very far from the house when the centurion sent his friends to say:
‘Sir, don’t bother [to come here], because I’m unfit to have you under my roof.
It’s only because I consider myself so unworthy that I didn’t come to you personally.
Just say the word and [I know that] my servant will be healed.
For I’m also a man that has been given authority, since I have soldiers that are under me.
So if I tell this one to leave, he leaves, and if I tell that one to come, he comes… whatever I tell my servants to do, they do.’
Well when Jesus heard this, he was amazed, and he turned to the crowd that was following him and said:
‘I tell you; I haven’t found this much faith anywhere in IsraEl!’
And then, after the friends that he sent returned to the man’s house, they found his slave to be in good health.
Well from there, Jesus traveled with his disciples and quite a crowd to a city called Nain.
And as he was approaching the city gate, {Look!} he saw that they were carrying out [the body] of a man that had just died… the only son of a woman who was a widow, and she was being followed by a large crowd [of mourners].
So when the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity and he said to her:
‘Stop crying.’
Then he went over and touched the open casket; and at that, the pallbearers stopped.
And Jesus said:
‘Young man; I tell you to get up!’
Well, the man that had been dead then sat up and started talking… and so [Jesus] gave him to his mother.
Of course, everyone was startled by this, and they all started glorifying God, saying:
‘A great Prophet has been raised among us,’
and,
‘God has started paying attention to His people!’
So thereafter, the news about him was spread throughout all of Judea and all the lands roundabout.
Meanwhile, John’s disciples had been reporting back to him about the things that were happening.
So John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask:
‘Are you the one that is to come, or should we expect someone else?’
And when they got to [Jesus], the men told him:
‘John the Baptist sent us to ask if you are the Anointed One, or if we are to expect someone else.’
Well, during that same hour, Jesus cured many people that were ill or in great pain or had wicked spirits, and he granted many blind people the gift of vision.
And after that, he said this [to John’s disciples]:
‘Now, go back and report what you’ve seen and heard to John. [Tell him that] the blind are seeing, the lame are walking, lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, and the poor are hearing the good news…
So, the one that isn’t stumbled by me will be blest.’
Well, after John’s messengers left, he asked the crowd this about John:
‘What did you go to the desert to see…
Reeds being blown in the wind?
Yes, what did you go out to see…
A man that is dressed in soft clothes?
Those that dress and live well,
Are the ones that are living in mansions.
‘So, what did you go out to see… a Prophet?
Yes, and I say, much more than a Prophet,
For, he’s the one of whom it was written:
{Look!} I will send My messenger before him,
To prepare the road that he’ll travel.
‘So I tell you this:
Of all those born of a woman,
None have been greater than John.
Yet the least in the Kingdom of God
Will be greater than him.’
Well, when all the common people and the tax collectors heard this, they praised God’s righteousness, because they had all been baptized with John’s baptism.
But the Pharisees and those that were trained in the Law disregarded this counsel from God and they didn’t go out to be baptized by John.
[So, Jesus said this to them]:
‘To what can I compare this people…
Yes, what are they really like?
They’re like children that play in the markets
And shout at each other and say:
We played the flute, but you didn’t dance…
We wailed, but you didn’t cry.
‘For when John the Baptist arrived,
He didn’t feast or drink any wine…
Yet you said that he had a demon!
But when the Son of Man arrived here,
Eating well and drinking the wine,
You called him an alcoholic and glutton…
A friend to tax collectors and sinners!
But wisdom is proven righteous by her children.’
Thereafter, one of the Pharisees invited [Jesus] to dine with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at his table.
But {Look!} a woman of the city (a known sinner) who had learned that [Jesus] was going to recline for a meal in the house of the Pharisee brought in an alabaster jar of perfumed ointment,and she reclined behind him at his feet and started weeping and wetting his feet with her tears, then wiping them dry with her hair, as she tenderly kissed his feet and greased them with the perfumed ointment.
Well when the Pharisee that invited him saw this, he thought to himself:
‘If this man was truly a Prophet, he’d know who it is and just what kind of woman is touching him… she’s a sinner!’
Then Jesus said to him:
‘Simon, I have something to tell you.’
And [Simon] replied:
‘Go ahead and tell it, Teacher!’
‘There were two men that each owed money to a certain lender; one was in debt for 500 silver coins, and the other for 50.
Well, when neither one could pay him back, he freely forgave them both.
So, which one will love him more?’
Then Simon answered:
‘I guess it’s the one for whom he forgave the most.’
And [Jesus] said:
‘You judged correctly.’
Then Jesus turned and looked at the woman, and he said to Simon:
‘Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you didn’t give me any water for my feet… yet this woman wet my feet with her tears and she wiped them dry with her hair.
And you didn’t greet me with a kiss… yet from the time that I entered, this woman has been tenderly kissing my feet.
You didn’t grease my head with oil either… yet this woman greased my feet with perfumed ointment.
So I tell you: Although she has many sins, they are forgiven because she showed a lot of love.
However, those that haven’t been forgiven for much, don’t love as much.’
Then he told her:
‘Your sins are forgiven.’
Well at that, those who were reclining at the table with him started wondering within themselves:
‘Just who is this man that [thinks he can] even forgive sins?’
But he said to the woman:
‘Your faith has saved you. Go your own way in peace.’
Well after that, [Jesus] started traveling from city to city and village to village with the 12, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Also [traveling with him] were some women whom [he had] cured of wicked spirits and illnesses. There was Mary (whom is called the Magdalean) from whom 7 demons had come out,Joanna the wife of Chuza (Herod’s top aid), as well as Susanna and many others that were serving his needs from their possessions.
Well when a large crowd had gathered along with those that were traveling with him from city to city, he spoke to them using this parable:
‘A farmer went out to plant seeds.
And as he was planting, some fell by the road,
Which were walked on, and birds came to eat them.
Others fell among rocks,
Where they dried up after they sprouted,
Because there was too little water.
Still others fell among thorns,
Which grew and then choked them out.
But some fell on the good soil and grew,
Producing fruit 100 times more.’
And after he said this, he shouted:
‘Let those that have ears to hear, listen to me!’
Well, his disciples later asked him what this parable meant.So he said:
‘While you’ve been allowed to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, the rest of these people just hear the stories. So when they look, they look in vain, and when they hear, they don’t understand.
‘Now, the illustration means this:
The seeds are the word of God.
Those [that fall] by the road are people that listen, but then the Slanderer comes and snatches the word from their hearts, so they don’t believe and come to salvation.
Those that fall on the rocks are the ones that hear and welcome the word with joy; but because they don’t have any roots, they only believe for a season. So when a time of testing comes along, they fall away.
As for those that fall among the thorns; these are the ones that have heard, but because of their daily concerns such as [seeking] wealth and the pleasures of living, they are choked out and fail to produce any fruit.
However, [those that fall] on the good soil have good and pure hearts; and after hearing the Word, they remember it and keep on bearing fruit.
‘Understand that no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a pot or hides it under a bed… they put it on a lampstand, so that those who step in can see by the light.
So there’s nothing hidden that will not be shown,
Or nothing covered that will not be known
And then brought out in the light.
‘So pay attention to the way that you listen;
For those that have will be given more.
But as for those that have nothing;
What they think that they have will be taken from them.’
It was then that [Jesus’] mother and brothers came to see him, but they were unable to reach him because of the crowd.
So someone came up to him and said:
‘Your mother and brothers are waiting outside and [they] want to see you.’
But he replied:
‘My mother and brothers are these that hear the word of God and obey it.’
Well, some days later, [Jesus] and his disciples got into a boat, and he said to them:
‘Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.’
So they set off.And as they were sailing along, he fell asleep.
But then a violent windstorm came down on the lake and the boat started taking on water, putting them in a dangerous situation.
So [the disciples] went over and woke Jesus up and said:
‘Lord… Lord… We’re about to drown!’
Then when he awoke, he scolded the wind and the raging water, which made things suddenly become very calm and peaceful.
And then he asked them:
‘Where is your faith?’
Well, they were frightened and awestruck [by what had happened], and they started asking each other:
‘Who really is this? For he even orders the wind and waves and they obey him!’
Then from there, they sailed on to the country of the GeraSenes, which is on the shore directly across from GaliLee.
And when he stepped out on land, a demonized man came from the city to meet him.
This man hadn’t worn clothing for some time, and he didn’t live in a house, for he stayed among the tombs.
And when he saw Jesus, he screamed and fell down in front of him, shouting:
‘What dealings do I have with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God?
I beg you… Don’t torment me!’
([He said this, because Jesus] had ordered the unclean spirit to come out of the man).
[This man had been] arrested repeatedly, then bound with chains and leg irons and put under guard.
But he would break the chains, and the demons forced him to [live in] such isolated places.
So Jesus asked him:
‘What is your name?’
And they replied:
‘Legion’ (because many demons had entered him).
And they kept begging him not to order them to go away into the abyss.
Well at the time, a large herd of pigs happened to be feeding there on the mountain; so they begged [Jesus] to allow them to go into [the pigs]… and he gave them permission.
Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the whole herd ran down a steep drop-off into the lake and drowned.
Well when the herders saw this, they ran and reported what had happened throughout the whole city and countryside.
As the result, the people all came to see this; and when they got to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had come out wearing clothes and in his right mind there at Jesus’ feet… and this frightened them.
Then those that had witnessed all that had happened explained to the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.
And the huge number that had come from the surrounding area started begging [Jesus] to leave them, because they were so frightened.
So he stepped back into the boat for their return.
However, the man from whom the demons had come out started begging [Jesus] to let him go back with him.
But he sent the man away, saying,
‘Just go home and tell everyone about all the things that God has done for you.’
So the man went back and spread the word about what Jesus had done throughout the whole city.
Meanwhile, a crowd was waiting for Jesus when he got back, because they were all expecting him.
And {Look!} a man named JaiRus (who was a presiding officer of the [local] synagogue) came to him and fell at Jesus’ feet, begging him to come to his home,because his only daughter (who was about 12 years old) was dying.
Well, as he was on his way [to the man’s house], the people were all crowded closely around him.
And a woman that had [been experiencing] a blood flow for some 12 years (which no one had been able to cure)came up behind him and touched the fringe of his robe… and her flow of blood stopped instantly.
So Jesus asked:
‘Who touched me?’
Well, everyone denied it. And Peter said:
‘Master; there’s a whole crowd of people around you [and they’re all] touching you!’
But Jesus said:
‘Someone else touched me, because I felt the power flowing out of me.’
So, seeing that [what she did] didn’t go unnoticed, the woman came up and fell down in front of Jesus trembling, then she told everyone why she touched him and of how she had been healed instantly.
So [Jesus] said to her:
‘Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go your own way in peace.’
Then as he was still talking, someone came up beside the presiding officer of the synagogue and said:
‘Your daughter has died, so don’t bother the teacher anymore.’
But when he heard this, Jesus said to the man:
‘Don’t be afraid; just have faith and she’ll be saved.’
Well when he got to the man’s house, he wouldn’t let anyone go inside with him other than Peter, John, James, and the girl’s father and mother.
Meanwhile, the people were all crying and beating themselves in grief over her. So he said to them:
‘Stop crying! The girl isn’t dead, she’s just sleeping.’
Then they all started laughing at him, because they all knew that she had died.
But thereafter, he went inside and took her by the hand and called her, saying:
‘Child, get up!’
And at that, she started breathing and she stood up!
So he told [her parents] to give her something to eat.
Well, they were beside themselves [with joy]… but he warned them not to tell anyone what had really happened.
Sometime later, he brought the 12 to him and gave them power and authority over the demons and [the power] to cure illnesses.
Then he sent them off to preach about the Kingdom of God and to do healing.
He told them:
‘Don’t carry anything with you… not a staff, or a food pouch, or bread, or silver, or even two pairs of underwear.But wherever you enter a home, lodge there and go out [to preach].
And wherever people fail to welcome you, just shake the dust off your feet as you are leaving that city, as a witness against them.’
So they left and traveled throughout all the villages, declaring the good news and curing people everywhere.
Meanwhile,Herod (the district ruler) had heard about everything that was happening, and he was bothered by doubts.
For some were saying that [Jesus] was really John who had been raised from the dead,while others were saying that EliJah had appeared, and still others were saying that he was one of the ancient Prophets that had risen.
But Herod was wondering:
‘Since I beheaded John, who is this man about whom I’m hearing so many things?’
And he looked for an opportunity to see [Jesus].
Well, after the Apostles had returned [from their preaching], they told [Jesus] about all that they had done.
Then he took them along with him to a place where they could be alone, close to a city called BethSaida.
However, when the crowds learned where he was going, they followed him… and he kindly welcomed them and started speaking to them about the Kingdom of God, as he healed those that needed a cure.
Well, as the day was drawing to a close, the 12 came to him and said:
‘You should dismiss the crowd so they can go into the villages and surrounding countryside to find provisions and a place to rest, because this is a very desolate place.’
But he said:
‘Why don’t you give them something to eat?’
And they replied:
‘We don’t have anything… other than 5 loaves [of bread] and 2 fish.
Should we go out and buy food for all these people…for there are about 5,000 of them!’
But he told his disciples:
‘Have them recline as they do at meals in rows of about 50 each.’
So [the Apostles] did this, and everyone reclined on the ground.
Then he took the 5 [loaves of] bread and the 2 fish, and after looking up to the heavens, he spoke a blessing over them, broke them up, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
Then everyone ate until they were satisfied… and [afterward], they picked up 12 baskets of leftovers!
Well later, as he was praying in a quiet spot, his disciples came to him and he asked them:
‘Who are the crowds saying that I am?
And they replied:
‘Some are saying that you are John the Baptist, others are saying that you are EliJah, while others are saying that you’re one of the ancient Prophets who has been raised.’
Then he asked:
‘You though; Who do you say that I am?’
And Peter replied:
‘[You are] God’s Anointed One.’
And at that, he firmly instructed them not to say this to anyone.
Then he told them this:
‘The Son of Man must suffer many things… he will be rejected by the elders, Chief Priests, and Scribes, and he will be killed.
But on the 3rd day, he will awaken.’
And after that, he said this [to all of his followers]:
‘If you wish to follow me, you must set aside everything else that you want, then pick up your own impaling pole every day and walk behind me.
For those that wish to save their lives will lose them, while those that lose their lives for my sake will save them.
‘Indeed, what profit is there for a man that gains the whole world, just to lose it or to be destroyed?
Yet if anyone is ashamed of me and what I’m saying; the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he arrives in his glory and in the glory of the Father and His holy messengers.
And I tell you the truth; some [of you who are] standing here will not taste death until you’ve seen the Kingdom of God!’
Well, just as he said, this is what happened about 8 days later. For he’d taken Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray;and as he was praying, his face changed and his clothes started to glow.
Then {Look!} two men appeared and started talking to him… it was Moses and EliJah…they could recognize them!
And these men started talking [to Jesus] about his departure that was about to be fulfilled in JeruSalem.
Until then, Peter and the others had been very sleepy. But when they saw his glory and the two men standing with him, they were suddenly wide-awake.
And through the separation between them, Peter said to Jesus:
‘Master; It’s good for us to be here, so let us erect three temporary structures… one for you, one for Moses, and one for EliJah’ (but he really didn’t know what he was saying).
And just as he said that, a cloud formed and started to cover them.
Then [Moses and EliJah] disappeared into the cloud, which frightened [the Apostles].
And a voice came from the cloud that said:
‘This is My Son… the one whom I’ve chosen. Listen to him!’
Well, after they heard the voice, they suddenly saw Jesus standing all by himself.
But back then, they didn’t say anything or tell anyone about the things that they saw.
Then the next day, as they were coming down the mountain, they were met by a huge crowd.
And {Look!} a man shouted from the crowd:
‘Teacher! I beg you to take a look at my son, for he’s the only one that I have!
Look! A spirit comes over him and he screams; then it throws him into convulsions and he foams [at the mouth]. And though it stops after that, it leaves him all bruised.
I begged your disciples to throw it out, but they couldn’t do it!’
So Jesus said:
‘O faithless and twisted people; How much longer must I stay among you and put up with you?
Bring your son over here!’
However, just as [the son] was approaching, the demon threw him to the ground and forced him into a violent convulsion.
But Jesus scolded the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father… and everyone was astonished by the majestic power of God.
Well, his disciples were stunned by all the things that [Jesus] was doing, but then he said to them:
‘Let these words live in your ears:
The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men!’
However, they still didn’t understand what he was saying.
In fact, it was hidden from them so they couldn’t understand, and they were afraid to ask him anything more.
But then later, [the Apostles] started wondering which of them would be the greatest.
And because Jesus knew what they were thinking in their hearts, he took a little boy and sat him down next to him,then he said:
‘Whoever welcomes this young child in my name, welcomes me.
And whoever welcomes me, welcomes the One that sent me.
Therefore, the one that acts as the least one among you will be the greatest.’
Well later, John said:
‘Master, we saw a man casting out demons by using your name and we tried to stop him, because he isn’t one of us!’
But Jesus said to him:
‘Don’t try to stop him, because those that aren’t against you are for you!’
Now, since the number of days before he was going to be lifted up were about to be fulfilled, Jesus became firm in his resolve to go up to JeruSalem.
So he sent messengers ahead of him, and they entered a Samaritan village in order to prepare [for his arrival].
However, [the people there told them] that he wasn’t welcome if he was headed toward JeruSalem.
And when the Disciples James and John [heard about] this, they asked Jesus:
‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from the sky to wipe them out?’
But he turned and scolded them, and said, You don’t know what kind of spirit you are.For the Son of man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. [spurious words] and they traveled on to another village.
Well, as they were traveling along the road, someone said to [Jesus]:
‘Lord, I’ll follow you wherever you go!’
And Jesus told him:
‘Foxes have burrows, and [birds] in the skies have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’
Well after that, he invited someone else to become his follower. But the man replied:
‘First let me go and bury my father.’
And [Jesus] told him:
‘Let the dead bury their own dead. You should go out and preach about the Kingdom of God!’
Then another one came up and said:
‘I’ll follow you Lord… but first let me say goodbye to those in my home.’
However, Jesus told him:
‘No one that looks back after he puts his hands to a plow is well suited for the Kingdom of God.’
Well after that, the Lord appointed 70 others that he sent out ahead of him in pairs into every city and place that he was about to go.
And he told them:
‘There’s a huge harvest, but there aren’t enough workers. So, beg the Master of the harvest to force more workers to do the harvesting.
Now, get going!
‘Look; I’m sending you out as lambs among wolves.
Therefore, don’t carry a bag of money or a food pouch or sandals, and don’t [stop to] greet people along the road.
Then as you enter each house you should say,
May this house have peace.
And if a son of peace lives there, your peace will rest upon him… but if not, it will return to you.
So, stay in that house and eat and drink the things that they provide, because a worker deserves his wages… don’t keep moving from one house to another.
‘Also, whenever you enter a city and they welcome you, eat whatever they set before you,then cure their sick and tell them that the Kingdom of God is near!
But whenever you enter a city and they fail to welcome you, go into its main streets and say,
We’re wiping off the dust that got stuck on our feet in this city and giving it all back to you!
‘Remember this: The Kingdom of God is really near!
And I tell you; It will be easier for Sodom to endure [the Judgment] day than for such a city to do so.
‘So, woe to you ChoraZin, and woe to you BethSaida; for if the powerful deeds that happened in you had also happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes a long time ago.
This is why it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon to endure the Judgment Day than for you.
And you, O CapharNaum; Will you be lifted into the heavens?
[No]! You will go down to the place of the dead!
‘Understand that those who listen to you are also listening to me, and those who ignore you are also ignoring me… and those that ignore me are ignoring the One that sent me.’
Well, when the 70 whom Jesus had sent out in pairs finally returned, they joyfully said to him:
‘Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we used your name!’
And he replied:
‘{Look!} I saw the Opposer falling like lightning from the sky.
For I’ve given you the authority to walk on serpents, scorpions, and on the power of the enemy… and nothing will harm you!
However, don’t be joyful because [evil] spirits obeyed you; be joyful that your names have now been written in the heavens!’
Then the Holy Breath caused him to shout out joyfully:
‘I publicly praise You Father, Lord of the heavens and the earth, because You’ve hidden these things from the wise and understanding, but You’ve uncovered them to infants.
Yes Father; this is why such clear reasoning was approved by You.
‘Now my Father has given me everything! For no one knows the Son as well as the Father, [and no one knows] the Father as well as the Son…
And those to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him.’
Then with that, he turned to his disciples and spoke to them privately, saying:
‘The eyes that are seeing the things that you’re seeing, are blest;for I tell you that many prophets and kings wished to see the things that you’re seeing, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things that you’re hearing, but didn’t hear them.’
{Look!} Then a man that knew the Law very well stood up [in the crowd], and to test [Jesus], he asked:
‘Teacher, what must I do to inheritage-long life?’
And [Jesus] replied:
‘What is written in the Law… what have you read there?’
Then the man said:
‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart, soul, strength, and mind, and you must love your neighbor as yourself.’
And [Jesus] replied:
‘That’s the right answer. Keep on doing that and you’ll live.’
But [because the man] wanted to show how righteous he was, he asked Jesus:
‘Well then, just who really is my neighbor?’
And this is how Jesus replied:
‘A man was traveling from JeruSalem to JeriCho when he was jumped by some robbers.
They stripped him, beat him up, and left him for dead.
Well, it so happened that a Priest was traveling along the same road. But when he saw [the injured man], he passed on the opposite side.
In the same way, when a Levite reached that place and saw him, he too passed on the opposite side.
However, when a Samaritan came along and saw him, he felt pity for him.So he got down and poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he mounted the man on his own animal and carried him to an inn, where he cared for him.
And the next day, he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, and told him:
Attend to this man, and I’ll repay you for all that you spend beyond this when I return.
‘Now, which of the three men seems to have made himself a neighbor to the person who had been jumped by the robbers?’
And the [young man] answered:
‘The one that showed mercy to him.’
Then Jesus said:
‘Go your way and do the same thing.’
Now, as they were traveling along, they entered a certain village where there was a woman named Martha, who welcomed him into her home.
This woman had a sister named Mary, who then sat down at the feet of the Lord and listened to all that he was saying.But at the time, Martha was distracted, because she was busy preparing [a meal].
So she came to him and said:
‘Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the preparing by myself?
Tell her to give me a hand!’
But the Lord replied:
‘Martha, Martha; You’re worried and upset about [preparing] many things,when all we need is just a few things… or just one.
Mary has chosen the best part… something that they can’t take away from her.’
Well, Jesus happened to be in a certain place praying; and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him:
‘Lord, teach us how to pray, as John taught his disciples.’
Then he told them:
‘When you pray, you should say:
Our Father that is in the heavens;
May Your Name be treated as Holy,
And may Your Kingdom arrive.
May Your Will be done on the earth
As it is done in the heavens.
Give us the bread that we need for each day,
And [please] forgive all our sins
As we forgive those [who’ve sinned against] us.
Into temptation, don’t let us be led,
And from the evil one, save us.’
Then he asked:
‘Which of you has a friend to whom you could go at midnight and say,
Friend, loan me three loaves [of bread]because another friend of mine has arrived after a long journey, and I don’t have anything [to feed him]?
Wouldn’t he call to you from inside [his house] and say,
Don’t give me any trouble; my door is already locked and my kids are here in bed with me, so I can’t get up and give you anything!
But I tell you the truth; Though he won’t get up to give you anything because he’s your friend, he will get up and give you what you need if you keep on bothering him.
‘Therefore,
If you keep asking, you will receive;
If you keep searching, you’ll find;
And if you keep knocking, it will be opened.
For, those that keep asking, will [get what they ask];
Those that keep searching will find [what they want];
And for all that keep knocking, the door will be opened.
‘Now, which father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?Or if he asks for an egg, who would hand him a scorpion?
Therefore, if you in your wicked condition know to give good gifts to your children; how much more will your Father in heaven give Holy Breath to those that keep asking Him!’
Well, [Jesus] had once cast out a demon that was causing a man to be unable to talk.
And after the demon came out, the man spoke, which amazed the crowds.
But some of [the Pharisees] said:
‘He’s throwing out the demons with the help of BeElZebub, the ruler of the demons.’
And at this same time, others were trying to tempt him by asking him to give them a sign from heaven.But knowing what they were thinking, Jesus said this:
‘A kingdom that’s divided can be conquered,
And a house that’s [divided] can fall.
So if the Opposer is opposing himself,
How can his kingdom survive?
‘Now, you say that I’m casting out demons by the power of BeElZebub.But if I’m casting out demons by BeElZebub; whose [power] are your sons using when they do the same thing?
’It’s over things such as this that you’re going to be condemned.
For if I’m really casting out demons by the finger of God, you’ve been overrun by His Kingdom!
‘When a strong, well-armed man guards his mansion,
All of his things will be safe.
But if someone who’s stronger should come there
And take the weapons in which he put trust;
He will divide up the loot.
‘Now, those that aren’t with me are against me,
And those not with me are scattering!
‘When an unclean spirit comes out of a man,
It travels through [many] dry places
In search of a [good] place to rest.
And when it doesn’t find one, it says:
I’ll go back to the house that I moved from.
‘Then, when he sees it swept and arranged,
He goes back with 7 more spirits
That are even more wicked than him.
And after they get back inside,
They’ll all continue to live there.
And so, the end result for that man
Is worse than it was at the start.’
Now, as he was saying these things, a certain woman in the crowd shouted:
‘Blest is the womb that carried you and the breasts that you sucked!’
But he replied:
‘No, blest are those that hear the word of God and obey it!’
Well, a crowd was starting to form, so he said:
‘This is a wicked people that is always looking for signs. But no sign will be given to it other than the sign of Jonah…
For as Jonah was a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this people.
‘Why, the Queen of the South will be raised in the Judgment
Along with this people,
And she will speak in judgment against it.
For she came from the ends of the earth
To listen to Solomon’s wisdom.
But look!
Something more than Solomon is here!
‘The people of Nineveh will be raised in the Judgment
Along with this people,
And they will also condemn it.
For they repented at what Jonah preached.
But look!
Something more than Jonah is here!
‘No one lights a lamp and then hides it,
And they don’t put it under a basket.
They set it on a lampstand instead,
So people can see where they’re going.
‘Now, the body’s lamps are your eyes.
And when you keep your eyes simple,
They’ll make your whole body bright;
But, if you have eyes that are wicked,
They’ll make your whole body dark.
‘So be sure that your light isn’t darkness.
For if your whole body is bright,
It will serve a lamp to shine on your way.’
Well after he said this, a Pharisee asked [Jesus] to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at his table.
However, the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus hadn’t washed up before dinner.
But the Lord said to him:
‘You Pharisees like to wash the outsides of dishes and cups while their insides are still filled with wickedness and things that are stolen.
Unreasonable people; Didn’t the One that made the insides also make the outsides?
However, if you will be charitable to those that are in need, {Look!} not just your outsides, but everything about you will be clean!
‘But, woe to you Pharisees; for though you offer even your mint and your rue when you tithe, you keep overlooking justice and the love of God!
Yes, you do all that [the Law] requires of you… but then you bypass all the rest.
‘Yes, woe to you Pharisees; for you love [to sit in the] front seats in the synagogues and [to receive] all the greetings in the markets…
Yes, woe to you, for you’re like the hidden graves that men unwittingly walk on.’
Well in reply, someone that was trained in the Law said to him:
‘Teacher; you know that when you say things like this, you’re insulting us!’
But [Jesus] replied:
‘Woe to you that are trained in the Law, for you pile loads upon men so high that they can’t be carried and which you wouldn’t touch with even a finger!
Yes, woe to you; for you build tombs for the Prophets that were murdered by your fathers!
And in so doing, you’re testifying against yourselves, since you’re approving of these very same things that were done by your fathers when they murdered those Prophets… those whose tombs you are now building.
‘It was concerning such things that the Wisdom of God said this:
I’m sending Apostles and Prophets to you
Whom you’ll persecute and you’ll kill.
And this is why the blood of all of the Prophets
That’s been spilled since this system was founded
Will be laid upon this people…
From the blood of Abel to that of ZechariAh,
Who [was murdered] between the [Temple] and Altar…
It will all be laid upon this people!
‘So, woe to you that are trained in the Law,
For though you accept the key to [great] knowledge,
You fail to come through [the door]
While blocking the way for the rest that are trying to enter!’
So after he said these things, he got up and walked out.
For the Scribes and Pharisees were just trying to pin him down, constantly asking him questions about thingsas they were lying in wait and trying to trap him in anything that he might say.
Well, a huge crowd had gathered… there were so many thousands that they were literally stepping on each other.
Then [Jesus gave this warning to] his disciples. He said:
‘Watch out for the fermentation of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
For there’s nothing hidden that won’t be exposed,
And no secret that will not be known.
So the things that you say in the darkness
Will be all heard in the light;
And whatever is whispered within private rooms
Will be shouted aloud from the rooftops!
‘I tell you this, my friends;
Fear not those that can kill the body,
But can do no more than that.
Let me show you whom you must fear:
Fear the One, who after killing [the body],
Can throw [your life] into the garbage…
Yes, He’s the One you must fear!
‘Though you can buy 5 sparrows with just 2 small coins,
In the eyes of God, they’re not overlooked…
And He’s even numbered the hairs on your head.
So you have no reason for fear,
Since, more than many sparrows, is your value!
‘I tell you this:
For those who’ll admit before others
That they are united with me;
The Son of Man will also admit
That they’re one with him before angels.
But for those that deny me to others,
I’ll deny knowing them before angels.
‘Now, those that speak against the Son of Man can be forgiven; but those that blaspheme [God’s] Holy Breath will not be forgiven.
So when they drag you up before synagogues, or authorities, or government officials; don’t worry about what you must do or what you must say in your defense,for you will be taught what to say by [God’s] Holy Breath in that hour.’
Then someone in the crowd shouted:
‘Teacher; tell my brother to share his inheritance with me!’
And [Jesus] said:
‘Man, who appointed me as the judge or arbitrator between the two of you?’
Then he [went on] to say this:
‘Keep your eyes open and guard against greed;
For the things that you own will not buy you life.’
And then he gave them this parable:
‘A rich man’s fields produced well,
So he thought about this and then asked himself:
What should I do, since there’s not enough room
In which to store all my crops?
‘Then he said:
Ah, I will do this:
I’ll tear down my barns and build larger,
And that’s where I’ll put all my wheat
As well as my other good things.
‘Then I will say to myself:
You now have many good things
Saved away [to last] many years.
So, you can just take it easy…
Yes, eat, drink, and enjoy it!
‘But God said:
O foolish man;
Tonight, they’re demanding your life.
So, who will now own all these things?
‘Yes, this is what will happen to a man
That lays away treasures for himself,
But fails to gain wealth with God.’
Then he said to his disciples:
‘This is why I’ve told you not to worry about your lives and about what you will eat, or about your bodies and what you will wear.
For your lives are worth so much more than food, and your bodies are worth [so much more] than clothes.
‘Notice the ravens; for they don’t plant or harvest, and they don’t have barns or storage sheds, since they are fed by God…
And [think about] how much more you are worth than those birds!
‘And which of you through worry can add even a smidgen to your lives?
So if [worry] is unable fix little things, why be concerned about all these other things?
‘Also notice how the lilies grow. For though they don’t work or spin cloth; I tell you that even Solomon in all of his glory wasn’t as well-dressed as they are.
So if God so well clothes the plants in the fields that are here today and thrown into an oven tomorrow; how much more would He rather clothe you… you with so little faith?
‘Therefore, stop searching for things to eat and drink, and don’t worry about how you’re going to get them.For these are the kinds of things that the gentiles are pursuing.
However, your Father already knows that you need all these things.And if you’ll keep on seeking His Kingdom first, you’ll receive all the rest.
‘Don’t be afraid, little flock; for it is the delight of your Father to give you the Kingdom.
Therefore, sell everything that you own and give it to those that really need it, and make purses for yourselves that won’t wear out… the unfailing treasures in the heavens, which can’t be consumed by thieves or by moths.
For where your treasures are is where your hearts will be.
‘Therefore, wrap on your sashes and light up your lamps,then act like men that are awaiting their master’s return from his wedding, so that when he arrives and starts knocking, you can open [the door] to him right away.
‘Blest are those slaves that are watching
When their master arrives!
For I tell you this as the truth:
He will then put on his apron
And make them recline at his table;
Then, he will come there and serve them!
‘If it’s in the 2nd watch that he should arrive,
Or even if it’s during the 3rd;
You’ll be blest if he finds you doing these things!
‘Recognize this:
If the master of the house would have known
The time when the thieves would arrive,
He would have been keeping watch
And not let them enter his house.
‘Likewise, you must also be ready;
For the Son of Man will arrive
At a time you consider unlikely.’
Then Peter asked:
‘Lord, are you giving this parable to just us, or to everyone?’
And the Lord said:
‘Who is the faithful house steward…
The sensible one, assigned by his lord
To be in charge over his faithful friends,
And to provide their meals at the right times?
Such a slave will be blest
If he’s found doing that when his master arrives.
I tell you the truth…
He’ll put him in charge of all that he owns!
‘But if that slave should say in his heart:
My master’s delayed in returning;
And then he starts beating [the Lord’s] boys and girls,
And he feasts, drinks, and gets drunk…
His master will arrive on an hour and day
That he has not been expected,
And he’ll whip him and count him among the unfaithful.
‘So the slave that knows what his master expects
And doesn’t prepare or do what he wants
Will be lashed with a whip many times.
But the one that does not understand
And does things for which he deserves to be whipped,
Will be beaten with [just a] few [strokes].
‘For from those to whom much is given,
Much is also expected.
And from those who’ve been put in charge over much,
Much is also required.
‘I came here to start a fire on the earth; so, what more could I possibly wish than to see it already lit?
But there is also a baptism coming that I must endure, and I’m under great pressure until it arrives.
‘Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth?
No, I’ve come to create divisions!
So, if there are five in a house,
They’ll be divided three against two
Or two against three.
‘Fathers will be against their own sons
And sons [will be] against their own fathers…
Mothers will be against their own daughters
And daughters will be against their own mothers.
It will be mothers-in-law against daughters-in-law
And daughters-in-law against mothers-in-law!’
Then he said this to the crowd:
‘When you see a cloud arise in the west,
You say that a storm is approaching… and it happens.
And when you see the wind blow in from the south,
You say that a heat wave is coming… and it happens.
Hypocrites!
Since you know how to read the land and the sky;
Why can’t you read the [signs of the] times?
‘It’s best to decide the right thing to do
Than to [argue] your case before rulers.
So, try to resolve things before you take it to them,
So you won’t be brought in front of a judge,
Who may hand you over to the bailiff,
Who will thereafter throw you into a jail.
I tell you;
If that happens, you won’t be set free
Until you have paid your last cent.’
Well at the time, some people there were talking to Jesus about certain Galileans whose blood had been mixed with their sacrifices by [Pontius] Pilate.
So [Jesus] asked them:
‘Do you think those Galileans suffered such things because they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?
No! For I tell you this: If you don’t repent, you’ll be destroyed that same way!
And what about those 18 people upon whom the tower at SiloAm fell and killed;
Do you think they were worse sinners than all the others that live in JeruSalem?
No! I tell you this: If you don’t repent, you’ll all be destroyed that same way!’
Then he gave them this parable:
‘There was a man that had a fig tree in his vineyard,
And when he went there looking for fruit,
He wasn’t able to find any.
‘So he said to the man that cared for the vineyard:
For the past three years,
I’ve come looking for fruit from this tree,
But so far, I haven’t found any.
So, you should just cut it down,
For it is just wasting space.
‘But [the vinedresser] gave this reply:
Master;
Leave it alone for just one more year,
While I’ll cultivate and fertilize it,
Then, it may bear fruit in the future…
But if not, I will just cut it down.’
Well, [on another occasion], he happened to be teaching in one of the synagogues on a Sabbathwhere {Look!} there was a woman who’d endured a spirit of weakness for some 18 years… she was bent over and unable to straighten herself.And when Jesus saw this, he called to her and said:
‘Woman, you’re now free from this weakness.’
Then he laid his hands on her and she straightened up instantly and started glorifying God.
However, the chief of the synagogue resented this because Jesus had performed the cure on the Sabbath.
So he said to the crowd:
‘There are SIX DAYS when work should be done. Come to be cured on THOSE DAYS, not on the Sabbath!’
But the Lord replied:
‘Hypocrite! Don’t you untie your bulls and burros from their stalls and lead them out to drink on the Sabbath?
Yet, this is a daughter of AbraHam whom the Opposer has held tied {Look!} for some 18 years!
So, isn’t it appropriate for her to be untied from this type of bondage on the Sabbath?’
Well after he said that, all those that opposed him were ashamed; and the crowd started rejoicing over all the glorious things that he was doing.
Then he went on to say:
‘To what can the Kingdom of God be compared…
To what can it really be likened?
‘It’s like the seed of the mustard
That a man had planted in his garden.
For it grew and became as tall as a tree,
In whose branches, the birds of the skies came to roost.’
And once again, he said:
‘To what can the Kingdom of God be compared?
It’s like a little fermentation
That a woman hid in three scoops of flour,
Until the mass rose and was filled with [the yeast].’
Well, he did all of this as he was teaching in city after city and village after village on his way to JeruSalem.
Then someone asked:
‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’
And he said to him:
‘You must strive to enter through the gate that is narrow,
For I tell you that many will try to get in,
But they will not have enough strength.
So when the master gets up and latches the door;
If you find yourself on the outside
Knocking and shouting, Lord, open to us!
He’ll say, I don’t know where you’re from!
‘And if you should say:
But before you, we ate and we drank,
And you taught us along our main streets!
Yet, he will then give this reply:
No I do not know where you’re from…
Get away from me, you unrighteous people!
‘Then, you’ll be crying and grinding your teeth
When you see AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob
With all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God,
As you are left on the outside.
‘For they’ll come from the east, west, north, and the south
To recline at the table in the Kingdom of God.
But {Look!} those that are last will be first,
And those that are first will be last.’
Well in that very same hour, some Pharisees came to him and said:
‘You’d better get out of here and go, because Herod is looking to kill you!’
But he replied:
‘Go tell the old fox that I’ll keep on casting out demons and healing today and tomorrow, and I’ll be finished on the 3rd day.
However, I’ll also keep moving [on toward JeruSalem] today, tomorrow, and the next day, since it wouldn’t be fitting for a Prophet to be destroyed outside of [that city].
‘O JeruSalem, JeruSalem… you murderer of the Prophets and stoner of those that have been sent to you. How often I’ve wanted to gather your young as a hen brings her chicks under her wings, but that isn’t what you’ve wanted.
So look… your house has now been taken from you!
And I’m telling you that you won’t see me again until [you are ready to] proclaim:
Praised is this one that has come in the Name of Jehovah!’
Well, there was a time when [Jesus] went to eat a meal at the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath… and everyone there was watching him closely.
Then {Look!} a man came to him that had [a fluid-buildup condition called] dropsy.
So Jesus asked those students of the Law and the Pharisees this:
‘Is it legal to cure on the Sabbath or not?’
However, they wouldn’t answer.
So he touched [the man] and healed him, and then he sent him away.
And Jesus asked them:
‘If your son or your bull were to fall into a well on the Sabbath, which of you wouldn’t immediately go and pull him out?’
Well, they were unable to come up with a reply.
Then, after noticing how the guests were choosing the best spots at the table, he gave them this parable:
‘If you are invited to a wedding reception,
Don’t go and recline in the very best place.
For if someone more honored arrives,
The host will have to come there and say:
Let this man have that spot.
And you’ll be shamed when you’re sent to the least honored place.
‘So whenever you’re invited [to a banquet],
Go and recline in the very last spot.
Then, when the host arrives, he will say:
Friend, take a better position!
And you’ll be honored before all his guests.
For the self-exalting will be humbled,
And the humble will be lifted high.’
Then Jesus said to the man that invited him:
‘When you spread a dinner or a supper,
Don’t call your friends and your brothers,
Nor your kin or your rich neighbors;
For, you will then get your reward
When they invite you [for a meal].
‘But whenever you’re planning a banquet,
Invite the crippled and poor,
As well as the lame and the blind…
Those that cannot repay you;
For then you’ll receive your reward
When the righteous are standing again.’
Well, when one of the guests heard this, he shouted:
‘Aren’t those that [are invited to] dine in the Kingdom of God the ones that will be blest?’
And [Jesus] said:
‘There was a man that prepared a large supper,
And he invited many [friends] to come there and dine.
So, after the meal was prepared,
He sent his slave out to tell them:
Come on, for [the banquet] is ready!
‘But each thereafter gave an excuse.
Said the first, I must look at a field that I’ve bought;
So, please let me be excused.
‘And then another said this:
I’ve purchased 5 pairs of oxen,
And I must now go to inspect them;
So, please let me be excused.
‘Still another replied:
Because I’m about to get married,
I’m unable to come at this time.
‘Well when the slave returned and reported these things,
The master of the house became angry,
And this is what he said to his slave:
‘Go quickly to the main streets and alleys,
And bring the crippled and poor,
As well as the blind and the lame.
‘And when he returned, the slave told him:
Though I’ve done all that you’ve told me to do,
There is still plenty of room!
‘So the master then gave these instructions:
Go out to the roads and backyards,
And make people come, so my house will be filled!
For I tell you that none I invited
Will get even a taste of my supper.’
Well, since there was a large crowd that had come there with him, he then turned to them and said:
‘Unless those who come to me care less for their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters – yes, even for their own lives – they cannot become my disciples;
Nor can anyone follow me who’s unwilling to carry his own impaling pole!
‘For, which of you that might choose to build a tower for himself wouldn’t first sit down to calculate the costs, so you’d be sure that you have enough [funds] to complete it?
Because, if you laid the foundation and then found out that you’re unable to finish the project, everyone that sees it would make fun of you and say,
This man started the job, but then he couldn’t complete it!
‘Or, what king, when he’s marching [to battle], doesn’t first sit down and ask his advisors if his 10,000 troops can possibly beat the one that is coming with 20,000?
For if he’s unable to do that; while [his enemy] is still far away, he’ll send his ambassadors to sue for peace.
‘So, you too must be sure!
For those that aren’t willing to give up everything that they own are qualified to be my disciples!
‘Yes, salt is good;
But if salt should lose all its strength,
What value will it have to season your food?
So if it isn’t any good for soil or manure,
People will just throw it away.
‘Now, let those that have ears pay attention to this!’
Well, tax collectors and sinners kept coming to [Jesus] to listen to the things that he was saying.And because of this, the Pharisees and Scribes started murmuring:
‘This man welcomes sinners… and look, he even eats with them!’
So he then told them this parable:
‘Which of you that owns 100 sheep
And then should lose just one,
Wouldn’t leave the 99 out in the fields
To search for the lost until it is found?
‘Then when you find it, you will rejoice
And [carry it home] on your shoulders.
And when you get home,
You’ll call your friends and neighbors and say:
Come and with me, rejoice,
For I’ve found my sheep that was lost!
‘So in the same way, I tell you this:
There is more rejoicing in heaven
Over just 1 sinner that turns from bad ways,
Than over 99 of the righteous
Who have no need of repentance.
‘Or when a woman with 10 silver coins
Finds that she has lost one,
She’ll light [all her] lamps and sweep her whole house
To search until she has found it.
And when she finds it, she’ll call her neighbors and friends, and say:
Come and with me rejoice,
For I’ve found the silver coin that I lost!
‘So I tell you:
There is joy among the angels of God
Over each sinner that repents.’
Then he said:
‘There once was a man that had two sons.
And the youngest went to his father and said:
Please give me my share of what I’ll inherit!
So he gave him the portion that was his.
‘Well just a few days after that,
This younger son gathered his things
And traveled to a far-away land,
Where he quickly squandered all that he had.
‘Then after he’d spent [all his money],
A famine came to that land,
Which left him in a very bad spot.
‘So he went to work for a man in that place
That sent him to watch over his pigs.
And soon he even started longing
For the carob pods he was feeding the pigs,
For the man gave him nothing [to eat].
‘Then when he came to his senses,
He thereafter asked of himself:
Since my father’s hired-hands have plenty of bread;
Why am I here, dying from hunger?
‘So I’ll get up and return to my father!
And since I’ve sinned against heaven and him,
I’ll admit that I am unworthy
To be called his son anymore,
And I’ll tell him that I just want to work
As one of his hired hands.
‘So then he got up and returned to his father.
‘However, while he was still far way,
His father recognized him in the distance,
And in pity, he ran and fell on his neck
And then he tenderly kissed him.
‘But the son said:
Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you,
So I’m unworthy to be called your son anymore…
Just let me be one of your hired hands.
‘But the father said this to his slaves:
Quickly bring him a robe…
Bring the very best one,
Then put a ring on his finger
And put some shoes on his feet.
‘Also, slaughter the calf that we’ve fattened with wheat,
Then let’s hold [a feast] and have a good time!
For my son who was dead is alive…
He was lost, but now he’s been found!
So thereafter, they held a banquet for him.
‘Meanwhile, the older son had been out in the fields.
And as he returned and got close to his home,
He could hear [the sounds] of music and dancing.
So he called to one of the servants and asked,
What is happening here?
‘And in reply, [the servant] said this:
Your brother has just returned,
So your father had us slaughter the calf that was fattened,
Because [your brother] returned in good health!
‘Well at that, [the son] became very angry
And he refused go back inside.
So his father came and begged him to come on in.
But this is what he said to his father:
‘Though I’ve slaved for you all these years
And I’ve never broken your rules,
You’ve not given me even a single kid goat
That I could enjoy with my friends.
Yet, when this son returns home
Who spent all his money on whores,
For him, you slaughtered the wheat-fattened calf!
‘But this is what his father then said:
Child, you have always been with me,
And everything I have is yours also.
However, we had to celebrate and rejoice,
Because your brother that was as one of the dead
Has now been brought back to life…
The one that was lost has been found!’
Then [Jesus] went on to say this to his disciples:
‘There was a rich man who had a house manager that was accused of mishandling his belongings.
So [the rich man] called him in and asked,
What is this that I’m hearing about you?
Turn in your things, for you’ll no longer manage [my] house!
‘Then the [house manager] thought to himself:
What should I do now that my master is taking away my position? I’m not strong enough to dig and I’d be ashamed to beg.
Ah! I know what I’ll do when I lose my job… I’ll do something to cause people to welcome me into their homes!
So he called in all those that owed debts to his master, and he asked the first one:
How much do you owe my master?
‘He replied,
900 gallons (3,400l) of olive oil.
‘Then he told him:
Here, take your contract, then sit down and quickly write 450.
‘Then asked the next,
How much do you owe?
‘And he replied:
36,000 quarts (34,000l) of wheat.
‘So he told him:
Take your contract and write 29,000.
‘Well, though [what the man did] was unrighteous, his master spoke in praise of him, for he showed very good sense.
‘As you can see; the sons of this age are better at understanding how to deal with this people than are the sons of the light.
Therefore, I’m telling you to make friends for yourselves with unrighteous wealth, so that when all else fails, they’ll welcome you into their tents through the ages.
‘For the one that is faithful in small things
Will also be faithful in much.
But the one who’s unrighteous in small things
Will also be unrighteous in much.
‘So if you fail to prove yourselves faithful
With the unrighteous wealth [of this world];
Who will trust you with things that are true?
And if you fail to prove yourself faithful
With things belonging to others;
Which of us will trust you with our things?
‘You cannot slave for two masters;
For you’ll dislike one and you’ll love the other,
And you’ll stick to the one while despising the other…
So you can’t slave for God and for wealth.’
Now, the Pharisees (who loved silver) were listening to him as he was saying these things, and they were looking at him with contempt.
So he said to them:
‘You claim to be righteous before men, but God knows what’s really in your hearts. And things that are important to men are disgusting in God’s eyes.
‘Until John [came along], we had the Law and the Prophets. However, since then, the Kingdom of God is what has been preached, and everyone has been trying to force their way into it.
Yet, it would be easier for the land and sky to pass away than for a single stroke on one of the Law’s letters to fail.
Therefore, whoever releases his woman and takes another has committed adultery.
And whoever marries a released woman has also committed adultery.
‘Now, there once was a very rich man that dressed himself in purple and linen, and he enjoyed the very best things each day.
There was also a poor man named Lazarus that used to sit at his gate.
This [poor] man was covered with sores,and all he wanted was to eat some of the things that fell from the rich man’s table.
Also, he had dogs come to lick his sores.
‘Well, the poor man [eventually] died, and [God’s] messengers carried him off to the most-favored position of AbraHam.
Then the rich man also died and was buried.
And from the place of the dead he raised his eyes, and he was tormented when he saw AbraHam off in the distance with Lazarus lying before him.
So [the rich man] called out and said,
Father AbraHam, have mercy on me!
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, for I’m suffering in these flames!
‘But AbraHam replied:
Child; remember that you had all the good things in life, while Lazarus [had just] the bad.
So now he’s here [receiving my] comfort, while you are there suffering.
Also, an abyss has been placed between us, so that those who are here can’t go there, and those who are there can’t come here.
‘Well at that, [the rich man] said:
Then I beg you… please father, send him to the house of my father;for I have 5 brothers… have him testify to them, so they don’t end up in this place of torment!
‘But AbraHam replied:
They already have the Prophets and Moses… [so your brothers] should listen to them!
‘Then [the rich man] said:
No indeed, Father AbraHam; for they would surely repent if someone were to come to them from the dead!
‘But [AbraHam] said:
No, if they won’t listen to the Prophets or Moses, they wouldn’t be persuaded if someone should even arise from the dead!’
Well after that, [Jesus] said this to his disciples:
‘It’s unavoidable that there will be snares.
However, woe to those that set them!
For it would be better if a millstone was hung on his neck
And he was thrown into the sea,
Than to stumble one of these least ones.
So, pay attention to yourselves!
‘If your brother should sin [against you],
You should go to him and discuss it.
And if he repents, forgive him!
If he sins against you 7 times in a day,
And comes back 7 times to tell you he’s sorry;
You should forgive him all 7 times!’
Then the Apostles said:
‘Lord, give us more faith!’
And he told them:
‘If you had faith [the size of] a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree,
Pull out of the ground and plant yourself in the sea…
and it would likely obey you.
‘Which of you has a slave who, after he’s been plowing or tending a flock, would say to him when he returns:
Come over here and recline at my table?
No, it’s more likely that you’d tell him:
Put on an apron and prepare my supper, then serve it to me. [You can wait] until I’m done eating and drinking, and thereafter you can get yourself something to eat and drink.
You won’t be grateful to that slave because he did what he was assigned, will you?So you too… after you’ve done all that you’ve been assigned, you should say:
We are just worthless slaves, and we’re just doing what we are expected to do.’
Well, as [Jesus] was on his way to JeruSalem, he traveled through the midst of Samaria and then into GaliLee.
And as he entered a certain village, 10 men that had leprosy who stood at a distance [spurious words]started shouting:
‘Jesus! Lord! Have mercy on us!’
So when [Jesus] saw them, he said:
‘Go and present yourselves to the Priests.’
Then as they were leaving, each one was made clean.
Well, one of them, when he realized that he had been healed, came back [to Jesus] glorifying God in a loud voice,and he fell to his face at Jesus’ feet to thank him (this one was a Samaritan).
So Jesus asked:
‘Weren’t there 10 that were cleansed? So, where are the other 9?
Was this man of another race the only one that returned to glorify God?’
Then he said to him:
‘Get up and go, for your faith has saved you!’
Well [later], there was a Pharisee that asked [Jesus] when the Kingdom of God was coming. And this is the reply that he gave:
‘The coming of the Kingdom of God won’t be easily noticed,so people won’t be saying, Look, it’s here, or, It’s there!
Rather, the Kingdom of God is within you!’
Then he went on to say to his disciples:
‘The time is coming when you’ll wish that you could see just one of these days of the Son of Man… but you’ll no longer be able to see them.
And though people will be saying, Look he’s here, or, He’s there; don’t follow them.
For when the Son of Man arrives, it will be like lightning that flashes all across the sky.
‘But before that, he will have to endure many things and he’ll be rejected by this people.
For as it was back in the days of Noah is how it will be in the day of the Son of Man.
Back then they were eating and drinking, getting married and being taken in marriage right up to the day that Noah entered the chest… and that’s when the Downpour arrived, destroying them all.
‘The same thing happened in Lot’s day; for they were also eating and drinking, buying, selling, planting, and buildingright up to the day that Lot [fled from] Sodom.
Then fire and sulfur rained down from the sky, destroying them all.
Yes, this is how it will be in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
‘So in that day, the man [that is] on his roof should not go back down into his house to retrieve the things that he owns, and the person that is out in a field shouldn’t go back for the things he’s left behind.
Rather, remember [what happened to] Lot’s woman.
For those that try to save their lives will lose them, while those that lose them will live.
‘I tell you this:
In that night, there’ll be two in one bed;
One will be taken along,
And the other will be left behind.
Two will be grinding at [the same] mill;
One will be taken along,
And the other will be left behind.’Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [spurious words, probably copied from Matthew 24:40]
So they asked him:
‘When [is this going to happen], Lord?’
And he replied:
‘When [you see] the vultures gather at the carcass.’
Then he gave them an illustration to show them why they should keep praying and never give up.
He said:
‘There was a judge in a city who did not fear God
And couldn’t be shamed by other men.
But a widow in that city kept coming and saying:
I want justice from the man that I [sued].
‘Well at first, [the judge] did nothing at all,
But then he started to reason:
Though I do not fear God,
And there are no men that can shame me;
Since this widow keeps coming and making more work,
I will see that she receives justice
So she doesn’t just nag me to death.’
Then the Lord asked,
‘Now, did you hear what this unrighteous judge said?
So won’t God, who is patient,
Also give justice to His chosen ones
That call out to Him day and night?
Yes, I tell you;
He will bring speedy justice for you!
‘Yet, when the Son of Man arrives, will he really find the faith on earth?’
Then he gave this illustration to some there that were putting more trust in themselves and thinking that they were righteous, while everyone else was just nothing.
He said:
‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray…
A tax collector and a Pharisee.
‘Now, the Pharisee stood up and said this
Concerning himself in his prayer:
I thank You O God, that I’m not like the rest,
Who are robbers, the unrighteous, and adulterers…
Or like that tax collector [over there].
For I fast two times every week
And contribute 1/10th of all I receive.
‘Yet the tax collector, who stood at some distance,
Wouldn’t raise his eyes toward the sky.
He just beat on himself as he said:
O God,
Please don’t be angry with this sinner!
‘Well, I tell you that this man went back home more righteous than the other, because the self-promoters will be humbled while the humble will be promoted.’
Thereafter, people started bringing their young children for [Jesus] to have him just touch them.
However, when the disciples saw this, they started scolding them.
Then Jesus called [the disciples] to him and said:
‘Let the young children come to me… don’t try to stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to people like this.
I tell you the truth; Those who don’t welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child, won’t enter it at all.’
Then a certain ruler asked him:
‘Good teacher; What must I do to inheritage-long life?’
But Jesus asked him:
‘Why are you calling me good? No one is good except One… The God!
You know the Commandments:
Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t provide false testimony, honor your father and mother… ’
Then [the ruler] replied:
‘Well, I’ve guarded all these [things] since my youth!’
And Jesus said:
‘But there’s still one thing that you’re lacking… go and sell all that you have, then give to the poor, and come be my follower.
That’s when you will have treasures in the heavens.’
Well when he heard this, [the ruler] became very sad, because he was extremely rich.
So Jesus looked at him and said:
‘How hard it will be for those that are rich
To find their way into the Kingdom!
It’s easier to thread a rope through a needle
Than for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.’
Well at that, those that heard him say this, asked:
‘Then, who can possibly be saved?’
And he replied:
‘Things that are impossible for men are still possible with God.’
But Peter said:
‘Look, we’ve left everything to follow you!’
And [Jesus] said to him:
‘I tell you the truth;
There’s no one that loses a house or a wife,
Or brothers, parents, or children
For the sake of the Kingdom of God,
Who won’t receive much more in this age,
And life in the age that is coming.’
Then he took the 12 aside and said this to them:
‘Look! We’re on our way up to JeruSalem, where everything that the Prophets wrote about the Son of Man is now going to be fulfilled.
He’ll be handed over to the gentiles and made fun of; he’ll be treated shamefully and spit on;and then after flaying him with a whip, they’ll kill him…
But on the 3rd day, he will stand again.’
However, they just didn’t grasp the meaning of any of these things, because what he said was hidden from them and they couldn’t understand it.
Well later, as he was approaching JeriCho, there happened to be a blind man that was sitting alongside the road begging.
Then as he heard the crowd moving past, he asked what was happening,and he was told:
‘Jesus the Nazarene is coming!’
So he started shouting:
‘Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!’
Well, those that were walking in front [of Jesus] told him to be quiet.
However, he shouted even louder:
‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’
So Jesus stopped and gave orders to have him brought over.
And when [the blind man] got to him, [Jesus] asked:
‘What is it that you want me to do for you?’
And he answered:
‘Lord, let me see again!’
So Jesus said:
‘Then, see again… for your faith has saved you!’
And instantly, his sight returned.
Then he started following [Jesus], glorifying God, and the people were also praising God after they saw this.
Well after that, as [Jesus] was continuing on through JeriCho,{Look!} there was a rich man called ZacChaeUs (he was the chief tax collector)and he wanted to see just who this Jesus was, but he couldn’t because of the crowd, since he was too short.
So he ran ahead and climbed a fig-sycamore tree along the street where [Jesus] was walking, so he could see him.
Then when Jesus reached that spot, he looked up and said:
‘ZacChaeUs, hurry and get down from there, because I’ll be staying at your house today.’
So the man quickly got down and started rejoicing that he could welcome him as his guest.
But when [the crowds] saw this, they all started grumbling:
‘Is he going to spend the night at the home of a man who’s a sinner?’
But then ZacChaeUs stood up and said this to [Jesus]:
‘Lord, I will give half of my belongings to the poor, and whatever I got from anyone by extortion and false accusations, I’ll repay 4 times over!’
So Jesus said:
‘Salvation has come to this house today, for he’s also a son of AbraHam!
This is the reason why the Son of Man came… to search for and save those that are lost.’
Well, as they were listening to him say these things, Jesus gave them this parable (because he was getting close to JeruSalem and they all thought that the Kingdom of God was coming right away).
So he said:
‘A certain man of noble birth
Traveled to a far-away land
To be appointed as king.
‘So he called for 10 of his slaves,
And he gave them each a large silver coin,
Saying, Do business [with this], until I return.
‘But, he was hated by some of his subjects,
Who sent envoys ahead to say this about him:
We don’t want this man as our ruler!
‘Well, when he returned, appointed as king,
He summoned all [10] of those slaves
To whom he’d entrusted his silver,
To find out how much they had gained.
‘So the first one came up and told him:
With your coins, I’ve earned 10 silver coins!
‘And [the king] said this in reply:
Well-done, my good [faithful] slave!
Since you’ve proved yourself faithful in small things,
I’ll appoint you over 10 cities.
‘Then the second [slave] came up and said:
With your coins, I’ve earned 5 silver coins!
‘So [the king] said:
I’ll appoint you over 5 cities.
‘But the last came up and said:
Lord; Here’s the coin you gave me,
Which I wrapped up in a bandanna.
I did this because I’m afraid,
For I know that you are a very harsh man…
One that picks up what he hasn’t put down
And harvests where he hasn’t planted.
‘Then [the master] said:
O wicked slave;
From the words of your mouth, I have judged you…
So you know that I am a very harsh man
Who picks up what he hasn’t put down
And harvests what he hasn’t planted?
Then you should have put my coin in a bank,
Where it likely would have gained interest.
‘Then he said this to those that were standing nearby:
Take away the coin that I gave him
And give it to the one that has 10!
‘But when they said,
O Lord, he already has 10;
He said,
More will be given to those that have much,
While all will be taken from those that have none.
‘Now, bring all my enemies here…
Those that didn’t want me to serve as their king,
And before me, slaughter them all!’
Then after he said all these things, he got up and started leading the way to JeruSalem.
And when he got close to BethPhage and BethAny (near the hill called the Mount of Olives), he sent two of his disciples ahead,telling them:
‘Go into that village opposite us; and as you’re entering it, you’ll find a colt that is tied, which no one has ridden before.
Untie it and bring it here.
And if anyone asks why you’re untying it, just tell him that the Lord needs it.’
Well, those that were sent ahead found things exactly as he said they would be.
So when the owners asked why they were untying the colt,they replied:
‘The Lord needs it.’
So they thereafter led it to Jesus, and they threw a robe over the colt and set Jesus on [top of it].
Then, as he was traveling along, they were all spreading their robes over the road in front of him.
Well, as soon as he got close to the road that leads down the Mount of Olives [into JeruSalem], huge crowds of his disciples started rejoicing and praising God, shouting about all the powerful things that they had seen,and saying:
‘Praise this one that comes as King in the Name of Jehovah!
Peace in the heavens and glory in the highest places!’
However, some of the Pharisees among the crowd went up [to Jesus] and said:
‘Teacher! Scold your disciples!’
But Jesus replied:
‘I tell you this: If they were to remain silent, these stones would be doing the shouting!’
Well, as he was approaching the city, he looked at it and shed tears over it, saying:
‘If you just knew this today… the things that [would have led you] to peace… but now they’ve been hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming when your enemies will come here and build a fort of pointed stakes around you. Yes, they will completely surround you and come at you in force from all sides.
Then they’ll toss you and your young to the ground, and they won’t leave a stone on top of a stone here, because you failed to recognize the time of your being inspected.’
Then from there he entered the Temple and started throwing out the vendors,saying to them:
‘Though it’s written, My house will be a house of prayer, you’ve made it a den of thieves!’
So he taught in the Temple every day after that.
And though the Chief Priests, Scribes, and prominent people were looking to destroy him,they couldn’t come up with a just reason for doing this, since all the people were gathering around and listening to him.
Then one day, while he was teaching the people in the Temple and preaching the Good News; the Chief Priests, Scribes, and elders came upto him and said:
‘Tell us where you got the authority to do these things…
Who told you that you could this?’
So he replied:
‘Let me ask you a question… tell me:
Did John’s baptism come from heaven or from men?’
Then they got together and reasoned among themselves, saying:
‘If we say, From heaven, he’ll ask, Then, why didn’t you believe him?
But if we say, From men, all the people will stone us, because they believe that John was a Prophet.’
So they came back and told him that they didn’t know where it came from.
And Jesus said:
‘Then I’m not telling you where I got the authority to do these things.’
Well after that, he gave the people this parable:
‘A man once planted a vineyard
And contracted it out to some farmers;
Then he traveled abroad for a very long time.
‘So, when it came time for the harvest,
He sent a slave to the farmers
To ask for some fruit from his vineyard.
But the farmers then had [that slave] whipped,
And sent him away empty-handed.
‘Thereafter, [the man] did the same thing again,
But sending a different slave.
This one, they whipped and dishonored,
And they sent him away empty-handed.
‘Thereafter, he sent them a 3rd slave,
Whom they wounded and then threw him out.
‘So the owner asked himself what else he could do;
Then he said, I’ll send my dearly-loved son,
For I’m sure that they will respect him.
‘But when those farmers saw him arriving,
They discussed it, and then they said this:
This is the heir, so let us kill him,
And then his inheritance will be ours!
‘So they threw him out of the vineyard,
And thereafter, they put him to death.
‘So now, what do you think the owner will do?
Won’t he come and destroy those [bad] farmers,
Then entrust his vineyard to others?’
Well when they heard this, the [Pharisees] said:
‘Nothing like that is ever going to happen!’
But he looked at them and said:
‘Then, what is the meaning of the thing that was written, which says:
The stone that the builders rejected
Has become the foundation cornerstone? [Psalm 118:22]
‘I tell you that all that fall on this stone will be broken, and it will smash all those upon whom it falls.’
Well after that, the Scribes and Chief Priests started looking for ways to arrest him, for they realized that his parable was about them.
However, they were still afraid of the people,so they just kept on watching him closely.
Then they sent men that pretended to be righteous so as to trick him into saying something that would give them a reason to hand him over to the government and to the power of its governor.
So they came up to him and said:
‘Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is right, and that you aren’t swayed by a man’s appearance… for you truthfully teach the ways of God.
So now, tell us; Should we pay the taxes to Caesar or shouldn’t we?’
Well, recognizing what they were up to, he said:
‘Show me a coin… whose image and inscription is on it?’
And they replied:
‘Caesar’s.’
Then he said:
‘You should pay Caesar’s things to Caesar and God’s things to God.’
Well as the result, they weren’t able to catch him in anything that he said there in front of the people, and they were amazed by his answers.
So they didn’t say anything more to him after that.
However, some of the SadDucees (who say there is no resurrection) went up to him and asked him this:
‘Teacher; Moses wrote that if a man dies leaving his woman childless, his brother should take the brother’s woman and sire offspring for him.
‘Now, let’s say there were 7 brothers. The first took a woman and then he died childless.
So, the 2nd one and thenthe 3rd took her, and the same thing happened to all 7… they all died before siring children.
Finally, the woman also died.
So, whose woman will she be in the resurrection, since all 7 had her as theirs?’
And Jesus replied:
‘Though the sons of this age marry and are given in marriage;
Those who have been found worthy of that age and the resurrection from the dead won’t marry or be given in marriage,nor will they die anymore.
For they will have the power of the angels, since, as sons of the resurrection, they [will also be] sons of God.
‘Even Moses showed that the dead will be raised.
For when [he was] at the [burning] bush, he called Jehovah the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob.
So He isn’t a God of the dead but of the living, since they’re all living to Him!’
Then some of the Scribes came up and said:
‘Teacher, that was a fine answer.’
And they didn’t have the courage to ask him anything more after that.
So [Jesus] then asked them:
‘Why do they say that the Anointed One is David’s son?
For David himself said in the scroll of the Psalms,
Jehovah said this to my lord:
Sit here at My right hand,
‘Til I set your enemies as a stool for your feet. (Psalm 110)
‘So if David called him Lord, how could he be his son?’
Well at the time, all the people were there listening to this.
So then he turned and said this to his disciples:
‘Watch out for the Scribes who like to walk around in robes, to be greeted in the markets, to have the front seats in the synagogues, and to have the most prominent places at the suppers.
For they swallow down the homes of widows and then cover up their wrong-doing by saying long prayers.
This is why they’ll receive a heavier judgment.’
Well, as he looked up, he noticed the rich dropping their gifts into the [Temple] treasury chests.
And then he saw a poor widow drop in just 2 small copper coins,and he said:
‘I tell you the truth; though this widow is very poor, she dropped in more than they all did,since they dropped in gifts from their surplus, while this needy person dropped in her whole means of living!’
Then, as certain ones were discussing the Temple (how fine its stonework was and how nicely it was adorned),he said:
‘When it comes to these things that you see; the days are coming when there won’t be a stone left on top of a stone here that won’t be thrown down.’
So they asked him:
‘Teacher, when will these things take place… what will be the signs that they are about to happen?’
And he replied:
‘Be careful that no one misleads you, for many will come in my name and say, I’m the one, and, The time has arrived…
But don’t follow them!
‘You’ll also hear about wars and disorders, but don’t be frightened by this, for all those things must happen first.
However, the end doesn’t come right away.’
And he told them:
‘Then nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,there’ll be many great rumblings, and there’ll be famines and plagues everywhere, as well as fearful sights and signs in the skies.
However, before all these things happen, they’re going to persecute you and arrest you, then lead you up before religious courts and have you locked up.
Yes, because of my name, they’ll drag you before governors and kings…and that will be your sign!
‘[But when this happens], don’t bother to plan your defense;
For I’ll give you a mouth and enough wisdom so that anyone that lies about you will be unable to resist or contradict you.
‘However, your own brothers and parents… yes, even your own families and friends will betray you and kill some of you.
And though everyone will dislike you because of my name,not a hair on your heads will be harmed.
So by your endurance, you will have gained your own lives!
‘Now, when you see armies camped around JeruSalem, know that her destruction is near.
Then those in Judea should run to the mountains… yes, everyone in her midst should flee, and those that are in [fields] must not come back into her.
For those will be days of avenging and for accomplishing all that has been written about her.
‘Woe to those that are pregnant and nursing babies in those days, for there’ll be great distress in the land as [God’s] wrath is brought upon these people.
They’ll either be cut down by swords or be carried off to the nations as captives.
Then JeruSalem will be trampled by the gentiles until the times of the nations are filled.
‘At that time there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars.
And on the earth, the nations will all be in distress, for they’ll be confused by the roaring and the rolling surges of the seas.
‘Then men’s hearts will become weak with fear in expectation of the things that will be coming upon the habitation of mankind, as [they see] the powers in the heavens being shaken.
And that’s when they’ll see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with great power and glory.
‘But as [you see] these things start to happen, you should stand erect and raise your heads high, for you’ll know that your time of deliverance has drawn near!’
Then he gave them this parable:
‘Consider the figs and all other trees;
For, when they start putting out buds,
You know that summer is near.
‘Thus, when you see these things start to happen,
You should know that the Kingdom of God has drawn near.
‘I tell you the truth;
This people will not pass away
Until all these things are fulfilled…
Though the lands and the skies may all pass away,
My words will not pass away!
‘So pay attention to yourselves,
And don’t let your hearts become overburdened…
Don’t allow the worries of life
To make your hearts reel, and let you get drunk,
So that day doesn’t sneak up upon you.
For, it will arrive like a snare
Upon all that sit on the face of the earth.
‘Therefore, you must keep watch in every season
And keep praying that you’ll have the strength
To escape all these things that will happen,
And before the Son of Man, be able to stand.’
Well, [Jesus] taught in the Temple during the daytime, and every night he would go and camp on the hill called The Mount of Olives.
So, all the people would come to the Temple early each morning to listen to him.
Now, as the Festival of Passover was drawing near,the Chief Priests and Scribes were looking for ways to get rid of Jesus.
However, they were still afraid of the people.
But then the Opposer entered Judas (the one called IsCariot, who was one of the 12),and he went off and talked to the Chief Priests and [Temple] captains about ways that he could betray [Jesus] to them.
Well, they were delighted by this, and they agreed to pay him in silver coins,which he accepted.
So then he started looking for opportunities to betray [Jesus] when there were no crowds around.
Then, [just before] the day of No Fermentation (which is when the Passover was to be sacrificed),[Jesus] sent Peter and John ahead of him, saying:
‘Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.’
And when they asked him where he wanted them to prepare it,he told them:
‘{Look!} When you go into the city, you’ll be met by a man that is carrying a clay jar of water. Follow him into the house that he enters.
Then tell the master of the house that the Teacher wants to know where the guest room is where he can eat the Passover with his disciples.And he will show you a large furnished upstairs room.
Prepare for it there.’
So they left and found things just as he said; and they prepared for the Passover.
Then when it was time, he reclined at the table with his Apostles.
And he said to them:
‘I really wanted to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.For I tell you that I won’t eat it again until it’s fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.’
And at that, he took a cup, gave thanks for it, and said:
‘Take this and pass it among yourselves.
I tell you that from this point on, I definitely won’t be drinking the fruit of the vine again until after the Kingdom of God has arrived.’
Then he took a loaf [of bread], gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying:
‘This is my body, which is being handed over for you. Continue to do this in memory of me.’
He also did the same thing with the cup after supper.
He said:
‘This cup is the New Sacred Agreement of my blood that is being poured out on your behalf.
But look… the hand of my betrayer is with me here at this table!
So the Son (who indeed is from among mankind) will be going the way that has been marked out for him… yet, woe to that man through whom he’s being betrayed!’
Well at that, they started discussing among themselves which one would possibly do such a thing.
But then, a friendly dispute also arose between them as to which one of them seemed to be the greatest.
So [Jesus] said to them:
‘The kings of the gentiles like to dominate them, and those with power like to be called their benefactors.
However, you shouldn’t be like that. Rather, the greatest among you should act like the youngest, and the one taking the lead should be the servant of the others.
For, which one is truly the greatest… the one that reclines at the table, or the one that does the serving?
Isn’t it the one that reclines at the table?
Yet, here among you, I’m the one that has been doing the serving.
‘Now, because you’re the ones that stuck with me during my trials,I’m giving this appointment to you, as my Father has given the appointment to me, for a Kingdom:
In my Kingdom, you’ll eat and drink at my table, and you’ll sit on thrones, from which you’ll judge the 12 tribes of IsraEl.
‘But Simon, O Simon; Look!
The Opposer has demanded to have you so [he can] sift you like wheat!
However, I’ve pleaded with [God] on your behalf so that your faith doesn’t give out… and then after you return, you can strengthen your brothers.’
But [Peter] said to him:
‘Lord; I’m ready to go with you to prison and even into death!’
However, [Jesus] said:
‘I tell you this Peter; a rooster won’t crow today until you’ve denied knowing me three times.’
Then [Jesus] went on to say this to them:
‘When I sent you out before without a money bag, or a food pouch, or extra sandals, you really didn’t need anything more, did you?’
And they all replied, ‘No!’
But then he gave them this warning… he said:
‘But now; if you have a money bag, you must carry it along, as well as a pouch for your food.
And if you don’t have a sword, you should go sell your coat and buy one.For I’m telling you that the thing that was written about me must now be fulfilled:
He was counted among the law breakers.
Yes, this scripture is now going to be fulfilled in me.’
Then [the Apostles] said:
‘Look, Lord… here are two swords!’
And He said to them:
‘That’s enough.’
Then he left, and as was his custom, he went to the Mount of Olives… and the disciples followed along.
And when he got there, he told them this:
‘Now, pray that you won’t be tested!’
And at that, he walked away from them about a stone’s throw, and he bent down and started to pray, saying:
‘Father; If it’s Your Will, please take this cup away from me… but only if it’s Your will, not mine.’
Then a messenger from the heavens appeared to him, and this gave him strength.
Yet, because he was still in agony, he prayed even harder; and his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.
Well, after he had finished praying, he got up and returned to the disciples and found them sleeping (because they were all very grieved).
So he asked them:
‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you won’t be tested!’
But while he was still talking, {Look!} a mob approached with one of the 12 (the one called Judas) in the lead, and he walked right up to Jesus and kissed him!
Well at that, Jesus said:
‘Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’
And when those that were around [Jesus] saw what was about to happen, they asked him:
‘Lord, shall we fight them off with the swords?’
Then that’s when one of them struck the High Priest’s slave, taking off his right ear.
And after that happened, Jesus said:
‘It has gone far enough!’
Then he touched the [man’s] ear and healed him.
And thereafter, Jesus asked the Chief Priests, Temple captains, and elders that had come for him:
‘Are you coming here with swords and clubs [as though I were] some thief?
I was with you in the Temple every day, and you didn’t try to grab me then… however, this is your hour and the power of darkness.’
So they arrested him and led him off to the house of the High Priest, as Peter followed behind at some distance.
There they lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard, where they all sat down together, and Peter went and sat down among them.
But then a servant girl noticed [Peter] sitting there in the light of the fire… she looked at him very hard and said:
‘[This man] was with him also!’
But [Peter] denied it, saying:
‘I don’t know him, woman!’
And a little while later, someone else saw him and said:
‘You’re also one of them!’
But Peter said:
‘Man, I am not!’
Then, after standing around for another hour, someone started insisting, saying:
‘It’s true; this man was with him, because he’s also a Galilean!’
But Peter said:
‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’
And just as he was speaking, a rooster crowed.
Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the words that the Lord had said to him:
‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny knowing me three times.’
And at that, [Peter] went outside and wept bitterly.
Well, the men that had taken [Jesus] into custody then started making fun of him, and they [slapped] himas they were covering [his head] and shouting:
‘Now prophesy… tell us who’s disciplining you!’
They were also saying all sorts of slanderous things about him.
Well, as the day was dawning, the people’s body of elders assembled with the Chief Priests and Scribes, and then they brought [Jesus] before the Jewish High Court, where they said to him:
‘If you really are the Anointed One, then say so!’
And he replied:
‘If I told you, you wouldn’t even start to believe it!
Also, if I asked you any questions, you wouldn’t answer at all!
But from now on, the Son of Man will be sitting at the powerful right hand of The God!’
Well at that, they all asked:
‘So, are you the Son of The God?’
And he replied:
‘You’re the ones that are saying I am!’
And then they said:
‘So, why do we need any more witnesses, for now we’ve heard it from his own mouth!’
Well thereafter, the whole assembly got up and took [Jesus] before Pilate.
And there they accused him, saying:
‘We found this man trying to undermine the principles of our nation by forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and by saying that he’s the Anointed One… a king!’
So Pilate asked him:
‘Are you the king of the Jews?’
And he replied:
‘You’re the one saying this.’
Then Pilate said to the Chief Priests and the crowds:
‘I can’t find anything wrong with this man.’
But they insisted, saying:
‘He’s been stirring up the people teaching throughout all of Judea… that’s why he came here from GaliLee!’
Well on hearing that, Pilate asked whether [Jesus] was in fact a Galilean.
Then, after learning that he was from Herod’s realm, he sent him over to Herod (who also happened to be in JeruSalem at the time [for the Passover]).
Well when Herod saw Jesus, he was overjoyed, because he’d been wanting to see him for quite some time, since he’d heard so much about him and he hoped to see Jesus perform some sign.
So he asked many questions, but [Jesus] wouldn’t answer him.
[And all the while], the Chief Priests and Scribes kept standing up and accusing him.
But then, not knowing what to make of him, Herod and his troops made fun of Jesus by dressing him in bright clothes, and thereafter they sent him back to Pilate.
This is also why Herod and Pilate became friends that day, for they really hadn’t liked each other before that.
So Pilate then assembled the Chief Priests, rulers, and all the people,and he said to them:
‘You brought this man to me as someone that was inciting the people to revolt. And look! I’ve examined him before you and I can’t find any basis for the charges that you’re bringing against him.
In fact, Herod didn’t either, because he returned him to us.
So, since he’s done nothing deserving of death,I’m just going to discipline him and then release him.’For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast. [spurious words]
But with that, the entire crowd started shouting:
‘Impale him and release BarAbbas to us!’
([BarAbbas] was in prison at the time because of [his involvement in] a revolt in the city, and for murder).
Well, Pilate shouted to them once again, because he wanted to release Jesus.
But they started yelling, ‘Impale him! Impale him!’
So he asked them a third time:
‘Why? What crime has he committed?
I haven’t found anything that he’s done to deserve death, so I’m just going to discipline him and then set him free!’
But they started shouting impatiently, demanding to have [Jesus] hung on a pole… and their voices started to win out.
So Pilate gave inand he released [BarAbbas] (who was in prison for rebellion and murder) to meet their demands, then he did what they wanted [him to do] to Jesus.
Well, as they were leading him away, they grabbed Simon (a Cyrenian that happened to be coming in from the fields) and laid the pole on him, so that he could carry it behind Jesus.
Meanwhile, a huge crowd of people (including many women) followed behind [Jesus], beating themselves in grief and wailing over him.
But then Jesus turned to the women and said:
‘Daughters of JeruSalem; Stop crying for me… cry instead for yourselves and for your children!
Because, {Look!} the days are coming when people will say:
Those without any children,
And those whose wombs have not given birth,
Or whose breasts haven’t nursed, are the blest!
‘For they will then call to the mountains and say,
Come and fall over us!
And to the hills they will shout,
[Fall down] and cover us over!
For if [the Romans] have been willing to do such bad things
While the tree is still moist,
What will they do after it’s withered?’
Well, two criminals were also being led out to be impaled along with [Jesus].
And when they got to the place that was referred to as ‘The Skull,’ they hung him and the criminals on poles there (one on his right and the other on his left).
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing. [spurious words] Then [the soldiers] threw dice for [Jesus’] clothes,as the people just stood there watching.
However, their rulers were looking on angrily and saying:
‘He saved others, so let him save himself if he’s truly the Anointed of God… His chosen one!’
Even the soldiers made fun of him, coming up to him and offering him soured wineand saying:
‘If you’re the king of the Jews, save yourself!’
There was also a sign that had been placed above him [that said],
‘This is the king of the Jews.’
Then one of the criminals that was hanging there started speaking badly to him, saying:
‘If you’re the Anointed One, save yourself… and save us too!’
But the other one scolded him, saying:
‘Aren’t you at all afraid of God, since you’ve received the same judgment…which is only right, because we’re getting what we deserve in full measure for the bad things that we’ve done.
However, he hasn’t done anything wrong at all!’
Then the man said to Jesus:
‘Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’
And [Jesus] replied:
‘Truly I tell you today you will be with me in the Paradise.’
Well, it was already about the 6th hour… and then the whole land became covered by a darkness [that lasted] until the 9th hour,for the sunlight had failed.
Then the Temple curtain split down the middle,and Jesus called out in a loud voice, saying:
‘Father, I leave my breath in Your hands.’
And after saying that, he died.
Well when the centurion saw [all of this] happening, he glorified God and said:
‘This truly was a righteous man!’
And all the crowds that had come to watch this spectacle (after seeing all these things) started beating themselves [in grief] once again.
Meanwhile, those that knew him (such as the women that had followed him from GaliLee) were standing at some distance and paying attention to all that was going on.
Then {Look!} JoSeph (a man from HariMathea, a city in Judea), who was a good and righteous man and one of the Council members(one that didn’t go along with what the [others] said or did, and who was also awaiting the Kingdom of God)went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.
So he took it down, then he wrapped it in fine linen and laid it in a tomb that had been cut into the rock where no one had ever been placed before.
Well, since it was [the day of] Preparation and the Sabbath was about to arrive,the women that had come with him from GaliLee and that had followed along to look at the tomb to see how his body was laid out,went back to prepare spices and perfumed ointments.
But they followed the Commandments by resting on the Sabbath.
It was on the 1st day of the week, at early dawn, that [the women] went back to the tomb carrying the spices that they had prepared.
But when they got there, they found that the stone [that covered the tomb’s entrance] had been rolled away;and when they went inside, they couldn’t find the Lord Jesus’ body.
Well, as they were standing there confused, {Look!} two men in glowing clothes appeared beside them,which frightened them, and they hung their heads to the ground.
Then [the men] asked:
‘Why are you looking for the living among the dead?
[Jesus] isn’t here, he has risen!
Don’t you remember? When he spoke to you in GaliLee,he said that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, then he would be hung on a pole, and [he would be] resurrected on the 3rd day!’
Well, that’s when they remembered what he had told them,and they left the tomb to report these things to the 11 and all the others.
It was Mary of Magdala, Joanna, Mary (the [mother] of James) and the rest of the women that reported these things to the Apostles.
However, what they said sounded like nonsense, so nobody believed them.
But then Peter got up and ran to the tomb.
And when he leaned in, all he found was the wrappings. So he left, wondering what had happened.
{Look!} Meanwhile, on that very same day, two of [Jesus’ disciples] had been traveling to a village named EmMaus (which is about 7 miles / 11km from JeruSalem),and as they [were walking along], they were discussing all the things that had happened.
Then, as they were talking and reasoning, Jesus himself came up and started walking along with them…however, their eyes refused to recognize him.
So he asked them:
‘What is this subject that you’re debating as you’ve been walking along?’
And at that, they stopped and looked very sad.
Then the one named CleoPas said:
‘Have you been living as a hermit in JeruSalem that you don’t know what has happened over the past few days?’
And [Jesus] asked:
‘What things?’
Then they said:
‘The things [that happened to] Jesus the Nazarene… a Prophet that came before all the people with powerful words and deeds!
But our Chief Priests and rulers then handed him over to be sentenced to death and hung on a pole.
Yet, we were hoping that he would be the one that set IsraEl free… it has only been three days since these things happened!
‘Then some women among us really shocked us. For they went to the tomb early [this morning]and they said that they couldn’t find his body.
And when they came back, they told us that they had a vision of messengers [from God] who told them that he’s still alive!
So, some from among us went to the tomb and found it was just as the women had said… they didn’t see him.’
Well at that, [Jesus] said to them:
‘O senseless ones whose hearts are slow when it comes to believing all the things that the Prophets said.
Wasn’t it necessary for the Anointed One to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’
So, starting from Moses and the Prophets, he explained all the scriptures that talked about him.
Well when they reached the village where they were headed, he acted as though he was going to travel on.
But they pressured him, saying:
‘Stay with us, because it’s getting late and most of the day is already gone!’
So he stayed with them.
Then, as he was reclining with them for a meal, he took a loaf, spoke a blessing over it, broke it, and started handing it to them…and that’s when their eyes were fully opened and they recognized him… but then he disappeared!
And they said to each other:
‘Weren’t our hearts burning as he talked to us along the road, completely explaining the Scriptures to us?’
So they got up right away and went back to JeruSalem.
And there they found the 11 gathered with the rest,who told them:
‘The Lord was in fact raised, because he appeared to Simon!’
Then these [two men] also told [the group] what had happened [to them] on the road and of how he became recognizable when he broke the loaf.
Well, while they were still talking about these things, [they suddenly saw] Jesus standing there in their midst.
And he said:
‘May you have peace.’
However, this frightened and terrified them, because they thought they were seeing a [wicked] spirit.
So he asked them:
‘Why are you so worried, and what sort of conclusions are you reaching in your hearts?
Look… my hands and my feet… it’s me! Touch me and see, because a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones as you see that I have!’
And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
But because they still didn’t believe (due to both joy and confusion), he asked them:
‘Do you have something to eat?’
So they handed him a piece of broiled fish;and he took it and ate it in front of them.
Then he said to them:
‘These are the things that I talked to you about while I was still with you; for everything that was written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, had to be fulfilled.’
Then he opened their minds to fully understand the meanings of the Scriptures.
Thereafter, he said to them:
‘It was written that the Anointed One would suffer this way and then rise from the dead on the 3rd day.
Then in his name, [the message of] repentance for the forgiveness of sins is to be preached among all the nations, starting from JeruSalem…
And you [are the ones] that are to serve as the witnesses to these things!
‘So look! I will [soon] be sending you [something] that was promised by my Father.
Therefore, you must stay in this city until after you’ve become clothed with the power from above.’
And with that, he led them out along the road to BethAny… then he raised his hands and blest them.
And as he was blessing them, he was taken away from them into the sky.
Then, after bowing to their faces before him, they all returned to JeruSalem filled with joy.
And after that, they were found in the Temple praising God every day.
In the beginning there was the Word.
The Word was with The God (ton theon) and the Word was a god (theos).
This one was with The God in the beginning,and through him it all came to be.
Life was in him, and the life was the light of mankind.
This light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.
Then a man named John arrived who had been sent by God.He came as a witness to testify about the light so that everyone might believe through him.
He wasn’t the light, but he was to testify about the light;for the true light that enlightens all mankind had come into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world came to be through him, it didn’t recognize him.For even when he went to [those who were] his own, he wasn’t welcomed by them.
Yet, he gave all those who did welcome him (all those who put faith in his name) the authority to become the children of God.
So they will not be born from blood, from the will of the flesh, or from man’s will, but from God.
Thus, the Word became flesh and tented among us as we gazed upon his glory, which was the glory of the one-and-only next to the Father… and he was filled with kindness and truth.
Concerning him, John gave this testimony:
‘This is the one about whom I said,
Though he is coming behind me, he preceded me and he came before me!’
So, we have received loving-kindness after loving-kindness from his great wealth.
For though Moses gave us the Law, loving-kindness and truth come to us through Jesus the Anointed One.
And though no one has ever seen God, this ‘only generated god’ (the one in the favored position of the Father) has explained Him.
Now, this is what John testified to when the Judeans sent Priests and Levites from JeruSalem to ask him who he was.
[John] confessed… he didn’t deny it, he confessed, saying:
‘I’m not the Anointed One!’
‘Then when they asked:
‘Then who [are you]… are you EliJah?
He told them:
‘No, I’m not.’
[And when they asked]:
‘Are you the Prophet?’
He answered:
‘No!’
So they said:
‘Then, tell us who you are, so we can give an answer to those who sent us… what are you saying about yourself?’
And he told them:
‘I’m just the voice of someone who is calling out in the desert, as the Prophet IsaiAh said…
I have come to straighten the way for the Lord.’
Now, those who had come to speak to him had been sent by the Pharisees,so they asked him:
‘Then, why are you baptizing if you aren’t the Anointed One, or EliJah, or the Prophet?
And John told them:
‘I baptize in water; but there’s someone standing in your midst whom you don’t know.
He’s the one that is coming behind me, the laces of whose sandals I’m unworthy to untie.
Well, all of these things happened in BethAny-Behind-the-JorDan, which is where John was doing his baptizing.
Then the next day, as [John] saw Jesus coming toward him, he said:
‘Look! The Lamb of God who lifts away the sins of the world!
This is the one about whom I said,
There’s a man coming behind me who preceded me and came before me!
Yet, even I didn’t recognize him, though the reason why I came baptizing in water was so that I might reveal him to IsraEl.
Then John gave this testimony:
‘I saw the Breath [of God] coming down from the sky like a dove and settle upon him!
And though I didn’t know who he was, the One that sent me to baptize in water told me this:
Whomever you see the Breath [of God] coming down and resting upon is the one that baptizes in Holy Breath…
And this is what I saw, so I can now testify to the fact that this is the Son of The God!
Then the next day, as John was standing there with two of his disciples,he noticed Jesus walking by, and he again said:
‘Look, the Lamb of God!’
So the two disciples that heard him say this started following Jesus.
And when Jesus turned around and saw them following him, he asked them:
‘What are you looking for?
And they replied:
‘Rabbi (Teacher); where are you staying?’
Then he said:
‘Come with me and see.’
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent the rest of the day with him (until about the 10th hour).
Well after that, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter (one of the two that heard what John said and who followed [Jesus])went and found his brother Simon and told him:
‘I’ve found the Messiah (which translates as, the Anointed One).’
Then he led him to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, he said:
‘You’re Simon, the son of Jonah… you will be called Cephas (gr. Petros or Peter).
Then the next day, as Jesus was preparing to leave for GaliLee, he found Philip and said to him:
‘Be my follower’
(Philip was from BethSaida, the same city as Andrew and Peter).
Then after that, Philip [went and] found NathaniEl (BarTholomew) and told him:
‘We’ve found the one about whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets… he is Jesus the son of JoSeph from Nazareth!’
But when NathaniEl asked:
‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’
Philip told him:
‘Well, come and see!’
Then when Jesus saw NathaniEl coming, he said to him:
‘Look… an IsraElite who really speaks his mind!’
So NathaniEl asked him:
‘How is it that you know me?’
And Jesus replied:
‘Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’
Then NathaniEl said:
‘Rabbi; you are the Son of God… you’re the King of IsraEl!’
And Jesus asked:
‘Do you believe this because I said that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see even greater things than that.’
Then he said:
‘I tell you men the truth; you will see the heavens opening up and the messengers [of God] ascending and descending upon the Son of Man!’
Well, three days later, there was a wedding banquet in Cana of GaliLee. And because Jesus’ mother was there,Jesus and his disciples were also invited.
Then when the wine started to run out, Jesus’ mother said to him:
‘They don’t have any more wine.’
And Jesus said to her:
‘Why is this any of my business, woman? My hour hasn’t come yet.’
But then his mother told the waiters:
‘Do whatever he tells you to do.’
Well, there were 6 stone water jars sitting there that the Judeans required for washing, each of which held about 15 gallons (56l).
So then Jesus told them to fill the jars to the brim with water.And then he said:
‘Now, dip some out and take it to the banquet director.’
So they did this and they took it to the banquet director.
And when he tasted the water that had been turned into wine (he didn’t know where it came from, but the waiters that drew the water knew), the director called the bridegroomand said to him:
‘Everyone else puts out the finest wine first, then after people are intoxicated, the inferior. However, you’ve kept the best wine for now!
So it was, there in Cana of GaliLee, that Jesus first showed the signs that revealed his glory, and it’s where his disciples [first started believing] in him.
Well after that, [Jesus] went down to CapharNaum with his mother, brothers, and disciples.
However, they didn’t stay there long,because it was getting close to the Jewish Passover.
So then Jesus traveled up to JeruSalem,where he found [people] in the Temple selling cattle, sheep, and doves, as well as some currency changers that were sitting there.
Then, after making a whip out of ropes, he drove all those with the sheep and cattle out of the Temple, and he poured out the currency changers’ coins, turning their tables over.
And after that, he said to those that were selling the doves:
‘Get these things out of here!
Quit turning my Father’s House into a marketplace!’
So that’s when his disciples remembered that it was written:
‘Zeal for Your House will consume me.’
Well after he did that, the Judeans asked him:
‘What sign can you show us [to prove] that you should be doing these things?’
And Jesus replied:
‘When you tear down this Most Holy (gr. Naon or, Dwelling of God), I will rebuild it in three days.’
Then the Judeans said:
‘It took 46 years to build this Holy Place… and [you say] that you’ll rebuild it just in three days?’
But of course, Jesus was talking about his most holy body (gr. Naou tou somatos autou or, Most/Holy of/the body of/him).
For after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he used to say this, and they believed the Scriptures and the things that Jesus said.
It was there (while he was in JeruSalem for the Passover festival) that many people started believing in his name… that is, after they saw the signs that he was performing.
But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew them…he didn’t need anyone to tell him about people, because he knew what they were on the inside.
Now, there was a man named NicoDemos (he was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Judeans)who came to him one night and said:
‘Rabbi, we know that you came as a teacher from God, because nobody can perform signs like you’re doing unless God is with him.’
Then Jesus said:
‘I tell you the truth; Unless a person is born from above, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.’
So NicoDemos asked:
‘How can a man be born again after he’s old… he can’t go back into his mother’s womb a second time to be born, can he?
And Jesus replied:
‘I tell you the truth; Unless a person is born from water and [God’s] Breath, he can’t enter the Kingdom of God.Because, things that have been born from the flesh are fleshly, while things that have been born from the Breath are spiritual.
However, don’t be surprised because I told you that people have to be born again…for the wind blows wherever it wishes. And though you can hear the noise, you don’t know where it’s coming from or where it’s going…
And this is how it will be for all those that have been born of the Breath.
Then NicoDemos asked,
‘How can things like this happen?
And Jesus replied:
‘You’re a teacher of IsraEl, and you don’t know?
I tell you the truth; We talk about the things that we know, and we testify to things that we’ve seen… yet you haven’t accepted our testimony.
So if you don’t believe the earthly things that I’m telling you, how will you believe the heavenly things?
‘No one has gone to heaven other than the one that came down from heaven, the Son of Man… he [came from] the heavens.
And as Moses raised the [sign of the] snake in the desert; that’s how the Son of Man must also be raised,so that all those that believe in him might have age-long life.
‘This is how [much] God loved the world:
He gave His one-and-only Son so that all that believe in him might not be destroyed but have age-long life.
‘God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it, but rather, so that the world might be saved through him!
Therefore, those who believe in [the Son] won’t be condemned, while those who don’t believe have already been condemned, because they haven’t put faith in the name of God’s one-and-only Son.
Indeed, this [is the basis] for their judgment!
‘Though the light has now entered the world, these men have loved darkness more than the light, because the things that they’re doing are evil.
For people who do what is foul hate the light and they don’t come into the light so [they won’t] be disciplined for the [bad] things that they’re doing.
However, those that do what is true will come toward the light, so that the things they’re doing can be exposed as having been done in God.’
Well after that, Jesus and his disciples traveled into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time with them, baptizing.
Meanwhile, John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim (because there was a lot of water there), and people kept going out to be baptized [by him],since John hadn’t been thrown into prison yet.
Well, John’s disciples had been arguing about purification with [a certain] Judean.
And then they went to John and said:
‘Rabbi; The man that was with you across the JorDan (the one whom you testified about) is also baptizing, and now everyone is going to him!’
And John told them:
‘A man can’t have anything unless he receives it from heaven…and you are witnesses that I said I’m not the Anointed One, but that I’ve been sent ahead of him.
So the one that has the bride is the bridegroom. But his friend, when he stands and listens to him, gains much joy from the voice of the bridegroom.
Therefore, my joy is now complete;for he must increase as I decrease.
‘[Understand that] the one that comes from above is over everything. And while the one that comes from the ground is earthly and talks about earthly things; the one that comes from heaven is over all,and he speaks of things that he’s actually seen and heard… yet, they aren’t accepting his testimony.
However, those that do welcome his testimony are proving God to be true.
‘And since the one that was sent by God speaks God’s words; he doesn’t just measure out [small] portions of [God’s] Breath,because, the Father loves the Son and He has entrusted everything into his hands.
So those who believe in the Son will have age-long life, while those who disobey him won’t see life at all, because the wrath of God remains upon them.’
Well, when the Lord realized that the Pharisees knew he was making and baptizing more disciples than John(although Jesus didn’t really do any baptizing, his disciples did),he left Judea and returned to GaliLee.
However, on the way back, he had to travel through Samaria.
So he stopped at a Samaritan city called Sychar, which was close to the field that Jacob had given to his son JoSeph,and it’s where Jacob’s [well] was located.
Since Jesus was tired from the journey, he sat down at the edge of the [well] (at about the 6th hour).
And at the time, there was a Samaritan woman that had come there to draw water.
So, Jesus said to her:
‘Give me a drink’
(at the time, his disciples had gone into the city to buy some food.)
But the Samaritan woman asked him:
‘So, why are you, a Jew, asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans [spurious words]’
And Jesus told her:
‘If you knew about the gift of God and who it is that is asking you for a drink, you might have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’
Then she said:
‘Lord; you don’t have anything to draw water with… and it’s a deep well! So, where will you get this living water?
You aren’t greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well and who drank from it with his sons and cattle, are you?’
And Jesus replied:
‘Whoever drinks this water will just get thirsty again.
But whoever drinks the water that I give him won’t be thirsty again in this age, for the water that I give will become a fountain inside him that bubbles age-long life.’
Then the woman said:
‘Lord, give me this water so I won’t be thirsty again and have to keep coming to this place to draw water!’
And he said to her:
‘Go call your husband [and tell him] to come here.’
But the woman replied:
‘I don’t have a husband.’
And Jesus said:
‘It’s good that you say you don’t have a husband,because you’ve had 5 husbands; and the one you have now isn’t your husband… you’ve spoken the truth.’
So the woman said:
‘Lord, I see that you’re a Prophet.
Our ancestors worshiped here on this mountain, but you people say that JeruSalem is where we should worship.’
Then Jesus said to her:
‘Believe me, woman; the time is coming when you won’t worship the Father on this mountain or in JeruSalem!
‘Yet, you worship what you haven’t known, while we worship what we have known… for salvation comes from the Jews.
But the time is coming (and it’s now) when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, because, the Father is searching for such people to worship Him.
And since God is spirit; those that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.’
Then the woman said:
‘I know that the Messiah (who is called the Anointed One) is coming, and when he gets here, he will explain everything to us.’
And Jesus said:
‘I (this person who is speaking to you) am that one.’
Well, his disciples arrived just then, and they were puzzled because he was talking to a woman.
And of course, no one asked what she was looking for or why he was talking to her.
However, the woman just left her water jar and walked back into the city.
And there she said to the people:
‘Come and see a man who told me everything that I did… this couldn’t be the Anointed One could it?’
As the result, everyone came from the city to see him.
Meanwhile, the disciples had been urging him, saying:
‘Rabbi, eat!’
But he told them:
‘I have food to eat of which you are unaware.’
So the disciples started asking each other:
‘No one has brought him anything to eat, have they?’
Then Jesus said:
‘Doing the will of the One that sent me and finishing His work is my food.
For though you say that there are still 4 more months until the harvest, I say to you, look up and notice the fields, because they’re already white and ready for harvesting!
Yes, the harvesters are already getting their pay and they’re gathering in the fruit of age-long life… so the planters and the harvesters can now rejoice together.
‘Though the saying is true,
One does the planting while another does the harvesting,
I’m now sending you out to harvest what you didn’t [plant].
Yes, though others have done the work, you’re now benefiting from their efforts!’
Well at the time, many of the Samaritans in that city started believing in [Jesus] because of what the woman had testified to when she said:
‘He told me everything that I did.’
So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay there with them… and he spent a couple of days in that place.
However, many more started believing in him after that, because of the things that he was saying.
So they told the woman:
‘We don’t believe just because of what you said, but because of what we’ve heard for ourselves… and now we know that this man is truly the Savior of the world!’
Well, two days later, he finally left GaliLee;and there Jesus himself witnessed the fact that a Prophet receives no honor in his hometown.
However, when he [first] arrived in GaliLee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen all the things that he did in JeruSalem at the festival (since they had also been there).
Thereafter, he traveled on toward Cana of GaliLee (where he had turned the water into wine), and there happened to be a man of noble birth in CapharNaum at the time, and he had a son that was ill.
So when the man heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into GaliLee, he went and asked him to heal his son (who was about to die).
However, Jesus said to him:
‘You [people] just refuse to believe unless you see signs and omens.’
But the man urged him, saying:
‘Lord; please come on, before my little boy dies!’
And Jesus told him:
‘Be on your way! Your son is alive.’
So the man believed what Jesus said and he went away.
Then, as he was traveling back, his slaves met him on the way and told him that his boy was alive.
And when he asked them exactly what time he got better, they told him:
‘The fever left him yesterday at the 7th hour.’
And at that, the father recognized that this was the same time that Jesus had told him his son was alive. So thereafter, he and his whole household became believers.
This was the second sign that Jesus had performed when he came out of Judea into GaliLee.
Well later, because there was a Jewish festival, Jesus [once again] went up to JeruSalem.
And in JeruSalem, at the Sheep-gate Pool (it’s called BethZatha in Hebrew) where there are 5 stone columns,he found many people that were sick, blind, lame, and otherwise physically handicapped, and they were all lying down. waiting for the moving of the water.For at a certain time, an Angel would go into the pool and disturb the water; whoever was first to step in the water after its disturbance was cured of whatever disease he had. [spurious text]And among them was a man that had been extremely weak for some 38 years.
So when Jesus saw this man lying there (being aware of the long time he had this condition), he asked him:
‘Would you like to get well?’
And the sick man answered:
‘Lord, I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is shaking.
And while I’m trying to get in, someone else steps in ahead of me!’
Then Jesus said:
‘Get up, pick up your cot, and walk around.’
And with that, the man immediately became healthy… he picked up his cot and started walking around.
Now, it so happened that this was a Sabbath day;so the Judeans started saying to the cured man:
‘It’s the Sabbath, so it’s illegal for you to carry you cot!’
But he said to them:
‘The one that cured me told me to pick up my cot and walk around!’
And they asked:
‘Which man was it that told you to pick it up and walk around?’
But the healed man didn’t know who he was, because Jesus had faded into the crowd.
Then later on, Jesus found the man in the Temple and said to him:
‘See… now you’re healthy!
Don’t sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.’
Well after that, the man went off and told the Judeans that it was Jesus who had cured him.
So, this is why the Judeans started persecuting Jesus… because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
But he told them:
‘My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.’
As the result, the Judeans started looking [for ways to] kill him. For, not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he also called God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
Then Jesus said to them:
‘I tell you the truth; The Son can do nothing other than what he sees the Father doing… whatever [the Father] does is what the Son does.
And because the Father cares about the Son, He shows him everything that He’s doing… and [God] will show him greater works than these, just to amaze you.
‘For as the Father raises the dead and makes them alive; the Son can also give life to whomever he wishes.
And the Father doesn’t judge anyone, for He has left all the judging to the Son,so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Therefore, whoever doesn’t honor the Son, doesn’t honor the Father that sent him.
‘I tell you the truth;
Those that hear what I say and believe in the One that sent me will have age-long life… they won’t have to be judged, for they have come out of the death and into the life!
‘I also truthfully say that the time is coming and it is now when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who listen to him will live.
For, just as the Father has life in Himself, He has given the Son life in himselfand authorized him to do judging… because he is the son of man.
‘Don’t be surprised at this, because the hour is coming when all that are in the tombs will hear his voiceand come out… those that did good things to a resurrection of life, and those that practiced what is foul to a resurrection of judgment.
‘[Understand that] I am unable to do anything of myself… I just judge by what I hear, and my judgments are righteous, because I’m not looking to do what I want, but to do the Will of the One that sent me.
‘Now, if I were to testify about myself, that testimony wouldn’t be true.
But someone else has already testified about me, and I know that the testimony he gave about me is true.For you sent [people] to John and he testified to the truth.
Nevertheless, I don’t really need the testimony of men… I’m just telling you these things to save you!
‘[John] was a burning, shining lamp, and you all wished to rejoice in that light during his hour.
But now I have a testimony that’s even greater than John’s, because I’m doing the work that my Father assigned me to finish.
And it’s these things that will testify about me [and prove] that I was sent by the Father.
‘For even the Father that sent me has testified about me… yet, you’ve never heard His voice or seen His shape,and His words don’t stick with you, because you don’t believe in the one that He sent.
Rather, you keep searching the Scriptures, thinking that they will give you age-long life.
And though they actually testify about me,you still refuse to come to me so you can live!
‘I don’t [need] glory from people,and I know that you don’t have God’s love in you.
For though I’ve come in the Name of my Father; you haven’t welcomed me. Yet if someone else came in his own name, you would welcome him!
So how can you believe, when you receive your glory from each other and you don’t look to glorify the one that has come here from the One God?
‘Now, don’t think that I’m going to accuse you before the Father, because the one that accuses you is Moses… the very person in whom you’re putting all your hope.
For if you believed Moses, you’d also believe me, since he wrote about me!
However, if you don’t even believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I have to say?’
Well [sometime] after this, Jesus had crossed to the other side of the Sea of GaliLee (or Tiberius),and a large crowd followed along just to see the signs he was performing upon those that were sick.
And there, Jesus went up a mountain and sat down with his disciples.
It was close to the time of the Jewish Passover festival,so when Jesus looked up and noticed the huge crowd coming, he asked Philip:
‘Where should we buy bread for them all to eat?’
However, he just said this to test him, because he already knew what he was going to do.
Then Philip answered:
‘200 silver coins worth of loaves wouldn’t be enough to provide even a little for this many [to eat]!’
And one of his disciples (Andrew the brother of Simon Peter) said to him:
‘Here’s a little boy that has 5 loaves of barley bread and 2 small fish… but then, what good is this when there are so many?
Then Jesus said:
‘Have the people recline as they would at a meal.’
Well, there was a lot of grass there, so they all (about 5,000 men) got down on the ground.
Then Jesus took the bread, and after giving thanks, distributed it to those that were lying there.
[He also did the same with] the small fish, [giving them as much] as they wanted.
And after everyone had been filled, he told his disciples to pick up the leftovers so that nothing was wasted.
And when they picked them up, they filled 12 baskets with what remained of the 5 loaves of barley that those who had eaten had left behind.
So when the people saw the signs that he was performing, they started saying,
‘This really is the Prophet that was to come into the world!’
And then Jesus (because he knew that they were about to come and take him to make him their king) went away again… [he walked] up on the mountain [to be] by himself.
Well, later that evening, [Jesus’ disciples] went down to the waterand got into their boat, then they left for the other side of the Sea to CapharNaum, because it had grown dark and Jesus hadn’t returned yet.
However, a strong wind arose and the sea started becoming very rough.
Well, after they’d rowed for about 3 or 4 miles (5 or 6km), they saw Jesus walking across the sea toward the boat, and this frightened them.
But he said to them:
‘Don’t be afraid… it is me!’
And at that, they were finally willing to let him into the boat.
Then, shortly thereafter, they reached shore at the place where they were headed.
However, the next morning, the crowd that was still on the opposite shore could see that there was just the single little boat and that the other was gone… and they knew that Jesus hadn’t gotten into the boat with his disciples, and that [the disciples] had left by themselves.
Then some boats arrived from Tiberias and they docked close to the place where everyone had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks,and that’s when the crowd started to realize that Jesus and his disciples were no longer there.
So they got into their little boats and traveled to CapharNaum to look for Jesus.And when they found him across the sea, they asked him:
‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’
So Jesus said to them:
‘I tell you the truth; You aren’t looking for me because you saw signs, but because you had enough bread to eat.
Don’t work for food that can spoil. Rather, [work for] for the bread of life that lasts through the ages, which the Son of Man (who was sealed by our Father The God) will give to you.’
Then they asked:
‘So, what must we do to perform the works of God?’
And Jesus replied:
‘All that God requires is for you to believe in the one whom He sent.
So they asked:
‘Then, what sign will you perform for us, so that we can see and believe… what [miracles] can you show us?
Didn’t Moses give our ancestors manna as bread from heaven when they were in the desert?’
Then Jesus replied:
‘I tell you the truth; the bread that Moses gave them didn’t [really] come from heaven. However, my Father will give you bread that truly does come from heaven.
For God’s bread is the one that came from heaven so as to give life to the world.’
Then they said:
‘Lord, always give us this bread!
And Jesus went on to say:
‘I am that bread of life, and those that come to me won’t ever be hungry again, nor will those that believe in me ever be thirsty again.
‘However, I tell you this:
Though you’ve seen me, you still don’t believe…and only those whom the Father has given to me will come to me.
However, I won’t throw away anyone that comes to me,because I didn’t come here from heaven to do my will, but [to do] the Will of the One that sent me.
‘And this is what His Will is:
That I shouldn’t lose any of those that He has given to me, and that I should resurrect them [on] the Last Day.
Yes, it is the Will of my Father that everyone who pays close attention to the Son and believes in him should have age-long life.
For I will resurrect him… [yes] me, on the Last Day!
Well at that, the Judeans started grumbling about him, because he’d said:
‘I am the bread that has come down out of the heavens.’
And they started asking each other:
‘Isn’t this Jesus, the son of JoSeph, whose father and mother we all know? So, how is it that he’s saying,
I came down out of the heavens?
Then Jesus said to them:
‘Stop your grumbling!
No one can come to me unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me… and then I will resurrect him on the last day.
‘It is written in the Prophets:
They will all be taught by God.
So, all who listen to the Father and learn, will come to me.
‘However, no one has seen the Father other than the one that was with The God… yes, he has seen the Father.
And I tell you the truth; those that believe this will have age-long life,because I am the bread of life!
‘Even though your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, they [still] died…but those who eat this bread that came from heaven will not die!
‘I am the living bread that came from heaven, and all that eat this bread will have age-long life.
Yes, the bread that I’m offering up is my flesh, and I’m giving it away so that I can bring life into the world!’
Well at that, the Judeans started arguing with each other, asking:
‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’
So Jesus said:
‘I tell you the truth; if you don’t eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you won’t have life in yourselves.
For those that chew my flesh and drink my blood will have age-long life… because I will resurrect them on the Last Day.
Since my flesh is truly food and my blood is truly drink;those that chew on my flesh and drink my blood will remain in me, and I in them.
‘I was sent here by the living Father and I became alive through the Father.
So, those that chew on me will live because of me!
‘Yes, this is the bread that came down from heaven.
It’s not the same as the bread that your fathers ate and then died; for those that chew on this bread will live through the ages.’
Well, he said all these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at CapharNaum.
But after they heard him say these things, many of his disciples said:
‘These are tough words… who can listen to them?’
Well, because Jesus knew what his disciples were grumbling about, he asked them:
‘Has this become a trap for you?
[If so], what will happen when you see the Son of Man going back up to the place from which he came?
‘[Understand that your] breath is what makes you alive, for [without it], the flesh is useless.
Likewise, these things that I’m telling you are your life and your breath…
Yet, some of you still don’t believe.’
Well, Jesus knew from the start who wouldn’t believe and who would betray him,so he went on to say:
‘This is why I told you that none of you can come to me unless you’ve been given to me by the Father.’
However, as the result of [these things that he was saying], many of his disciples went back to what they’d left behind and they wouldn’t walk with him anymore.
Then Jesus asked the 12:
‘Don’t you want to turn back also?’
And Simon (Peter) replied:
‘Lord, to whom should we turn?
You’re the one that speaks the words leading to age-long life…for we’ve known and believed that you’re the Holy One of God!’
Then Jesus said:
‘I chose you 12, didn’t I? Yet, one of you is a slanderer.’
Of course, he was talking about Judas, [the son] of Simon IsCariot; because, although he was one of the 12, he was about to betray [Jesus].
Well after all these things had happened, Jesus limited his travels to [the area around] the GaliLee… he no longer cared to travel through Judea, because the Judeans were looking to kill him.
However, the Jewish Festival of Temporary Structures was coming up,so his brothers said to him:
‘You should leave here and go to Judea, so your disciples there can also see the things that you’re doing.
For nobody does things in secret when they want everyone to know what they’re saying.’
(Yes, it’s a fact that his brothers didn’t believe in him).
So Jesus told them:
‘My time hasn’t arrived yet… but it’s always your time,because the world has no reason to hate you.
It hates me, because I testify to the fact that its ways are wicked.
So, you go on up to the festival… I won’t be going to this festival yet, because my time hasn’t arrived.’
Well, he remained in GaliLee [for a while] after telling them this.
However, after his brothers had left for the festival, Jesus also went (not openly, but in secret).
Meanwhile, the Judeans were all looking for him at the festival, for they were asking:
‘Where is that [man]?’
And there was a lot of discussion about him among the crowds. Some were saying:
‘He’s a good man.’
But others were saying:
‘No he isn’t… he’s misleading them all!’
Of course, nobody would talk about him publicly, because they were all afraid of the Judeans.
Well, by the time that Jesus arrived, the festival was half over.
But then he went into the Temple and started teaching,which caused the Judeans to wonder and ask:
‘How is it that this man understands the scriptures, since he hasn’t studied them?’
So Jesus told them:
‘What I’m teaching you isn’t mine… it belongs to the One that sent me.
And all those that want to do His Will already know whether the things I’m teaching come from God, or if I’m speaking on my own.
For those that speak on behalf of themselves are just trying to glorify themselves.
But this one whose only wish is to glorify that One that sent him, is telling the truth, and there isn’t any unrighteousness in him.
‘However, though Moses give you the Law; none of you are trying to do what the Law says… for why are you looking to kill me?’
Well at that, the crowd started shouting:
‘You’re demonized… who is looking to kill you?’
And Jesus said:
‘I just did this one thing that really bothers you.
‘Moses gave you the circumcision (though it’s not really from Moses but from your forefathers); so you circumcise men on the Sabbath.
And if a man can be circumcised on a Sabbath without breaking the Law of Moses, then why are you so angry with me because I made a man healthy on a Sabbath?
Stop judging from the way things look on the surface… judge righteously!’
Well at that, some who lived in JeruSalem started asking:
‘Isn’t this the man that they’re actually seeking to kill?
Yet, look… here he is speaking in public and they haven’t said anything to him!
Have the rulers come to believe that he really is the Anointed One?
‘However, we all know where this man came from; but when the [real] Anointed One arrives, no one will know where he’s from!’
Then (as he was standing in the Temple, teaching) Jesus shouted aloud:
‘Yes, you know me and you know where I’m from! But, coming here wasn’t my idea;
For the One that sent me here is real and you don’t know Him.
I know Him, because I came from Him and He sent me here!’
Well after that, they started looking for ways to arrest him, but no one was able to lay a hand on him because his time hadn’t come yet.
But meanwhile, many in the crowd started believing in him and they were saying:
‘When the Anointed One arrives, he surely won’t perform more signs than this man has, will he?’
And because the Pharisees could hear what the crowd was saying about him, the Chief Priests and Pharisees did send officers to arrest him.
It was then that Jesus said:
‘I will be here with you just a little while longer before I return to the One that sent me…
And then you will look for me but not find me; for where I’m [going] you can’t go.’
So the Judeans started asking each other:
‘Where does he plan to go that we won’t be able to find him?
He doesn’t intend to go to those scattered among the Greeks and start teaching the Greeks, does he?
What does he mean when he says,
You’ll look for me but not find me,
and,
Where I’m going you can’t go?
Well, it was on the last day (the climax) of the festival, that Jesus stood up and shouted:
‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!
For the scriptures say this about those that will put faith in me:
A river of living water will flow from him.’
Of course when he said this, [he was talking] about The Spirit that those who were putting faith in him were about to receive.
However, the Spirit hadn’t arrived yet, because Jesus hadn’t been glorified.
Then some in the crowd that heard these words started saying:
‘This is surely the Prophet!’
While others were saying:
‘This is the Anointed One!’
However, some also said:
‘The Anointed One won’t really come from GaliLee, will he?
Didn’t the Scriptures say the Anointed One is from the line of David and from BethLehem, the village of David?’
So the crowd became divided over him.
And though some among them had come to arrest him, nobody laid a hand on him.
Then after the officers returned to the Chief Priests and Pharisees and were asked why they didn’t bring him in,they replied:
‘No man has ever spoken like this!’
So the Pharisees said to them:
‘You haven’t been misled also, have you?
Why, none of the rulers or Pharisees believe in him, do they?
Yet this crowd that doesn’t know the Law is cursed!’
Then NicoDemos (the man that had come to him previously and was truly one of [Jesus’ followers]) said to them:
‘Your Law doesn’t allow you to judge a man before you’ve heard what he has to say and get to understand what he’s up to, does it?’
But they said to him:
‘Are you also a Galilean? Search [the Scriptures] and you’ll see that no Prophet is to come from GaliLee!’
And every man went to his own home.
Jesus went to the mount of Olives.And early in the morning, he again went into the temple, and all the people came to him. He then sat down and taught them.Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman who was found committing adultery. After they’d presented her to everyone,they say to him: ‘Master, this woman was found committing adultery, caught in act!Now, in the Law, Moses commanded us that such a person should be stoned [to death]; but what do you say?’They asked this to trap him, so they might get [something] to accuse him with. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as if he hadn’t heard them.So when they continued asking him, he lifted himself up, and said to them: ‘Whoever among you that has no sin, let him be the first one throw a stone at her.’And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.And those who heard him, being convicted by their own conscience, went away, one by one; first the oldest, right up to the last one. Then Jesus was left alone, with the woman standing there.When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw nobody except the woman, he said to her: ‘Woman, where are your accusers? Has anyone condemned you?’She said: ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said unto her: ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, and don’t sin anymore.’ [spurious text]So Jesus continued to speak [to the people], saying:
‘I am the light of the world, and whoever follows me won’t ever walk in darkness, because he’ll have the light of life.’
Then the Pharisees said to him:
‘You are just testifying about yourself, and what you’re testifying to isn’t true!’
But Jesus said:
‘Even if I am testifying about myself; my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I will return.
However, you don’t know where I came from or where I will be going,since your judgment is fleshly.
‘Now, I’m not really judging anyone!
But if I should judge, my judgment would be true, because I’m not alone… for with me is the Father that sent me!
And isn’t it written in your Law that whatever two people testify to is true?
So though I am testifying about myself; the Father that sent me has also testified about me.’
Then they asked:
‘So, where is your Father?’
And Jesus replied:
‘You don’t know me or my Father; for if you knew me, you would also know my Father.’
And though [Jesus] was saying these things right there inside [the Temple] Treasury; during the entire time that he was teaching in there, nobody arrested him, because his time hadn’t come yet.
Then He told them again:
‘I am about to go away and then you will look for me.
However, you will just die in your sins, because I’m going to a place where you can’t go.’
So the Judeans started asking:
‘Is he saying that he’s going to kill himself? For he says,
I’m going to a place where you can’t go.’
But he went on to tell them this:
‘You came from the things below and I came from the things above… you’re from this world, but I’m not from this world.
So as I told you before; you will die in your sins… indeed, if you don’t believe that I am the one, you will die in your sins!
Then they asked:
‘So, who are you?’
And Jesus said to them:
‘Why am I even talking to you?
‘Yet, I have so many things to tell you and to judge about you;
For the One that sent me is true, and I’m telling the world whatever I heard from Him.’
Well, because they really didn’t understand that he was talking to them about the Father,Jesus said:
‘After you hang the Son of Man up, you’ll know who I am and that I haven’t been doing anything on my own… I’ve just been telling you what I was taught by the Father.
For the One that sent me is with me, and He didn’t send me off alone, because I always do the things that please Him.’
Well, as he was saying these things, many started to believe in him.
So Jesus then addressed those Judeans that believed in him, and he said this to them:
‘If you hang onto these things that I’m telling you, you are really my disciples…
You will know the truth and the truth will set you free!
But some [in the crowd] shouted:
‘We’re the seed of AbraHam and we’ve never been slaves to anyone!
So, why are you saying that we’ll be set free?’
And Jesus said to them:
‘I tell you the truth; everyone that sins is really a slave to sin.And a slave doesn’t always live in the house… only the son lives there through the age.
Yet if the Son sets you free, you’ll really be free!
‘I know that you’re AbraHam’s seed… however, you’re looking to kill me, because what I’m saying isn’t getting through to you.
Though I’m telling you the things that I saw [while I was] with my Father; you’re still doing the things that you heard from your father.’
Then they said:
‘Well, our father is AbraHam!’
And Jesus said:
‘If you really are AbraHam’s children, then do what AbraHam did!
However, you still want to kill me, a man that is just telling you the truth that I heard from God… AbraHam wouldn’t do that!
So you’re doing the things that your father wants.’
Then they said:
‘We weren’t fathered through some immoral relationship… we have one Father, God!’
And Jesus said to them:
‘If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came here from God.
I didn’t come here on my own, He sent me here!
‘Do you know why it is that you don’t understand what I’m saying?
Because you aren’t listening!
‘You’re from your father the Slanderer, and you’re wanting to do the will of your father, who’s been a murderer from the beginning… he didn’t stick with the truth, because there isn’t any truth in him.
So when he tells a lie, he’s saying something that is his, since he’s a liar and the father of the lie.
This is why, though I’m telling you the truth, you don’t believe me.
‘Who among you can accuse me of sinning?
And if I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
Those that come from God listen to what He says… and that’s why you aren’t listening… because you aren’t from The God!’
Well at that, the Judeans said:
‘Aren’t we telling the truth when we say that you’re just a demonized Samaritan?’
And Jesus answered:
‘I don’t have a demon; I’m honoring my Father and you’re dishonoring me…
I’m not trying to glorify myself!
‘However, there is someone that is watching and judging.
And I truthfully say that those of you who obey my words won’t see death through the age.’
Then the Judeans said to him:
‘Now we know that you’re demonized! For though even AbraHam and the Prophets died, you’re saying,
If anyone obeys my words, he won’t see death through the age.
You aren’t greater than our father AbraHam or the Prophets that all died, are you?
Who are you claiming to be?’
And Jesus told them:
‘If I were just glorifying myself, my glory would mean nothing.
However, my Father is the One that is glorifying me… the One whom you say is your God,though you’ve never really known Him.
I know Him, and if I should ever say that I don’t know Him, I’d be a liar like you.
However, I do know Him and I’m doing what He told me to do.’
[Then Jesus went on to tell them:]
‘Your father AbraHam shouted in joy over the hope of seeing my day…
Yes he saw it and he rejoiced!’
But the Judeans said:
‘You aren’t 50 years old yet, and you’ve seen AbraHam?’
And Jesus replied:
‘I tell you the truth; I was before there was an AbraHam.’
Well at that, they picked up rocks to stone him, but Jesus avoided them by just passing between them…
Then he left the Temple.
Well, as they were walking along, [Jesus’ disciples] noticed a man who had been blind since birth.
So they asked [Jesus]:
‘Rabbi; Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’
And Jesus said:
‘It wasn’t because of the sins of this man or his parents… this happened so that the works of God could be demonstrated through him.
For I must do the work of the One that sent me while it is still day, since the night is coming when no one can work.
And as long as I’m in the world, I’m its light.’
Well after he said that, he spit on the ground and made a paste with his saliva, then he put it over the man’s eyesand told him:
‘Now, go wash in the Pool of SiloAm’ (which translates as The Sent Place).
So the man went off and washed, and he came back seeing.
Then when his neighbors (those who knew that he’d been a beggar) saw this, they asked,
‘Isn’t this the same man that used to sit and beg?’
And some agreed, saying:
‘That’s him!’
However others were saying:
‘No, it’s just someone that looks like him.’
But the man said:
‘I’m him!’
So they asked:
‘Then, how were your eyes opened?’
And he replied:
‘The man called Jesus made a paste and smeared it on my eyes, then he told to me to go to SiloAm and wash.
So I went and washed, and I started seeing!’
And they asked him:
‘Where is that man?’
But he said:
‘I don’t know.’
So they took the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees(for the day that Jesus made the paste and opened his eyes happened to be a Sabbath).
Then the Pharisees asked him again how he had gained his sight, and he answered:
‘He put a paste on my eyes, then I washed it off and I started seeing.’
And some of the Pharisees said:
‘Well, the man [that did this] isn’t from God, because he doesn’t observe the Sabbath!’
But then, others asked:
‘But if the man is a sinner, how could he perform such signs?’
So as the result, they were divided.
Then they asked the blind man once more:
‘Since he opened your eyes, what do you have to say about him?
And the man said:
‘He’s a Prophet!’
However, the Judeans still didn’t believe that he had once been blind and started seeing, so they called his parents inand asked them:
‘Is this your son whom you say was born blind?
And if so, how is he able to see now?’
And his parents replied:
‘We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
However, we don’t know how he started seeing or who opened his eyes… ask him, he’s old enough.
Let him speak for himself!’
Of course, his parents said this because they were afraid of the Judeans, who had agreed that if anyone would admit that [Jesus] is the Anointed One, he would be expelled from the synagogue.
So that’s why his parents said:
‘He’s old enough, ask him.’
Then they spoke to the man that used to be blind again, saying:
‘Glorify God… for we know that man is a sinner!’
But he told them:
‘Whether he’s a sinner or not, I don’t know. The only thing I do know is that I was blind and now I can see!’
So they asked him once more:
‘What did he do to you… how did he open your eyes?’
And he replied:
‘I already told you, but you aren’t listening!
Why do you want to hear me say it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?’
Well at that, they spoke very rudely to him; they said:
‘You’re one of that man’s disciples… however, we’re the disciples of Moses.
We know that God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know where this man is from!
And the man said:
‘It’s truly marvelous that you don’t know where he’s from… yet he opened my eyes!
We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, He only listens to those who are God-fearing and wish to do His Will.
Yet, through the ages, no one has ever heard of anyone that could open the eyes of a person that was born blind.
And if this man wasn’t from God, he couldn’t do such a thing!’
Then they said:
‘You were born a complete sinner… and now you’re teaching us?’
So at that, they threw him out.
Well, Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he asked:
‘Have you started to put faith in the Son of Man?’
And the man answered:
‘Just who is he Lord, so that I can believe in him?’
And Jesus said:
‘You have already seen him, for this one who is speaking to you is him.’
Then the man said:
‘I do believe in him, Lord’… at that, he bowed with his face to the ground.
Then Jesus said:
‘The judgments that I’m bringing into this world are helping those that don’t see to see, and making those that can see, blind.’
But when some of the Pharisees that were walking with him heard this, they asked:
‘We aren’t blind also, are we?’
And Jesus told them:
‘If you were blind you wouldn’t have any sin.
But because you claim to see, your sins remain.’
‘I tell you the truth; Those that don’t enter the sheep pen through the gate, but climb in at some other place, are thieves and robbers.
Only the one that enters through the gate is the shepherd of those sheep.
He’s the gatekeeper that opens to them, and the sheep listen to his voice.
‘So he calls his sheep by their names and then he leads them out.And after he has them all out, he leads the sheep and they follow, because they recognize his voice.
They won’t follow a stranger… they’ll run from him, since they don’t recognize the voice of a stranger.’
Then, because they didn’t understand what he meant when Jesus gave them this parable,Jesus again said:
‘I tell you the truth; I’m the gateway to the sheep,and all those that came ahead of me were thieves and robbers… so the sheep didn’t listen to them.
‘I am the gateway, and whoever enters through me will be saved… he can come in or he can go out and find a place to graze.
So while thieves only enter to steal, kill, and destroy, I came here so they can have life… and plenty of it!
‘I am the good shepherd… and a good shepherd will give his life for his sheep.
A hired hand (someone who isn’t a shepherd and who doesn’t own the sheep) will leave them and run away whenever he sees a wolf coming, so the wolf can scatter them and snatch some away.
For since he’s just a hired hand, he doesn’t really care about the sheep.
‘However, I am the fine shepherd, and I know my sheep and they know me,just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.
Therefore, I will lay down my life for my sheep!
‘I also have other sheep that aren’t in this pen, and I must lead them too.
They will listen to my voice and they will all become one flock under one shepherd.
‘This is why I’m so loved by the Father… because I’m willing to lay down my life and then take it back again.
Nobody is going to take it from me, I’m giving it away! For I’m authorized to lay it down and I’m authorized to receive it again.
Yes, this is the rule that I received from my Father!’
Well, the Judeans once again became divided over these words.For many were saying:
‘He’s demonized and crazy… so, why are you listening to him?’
But others were saying:
‘These aren’t the words of a demonized man, for a demon can’t open the eyes of a blind man, can it?’
Well at the time, the Festival of Rededication was going on in JeruSalem (it was winter).
And as Jesus was walking along in the Temple among the Columns of Solomon,some Judeans gathered around him and asked:
‘How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense?
Just tell us if you’re the Anointed One!’
And Jesus replied:
‘I [already] told you, but you don’t want to believe it!
Although the things that I’m doing in my Father’s Name all testify about me,you still don’t believe it, because you aren’t my sheep.
‘My sheep listen to my voice… I know them all and they follow me,so I’m giving them age-long life!
No, none of them will be lost in this age, because no one can snatch them out of my hands.
For my Father who gave them to me is greater than everyone, and no one can snatch them from His hands…
And my Father and I are one!’
Then once again, the Judeans picked up rocks to stone him.
So Jesus said:
‘I have shown you all these good things that I did, which came from the Father…
So, for which of these good deeds are you getting ready to stone me?’
And the Judeans replied:
‘We won’t be stoning you for doing good things, but for your blasphemy…
Though you’re just a man, you’re making yourself a god!’
Then Jesus asked:
‘Isn’t it written in your Law,
I say that you are gods?
So if God called those that were spoken against in His Word gods (and you can’t void the Scriptures);
How can you tell me (one who was made holy and sent into the world by the Father) that I’m blaspheming because I say that I’m God’s Son?
‘Now, if what I’m doing isn’t my Father’s Will, then don’t believe me.
But if what I am [doing is His Will], then believe in what I’m doing even if you don’t believe in me!
For then you will come to know (and keep on knowing) that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’
So at that point, they tried to grab him again.
However, he slipped out of their reach.
Then he went off and crossed the JorDan [River], and he stayed at the place where John had started his baptizing.
Many people came to him there, and they were saying:
‘John didn’t perform a single sign, but everything that John said about this man is true!’
So, many started believing in him there.
Now, there was a man that was very ill, Lazarus of BethAny (he came from the same village as Mary and her sister Martha).
This is the Mary that greased the Lord with perfumed ointment and wiped his feet dry with her hair.
And Lazarus (who was her brother), was very sick,so his sisters sent word [to Jesus], saying:
‘Lord, {Look!} the one that you care for is very ill!’
But when Jesus heard this, he said:
‘This sickness isn’t for death, it’s for the glory of God…
So that the Son of God will be glorified by it!’
And though Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus;
When he heard that [Lazarus] was ill, he actually stayed where he was for two more days.
And after that, he told the disciples:
‘Let’s go to Judea again.’
But the disciples reminded him, saying:
‘Rabbi, the Judeans just tried to stone you, so are you going there again?’
And Jesus replied:
‘Aren’t there 12 hours of daylight? If a person walks in the daylight he doesn’t bump into things, because he sees the light of this world.
But if someone walks around during the night he’ll bump into things, because there isn’t any light in him.’
Then after he said this, he told them:
‘Our friend Lazarus is lying down and I’m going there to wake him up.’
So the disciples said to him:
‘Lord, if he’s just lying down, he’ll survive.’
However, Jesus had been talking about his death, while they thought he was talking about lying down to sleep.
So then, Jesus told them plainly:
‘Lazarus has died…and I’m happy for your sakes that I wasn’t there, so you can believe.
Now, let’s go to him!’
Then Thomas (who was called the Twin) said to the other disciples:
‘Let’s go along too, so that we can also die with [Jesus].’
Well when Jesus arrived, he found [that Lazarus] had already been in the tomb for 4 days.
And since BethAny was just about 2 miles (3km) from JeruSalem,many people had come there from Judah to see Martha and Mary in order to console them over [the death of] their brother.
Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary stayed at home.
And Martha said to Jesus:
‘Lord, if you had just been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.
But I know that whatever you ask of God, He will give to you.’
Then Jesus told her:
‘Your brother will stand again!’
And Martha said:
‘I know that he’ll stand again in the resurrection on the Last Day.’
But Jesus said to her:
‘I am the resurrection and the life; so, whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.
And all the living that believe in me will not see death into the age.
Do you believe this?’
And she answered:
‘Yes, Lord; I have believed that you’re the Anointed One, the Son of The God, who was to come into the world.’
Then after saying this, she went off to call her sister Mary, and she told her secretly:
‘The Teacher is here and he’s asking for you.’
So when [Mary] heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.
Actually, Jesus hadn’t gone into the village yet, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.
And when the Judeans that had come to the house to console Mary saw her get up quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to cry there.
Then when Mary got to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying:
‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!’
Well, when Jesus saw her and all the Judeans that came with her crying, he groaned a deep sigh and was visibly upset.
Then he asked her:
‘Where have you laid him?’
And she replied:
‘Lord, come here and see.’
Then Jesus broke into tears,and the Judean [women] said:
‘See how much he cared for him!’
But some of them also asked:
‘Wasn’t this man that opened the eyes of the blind man able to keep him from dying?’
Well, after groaning deeply again, Jesus went to the tomb (it was actually a cave with a [large] rock placed over it).
And Jesus said:
‘Lift the stone.’
But Martha (the dead man’s sister) said:
‘Lord, by now he must smell, because it has already been 4 days!’
However Jesus said:
‘Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’
So they lifted the stone.
Then Jesus raised his eyes toward heaven and said:
‘Father; thank You for listening to me!
I know that You always listen to me, but I said this for the sake of the crowd that’s standing around… so they can believe that You sent me.’
And after he said that, he shouted loudly:
‘Lazarus, come on out!’
Then the man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet still bound with wrappings and his face still wrapped in a cloth.
And Jesus said:
‘Now, untie and unwrap him!’
Well, that’s when many of the Judeans that came with Mary and saw what he had done started believing in him.
However, others went off to the Pharisees and reported what Jesus was doing.
So the Chief Priests and Pharisees assembled the Jewish Court and said to them:
‘What should we to do… for this man is performing so many signs?
If we let him just keep on doing this, everyone will believe in him and the Romans will come and take our land and our people!’
Then one of those in the group, CaiAphas (who was the High Priest that year), said to them:
‘You don’t know anythingand you haven’t figured it out yet… that it’s best for one man to die for the people so the whole nation isn’t destroyed!’
However, he didn’t come up with this by himself;
It was just because he was High Priest that year that he spoke this prophesy about Jesus having to die for the nation…and not just for the nation, but so that he could also bring the scattered children of God together as one.
Well, because these men continued meeting and discussing ways to kill him,Jesus no longer traveled openly among the Judeans.
He left there and traveled through the countryside next to the desert to a city called Ephraim, where he remained with his disciples.
But then, because the Judean Passover was coming, many of the people left the countryside for JeruSalem to undergo ceremonial cleansing before the Passover.
Meanwhile, the people were looking for Jesus in the Temple, and they were asking each other:
‘What do you think? Won’t he come to the Festival at all?
For the Chief Priests and Pharisees have given orders that if anyone knows where he is, they should report it, so they can arrest him.’
Well, 6 days before the Passover, Jesus finally arrived at BethAny (the place where he had raised Lazarus from the dead),and they prepared a supper for him there.
Martha was doing the serving and Lazarus was reclining at the table with the others.
Then Mary took a pound of perfumed ointment (it was very expensive… genuine nard) and greased Jesus’feet, wiping them dry with her hair and filling the whole house with the scent of the perfume.
But Judas IsCariot (one of his disciples who was about to betray him) asked:
‘Why wasn’t this ointment sold for 300 silver coins and given to the poor?’
However, he didn’t say this because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief… he kept the money box, and he used to [steal some of] the money that was put into it.
But Jesus said:
‘Leave her alone… let her keep this observance of the day of my burial.
For you will always have the poor with you, but you won’t always have me.’
Well, a large crowd of Judeans had learned that he was there, and they didn’t just come to see Jesus, but they also came to see Lazarus whom he’d raised from the dead.
As the result, the Chief Priests then met in counsel to kill Lazarus also,since many Judeans were going there and believing in Jesus because of what had happened to him.
Then the next day, a huge crowd of people that had come to the festival (when they heard that Jesus was coming to JeruSalem)took palm fronds and went out to meet him, shouting:
‘[God] save the Praised One that comes in Jehovah’s Name as the King of IsraEl!’
And when Jesus found a young burro, he mounted it, just as it was written:
‘Don’t be afraid, O daughter of Zion;
For look… your king has arrived
Sitting upon the colt of a burro.’
And though his disciples didn’t understand this at first;
After Jesus was glorified, they realized that all of this had been written about him and that they actually did these things.
Also, the crowd that was with him when he had called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead, started testifying about him.
So, many among the throngs [of people that were there] came to meet him, because they’d heard about his performing this sign.
And as the result, the Pharisees started talking among themselves, saying:
‘Look, we’re getting nowhere!
See, the whole world is following him!’
Well, there were some Greeks among those that had come to worship at the Festival,and they went up to Philip (who was from BethSaida of GaliLee) and said:
‘Lord, we would like to see this Jesus.’
So Philip went and told Andrew, then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
But Jesus told them no, because he said:
‘The time has now arrived for the Son of Man to be glorified.
‘I tell you the truth;
Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a kernel. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.
So, those that care for their lives will lose them, while those that don’t care about their lives in this system of things are grabbing hold of age-long life.
‘Therefore, if anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, so that my servants will be wherever I am…
For the Father will honor all those that wish to serve me.
‘Now, I’m deeply disturbed, so what should I say…
Father, save me from this hour?
No, for this is why I came to this hour!
So Father; Glorify Your Name!’
Then a voice came out of the sky that said:
‘I glorified it and I will glorify it again!’
Well, [many in] the crowd that were standing there heard [the sound] and they said it was thunder; but others said:
‘An angel has spoken to him!’
Then Jesus said:
‘This voice didn’t happen for my sake, but for yours,since this system of things is now going to be judged, and the ruler of this arrangement will be cast out!
For when I’m hung high off the ground, I will draw all men toward me.’
(He was really saying this to show what type of death he was about to die).
And the crowd started saying:
‘Since the Law tells us that the Anointed One will be here through the age;
Why are you saying that the Son of Man must be hung up… just who is this Son of Man?’
And Jesus replied:
‘The light will be among you for just a little while longer.
Therefore, walk while you have the light, so that darkness doesn’t overtake you.
For those that walk in darkness don’t know where they are going.
But as long as you have the light, you have to put faith in that light, so you can become Sons of the Light.’
Then after Jesus said these things, he went and hid from them.
For though he had performed so many signs before them, they still didn’t believe in him.
Yet, all of this happened so that the words of the Prophet IsaiAh could be fulfilled, which said:
‘O Lord;
Who has believed in the things that we’ve heard,
And who has shown us the arm of Jehovah?’
Now, the reason why they couldn’t believe is as IsaiAh once said:
‘For the hearts of these people have hardened,
So that with their ears, they now listen slowly,
And all their eyelids are closed;
Thus, they will not hear with their ears,
Nor will they see with their eyes,
And their hearts just won’t comprehend
To make them turn back so I’d heal them.’
Yes, IsaiAh said this, because he saw and talked about the glory [of Jesus].
Why, even many of the rulers believed in him… but they wouldn’t admit it because of the Pharisees, so they wouldn’t be expelled from the synagogues.
For they loved the glory of men even more than the glory of God.
Then Jesus shouted [to the crowd]:
‘Those who believe in me aren’t just believing in me alone, but in the One that sent me.
And whoever sees me also sees the One that sent me!
For I came as a light to this world so that all those that believe in me won’t remain in the darkness.
‘Now, if anyone hears the things that I am saying and doesn’t obey them; I’m not going to judge that person, for I didn’t come into the world to judge it, but to save it!
However, those that ignore me and don’t welcome what I say already have someone that is judging them… the things that I’ve said are what will judge them on the last day,since the things that I’ve said didn’t come from me.
Rather, it was the Father who sent me that commanded me and told me what to say.
And since I know that His Commandments mean age-long life, I’ve just told you whatever the Father told me… yes, these are the things that I’ve been saying to you!’
Well, even before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to transfer from this world to the Father.
Yet, he loved those who were his own in this world all the way to the end.
So while they were eating supper (since the Slanderer had already put it into the heart of Judas IsCariot – the son of Simon – to betray him,and because he knew that the Father had put everything into his hands and that he came from God and was returning to God);he got up from the meal and laid his outer clothing aside.
Then he took a towel and wrapped it around himself,and he put water in a bowl and started washing his disciples’ feet and drying them with the towel that he’d wrapped around him.
However, when he got to Simon Peter, [Peter] asked:
‘Lord, why are you washing my feet?’
And Jesus replied:
‘You won’t understand what I’m doing right now, but you will understand later.’
Then Peter said:
‘Well, you aren’t going to wash my feet any time in this age!’
And Jesus told him:
‘If I don’t wash you, you will never have a share with me.’
And at that, Simon Peter said:
‘Lord, then not just my feet, but my hands and head also!’
But Jesus told him:
‘Someone who has taken a bath is already completely clean and he doesn’t need to have anything more than his feet washed… and you men are clean…
But not all.’
He knew, of course, which man would betray him. That’s why he said,
‘Not all of you are clean.’
Well, after he’d finished washing their feet, he put his outer clothing back on and reclined at the table again.
Then he asked:
‘Do you know what I’ve done for you?You call me Teacher and Lord, and there’s nothing wrong with this, because that’s what I am.
But if I as your Lord and Teacher washed your feet, you should also wash the feet of each other.
Now, I’ve set the pattern for you, so you must do just as I’ve done to you.
‘I tell you the truth;
A slave isn’t greater than his master, nor is the one that is sent greater than the one that sent him.
So if you understand these things and do them, you will be blest.
‘However, I’m not talking about all of you, for I know those whom I chose.
And the scripture must be fulfilled that says:
The one that used to chew on my bread
Has lifted his heel against me.
So from now on, I will be telling you things before they happen.
That way, when they do happen, you’ll believe that I am the one.’
‘I tell you the truth;
Those who welcome anyone that I send are welcoming me.
And those who welcome me, are also welcoming the One that sent me.’
Well, after he said all these things, Jesus became deeply disturbed and he testified to this:
‘I tell you the truth;
One of you will betray me!’
So the disciples started looking at each other and they were all at a loss as to which one he was saying this about.
And because the disciple whom Jesus particularly loved was reclining right next to Jesus,Simon Peter nodded to him and said:
‘Tell [us] who he’s talking about.’
So, this one leaned back against Jesus’ chest and asked him:
‘Lord, who [are you saying this about]?’
And Jesus replied:
‘It’s the one to whom I’m going to give this piece of bread that I’m dipping.’
So he dipped the piece of bread, then he took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon IsCariot.
Well, after [Judas ate] the bread, the Opposer entered him. And Jesus said to him:
‘Now, hurry and do all that you’ve planned to do!’
Meanwhile, none of the rest that were reclining at the table knew why he said this to him.
In fact, some thought that since Judas was in charge of the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever was needed for the Festival, or that he should give something to the poor.
So [Judas] left immediately after he’d received that piece of bread late that evening.
Well, it was after [Judas] had left that Jesus said:
‘Now the Son of Man is being glorified, and through him, God will also be glorified.
For God Himself will glorify him, and he’ll be glorified right away!
‘Little children; I’ll only be with you a little while longer.
Then you will look for me, and as I told the Judeans:
Where I’m going you can’t come…
And I’m saying the same thing to you right now.
‘Therefore, I’m giving you a new commandment… to love each other!
Yes, love each other just as I’ve loved you.
For they will recognize you as my disciples by the love that you have for each other’.
Then Simon Peter asked:
‘Where are you going, Lord?’
And Jesus told him:
‘You can’t follow me to the place where I’m going now…
But you will follow later.’
Then Peter said:
‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now?
I’m [willing to] give my life for you!’
But Jesus said:
‘Will you give your life for me?
I tell you the truth; a rooster won’t crow before you’ve denied knowing me three times.’
‘Now, don’t let your hearts be troubled… just have faith in God and have faith in me.
‘Understand that there are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this weren’t so, I wouldn’t have told you that I’m going there to prepare a place for you.
And if I’m going to prepare a place for you, I will also return and take you back with me, so you will then be wherever I am…
And you’ll know the way to the place where I’m going.’
But Thomas said:
‘Lord; Since we don’t know where you’re going, how can we know the way?’
And Jesus told him:
‘I am the way, the truth, and the life;
So, no one can come to the Father unless [he comes] through me.
‘If you men had [truly] known me, you would have recognized my Father also…
And from now on, you’ve known Him and you’ve seen Him.’
Then Philip said:
‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us!’
And Jesus asked:
‘Have I spent so much time with you and you haven’t come to know me yet, Philip?
Since those who have seen me have also seen the Father, why are you saying, Show us the Father?
Don’t you believe that I’m in the Father and the Father is in me?
‘I’m not coming up with the things that I’m saying to you on my own… it’s the Father who is in me that is doing His work.
Yes, believe me when I say that I’m in the Father and the Father is in me…
Or just believe because of the things that I’m doing!
‘I tell you the truth;
Whoever believes in me will do the same things that I’m doing.
In fact, he will do even greater things than these, because I’m going to the Father now.…and thereafter, I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son can glorify the Father.
Yes, whatever you ask of me in my name, I will do…
And if you truly love me, you’ll follow my commandments!
‘Now, I’m going to ask the Father and He will provide another advocate for you that will be with you through the age…
The Spirit of Truth.
The world won’t receive it, because they can’t see it or understand it.
However you will recognize it, for it will stay with you and in you.
‘Yet, I’m not leaving you as orphans, because I’ll be coming [back] to you.
‘Nevertheless, in just a little while, the world won’t see me anymore.
However, you will see me again, because I’ll be alive and you’ll be alive.
And in that day, you’ll come to know that I am in my Father, just as you will be in me and I will be in you.
‘Those that know my commandments and obey them are the ones that truly love me.
And because they love me, they will be loved by my Father…
And I’ll love them and reveal myself to them.’
Then Judas (not IsCariot, [but ThadDaeus]) asked:
‘Lord, what [is about to] happen so that you’ll be showing yourself to us, but not to the world?’
And Jesus replied:
‘If anyone loves me, he’ll obey my words. Then my Father will love him and we will come to him and dwell in him.
However, those who don’t love me won’t obey my words.
And the words that you’re hearing aren’t mine… they belong to the Father that sent me.
‘Now, I’ve told you these things while I was with you,but the Advocate – the Holy Breath that the Father will send in my name – will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I’ve told you.
‘So now, I leave you peace…
I’m giving you my peace.
I’m not giving it to you in the same way as this system of things offers it; I’m giving it to you so that your hearts won’t be troubled or fearful.
For though you heard me say that I’m going away… believe that I will also return.
And if you love me, you’ll cry out in joy that I’m going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am!
‘Now, I’ve told you all of these things before they happen, so that when they do happen, you can believe.
‘I won’t be saying many more things to you, because the ruler of this system of things is coming…
Yet he has no hold on me.
Then the world will know that I love the Father, and that I’ve [fulfilled] all the commandments that the Father gave to me.
‘Now, get up! Let’s leave this place!’
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator.
So He will remove any branch in me that doesn’t produce fruit, and He will clean up all those that do produce, so that they can bear more fruit.
‘Now you’ve already become clean by the things that I’ve told you…
So stick with me and I’ll stick with you!
For just as a branch can’t produce fruit unless it remains on the vine, you can’t either, unless you remain in me.
‘Yes, I am the vine and you are my branches;
So those that are in me (and I in them) will produce much fruit.
But apart from me, you can’t do anything.
For when someone doesn’t remain in me, his branch will be removed and wither.
Then men will gather up such branches and throw them into the fire, where they’ll be burned.
However, if you remain in me, and if the things that I tell you remain in you;
You can ask for anything you wish and it will happen.
‘My Father is glorified when you keep on producing much fruit and you continue to prove that you’re my disciples.
So in the same way that the Father has loved me and I’ve loved you; remain in my love.
Yes, if you’ll obey my commandments, you’ll remain in my love, just as I have obeyed the commandments of the Father and I have remained in His love.
‘Now, I am telling you these things so that you can share in the joy that I have, and so that your joy can grow.
And this is what I am commanding you:
Love each other just as I have loved you!
‘No one has greater love than a man who will lay down his life for his friends…
And you are my friends, as long as you keep on doing what I am commanding you.
‘I’m not calling you slaves, because a slave doesn’t really know what his master is doing.
Rather, I’m calling you friends, because I’ve told you everything that I heard from my Father.
‘Understand that you didn’t choose me, I chose you…
Yes, I appointed you!
So, you must now go and produce fruit…
Fruit that will last, so that whatever you might ask from the Father in my name, He will give to you!
‘Yes, this is what I’m commanding you: Love each other!
And know that if this world dislikes you, it disliked me first.
If you’re from this world, the world will be fond of what is its own.
But because you’re no part of this world (since I chose you out of the world), it won’t care much for you.
‘Remember what I told you:
A slave isn’t greater than his master!
So if they’ve hunted me down, they’ll also hunt you down…
But if they’ve obeyed my words, they’ll also obey yours.
‘So, they’re going to do all these things against you because of my name, since they don’t know the One that sent me.
And if I hadn’t come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin…
But now they won’t have any excuse for their sins!
‘Understand that those who dislike me, dislike my Father also.
And if I hadn’t done things that no one else has ever done among them, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin.
However, they have [in fact witnessed these things], and they’ve shown that they don’t care for my Father or for me.
Yet all of these things have happened so that the words written in [the Psalms] would be fulfilled:
They disliked me for no reason. (Psalm 109:1)
‘Now, when the Advocate that I’m going to send to you from the Father arrives (the Spirit of Truth that comes from the Father); that [one] will testify about me.
And you are also to testify [about me], because you have been with me from the beginning.’
‘Now, I’m telling you these things so you won’t be stumbled,for they’re going to expel you from their synagogues…
In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he’s doing a service to God!
However, they’ll be doing these things because they don’t know me or the Father.
I’ve told you this so that when their hour arrives, you might remember that I [warned] you about these things.
‘I didn’t say anything about this in the beginning, because I was with you.
But now I’m going to the One that sent me… and yet, none of you have asked me where I’m going.
‘I know that because I’ve told you these things, your hearts are now filled with grief.
But, believe me when I say that my going away is for your own good… because, if I didn’t go away, the Advocate wouldn’t come to you. However, after I go, I’ll send him to you.
And when that one arrives, he’ll condemn this arrangement over its sins, its righteousness, and its judgments.
About sin: Because they have no faith in me.
About righteousness: Because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore.
About judgments: Because the Ruler of this world has been judged.
‘I still have so many things to tell you, but you won’t be able to handle them all right now.
However, when that one (the Spirit of Truth) arrives, he will lead you to all truth… and he won’t be speaking for himself; he’ll tell you what he hears and then he’ll announce the things that will be coming.
‘That one will also glorify me, because he will receive things from me and then announce them to you.
For, everything that the Father has is now mine, and that’s why I say that he will receive things from me and then announce them to you!
Because, in just a little while, you won’t be able to see me anymore…
But then after a little while, you will also see me again.
Well at this, some of his disciples started asking each other:
‘What does he mean when he says, After a little while you won’t see me, but after a little while you will see me again, and, because I’m going to the Father?’
They also asked:
‘What does he mean by, a little while?
We don’t know what he’s talking about!’
Well, Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him [about this], so he said:
‘Are you asking each other questions because I said, After a little while you won’t see me; and after a while you will see me again?
I tell you the truth; You will cry and bawl while the world rejoices…
Yes, you will be very sad, but then your grief will be turned into joy!
‘Whenever a woman is about to give birth, she’s in pain because her time has arrived.
But after the child is born, she forgets about the difficult time that she had because of her joy in knowing that a human has been born into the world.
‘So, though you’re now feeling grief, I will see you again… and then your hearts will rejoice and no one will ever be able to take away that joy!
Also, you won’t have to ask me any more questions then.
‘I tell you the truth;
If you ask the Father for anything thereafter, He’ll give it to you in my name.
‘Until now, you haven’t asked for anything in my name; but then you will ask and receive, and your joy will be complete.
For until now, I have been explaining all these things to you through parables. But the time is coming when I’ll no longer have to speak to you in parables, for I’ll talk to you openly and bring back reports to you about the Father.
And in that day, you will ask in my name and I’ll no longer [have to] tell you that I’ll ask the Father for you.
‘Understand that the Father cares for you, because you cared for me…
And because you believed that I came here from the Father!
So, since I came into the world from the Father, I’ll also be leaving the world and returning to the Father.’
Well at this, his disciples said:
‘{Look!} Now you’re talking openly without the use of parables…yes, now we’re aware that you know everything and that you don’t need anyone to be questioning you.
And this is why we believe that you came from The God!’
But Jesus asked:
‘Do you believe right now?
{Look!} The hour is coming (in fact it has already arrived) when you will each be scattered to your own homes and you’ll abandon me.
Yet I won’t be alone, because the Father is [always] with me.
‘I’ve told you these things so you can find peace in me… for in this world, you’ll only find hard times.
But take courage, because I’ve conquered the world!’
Well after Jesus said these things, he raised his eyes toward the heavens and said:
‘Father; the hour has arrived!
Now, glorify your son so your son can glorify You.
You’ve put him over all flesh so that he can give age-long life to all those whom You’ve given to him.
And knowing You (the only true God) and the one whom You sent (Jesus the Anointed) means age-long life.
‘Father, I’ve glorified You on the earth and perfectly completed the work that You’ve assigned to me.
So now, glorify me alongside You with the same glory that I had beside You before there was this arrangement.
For I’ve made Your Name shine among these men whom You gave me from the world…
They were Yours, but You gave them to me, and they’ve obeyed everything that You told them to do.
‘They also realize that everything that You gave to me came from You;for I’ve passed along to [these men] all the things that You told me, and they’ve welcomed it…
And they know for a fact that I came here from You.
Yes, they believe that You’re the One that sent me!
So, this is why I’m asking on their behalf… I’m not asking on behalf of the whole world, just for these whom You’ve given to me, because they are Yours.
For all that is Yours is mine, and all that is mine is Yours…
And now I’ve been glorified among them!
‘However, because I’m no longer in this world (though they are), and I’m coming to You, Holy Father;
Watch over these whom You’ve given to me because of Your Name, and so that they may be in [each other], as we are in [each other].
‘I’ve watched over these while I was with them (these whom You’ve given to me because of Your Name)…
Yes, I’ve watched over them so that none would be destroyed other than the son of destruction, and so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.
But now I’m coming to You and I’m saying these things in the world so that they may all experience the joy that I have in themselves.
‘I’ve also given them Your Word. So the world hasn’t cared much for them, because they’re no part of this arrangement, just as I’m no part of this arrangement.
I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, just to protect them from the Wicked One,since they’re no part of this arrangement, just as I am no part of this arrangement.
‘Please, make them holy with the truth… for Your Word is the truth!
And as You sent me into the world, I’m now sending them into the world.
For I’m making myself holy on their behalf so that they may be made holy through the truth.
‘Now, I’m not just asking for just these;
[I’m asking that] all those who say that they believemay become one, as You Father are in me and I am in You…
Yes, may they become one in us, so that the world may believe that You sent me.
‘I’ve also given them the glory that You gave to me so that they can be one with [each other], just as we are one with [each other]…
I in them and You in me.
May they be perfected into one, so the whole world may know that You sent me and that You love them as You love me.
‘Father, as for these that You’ve given to me;
I want them to be where I am, so they can see the glory that You’re giving to me because You’ve loved me since before the founding of the cosmos.
‘Righteous Father;
The world never knew You… but I know You, and these whom You’ve sent to me have come to know [You].
I’ve made Your Name known to them, and I will [continue to] make it known, so that Your love for me can be in them, and that I [can be] in them also.’
Well, after he said this, Jesus and his disciples crossed the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi, where they entered a garden.
Now, Judas (his betrayer) also knew of this place, because Jesus often met with his disciples there.
So Judas brought along a contingent of soldiers and some officers from the Priests and Pharisees, who all arrived carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.
And since Jesus knew everything that was about to happen, he asked them:
‘For whom are you looking?’
And they replied:
‘Jesus the Nazarene!’
So he said:
‘That’s me!’
Well, Judas (his betrayer) was also standing among them.And when he said, ‘That’s me,’ they all backed up and fell to the ground.
So he asked them once more:
‘For whom are you looking?’
And they again said:
‘Jesus the Nazarene!’
Then Jesus said:
‘I told you, that’s me! And if I’m the only one that you’re looking for, then let the rest of them go.’
He said this so that the words he spoke could be fulfilled:
‘I haven’t lost a single one of those that You gave to me.’
And at that, Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the Chief Priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear (the slave’s name was Malchus).
However, Jesus told Peter:
‘Put the sword away… shouldn’t I drink from the cup that the Father has given me to drink?’
Then the officer, his soldiers, and the Judean officials grabbed Jesus and tied him up.
Well, first they took him to AnNas, the father-in-law of CaiAphas (who was the High Priest that year)…
This was the same CaiAphas who had advised the Judeans that it was to their benefit for one man to die on behalf of the people.
Meanwhile, Simon Peter and another disciple followed behind Jesus. And since the Chief Priest was familiar with that disciple, he went into the Chief Priest’s courtyard along with Jesus,as Peter stood outside by the gate.
Then the disciple that knew the Chief Priest went outside and spoke to the gatekeeper, and he brought Peter into [the courtyard].
But the servant girl who served as the gatekeeper said to Peter:
‘You aren’t one of this man’s disciples also, are you?’
And Peter said:
‘No, I’m not!’
Meanwhile, all the servants and the officers were standing around warming themselves by a charcoal fire that they’d lit, because it was cold…
And Peter was standing there with them, warming himself.
Well, the Chief Priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teachings.
And Jesus told him:
‘I’ve spoken publicly before the whole world, and I’ve taught in the synagogues and in the Temple where all the Judeans meet.
So, since I haven’t said anything in secret,why are you questioning me?
Question those that heard what I said. See… they all know what I said!’
Well at that, one of the officers that was standing nearby slapped Jesus in the face and said:
‘Is that any way to answer the Chief Priest?’
And Jesus replied:
‘If I spoke in error, then testify that what I said was wrong.
But if [what I said was] right, then why did you hit me?’
Well after that, AnNas sent [Jesus] away to CaiAphas, the High Priest, still tied up.
Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing outside and warming himself, someone else asked him:
‘Aren’t you one of his disciples?’
But he denied it, saying:
‘I am not!’
Then one of the Chief Priest’s servants (a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off) said:
‘I saw you in the garden with him, didn’t I?’
But Peter denied it again…
And immediately, a rooster crowed.
Well, early the next morning, they led Jesus from CaiAphas’ [home] to the Governor’s Palace.
However, they didn’t go inside because they didn’t want to make themselves unclean, so they could eat the Passover.
As the result, Pilate came outside to them and asked:
‘What is your accusation against this man?’
And they replied:
‘If this man hadn’t done anything wrong, we wouldn’t be handing him over to you!’
But Pilate said:
‘Then take him yourselves and judge him by your own laws.’
And the Judeans said:
‘It isn’t legal for us to execute anyone!’
(This was said so that Jesus’ words would be fulfilled when he showed what sort of death he would die).
So then, Pilate went back inside the governor’s palace, where he called for Jesus and asked him:
‘Are you the King of the Jews?’
And Jesus replied:
‘Is it your idea to ask this, or did others tell you about me?’
So Pilate said:
‘I’m not a Jew am I?
Your own people and Priests handed you over to me… so what did you do?’
And Jesus said:
‘My Kingdom isn’t from this world.
If my Kingdom were from this world, my followers would likely have fought so I wouldn’t be handed over to the Judeans… but my Kingdom isn’t from here.’
And Pilate said:
‘Then, are you a king?’
And Jesus replied:
‘You’re the one that’s saying I am a king.
The reason why I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth, and everyone that’s on the side of truth listens to my voice.’
Then Pilate asked:
‘What is the truth?’
And after he said this, he went back outside to the Judeans and told them:
‘I haven’t found any reason [to hold this man].
So, since you usually ask me to release someone to you on the Passover; do you want me to release the King of the Jews?’
But they shouted repeatedly:
‘Not him, but BarAbbas!’
(BarAbbas was a robber).
So then, Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged with a whip.
And thereafter, the soldiers braided a crown of thorns and placed it on his head.
Then they wrapped him in a purple capeand started coming up to him and saying:
‘Rejoice, O you king of the Jews,’ as they were slapping him in the face!
Finally, Pilate went outside once more and said:
‘Look; I’m bringing him outside to you so you’ll know that I find no fault in this man!’
Then he brought out Jesus wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cape, and [Pilate] said:
‘Look; The man!’
However, when the Chief Priests and the Temple officers saw him, they shouted:
‘Hang him on a pole! Hang him on a pole!’
And Pilate said to them:
‘Then take him and impale him yourselves! I don’t find any fault in him!’
But the Judeans shouted back:
‘We have a Law; and according to that Law he must die, because he made himself God’s Son.’
Well when Pilate heard them say this, it frightened him.So he went back inside the Governor’s Palace and asked Jesus:
‘Where are you from?’
However, Jesus wouldn’t answer him.
So Pilate said to him:
‘Why aren’t you talking to me? Don’t you know that I have power to release you and the power to impale you?’
And Jesus said to him:
‘You wouldn’t have any power at all over me unless it had been given to you from above…
And that’s why the one that handed me over to you has the greater sin.’
Well, because of that, Pilate kept on looking for ways to release Jesus.
But the Judeans started shouting:
‘If you release this man, you’re no friend of Caesar.
For every man that makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!’
So after Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus back outside.
Then he seated himself in the public-court area called the Stone Pavement (GabBatha in Hebrew)…
It was about the 6th hour of the day of preparation for the Passover.
And [Pilate] said to the Judeans:
‘See; Your King!’
However, they just kept on shouting:
‘Hang him up! Hang him up! Impale him!’
Then Pilate asked:
‘Should I hang your king on a pole?’
And the Chief Priests answered:
‘We have no king but Caesar!’
So at that, he handed Jesus over to them to be impaled, and they took him away,bearing his own pole, out to the spot called Skull Place (GolGotha in Hebrew).
There they impaled him along with two other men, one on this side and one on the other, with Jesus in the middle.
Pilate also wrote a sign that he put on the pole, which said:
‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’
And as the result, many of the Judeans read this title (because the place where Jesus was impaled was close to the city); for it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
However, the Judean Chief Priests told Pilate:
‘Don’t write The King of the Jews, but, He said that he’s the King of the Jews.’
However Pilate told them:
‘What I wrote is what is written.’
Well, when the soldiers impaled Jesus, they took his robe and tore it into 4 sections so that each soldier could have a piece.
But his long inner shirt was woven without a seam from top to bottom.
So they said to each other:
‘Let’s not tear it; we’ll throw dice to see who gets it.’
This happened so that the scripture might be fulfilled:
‘They’ve divided my garments among them
And thrown dice for the clothes that I wear’…
And the soldiers really did these things.
Well, standing there by the impaling pole of Jesus was his mother, his mother’s sister Mary (the wife of CleoPas), and Mary of Magdala.
So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, he said to his mother:
‘Look, woman; Your son!’
Then he said to the disciple:
‘Look; Your mother!’
And from that day on, the disciple took her into his own home.
Then later, when Jesus realized that everything had been completed (so the Scriptures could be fulfilled), he said:
‘I’m thirsty.’
Well, they had a full jar of vinegar, so they put a sponge filled with the vinegar on a stalk and held it up to his mouth.
And when he received the vinegar, Jesus said:
‘It is finished!’
Then he hung his head and gave up the breath (gr. to pneuma).
Thereafter,since it was Preparation and so that the bodies wouldn’t hang on a pole over the Sabbath (because that was a Great Sabbath), the Judeans asked Pilate to have the men’s legs broken and their bodies taken away.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of both men that had been impaled with Jesus.
But when they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs.
However, one of the soldiers jabbed his side with a spear, at which blood and water poured out.
Now, the one who saw this is a witness to the facts, and he is offering this as a true testimony.
He knows that he’s telling the truth and that you can believe it!
For it’s a fact that these things happened so that the scripture could be fulfilled:
‘Not a bone of his will be crushed.’
And another scripture says:
‘They will look to the one whom they pierced.’
Well after that, JoSeph from HariMathea (who was a secret disciple of Jesus… because he was afraid of the Judeans) asked Pilate if he could take Jesus’ body away, and Pilate gave him permission.
So he went and took the body down.
Then NicoDemos (the man who had come to him at night the first time) arrived with a roll of myrrh and about 100 pounds (45kg) of aloes.
So they took Jesus’ body and bound it up with wrappings and spices (that’s how the Judeans customarily prepared bodies for burial).
Then, because it was close to the place where he was impaled, they laid Jesus in an unused new tomb that was in a garden,since this tomb was nearby, and it was the Jewish day of Preparation.
Well, on the 1st day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early (while it was still dark), and she noticed that the stone had already been moved away.
So she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple (the one whom Jesus cared for) and told them:
‘They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they’ve put him!’
Then Peter and the other disciple went to the tomb…the two started running together, but the other disciple out-ran Peter and reached the tomb first.
And bending over, he saw the wrappings lying there… however, he didn’t go inside.
Then Simon Peter came following him, and he went inside the tomb, and he saw the wrappings just lying there.
However, the cloth that had been placed [Jesus’] head wasn’t with the wrappings… it was rolled up and laid in another spot.
Then the other disciple (the one that had reached the tomb first) also went in… and he saw… and he believed.
But since they still didn’t understand the scripture that spoke of how [Jesus] was to be resurrected from the dead;they just returned to the [place where they had been staying].
Meanwhile, Mary [of Magdala] was standing outside the tomb crying.
Then as she was crying, she stooped over to look inside the tomb,and she saw two [of God’s] messengers dressed in white… one was sitting at the head and the other at the feet of where the body of Jesus had been lying.
And they asked her:
‘Woman; why are you crying?’
And she replied:
‘They’ve taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they’ve laid him.’
Then when she turned around, she saw Jesus standing there (but she didn’t recognize [him]).
And Jesus asked:
‘Woman; why are you crying… for whom are you looking?’
And she (thinking that he was the caretaker) said:
‘Lord, if you’ve carried him off, tell me where you’ve laid him and I’ll take him away.’
Then Jesus said:
‘Mary!’
And when she turned around, she said to him in Hebrew:
‘Rabboni (My Teacher)!’
Then Jesus said to her:
‘Don’t cling to me, because I haven’t ascended to the Father yet.
However, go to my brothers and tell them that I’m ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’
So then Mary of Magdala went and carried the news to the disciples saying:
‘I have seen the Lord!’
And [then she told them] what he said.
So late that evening, although the doors were locked at the place where the disciples were (for fear of the Judeans), Jesus came and stood in their midst and said:
‘May you have peace.’
Then after he said this, he showed them his hands and his side, and the disciples rejoiced at seeing the Lord.
And once again Jesus said:
‘May you have peace.’
Then he told them:
‘In the same way that the Father sent me, I am now sending you.’
And after he said this, he blew on them, and said:
‘Receive the Holy Breath.
For from now on; if you forgive anyone’s sins, they will remain forgiven.
But if you don’t forgive their sins, they won’t be forgiven.’
However, Thomas (one of the 12, who was called the Twin) wasn’t with them when Jesus came.
So when the other disciples told him that they had seen the Lord, he said:
‘I won’t believe it unless I see the print of the nails in his hands and stick my finger in them, and stick my hand into his side!’
Well, 8 days later, his disciples were once again gathered inside… and this time Thomas was with them.
Then Jesus came again and stood in their midst (though the doors were locked) and he said:
‘May you have peace.’
Then he said to Thomas:
‘Now, put your finger here… look at my hands!
Then take your hand and stick it into my side… stop doubting and start believing!’
Well at that, Thomas said:
‘My Lord and my God!’
And Jesus said:
‘Do you believe because you’ve seen me?
It is those who haven’t seen and still believe that are blest.’
Well, it’s a fact that Jesus performed many other signs before his disciples, which I haven’t written about in this scroll.
However, I’ve written these things so you can believe that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Son of The God…
And that by believing, you may also gain life through his name.
Well after that, Jesus showed himself to the disciples again at the Sea of Tiberius, and this is how he did it:
There was Simon (Peter), Thomas (the Twin), NathaniEl ([BarTholomew]) from Cana of GaliLee, the [two] sons of ZebediOu, and two other disciples;
For Simon Peter had told them that he was going fishing, and they said that they wanted to come along.
So they all went out and got into the boat. However, they didn’t catch anything all night long.
Then just as it was starting to get light, there was Jesus standing on the beach… but the disciples didn’t recognize him.
And Jesus shouted:
‘Children; You don’t have anything to eat yet, do you?’
And they answered:
‘No!’
So he said:
‘Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you’ll find some!’
So they threw the net out, but then they weren’t able to bring it back in, because there were too many fish.
And at that, the disciple that Jesus used to love said to Peter:
‘It’s the Lord!’
And when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he slipped off his robe (leaving him naked) and dove into the sea.
However, the rest of the disciples followed him in on the boat, dragging along their net full of fish, because they weren’t very far from land (only about 300 feet / 91.4m).
Well, when they reached the shore, they noticed that there was a charcoal fire with fish and bread already lying over it.
Then Jesus said:
‘Bring me some of those fish that you just caught.’
So Simon Peter then pulled the net to land, and he found that it was filled with 153 large fish.
However, despite the fact that there were so many, the net didn’t rip.
Then Jesus said:
‘Now, come and get your breakfast!’
Well, none of the disciples had enough courage to ask him who he was, because they knew it was the Lord.
So thereafter, Jesus went over and handed each of them some bread and some fish.
This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he had been raised from the dead.
Then, following breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter:
‘Simon, son of Jonah; Do you love me more than these [fish]?’
And he replied:
‘Yes Lord; You know how much I care for you!’
Then [Jesus] said:
‘Feed my lambs!’
And he asked [Peter] a second time:
‘Simon, son of Jonah; Do you love me?’
And he said:
‘Yes Lord, you know how much I care for you!’
Then [Jesus] said:
‘Shepherd my sheep!’
And he asked a third time:
‘Simon, son of Jonah; Do you care for me?’
Well, Peter was hurt when he asked whether he cared for him a third time, so he said:
‘Lord, you know everything… so you know how much I care for you!’
And Jesus said to him:
‘Feed my sheep!
‘I tell you the truth;
When you were young, you used to wrap your clothes around you and walk wherever you wished.
But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will wrap you up and take you where you don’t wish to go.’
(He said this to show [Peter] the type of death he would [die, to] glorify God).
And after that, he said:
‘Keep on following me!’
Well, when Peter turned around, he noticed the disciple whom Jesus loved following them (the one that had leaned back on [Jesus’] chest after supper and asked him:
‘Lord, who will betray you?’
And upon seeing him, Peter asked Jesus:
‘Lord, what about him?’
And Jesus answered:
‘If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?
You just keep on following me!’
However, because of that, word was spread among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die.
Yet Jesus didn’t say that he wouldn’t die, he just said:
‘If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?’
This is the same disciple that is now testifying and writing about these things, and you should know that the testimony he is providing is the truth.
And there are many other things that Jesus did, and if they were all written down, I suppose that even the world itself couldn’t contain the books that would be written. Amen. [spurious words]
O TheoPhilus;
This is the first account that I’ve assembled about all the things that Jesus did and taughtfrom the day that he gave his instructions to the Apostles whom he chose by Holy Breath after he’d been raised [from the dead]…
Yes, those to whom he showed himself after his suffering and to whom he provided many proofs during the 40 days that they saw him, as he spoke to them about things having to do with the Kingdom of God.
Then after they had all assembled with him, he gave them this order:
‘Don’t leave JeruSalem; stay there and await the promise about which the Father spoke and about which you heard from me.
Indeed, John baptized you with water; however, in just a few days you will be baptized in Holy Breath.’
And when he met with them all again, they asked him this:
‘Lord, are you going to restore the Kingdom to IsraEl now?’
But he said:
‘It isn’t your business to know the times and periods over which the Father is in charge.
However, you will receive power when the Holy Breath comes over you, and you’ll be witnesses of me in JeruSalem, throughout all of Judea, in Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.’
Well, right after he said these things; as they were looking at him, a cloud hid him from their eyes.
Then as they were staring into the sky watching him go, {Look!} two men in white clothes stood beside them and said:
‘Men of GaliLee; Why are you standing there looking up into the sky?
This Jesus that was taken from you into the sky will return in the same way that you saw him going into the sky.’
And thereafter, they returned to JeruSalem from the hill called ‘the Mount of Olives,’ which is close to JeruSalem (the [maximum] legal distance for travel on a Sabbath).
And when they entered [the city], they all went to the upper room where [the Apostles] (Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, BarTholomew, Matthew, James [the son] of AlphaEus, Simon the zealous one, and Judas [the son] of James) were staying.
And they were all in one mind and purpose as they continued praying, along with some women that had come there with Jesus’ mother Mary and his brothers.
It was at this time that Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (about 120 people in all) and said:
‘Men! Brothers! The scripture had to be fulfilled, which through [God’s] Holy Breath was a prophecy that [King] David spoke concerning Judas.
This [Judas] was the man who guided those that arrested Jesus,though he used to be one of us in sharing in this service.
Yes, he was the one whose wicked wages were paid to purchase the field into the middle of which he then fell head first and burst, causing his guts to pour out,and which field has become known to everyone living in JeruSalem today as Akel Dama – the Field of Blood.
For this is what was written in about him the scroll of the Psalms:
Let his estate just lie empty
And may no one else ever live there;
Then let another take his position.
‘Therefore, we have this obligation:
One of the men that has been with us since the time that the Lord Jesus entered among us until the time that he left us(starting with his baptism by John until the day that he was taken up from us) and someone that witnessed his resurrection, should become one of us.’
So they asked two men to stand up, JoSeph (who is called BarSabbas and was surnamed Justus) and MatThias.
Then they prayed, saying:
‘O Jehovah, the One who knows the hearts of all men; show us which of these two You’ve chosento receive the position of Apostleship that Judas abandoned so that he could go his own way.’
And at that, they were both handed lots, and the selected lot fell to MatThias.
As the result, he was considered as being among the other 11 Apostles.
Now, toward the end of the day known as Pentecost, and while they were all observing that celebration,there was a noise that suddenly came from the sky.
It sounded like a violent wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
And thereafter, they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which were distributed so that one [tongue] sat over each of them,and they all became filled with Holy Breath and then started speaking different languages, saying whatever the Breath was telling them to say.
Now at the time, there were reverent Jews from every nation under the sky that were staying in JeruSalem.
So when this sound occurred, a huge crowd gathered there and everyone was bewildered, because each person heard one of [the disciples] speaking his own language.
They were astonished and started to wonder and say:
‘These people that are talking are all Galileans, aren’t they?
So how is it that we’re each hearing our own native tongue being spoken?’
[Well, there were] Parthinians, Medes, Elamites, MesoPotamians, Judeans, CappaDokians, [and people from] Pontus, Asia,Phrygia, PamPhylia, Egypt, parts of Libya Cyrene, travelers from Rome (Jews and proselytes),Cretans, and Arabians.
[They said]:
‘We hear them talking about the wonderful things of God in our own language!’
Yes, they were all astonished and confused, and they were asking each other:
‘What’s this all about?’
However, others joked about them saying:
‘They’re full of sweet wine!’
But Peter then stood up beside the 11, and raising his voice, he said this:
‘Men of Judea and all you that live in JeruSalem; I want you to know something… listen to what I’m saying to you!
These [men] really aren’t drunk as you think, because it’s only the 3rd hour of the day.
What’s happening is the thing that was said through the Prophet JoEl.For through him, God said:
‘In the last days, says The God;
I will pour out My Breath on all flesh,
And your sons and daughters will then prophesy;
Your young men will also have visions,
And the old among you will [see things in] dreams.
‘Yes, even upon My male servants
And on those that are My handmaidens,
I will pour out My Breath in those days,
And all will then prophesy.
‘From the skies above, I’ll send omens and signs
With blood, fire, and smoke to the earth down below,
Before the great, shining day of the Lord.
‘For the sun will be changed into darkness
And the moon will be changed into blood.
Then, all of those will be saved
That have called on the name of the Lord.’
‘Men of IsraEl; listen to these words!
Jesus the Nazarene was a man who was shown to you by The God with power, omens, and signs that He performed through him in your midst, as you already know.
Yet you handed this man (who had received his advice and his ability to see the future from God) over to men that don’t have the Law, and who then nailed him up.
But thereafter, God resurrected him, freeing him from the cords of death, because it wasn’t possible for [death] to hold him down.
‘So, notice that David said this about him:
‘I’ve always put Jehovah before me;
And since He is at my right hand,
I will never be shaken.
‘Therefore, in my heart, I am cheerful,
And with my tongue, I’ll rejoice;
For my body finds rest in the hope
That in the grave, You’ll not leave me,
And Your loyal one will not see decay.
‘For the ways of life, You have shown me,
And You’ll fill me with joy from Your face.’
‘Men! Brothers!
It’s good to speak to you openly about the patriarch David; for he died, was buried, and his tomb is still with us to this day.
For he was a Prophet, and he knew that The God had sworn an oath to him that He would put someone on his throne that was the fruit of his loins.
So [David] looked into the future and spoke about the resurrection of the Anointed One… that he wouldn’t be abandoned in the grave and that his flesh wouldn’t see decay.
‘So this Jesus has now been resurrected by The God (to which fact we’ve all been witnesses)and he’s been elevated to God’s right hand, where he has received the Holy Breath that the Father had promised.
Therefore, he’s the one who poured out all that you’ve been seeing and hearing today!
‘And though David didn’t go to heaven, he said:
Jehovah said this to my Lord;
Sit here at My right hand,
‘Til I set your enemies as a stool for your feet.
‘So let the entire House of IsraEl know for sure that God appointed this Jesus whom you impaled to be the Lord and His Anointed One!’
Well when they heard this, they were all stabbed to the heart.
And they said to Peter and the other Apostles:
‘Men! Brothers! What must we do?’
Then Peter told them:
‘Repent, and each of you should get baptized in the name of Jesus the Anointed One, so your sins can be forgiven… and then you’ll receive the gift of the Holy Breath.
That’s a promise to you, to your children, and to all those who are far away… to all those that will be called by our God Jehovah!’
Well thereafter, he went on and testified to them a lot more, giving them this advice:
‘Get saved from this crooked people!’
Then those who welcomed his words were baptized… and about 3,000 people were added that day.
These continued to attend, listening to the Apostles as they were teaching, and everyone participated as they were sharing in meals and in prayers.For they were all in awe over the many signs and omens that started happening through the Apostles.
And all who became believers started sharing everything that they had.
They even sold their belongings and properties and distributed the proceeds to anyone that was in need.
And they also agreed to go to the Temple every day, after which they would eat their meals in private homes… eating the food happily and with sincere hearts,praising The God and finding favor with everyone.
And all the while, the Lord kept adding more of the newly-saved to them each day.
Now, Peter and John had gone to the Temple for the hour of prayer (the 9th hour),and a man was there who had been lame from birth and had to be carried and placed near the Temple gate (the one called Beautiful) every day, to beg from those that were entering the Temple.
And when he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he started begging from them.
But Peter and John stared at him and said:
‘Look at us!’
So he looked at them, expecting to get something.
Then Peter said:
‘I don’t have any silver or gold, but I’ll give you what I do have… in the name of Jesus the Nazarene, the Anointed One, walk!’
Then he took him by the right hand and lifted him; and instantly, the soles of his feet and his anklebones were made well.
So he jumped up and stood… and then he started walking!
So he entered the Temple with them, walking, jumping, and praising God.
Well, everyone noticed him walking around and praising God,and they started to realize that this was the man that used to sit and beg at the Temple’s Beautiful Gate.
This astonished them and they were all delighted by what had happened to him.
So, as the man was holding onto Peter and John near what was called The Columns of Solomon, all the people came running to them, surprised out of their wits.
And when Peter saw this, he said:
‘Men of IsraEl; Why are you surprised at this, and why are you staring at us as though we made him walk by our own power or by our own devotion?
It was the God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob – the God of our ancestors – that glorified His servant Jesus, whom you then betrayed and disowned before the face of Pilate after he had actually decided to release him.
‘Yes, you disowned that holy and righteous man, and you asked [Pilate] to release a man that was a murderer…so you killed the Prince of Life!
However, God thereafter raised him from the dead, which we all had witnessed!
And it is because of [our] faith in his name that this man here whom you see and know was made well… yes, it’s because of faith that everything that you see here has happened!
‘And now brothers; I know that what you did was done in ignorance… and this was true of your rulers.
But, just as it was foretold by the mouths of all the Prophets; it was God who caused His Anointed One to endure all these things, so that it could be fulfilled this way.
‘So now, repent and turn around to get your sins erased, so that you might come to see a period of refreshment from Jehovah.
Then He will send this one proclaimed [or possibly, appointed] to you… the Anointed Jesus.
However, he will remain in the heavens until the time when everything that God told us through the mouths of the holy [ones] in His age of the Prophets is restored.
In fact, it was Moses who said,
Jehovah God will raise a Prophet like me from among your brothers, and you must listen to everything that he tells you.
Then if the people don’t listen to that Prophet, they will all be destroyed!
‘Why, all the Prophets from SamuEl on – everyone that spoke – clearly talked about these days.
And you are the sons of the Prophets and of the Sacred Agreement that God made with your ancestors, when he told AbraHam:
All the families of the earth will be blest by your seed!
Therefore, God then raised this servant and sent him to you first as a blessing to you, so that each of you might turn from the bad things that you’re doing.’
Well, as Peter and John were talking to the people; the Chief Priests, the Temple captains, and the SadDucees came up to them,and were very annoyed by the fact that [Peter and John] were teaching the people and telling them how Jesus had been resurrected from the dead.
So they had them arrested and held until the next day (since it was already evening).
However, many of those who listened to them started believing, and their numbers grew to where there were about 5,000 men.
Then the next day, a meeting was held in JeruSalem that included the rulers, elders, and scribes,along with AnNas the Chief Priest, CaiAphas, John, Alexander, and all the rest of the Chief Priest’s relatives.
So they stood [Peter and John] in their midst and asked them:
‘Who authorized you and who told you that you could do these things?’
Then Peter (who became filled with Holy Breath) spoke to them, saying:
‘Rulers of the people and elders;
If we are being questioned here today because [we] did a good deed for a handicapped person, and if we are being asked who made him well,then you and all the people of IsraEl should know that it was done in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Anointed One… whom you hung on a pole!
For God raised him from the dead, and he actually stood next to this man that you now see here, completely healthy!
Yes, this is the stone that was rejected by you builders, but which has now become the foundation cornerstone! [Psalm 118:22]
So, salvation isn’t going to come from anyone else, because there isn’t another name that has been given to any other man under the heavens that can save us.’
Well, when they saw the confidence of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and common, everyone was amazed… and then they started to recognize them and they remembered that these men used to be with Jesus.
However, as they looked at the man who was standing next to them and who had been cured, no one could come up with anything to say in rebuttal.
So then they sent them outside of the Jewish High-Court hall as they discussed the matter between themselves.
And they were saying:
‘What will we do with them, for it’s a fact that a sign has come through them. And because everyone in JeruSalem saw it, we can’t deny it!
Therefore, to keep the news about this from being spread around among all the people, let’s just threaten them and tell them not to speak to anyone about this name ever again!’
So then they called them back in and warned them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus anywhere.
However, Peter and John replied:
‘If it’s righteous in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves.But we can’t stop talking about the things that we’ve actually seen and heard!’
So then, after they threatened them a little more, they let them go, because they couldn’t find any reason to punish them.
[Of course, they also chose not to do anything] on account of the people, since they were all praising God over what had happened…for the man that was healed was more than 40 years old!
Well, after they had been released, [Peter and John] returned to their [brothers] and reported what the Chief Priests and elders had told them.
And on hearing this, they all raised their voices to God together and said:
‘O our only King… You who made the lands, the skies, the seas, and everything in them;through Your Breath, You had asked through the mouth of our father David (Your servant):
Why do the nations and all of the peoples
Think about things that are worthless?
For, the rulers of their lands and their kings
Are against Jehovah and His anointed. (Psalm 2:1-2)
Even Herod and Pontius Pilate (these gentiles) have joined with the IsraElites in this city against Your Holy servant Jesus, whom You choseto do all the things that Your hands and directions commanded.
‘So, O Jehovah;
Pay attention to their threats and allow Your slaves to keep on speaking Your Word in full confidence,while You stretch out Your hand to do healing and continue to bring signs and omens in the name of Your Holy Servant Jesus.’
Well, as they were asking God for this, the place where they were meeting started to shake.
Then everyone was filled with the Holy Breath and they started speaking the word of God confidently.
As the result, a huge crowd became believers, and they started sharing everything that they had with a single heart and soul. None of them claimed that anything they owned was their own, for they shared everything…
And all the while, the Apostles continued to give a powerful testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
So there was a great manifestation of loving-kindness that came over them all.
In fact, nobody could be described as being needy among them, because all those that owned fields or houses sold them and brought back the money from the things that they sold,laying it at the feet of the Apostles.
Then everything was distributed among them according to each one’s needs.
For example; JoSeph, whom the Apostles called BarNabas (which translates as Son of Comfort), a Levite and a native of Cyprus,sold a piece of land that he owned and then he brought in the money, laying it at the feet of the Apostles.
However, a man named AnaNias (along with his wife SapPhira) also sold some property that they owned,but he secretly kept part of the money… and his wife knew about this.
Then he brought in part of it and laid it at the feet of the Apostles.
But Peter asked:
‘AnaNias; Why has the Opposer made you so bold as to try to fool the Holy Breath and to secretly hold back some of the money for the field?
As long you owned it, it was yours. And after you sold it, wasn’t the money still yours?
So, why did you plan to do such a thing in your heart?
You should understand that you weren’t lying to men, but to God!’
Well, just as he heard those words, AnaNias fell to the ground and died, which really frightened everyone that heard about it.
Then some of the younger men got up and wrapped him in a cloth, and they carried him outside to be buried.
It was about three hours later that his wife arrived… and she didn’t know what had happened.
So Peter asked her:
‘Tell me; Did you sell the field for (so much)?’
And she answered:
‘Yes, for (so much).’
Then Peter said:
‘Why did you two agree to test the Spirit of Jehovah?
Look! The feet of those that buried your husband are at the door, and they’ll carry you out also.’
And at that, she instantly dropped dead at his feet.
So when the young men returned, they also found her dead and they carried her out to be buried next to her husband.
Well, when the whole gathering (and everyone else) heard about this, they were all frightened by the things that were happening.
Yet thereafter, many signs and omens continued to be performed among the people at the hands of the Apostles, who used to meet among the Columns of Solomon.
It’s true that no one else had enough courage to join them there; but the people continued to speak well of them,and large numbers of men and women kept on being added to those who believed in the Lord.
[So after that], people started bringing their sick out into the main streets lying on little beds and cots, so that when Peter passed by, his shadow could fall on some of them.
Also, throngs from the cities around JeruSalem kept coming, carrying sick people and those that were bothered by unclean spirits… and everyone was cured!
However, the High Priest and all those who were with him (particularly those of the sect of SadDucees) became very jealous of this.So they attacked the Apostles and arrested them, then they locked them up in a public jail.
But during the night, Jehovah’s messenger opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying:
‘Now go! Keep on standing in the Temple and telling the people everything about The Life.’
So after they were told this, they went back to the Temple at daybreak and started teaching again.
Then when the High Priest and those who were with him finally arrived, they assembled the Jewish High Court along with all the elders of the sons of IsraEl and they sent [officers] to the jail to have [the Apostles] brought in.
But when the officers got there, they couldn’t find them in the lockup; so they reported back,saying:
‘We found the jail locked and guards posted at the doors. But when we went in, we couldn’t find anyone inside!’
Well when the Temple captain and the Chief Priests were told this, they were confused and they wondered what had really happened.
But then someone came and reported:
‘Look! The men that you put in jail are standing in the Temple teaching the people!’
So the captain took his officers and brought them back peacefully (because they were afraid of being stoned by the people).
Then they led them in and stood them in the Jewish High Court hall, where the High Priest questioned them and said:
‘Though we ordered you not to teach about this name, {Look!} you’ve filled JeruSalem with your teachings and you’re determined to bring the blood of this man down upon us!’
However, Peter and the rest of the Apostles replied:
‘We must obey God as ruler rather than men!
For it was the God of our fathers that raised this Jesus whom you arrested and hung on a tree.
And after that, God raised him to His right hand to serve as the Primary Leader and Savior in order to cause IsraEl to repent so that He could forgive their sins!
We are witnesses to these things, as is the Holy Breath that God gave to those who are obeying Him as their ruler.’
Well when [the leaders] heard this, they were really cut to heart and they wanted to murder [the Apostles].
But then a certain man stood up in the Jewish High Court hall (a Pharisee named GamaliEl, who was a highly-regarded teacher of the Law) and he commanded that the men be taken outside for a little while.
Then he said:
‘Men of IsraEl; Be very careful about what you plan to do to these men.
Do you remember when TheuDas came along saying that he was somebody important, and quite a few people (about 400 of them) followed him?
But then he was done away with, and all those that listened to him were scattered and came to nothing.
And after him, Judas the Galilean arose during the registration, and he drew people after him.
But then he died, and all those that listened to him were scattered.
‘So in this situation, I tell you not to mess with these men… leave them alone! Because, if this thing that they’re doing is from men, it will be overthrown.
But if it’s from God, you won’t be able to overthrow them and you’ll actually be fighting against God!’
Well [after he said that], they all agreed with him.
So then they called the Apostles back in and had them whipped, and they ordered them to stop talking about the name of Jesus… and then they released them.
But as they were leaving the Jewish High Court, [the Apostles] were actually rejoicing because they had been found worthy of being dishonored for [Jesus’] name.
So they didn’t stop after that… they kept on teaching and announcing the good news about Jesus the Anointed One every day, both in the Temple and in private homes.
Now, back in those days when the disciples were increasing, the Greek-speaking Jews started grumbling about the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
As the result, the 12 called all the disciples to them and said:
‘The thought of our having to abandon the word of God to serve tables is displeasing to us.
So brothers; find 7 qualified males among you that are filled with wisdom and the Breath [of God], and we’ll appoint them to handle these needs,so we can continue in our prayers and in serving the word.’
Well, what they suggested sounded good to the whole group, so they selected Stephen (a man that was filled with faith and Holy Breath), as well as Philip, ProChorus, NiCanor, Timon, ParMenas, and NicoLaus (a proselyte from AntiOch).
Then they took them before the Apostles, who prayed over them and laid their hands on them.
Thereafter, the word of God kept spreading and the number of disciples in JeruSalem kept on multiplying.
For even a large number of Priests started obeying the faith.
Stephen was especially filled with joy and power, and he was performing great omens and signs among the people.
But then certain men came from the so-called Synagogue of Freed Men (along with some Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Kilikians, and [people from the province of] Asia) and started arguing with him.
And because their arguments couldn’t stand against the wisdom and Breath [of God] with which he was speaking,they talked some men into saying that they’d heard him say blasphemous things against Moses and God,which riled up the people.
So, some of the elders and scribes came and arrested him, then they dragged him up before the Jewish High Court,where they produced some false witnesses that said:
‘This man is speaking against this Holy Place and against the Law!For we heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene will tear this place down and change the customs that were given to us by Moses!’
Then as all those that were sitting in the Jewish High Court were looking at him, they saw his face become like that of a messenger [of God].
So the High Priest asked him:
‘Is all of this true?’
And [Stephen] said:
‘Men… Brothers… Fathers… Listen!
Our father AbraHam saw the Glorious God while he was in MesoPotamia, before he moved to Haran.
And [God] said to him,
Leave your land and your relatives and go to the land that I’m going to show you.
So he went to the land of the Chaldeans and started living in Haran.
Then after his father died, [God] caused him to move to the land where you now live.
However, He didn’t give him any land as his inheritance… not a foot’s width.
Yet [God] did promise him a land that he could own and pass on to his seed, though at the time when he didn’t even have any children.
‘Moreover, God spoke to him and told him that his seed would also have to live in a foreign land where they would be oppressed and then serve as slaves for 400 years.
But God said that thereafter, He would pass judgment on the nation [that makes them] slaves… and then [his seed] would come here and serve Him.
So he made a Sacred Agreement with [AbraHam] [that required] circumcision.
And after that, [AbraHam] went on to father IsaAc, whom he circumcised on the 8th day… as IsaAc did to Jacob, and Jacob did to the 12 family heads.
‘However, these family heads soon became jealous of [their brother] JoSeph, and they sold him into Egypt.
But God was with him and He carried him through all of his problems. Then He made him likable and wise in the eyes of PharaOh, the king of Egypt.
So [PharaOh] appointed [JoSeph] to govern Egypt, as well as [to be over] his entire house.
‘Then a famine came upon Egypt and CanaAn, which created such a difficult time that our ancestors couldn’t find any food.
But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors down there for the first time.
And it was on their second visit that JoSeph made himself known to his brothers… which was when JoSeph’s ethnic background first became known to PharaOh.
‘Thereafter, JoSeph sent for his father Jacob and all of his relatives (some 75 people);and Jacob went down to Egypt, where he died, as did the rest of our ancestors…
And their bodies were taken to SheChem, where they were laid in the tomb that AbraHam had bought with silver from Hamor’s sons in SheChem. [spurious text]
‘Well, by the time that God’s promise to AbraHam had reached its fulfillment, the people had grown and multiplied in Egypt.
And soon another king had arisen to rule over Egypt that was unfamiliar with JoSeph.
So he treated our people treacherously and he forced our fathers to give up their young children to be killed…and that’s when Moses was born.
‘Well, [Moses] was beautiful to God, and he was nursed for three months in [his] father’s home.
But when he was discovered, the daughter of PharaOh picked him up and raised him as her own son.
So, this is how Moses came to be trained in the wisdom of the Egyptians… and he grew up to become mighty in everything that he said and did.
‘Then when he turned 40 years old, [Moses] decided to pay more attention to his brothers, the sons of IsraEl.
And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he came to [the man’s] defense and took vengeance on behalf of the one that was being abused by beating an Egyptian to death.
‘Well, he assumed that his brothers would understand that God was going to use him to save them… however, they didn’t understand.
So when he came to [his people] the next day and found [two of them] fighting; he tried to bring them together peacefully by saying,
Men… you are brothers! Why are you treating each other so badly?
And at that, the one that was mistreating his neighbor just pushed him away and asked,
Who appointed you as the ruler and judge over us?Do you want to kill me the same as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?
And when Moses heard him say this, he ran away and lived in the land of MidiAn, where he fathered two sons.
‘Well, after 40 more years, Jehovah’s messenger appeared to him in the flames of a burning thorn bush while he was in the desert near Mount SinAi.And when Moses saw it, he was dazzled by the sight.
But as he came closer to investigate, the voice of the Lord said to him,
I am the God of your fathers… the God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.
And at that, Moses started to shake so hard that he didn’t want to investigate any further.
‘Then the Lord said to him:
Remove your sandals; for the place where you’re standing is holy ground!
‘Now, I have seen the bad treatment of my people in Egypt and I’ve heard their groaning; therefore, I’ve come down here to take them.
So come on, for I’m going to send you to Egypt!
‘And though this was the same Moses that [the IsraElites] had previously disowned, asking,
Who appointed you as our ruler and judge?…
He was the one that God sent off as both a ruler and savior by the hand of the messenger that had appeared to him in the thorn bush.
‘And then, after he had performed many omens and signs, he’s also the man that led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and into the desert for the next 40 years.
Yes, this was the [man] that told the sons of IsraEl:
God will raise a Prophet like me from among your brothers.
And he was the one that was with the congregation [when they lived] in the desert, who talked to [God’s] messenger on Mount SinAi, and that received life-giving signs for our ancestors, so that we might receive them!
‘But then our ancestors refused to obey him… they just pushed him aside, and in their hearts they were back in Egypt!
For then they told Aaron:
Make gods to lead us, because we don’t know what has happened to this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt!
‘As the result, [Aaron] made [an image of] a calf, and then they offered sacrifices to the idol…
For they were very happy with this thing that they’d made with their hands!
‘So thereafter, God handed them over to bow before the [stars] in the skies, just as it’s written in the Book of the Prophets:
It wasn’t to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices for 40 years in the desert, was it, O house of IsraEl?
Rather, you took up with the images that you made for worship in the tent of Moloch, and with the star of the god Rephan.
This is why I’m going to send you into exile beyond Babylon!
‘However, back when our ancestors lived in the desert, they had the Tent of Proofs that [God] had ordered Moses to build using the pattern that he was shown.
And our ancestors who received it then brought it into this land that was once owned by the nations that God had pushed out ahead of them as they were coming here with JoShua…
And it remained here until the time of David!
‘Then [David] found God’s favor, and he asked that [he might be allowed] to build a Temple for the God of Jacob…though it was really Solomon who built the House for him.
However, the Most High doesn’t really live in houses that are made by [human] hands, just as the Prophet foretold.For Jehovah said:
Since the heavens are My throne and the earth is My footstool;
What kind of House can you build for Me,
And in what sort of place should I rest,
Since all of these things were made by My hands?’
‘So now – you with the hardened necks and uncircumcised hearts and ears – you’ve become just like your ancestors, for you’re always resisting [God’s] Holy Breath!
‘Which of the Prophets weren’t persecuted by your ancestors?
Yes, they even killed the Prophets that foretold the coming of the Righteous One… and now you’ve become the betrayers and murderers of him also!
So although you were the ones who received the Law that was brought to us by the messengers [of God], you haven’t kept it!’
Well when they heard this, they were really cut down and they were grinding their teeth at him.
But as he was being filled with Holy Breath, he stared into the sky and saw the Glory of God with Jesus standing at His right hand!
So he said:
‘Look! I see the sky opening up, and there’s the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’
Then when he said this, they all started shouting as loudly as they could and putting their hands over their ears.
Then they ran up to him and grabbed him,and they dragged him outside of the city, where they started stoning him.
Well at the time, those that came to watch started laying their coats at the feet of a young man called Saul.
Then Stephen said this as they were stoning him:
‘Lord Jesus; Receive my breath.’
And he fell to his knees and shouted loudly:
‘Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!’
And with that, he fell asleep [in death].
Well at the time, Saul actually approved of murdering him.
And on that same day, a tremendous amount of persecution started to be directed toward the congregation in JeruSalem; so all (except the Apostles) were scattered throughout the area of Judea and Samaria.
However, some devoted men [took the time to] carry Stephen’s [body] out to be buried, and they wept bitterly over him.
[It was then that] Saul started wiping out the congregation [in JeruSalem]; for he invaded one house after another, dragging out both the men and the women and sending them to jail.
Meanwhile, those that had been scattered around just kept on preaching the good news of the word wherever they went.
[For example]; Philip had gone to a city in Samaria, where he preached to the people about the Anointed One,and large crowds were paying attention to the things that he was saying…
They listened to him closely and watched the signs that he performed.
For many who were there had been bothered by unclean spirits that shouted loudly as they came out, and many others that were paralyzed or lame, were cured.
As the result, there was a lot of joy in that city.
There was also a man there named Simon, who used to practice magic.
He had amazed the people of Samaria and he called himself, [Simon] the Great.
Why, everyone from the common people to the most powerful paid attention to him and said,
‘This man that calls himself The Great has the Power of God!’
So they followed him for a long time, because they were dazzled by his magic.
However, when Philip came preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God and about the name of Jesus the Anointed One, they started believing him; and as the result, many men and women got baptized.
In fact, even Simon became a believer!
Then after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip and was amazed as he watched the signs and great powers.
Well, after the Apostles in JeruSalem heard that Samaria was starting to accept the word of God, they sent Peter and John there,and they prayed for [the believers] to receive the Holy Breath,since it hadn’t come to any of them yet, though they had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
But when [Peter and John] laid their hands on them, they each started receiving the Holy Breath.
And when Simon saw that the Apostles could give the Breath by just touching people, he offered them money, saying:
‘Give me the power so that anyone I lay my hands on can receive Holy Breath.’
But Peter said:
‘May your silver be destroyed along with you! For because you think that you can buy the gift that God gives freely,you aren’t going to have any part in this, nor will you share in it… for God sees that your heart is crooked!
So now, turn away from your badness and beg the Lord to forgive you for these thoughts that you have in your heart,because I see bitterness, hatred, and an unrighteous alliance in you.’
Then Simon said:
‘Please beg the Lord on my behalf, so that none of the things that you said will happen to me!’
Well, after they had given everyone that was there a thorough testimony and spoke to them about the things that the Lord had told them, [the Apostles] returned to JeruSalem.
But because of what they had done, many other Samaritan villages also heard of the good news.
Then Jehovah’s messenger spoke to Philip and told him:
‘Now, get up and go south to the road that runs through the desert from JeruSalem to Gaza.’
And when he got there, {Look!} he found an Ethiopian man that held the office of Eunuch of the Treasury under the Kandake (or queen) of the Ethiopians (possibly Amanitore), who had gone to JeruSalem to worship.
And as the man was [on his way back home], he was sitting in his chariot reading aloud from the Prophet IsaiAh.
So the Breath [of God] then told Philip:
‘Go and catch up with his chariot,’
and Philip started running alongside him.
Then when he heard the man reading from the Prophet IsaiAh aloud, he asked him,
‘Do you really understand what you’re reading?’
But [the eunuch] replied:
‘How could I, unless I had someone to explain it to me?’
So at that, he begged Philip to climb aboard and sit with him.
Well, the particular scripture he was reading at the time was this:
‘He was brought like a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb that is quiet before shearers,
He did not open his mouth…
Then he was shamed and his justice was denied.
So who’ll tell the details to his generation
After his life is removed from the land?’
Then the Eunuch asked Philip:
‘Just who was the Prophet saying this about… was he talking about himself or someone else?’
So Philip proceeded to explain this scripture, telling him the good news about Jesus.
Now, as they were traveling along the road, they happened to be passing by some water. And the eunuch said to him:
‘Look… here’s some water! What’s to prevent me from getting baptized?’
And Philip said: ‘If you believe it with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said: ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ [spurious text]So he commanded the chariot [driver] to stop, and then Philip took the eunuch down to the water and baptized him.
Well, after they came up out of the water, the Spirit of Jehovah then sent Philip quickly away, so the eunuch didn’t see him anymore… however he continued on his way rejoicing.
Meanwhile, Philip found that he was in AshDod.
So he traveled on throughout that area, preaching the good news in all the cities, until he got to Caesarea.
Well at the time, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the Lord’s disciples.
So he went to the High Priestand asked him to write letters that he could carry to the synagogues in Damascus that would empower him to arrest anyone he found that belonged to The Way (both men and women) and bring them back to JeruSalem in chains.
But as he was getting close to Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed all around himand he fell to the ground.
Then he heard a voice say:
‘Saul, Saul; Why are you persecuting me?’
And he asked:
‘Who are you Lord?’
Then he heard:
‘I am Jesus, the one whom you are persecuting. It’s hard for you to kick against the cattle prods.’
And he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what would you have me do?’ And the Lord said to him: [spurious, copied from Acts 22:10 and Acts 26:14] Now, get up and enter the city, and there you’ll be told what to do.’
Well, as this was happening, the men that were traveling with him were speechless, because they heard the sound of a voice, but they couldn’t see anyone.
And when Saul got up off the ground; though his eyes were open, he couldn’t see. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus,where he remained blind for the next three days…
And he wouldn’t eat or drink anything at all.
Meanwhile, there was a disciple named AnaNias in Damascus; and in a vision, the Lord called out to him saying:
‘AnaNias!’
And he replied:
‘Here I am Lord!’
Then the Lord said:
‘Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street, and ask for a man called Saul of Tarsus. Look… he’s praying [right now]!
For in a vision he has seen a man named AnaNias that will come and lay his hands on him so he can start seeing again.’
However, AnaNias [objected], saying:
‘Lord, I’ve heard about this man from many people, and they’ve told me about all the bad things that he did to your Holy Ones in JeruSalem.
He’s even been empowered by the Chief Priests to lock up everyone that calls on your name!’
But the Lord said to him:
‘Go on, because this man is the one I’ve chosen to carry my name before nations, kings, and the sons of IsraEl.
I will also make sure that he understands all the things that he’ll have to suffer on account of my name.’
So AnaNias went over to the house and went inside, and then he laid his hands on him and said:
‘Saul, Brother; The Lord Jesus that appeared to you on the road as you were coming here has sent me to restore your sight and to fill you with Holy Breath.’
Well at that, what looked like scales immediately fell from [Paul’s] eyes and he started to see.
Then he got up and was baptized,after which he started eating again and regaining his strength.
So after that, he spent several days there in Damascus with the disciples.And he immediately started preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of The God.
However, all those that heard him were shocked, and asked:
‘Isn’t this the man that once ravaged those that are calling on this name in JeruSalem, and didn’t he come here for that same reason… to carry them back in chains to the Chief Priests?’
But Saul’s powers kept on growing and he really confused the Jews that lived in Damascus, because he gave them logical proofs that [Jesus] is the Anointed One.
So after several days, the Jews finally met to discuss ways to get rid of him.
However, Saul learned about their plot against him; and because they were watching the city gates closely both day and night in order to arrest him,his disciples came to him one night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.
Well, when he got back to JeruSalem, he then tried to join with the rest of the disciples.
However they were all afraid of him, because they didn’t really believe that he was a disciple.
But BarNabas finally came to his aid… he took [Saul] to the Apostles and explained to them what had happened to him on the road… of how he had seen the Lord and spoken to him, and of how he had been boldly teaching in the name of Jesus while he was in Damascus.
So thereafter, [Saul] stayed with [the brothers], as he entered and left JeruSalem, preaching in the name of the Lord.
He also talked and argued a lot with the Greek-speaking Jews;
But then they also attempted to do away with him.
So when the brothers learned about their [plot], they took Paul to Caesarea and sent him on from there to Tarsus.
Well for some time thereafter, there was a period of peace for the congregations in Judea, GaliLee, and Samaria. So [the brothers] kept on walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Breath, as they were growing [in numbers].
Meanwhile, as Peter was traveling around, he finally reached the Holy Ones that lived in LydDa.
And there he found a man named AiNean who had spent 8 years lying flat on his back on a cot, paralyzed.
So Peter said to him:
‘AiNean; Jesus the Anointed One heals you. So now, get up and make your bed!’
And at that he immediately got up.
Then when those who lived in LydDa and the area of ShaRon saw [what had happened to] this man, many started turning to the Lord.
Well in JopPa, there happened to be a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas [in Greek]), who was well-known for the good things she was doing and for helping others when they were in need.
However, one day she got sick and died. So they washed her body and laid her in an upstairs room.
Now, LydDa was fairly close to JopPa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him to beg him to please hurry and come to them.
Therefore, Peter got up and went with them.
Well when he got [to JopPa], they took him upstairs to the room [where she was laid].
And there, all the widows came to him crying and showing him the many pieces of clothing that Dorcas had made for them while she was with them.
So after sending everyone outside, Peter got down on his knees and prayed.
Then he turned toward the body and said:
‘Tabitha; stand again!
’ And at that, she opened her eyes… and when she saw Peter, she sat up!
So he gave her his hand and stood her [on her feet]; then he called the Holy Ones and widows in and presented her to them alive.
And before long, this event became so well known throughout JopPa that many started believing in the Lord.
And thereafter, [Peter] stayed in JopPa for several days, [in the home of] Simon the Tanner.
In Caesarea there happened to be a man named Cornelius (he was a centurion of the Italian Division)who was a devout man.
He and his family feared God, praying to Him often, and they regularly helped those that were in need.
Well, it was about the 9th hour of the day when he clearly saw a messenger from God that came to him in a vision and called out:
‘Cornelius!’
So he stared at [the messenger] in fright and asked:
‘What do you want, Lord?’
And he answered:
‘Your prayers and kind gifts have arisen and have been remembered before God.
So now, send some men to JopPa and call for a man named Simon, who is also known as Peter.
He’s a guest of Simon the Tanner, who has a house by the sea.’
Well, as soon as the messenger [from God] that spoke to him left, he called two of his house servants and a devout soldier that was staying with him,and he told them everything that had happened, then he sent them to JopPa.
And the next day (as they were on their way and getting close to the city), Peter had gone up on the roof (at about the 6th hour) to pray.
He was also very hungry and he wanted to eat… but then he fell into a trance.And in [a vision], he saw the sky opening and some sort of container (it looked like a huge linen sheet that was being held at its 4 corners) coming down to the ground.
Inside it there were all kinds of four-footed animals, things that crawl on the ground, and birds of the sky.
Then a voice came to him that said:
‘Get up, Peter… slaughter [the animals] and eat them!’
But Peter said:
‘Not me Lord, because I’ve never eaten anything that is dirty or unclean!’
And the voice [spoke] to him a second time, saying:
‘Stop calling the things that God has made clean, dirty!’
Then he heard it say this two more times, and the container was then immediately taken back into the sky.
Now, Peter was confused about the meaning of this vision.
However, the men that Cornelius had sent were already at Simon’s house, standing at the gate and asking for him…they were calling out and asking whether Simon (who is also called Peter) was a guest there.
And as Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Breath [of God] said:
‘Look! Three men are searching for you…so go downstairs and get ready to travel with them.
Don’t worry, because I sent them.’
So then Peter went downstairs to the men and said:
‘{Look!} I’m the one you’re searching for… why are you here?’
And they replied:
‘Cornelius, an army officer who is a righteous and God-fearing man of whom the whole nation of the Jews speak well, was given Divine instructions by a holy messenger to ask you to come to his house, so he can hear what you have to say.’
Then [Peter] invited them in and offered them some hospitality.
And the next day, he got up and went with them (along with some of the brothers from JopPa),arriving at Caesarea on the following day.
Of course, Cornelius had been expecting them, and he had called for all of his relatives and closest friends.
Then as Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet, bowing low.
But Peter lifted him up, saying:
‘Get up! I’m just a man!’
Well, as they were talking, Paul walked inside; and there he found many people already assembled.
So he said to them:
‘You know very well how illegal it is for a Jew to associate with or to even approach people of another race.
Yet, God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man dirty or unclean.Therefore, when I was called for, I came without any objections.
But now, let me ask:
Why have you sent for me?
Then Cornelius told him:
‘Exactly 4 days ago, I was praying here in my house during the 9th hour, when {Look!} a man in bright clothes came and stood in front of me and said,
Cornelius; Your prayers have been heard and your kind gifts have been remembered before God.
So, send to JopPa and ask for Simon, who is also called Peter. He’s staying by the sea in the house of Simon the Tanner.
Well, I then sent for you right away… and it’s good that you came. For now we’re all assembled here before God to listen to everything that the Lord has commanded you to say.’
And Peter said:
‘I can see for a fact that God is impartial;for He accepts any man that fears Him and does righteous things, no matter what nation he’s from!
So He’s sending word to the Sons of IsraEl that they must announce the good news of peace through Jesus the Anointed One to [the gentiles] also, for he is really the Lord over all!
‘I can also see that you’ve already come to know about this thing that is being proclaimed throughout all of Judea, which started in GaliLee after John came preaching about [the need] to get baptized.
For after that, God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with Holy Breath and power, and he traveled throughout the land doing good things and healing all those that were oppressed by the Slanderer.
Yes, God was with him…and we are eye-witnesses to everything that he did in the region of Judea and in JeruSalem!
‘But then they murdered him by hanging him on a tree.
Yet God raised this one on the 3rd day and allowed him to be seen…but not by everyone, just to witnesses whom God had selected ahead of time [from among] us.
For he appeared to us, and we ate and drank with him after he was resurrected from the dead.
Then he ordered us to preach to the people and to testify that he’s the one that was chosen by The God to judge the living and the dead,and that he’s the one about whom all the Prophets had testified, [where they foretold] that all who put faith in him will have their sins forgiven through this name!’
Well, as Peter was still talking about this, the Holy Breath came over all of those that were listening to what he said.
And the faithful ones that were there with Peter (all of whom were circumcised) were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Breath was now being poured out on gentiles…
fFor they heard them speaking and glorifying God in different languages!
Then Peter asked:
‘Can anyone forbid water to baptize these that have received the Holy Breath the same as we have?’
So he commanded that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus the Anointed One.
And afterward, they asked him to stay with them for several days.
Soon thereafter, the Apostles and other brothers in Judea heard that gentiles were also accepting the word of God.
So when Peter returned to JeruSalem, the circumcised started arguing with him,complaining that he had gone into the house of uncircumcised men and had eaten with them.
So Peter explained it this way:
‘While I was in the city of JopPa, I was praying. And in a trance, I saw a vision of some sort of container coming down from the sky that looked like a huge linen sheet being held by its 4 corners… it was very clear to me!
And as I stared at it, I saw four-footed creatures of the ground, wild animals, things that crawl, and birds of the sky.
Then I heard a voice say to me,
Get up Peter; slaughter [the animals] and eat them!
But I said,
Not me Lord, because I’ve never eaten anything that is dirty and unclean.
Then the voice came from the sky a second time, and it told me:
Stop calling things that God has made clean, dirty.
Well, this happened a third time, and thereafter, everything was pulled back up into the sky.
‘Then {Look!} at that very moment, there were three men standing outside of the house who had been sent from Caesarea to find me.
And the Spirit told me to go with them and not to doubt.
So, these 6 brothers here also went with me, and we all entered the man’s house together!
‘[Well, when we got there, the man] told us how he had seen a messenger [from God] standing in his house, who told him this:
Send your men to JopPa and ask for Simon who is called Peter.
He will tell you what you must do, so that you and your household can get saved.’
‘But after I started speaking to them, the Holy Breath fell upon all of them, the same as it did upon us long ago.
And then I remembered that the Lord used to say,
John baptized in water, but you will be baptized in Holy Breath.
So if God gave them the same gifts that he gave to those of us who have believed in the Lord Jesus the Anointed; who am I that I should be strong enough to resist God?’
Well after they heard this, they all quieted down and started glorifying God, saying,
‘So then, God has also given gentiles the opportunity for repentance into life!’
Now, those that had been scattered because of the problems that arose over Stephen had traveled as far away as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and AntiOch; and until then they had been spreading the word among just the Jews.
However, some Cypriots and Cyrenians that went to AntiOch started talking to the Greek-speaking [Gentile] peoples, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus to them.
Jehovah’s hand was certainly with them, because many started believing and turned to the Lord.
So when news about this reached the ears of the congregation in JeruSalem, they sent BarNabas to AntiOch,and when he got there and saw the loving-care that God had shown for these people, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to whole-heartedly stick with the Lord!
([BarNabas] is a good man who is filled with Holy Spirit and faith).
So, many were thereafter added to the Lord.
Well from there, [BarNabas] went on to Tarsus to find Saul.
And when he found him, he brought him back to AntiOch, where they stayed with that congregation for a year and taught many people.
(It was in AntiOch that the disciples were by Divine providence, first called Christians).
At the time, [brothers with the gift of] prophesying had traveled to AntiOch from JeruSalem.
And one of them named Agabus stood up and told them (through the Breath [of God]) that a great famine was about to come upon the whole habitation [of mankind] – which did in fact happen in the time of [Emperor] Claudius ([c. 45 CE]).
So the disciples there decided that each of them would collect relief supplies for the brothers that lived in Judea (as each one could afford to)and send them back to the elders there through BarNabas and Saul.
This all happened about the same time that King Herod had started persecuting many of those in the congregation [at JeruSalem];for he did away with James (John’s brother) with a sword.
And when he saw how much this pleased the Jews; during the celebration of No Fermentation, he also arrested Peterand threw him in jail, assigning 4 shifts of 4 soldiers to guard him, because he planned to put him on [trial] before the people after the Passover.
Well while Peter was in jail, the congregation prayed to God intensely on his behalf.
And on the night before Herod planned to produce him, he had Peter bound with two chains, he forced him to sleep between two soldiers, and guards were posted at all the doors.
But then {Look!} the Jehovah’s messenger appeared and he lit up the whole cell.
Then he tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying,
‘Get up… Now!’
And at that, the chains just fell off his hands.
Then the messenger said to him,
‘Get dressed and tie on your sandals,’
which Peter did.
Then he told him:
‘Now, wrap yourself up in your robe and follow me!’
So [Peter] left, following [the messenger].
However, he wasn’t really sure of what was happening, because, though [he knew that] the messenger was real, he also thought that he was just seeing a vision.
Well, they walked past the first guard, then the second, and when they got to the iron gate that leads into the city, it opened by itself.
Then after they got out and started down a street, the messenger suddenly left him.
And at that, Peter finally came to his senses and he said:
‘Now I really know that Jehovah sent his messenger and saved me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jews had planned to do [to me].’
Then after [taking a moment] to collect himself; from there he went to the house of Mary the mother of John (who was called Mark), where several had gathered to pray.
And when he knocked at the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came.
Then when she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so excited that she failed to open the gate… she just ran inside and told everyone that Peter was standing outside.
Well, everyone there said that she had to be crazy, but she kept insisting.
So they said,
‘Perhaps it’s his messenger.’
Meanwhile, Peter was still just standing outside [the gate] and knocking.
Then when they opened [the gate] and saw that it really was [Peter], everyone was astonished.
But he motioned with his hand for them to be quiet, and he told them exactly how the Lord had freed him from the jail.
Then he said:
‘Tell James and the other brothers what has happened.’
And with that, he left and traveled on to another place.
Needless to say, the next day there was quite a stir among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
Herod had them search for him, and when they couldn’t find him, he interrogated the guards and gave orders to have them arrested.
However, [Peter] had left Judea and traveled to Caesarea, where he spent quite a bit of time after that.
Well back then, [Herod] had become extremely angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon.
And as the result, [people from there] went to the Royal Eunuch Blastus to convince him to ask [Herod] for peace, since [Herod] had been supplying their country with food [during the famine (c. 45 CE)].
Then there came a day when Herod dressed himself up in his royal clothes and he sat down on his judgment seat to give a public lecture.
But at that, the crowd that was assembled started shouting,
‘It’s a god’s voice, not a man’s!’
And instantly, a messenger of Jehovah struck him, because he didn’t give glory to God; so he became eaten up with worms and stopped breathing.
Meanwhile, during this entire period, the word of the Lord kept on growing and spreading.
As for BarNabas and Saul; after they’d finished delivering relief supplies to JeruSalem, they returned [to AntiOch].
And this time they took John (the one called Mark) along with them.
There were several Prophets and teachers in the congregation at AntiOch.
These included BarNabas, SymeOn (who was called Niger), Lucius of Cyrene, Mnaen (who had gone to school with Herod, the district ruler) and Saul.
And it was while they were serving the Lord and fasting that the Holy Breath said to them:
‘You must consecrate BarNabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them.’
So thereafter, [the brothers] fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them and sent them on.
Well, the Holy Breath first sent these men to Seleucia, then they sailed to Cyprus.
And when they arrived at the city of Salamis, they started preaching the word of God in the Jewish synagogues there, along with John (Mark) who had come along to help them.
Then from there, they traveled across the whole island to Paphos, where they met up with a Jew named BarJesus, who was a sorcerer and a false prophet.
He happened to be with the Island’s governor at the time (an intelligent man named Sergius Paulus), who had summoned BarNabas and Saul, because he really wanted to hear the word of God.
But the sorcerer ElyMas (that’s how his name is pronounced [in Aramaic]) opposed them and tried to keep the governor from becoming interested in the faith.
Then Saul (who is also called Paul) became filled with Holy Breath, and he looked at the man very hard and said:
‘O you unethical and deceitful person; you son of the Slanderer and enemy of everything that’s righteous! When will you stop twisting the straight ways of the Lord?
Now look! Jehovah’s hand has touched you so that you’ll be blind and unable to even see the sun for a while.’
And at that, [the man’s eyes] started to cloud over and grow dim, so he had to search for someone to lead him by the hand.
Well when the governor saw this, he was shocked and he started believing in the Lord’s teachings.
From there, Paul and the men that were with him sailed from Paphos to [the city of] Perga in PamPhylia.
However, John [Mark] left them at this point and he returned to JeruSalem.
Then from Perga, they traveled on to AntiOch in Pisidia.
And on the Sabbath, they entered the synagogue and sat down;then after a reading of the Law and the Prophets, the presiding officers of the synagogue called them forward saying,
‘Men… Brothers… If you have anything encouraging to tell the people, say it!’
So Paul got up, and with a sweeping gesture, he said:
‘Men, IsraElites, and all of you that fear God, listen!
The God of the people of IsraEl chose our ancestors, and when they were visitors in the land of Egypt, He elevated them… He raised His arm and brought them out of there.
But after that, He [had to] put up with their bad manners in the desert for 40 years.
Then, after destroying 7 nations in the land of CanaAn, He gave them each an inheritance of land…and all of this happened in a period of 450 years.
‘Thereafter, He gave them the judges until the time of the Prophet SamuEl…for that’s when they asked for a king.
So then God gave them Saul, the son of Kish (a man from the tribe of BenJamin), who ruled over them for the next 40 years.
‘Then after He removed him, He promoted David to be their king; for God gave this testimony about him:
I’ve found a man after My own heart, David the son of JesSe, who will do as I wish.
And it was from [this man’s] seed (according to the promise) that God brought a Savior to IsraEl named Jesus.
‘Now, John [the Baptist] preached publicly about a baptism of repentance to all the people of IsraEl before [Jesus] arrived.
And as John was finishing the race that he was to run, he asked [the people],
Whom do you think that I am? I’m not really the one!
Rather, {Look!} someone is coming behind me whose shoelaces I’m unworthy to untie!
‘So, men… brothers… you sons of the race of AbraHam and all among you that fear God; we’re the ones to whom these words of salvation were sent!
However, the people that lived in JeruSalem and their rulers didn’t recognize this man [about whom John spoke].
And when they were acting as his judges, they fulfilled the things that the Prophets said… the things that are read aloud [here] on each Sabbath.
For though Pilate couldn’t find any reason for putting this man to death, the people demanded that he should have him executed!
‘Well, after they’d finished doing everything that was written would happen to [this man], they took his body down from the tree and laid it in a tomb.
However, God then raised him from the dead!
And for several days thereafter, those [of us] that had traveled with him from GaliLee to JeruSalem, saw him again!
So we are now his witnesses to the people.
And here we are announcing the good news to you about the promise that God made to our forefathers,and which He has now completely fulfilled upon their children… upon us!
For He resurrected this Jesus, just as it was written in the Second Psalm:
You are my son, and today I am your Father!
‘Yes, He resurrected him from the dead so that [his body] would not see corruption.
For He had said to him:
I will give you the sacred, trusted things of [King] David.
And He said in another place:
You won’t allow your Holy one to see corruption.
Yet when David (who served his people well and followed God’s instructions) fell asleep [in death], he was buried with his ancestors, and [his body] did see corruption.
However, this one that was raised by God didn’t see corruption!
‘Understand this, men and brothers; we’re declaring to you that your sins can now be forgiven through him.
Yes, all the wrong things for which the Law of Moses couldn’t excuse you, can now be excused for you by this one, if you’ll believe [in him]!
Just make sure that [this thing] that was said by the Prophet doesn’t happen to you, when he said:
‘Behold, O you that show scorn;
Yes, be amazed, and then perish!
For there’s a work that I’ll do in your days,
Which you could never believe
Should someone declare it to you!’
Well, as the Jews everyone was leaving the Synagogue, the Gentiles [spurious words] many of the people begged them to explain more about this on the next Sabbath.
And after the meeting at the synagogue was concluded, several of the Jews and proselytes started following Paul and BarNabas, who urged them to stick closely to God’s favor.
Then on the next Sabbath, most of the city had assembled there to hear the word of God.
And when the Judeans saw all these people, they became extremely jealous and started contradicting the things that Paul was saying in blasphemous ways.
However, Paul and BarNabas just kept on speaking out boldly. And they told them:
‘We were told that we had to speak the word of God to you first. But since you’re just pushing it away and you don’t judge yourselves to be worthy of age-long life, {Look!} we will now be turning to the gentiles.
In fact, Jehovah commanded us to do this when He said:
‘I will make you a light to the nations…
To bring salvation to the ends of the earth’
Well when the gentiles in the crowd heard this, they started rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord.
And at that, all those that were inclined to accept age-long life became believers,and the word of the Lord was thereafter spread throughout that whole country.
However, the Judeans that were there incited many of the city’s elite (the devout women and the leading men), and they sent people against Paul and BarNabas that threw them out of the city.
So they just shook the dust off their feet against them, and traveled on to Iconium.
However, the disciples [back in AntiOch] continued to be filled with joy and Holy Breath.
Then the same thing happened in Iconium.
[Paul and BarNabas] went into the Jewish synagogue together to speak, and a large number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.
However, the Jews that wouldn’t accept what they said riled up the gentiles and influenced them to act badly toward the brothers.
Nevertheless, [Paul, and BarNabas] spent a lot of time boldly telling them about the Lord.
And [the Lord] himself testified to the fact that his favor was being shown by allowing these men to perform many signs and omens.
Well, the whole city was thereafter split… some were for the Jews and others for the Apostles.
Then some of the Jews and gentiles met with the local rulers, who arranged to finish them off by having them stoned.
And when [Paul and BarNabas] learned about this plot, they got out of there and traveled to the cities and countryside around Lystra and Derbe in LycaOnias,where they continued to preach the good news.
Well in Lystra, they noticed a man that was sitting there because he had something wrong with his feet.
In fact, he hadn’t walked at all since he was born.
This man was listening to Paul at the time; and when [Paul] looked at him and realized that he had enough faith to be healed,he shouted:
‘Stand up on your feet!’
And at this, [the man] jumped up and started walking around.
Well when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted (in the LycaOnian language):
‘The gods have turned themselves into men and come down to us!’
Then they started calling BarNabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes (since he was the one that took the lead in speaking),and the city’s Priest of Zeus brought bulls and garlands up to the gates so that he and the crowd could offer sacrifices [to them].
However, when the Apostles BarNabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and jumped into the crowd, shouting and asking:
‘Why are you doing this?
We’re just humans that have the same problems as you; and the reason why we’re here preaching the good news to you is to turn you away from this foolishness and toward the living God that made the skies, the lands, the seas, and everything in them!
For though He’s allowed the gentiles to go their own way for generations,He didn’t leave Himself without witnesses.
And He did good things for you by giving you rain from the sky and good harvests, and He filled your hearts with food and happiness!’
Yet despite everything they said, they had a hard time keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
But then some Jews arrived from AntiOch and Iconium, and they convinced the crowd that they should stone Paul.
So after they did that, they dragged him outside of the city and left him for dead.
However, after the disciples gathered around him, he got up and walked back into the city.
Then the next day, he and BarNabas left for Derbe,where they preached the good news in that city, making quite a few disciples.
After that, they returned to Lystra in Iconium and to AntiOchso as to strengthen the disciples there.
They encouraged them to remain strong in the faith, saying,
‘We will all have to endure many trials if we wish to enter the Kingdom of God.’
They also appointed elders in each of the congregations.
Then with prayer and fasting, they entrusted them into the hands of [the God in whom] they’d come to believe.
Well from there, they traveled through Pisidia to PamPhylia.
And after teaching the word in Perga, they went on to AtTalia.
Thereafter, they sailed back to AntiOch, where by God’s kindness they had first been entrusted with the work that they were performing so well.
And when they arrived, they gathered the congregation and told them everything that God had done through them, and of how He had opened the door of faith to the gentiles.
Then they spent quite some time there in AntiOch with the disciples.
However, some men then came down from Judea and started teaching the brothers that if they didn’t get circumcised following the custom of Moses, they couldn’t be saved.
However, Paul and BarNabas opposed them and argued with them.
So they arranged for Paul, BarNabas, and some others that were there to go to the Apostles and elders in JeruSalem to ask [their opinion] on the matter.
And at that, the congregation sent them off.
Well, as they were traveling through Phoenicia and Samaria, they stopped and spoke [to the congregations] along the way about the conversion of gentiles, which brought great joy among all the brothers.
Then when they got to JeruSalem, they were welcomed by the congregation (which included the Apostles and the elders), and they told them about all the things that God had been accomplishing through them.
However, some of those that were believers from the sect of the Pharisees then stood up and said:
‘We must circumcise those people and order them to obey the Laws of Moses!’
So thereafter, the Apostles and the elders held a meeting to discuss this matter.
And after a lot of wrangling, Peter then stood up and said:
‘Men… Brothers… You know how long it has been since God chose to have gentiles hear the word of the Good News and believe through my mouth,and of how God (who knows the heart) testified about them by giving them the Holy Breath, the same as He did to us.
So as you can see, He didn’t create a difference between us. And since He has also purified their hearts in the faith;why are you testing God by putting this yoke on the neck of the disciples that we and our fathers couldn’t carry?
For we believe that they’ve been saved the same as we have, through the loving care of our Lord Jesus!’
Well at that, the group became silent, and they listened to BarNabas and Paul tell about the many signs and omens that God had used them to perform among the gentiles.
Then after they’d finished speaking, James said:
‘Men… Brothers… Hear me!
It was Simon that explained to us how for the first time, God has [chosen] to take a people for His Name from among the gentiles.
And the words of the Prophet agree with this, for it is written:
In that day,
I’ll rebuild the tent of David that has fallen…
I’ll rebuild it and make it stand once again.
Then those that remain of the gentiles
May inquire of those that have called on My Name. (Amos 9:11)
Jehovah, the one doing all these things, said thisbecause He has known about these things through the ages!
‘Therefore, I’ve decided not to create problems for the gentiles that are turning to God.
Rather, I will send word to them to stay free from things polluted by idols, from immorality, from things that are strangled, and from blood.
For [these are the Laws of] Moses that have been preached in city after city and read in the synagogues on every Sabbath for generations.’
Well after that, the Apostles, elders, and the whole congregation was unanimously in favor of sending men that they had selected from among themselves back to AntiOch.
So among those that traveled there with Paul and BarNabas were Judas (who was called BarSabbas) and Silas… leading men from among the brothers.
And this is what was written by their hands:
‘[From] the Apostles and the older brothers, to those gentile brothers in AntiOch, Syria, and Kilikia; Rejoice!
We’ve heard that there were some that came from us who have been stirring things up there with speeches, and they’ve urged you to make changes in your lives (though we didn’t really tell them to do this).
Therefore, we’ve unanimously decided to choose men to send to you along with our beloved BarNabas and Paul…these men who’ve been willing to give their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
And now Judas and Silas can further explain these things to you.
For through the Holy Breath, it has become clear to us that we shouldn’t put any burdens on you other than these necessary things:
Stay away from things that are:
* Sacrificed to idols,
* From blood,
* From things that are strangled,
* And from sexual immorality.
If you stay away from these things, you’ll do well. Good health to you!’
So when these men whom they’d sent arrived in AntiOch, they assembled the congregation and presented them with the letter.
And after reading it, [the brothers in AntiOch] were very happy over the encouragement that the letter conveyed.
Then Judas and Silas (since they were also Prophets) gave instructions to the brothers with many speeches to strengthen them.
And after some time had passed, [the congregation] allowed them to return to those that had sent them with that message of peace.
However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. [spurious text]However, Paul and BarNabas stayed on in AntiOch for a while (along with many others), teaching and preaching the good news of the word of the Lord.
Then after many days, Paul said to BarNabas:
‘Now that these matters have been settled, let’s go back and visit the brothers in all those cities where we’ve preached the word, to see how they’re doing.’
However, BarNabas wanted to bring John (who was called Mark) along with them.But because Paul didn’t think he was worthy, he didn’t want to take him, because he had departed from them at PamPhylia and he hadn’t continued in the work.
So there was quite an argument over this, which resulted in each man going his own way.
Therefore, BarNabas took Mark and they sailed off to Cyprus,while Paul chose Silas.
Then after sharing the joy of the Lord with the brothers there, [Paul] traveled on,going through Syria and Kilikia, strengthening the congregations in those places.
Well, [Paul] got as far as Derbe, and then he continued on to Lystra.
{Look!} There he found a disciple named Timothy, who was the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
The brothers in Lystra and Iconium had many good things to say about him,and Paul wanted to take this man along with him. So he went and circumcised him…
He did this because of the many Jews that were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Well, as they traveled through the cities, they taught the decisions of the Apostles and elders in JeruSalem, and urged the brothers to obey them.
So the congregations kept getting stronger in the faith and growing day after day.
From there they traveled through Phrygia and the country of Galatia.
However, the Holy Breath [of God] wouldn’t allow them to teach the word in [the province of] Asia.
And when they got down to Mysia, they tried to go on to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t allow them to do so.
As the result, they passed Mysia and went on to Troas.And there, during the night, Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man that was standing and begging him,
‘Come over to Macedonia and help us!’
Well, as soon as he saw this vision, we started out for Macedonia, assuming that God had called us to preach the good news to them.
So having been led from Troas, we set a straight course for Samothrace.
Then the next day we traveled to NeaPolis,and from there on to Philippi (a [Roman] colony that is one of the main cities in that part of Macedonia), where we spent several days.
And on the Sabbath we went to the riverbank outside of the city gate where we thought that we would find a place to pray, then we sat down and started talking to the women that had assembled there.
Well, a woman named Lydia from ThyaTira (an importer of purple [cloth]) who was a worshiper of The God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to the things that Paul was saying.
Then as she and her household were being baptized, she begged:
‘If you men have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my house!’
And she kept urging us to come.
Then sometime later, as we were going somewhere to pray, a servant girl with a divining spirit came and met us.
Her masters used her to make predictions, which earned a tidy profit for them.
She kept following Paul and the rest of us, shouting:
‘These men are slaves of the Most High God and they’re preaching to you about the way of salvation!’
Well, after she had done this for several days, Paul finally got tired of it;
So he turned and said to the spirit:
‘I order you to come out of her in the name of Jesus the Anointed One!’
And it came right out.
But when her masters saw that they had just lost their hope of any income [from her], they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the rulers in the marketplace.
They brought them before the judges and said:
‘These men are Jews that are creating a disturbance in our cityand they’re preaching customs that are illegal for us as Romans to either accept or to practice!’
Well, the entire crowd arose against them.
So the judges had their clothes stripped off and commanded that they should be beaten with rods.
Then after they had received many blows, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them safe.
And since [the jailer] had received such an order, he took them into the innermost dungeon and put their feet in stocks.
However, during the middle of the night, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing sacred hymns (within earshot of the rest of the prisoners there),a great earthquake occurred that shook the jail to its foundation… and this immediately opened all the doors and loosened all the chains.
Then when the jailer woke up and saw the cell doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul called out loudly,
‘Don’t harm yourself… we’re all still here!’
So [the jailer] asked for lamps to be brought in; and shaking in fear, he jumped in and fell down before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them outside and asked:
‘Lords; What must I do so that I might get saved?’
And they replied:
‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and all in your house will be saved.’
Then they spoke to him and all those in his house about the word of God (or according to other texts, ‘the word of the Lord’).
So at that hour of the night, he went and washed their whip wounds; then he and his family were immediately baptized.
And thereafter, he brought them into his home, sat them at the table, and he and his entire household started rejoicing over their coming to believe in The God.
Well the next morning, the magistrates sent officers that told him to release them.
And the jailer said to Paul:
‘The magistrates have sent men to release you.
So now that you’re free, you may go your own way in peace.’
But Paul said to him:
‘Although we weren’t found guilty [of doing anything wrong], they had us publicly flogged and thrown in jail… and we are Romans! Are they now going to try to throw us out secretly?
No, let them come down here and bring us out themselves!’
Well at that, the officers went back and reported what he had said to the judges, and they were frightened when they heard that the men were Romans.
So they called for them and released them, then they asked them to leave their city.
So after they were released, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them before traveling on.
From there they traveled through AmphiPolis and Apollonia to ThesSalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
And as it was Paul’s custom, he went inside and reasoned with [the Jews] from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths.
He opened [the scriptures] and proved that the Anointed One had to suffer and be resurrected from the dead.
Then he said:
‘This Jesus whom I’m preaching to you is that Anointed One!’
And as the result, some of them became believers and associated themselves with Paul and Silas, as did a large number of devout Greeks, many women, and quite a few of the [city’s] leaders.
However, this made some of the Judeans very jealous, so they formed a mob…
They assembled a group of wicked men that had been hanging around in the market, and these created quite an uproar in the city.
So they all went to Jason’s house and demanded to have [Paul and Silas] brought out.But when they didn’t find them there, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city council, shouting:
‘Those men that are creating confusion throughout the whole world are here also…and Jason has even welcomed them into his home!
Yet these people oppose the decrees of Caesar by saying that there’s another king… someone called Jesus!’
Well when the councilmen heard the crowd saying this, they became quite agitatedand they demanded a large bail from Jason and the others, before they would release them.
Then that night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea.
Well [upon arriving in Berea], they went into the Jewish synagogue.
And there they found the people to be more noble-minded than those in ThesSalonica, because they eagerly welcomed the word and studied the Scriptures each day to make sure that the things [they were being told] were true.
So, many of them became believers, as did a number of the prominent Greek women and quite a few of the men.
However, when the Jews in ThesSalonica learned that Paul was also preaching the word of God in Berea, they traveled there to incite and agitate the crowds.
As the result, the brothers immediately sent Paul off all the way to the sea…
However, Silas and Timothy stayed behind.
Then those that were taking Paul, brought him to Athens.
And before they returned, he instructed them to send Silas and Timothy to him as soon as possible.
Well, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he became disgusted to the core when he saw that the city was filled with idols.
So he started reasoning with the Jews and other worshipers in the synagogue, as well as with anyone that happened to be in the markets each day.
Then some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers came to hear him, and they started asking each other:
‘What is this seed-picker trying to say?’
And someone told them:
‘He seems to be preaching a foreign demon’ (because he was telling them the good news about Jesus and the resurrection).
So they grabbed him and took him up to the AeroPagus, where they asked him:
‘Tell us; What is this new thing that you’re preaching?For we’ve heard that you’ve brought some strange new ideas, and we want to know what they are!’
(It’s a fact that all Athenians and even foreigners that traveled there had nothing to do other than spend their leisure time telling something new or listening to something new).
So Paul stood up in the middle of the AeroPagus and said:
‘Men of Athens; I see that you have a greater fear of the demons than do others.
And as I was going along and noticing all the things that you worship, I found an altar with the inscription: To an unknown God.
So I’m here to preach to you about something that you don’t know, but already worship.
For this is the [same] God that made the cosmos and everything in it; and this Lord of the sky and the earth doesn’t live in handmade Temples,nor does He need human hands to take care of Him (or anything at all [for that matter]), because He gives life, breath, and everything else to each of us.
He’s the One that made all the nations of mankind that dwell on the face of the earth from just one man, and He’s the One that determines the times and the boundaries of [when and] where they would live,so that we would each search for God and grope around to find Him… though He really isn’t very far from any of us.
For it’s through Him that we have life, and move, and exist… even as some of your own poets have said:
We are His offspring!
‘Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we shouldn’t think of this Divine One as being like gold, silver, stone… or like anything else that some man may have artistically sculpted!
Yet, God has overlooked such periods of ignorance, and now He’s telling all men everywhere to repent,because He has set a day when He’s going to judge the entire habitation of mankind righteously by a man that He has appointed.
And He has also given each of us a reason to believe in this man by resurrecting him from the dead!’
Well when they heard [him mention] a resurrection of the dead, some started joking about it.
But others said,
‘We’ll listen to more about this at some other time!’
So at that, Paul left them.
However, some of the men started following him and became believers. This included Dionysius (a judge of the AeroPagus Supreme Court), a woman named Damaris, and several others.
After that, he left Athens and traveled on to Corinth.
There he found a Judean from Pontus named Aquila that had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (gr. Priskillan), because Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.
So he went to see them;and because they shared the same trade (they all worked as tent makers), he stayed at their house.
He also spoke in the synagogue on every Sabbath and he kept reasoning with both the Jews and the Greeks.
Then after Silas and Timothy finally arrived from Macedonia, Paul really intensified his work of witnessing to the Jews and proving to them that Jesus is the Anointed One.
However, they just kept on opposing him and blaspheming; so he shook out his clothes and said:
‘Your blood is now on your own heads… I am clean of it!
From now on, I’ll just be going to the gentiles.’
Then he left them and entered the home of a man named Titius Justus (a worshiper of God), whose house adjoined the synagogue.
And later, Crispus (the synagogue’s presiding officer) became a believer in the Lord, as did his whole household… and many Corinthians that heard about it also became believers and were baptized.
Then one night, the Lord said this to Paul in a vision:
‘Don’t be afraid; keep on preaching here and don’t stop,because I’m with you!
Nobody will attack you or try to hurt you, since I have many people in this city.’
And as the result, Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among them.
Well, it was while Gallio was governor of Achaea that the Jews got together and came against Paul.
They took him to court and charged him,saying:
‘This man is violating the Law by trying to convert people of other faiths to worshiping [his] God.’
But just as Paul was about to answer, Gallio said to them:
‘O Jews; I’d be patient and put up with this if you were talking about [his doing] something wrong or committing some foul act.But if all you want to do is complain about words, names, and your Law, take care of it yourselves. I don’t wish to be the judge of such matters!’
And with that, he threw them out of his court.
So then they dragged [Paul] before Sosthenes, the presiding officer of the synagogue.
And right there in front of the Judgment Seat, they started beating him up!
However, Gallio didn’t pay any attention to this.
Well, after staying there for several more days, Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed off for Syria, along with Priscilla and Aquila.
Then [Paul] had his hair sheared while he was at Kenchrea, because of a vow that he’d made.
And when they arrived at Ephesus, he left [Priscilla and Aquila] and went into the synagogue to reason with the Jews.
But though they asked him to stay there for a while, he wouldn’t do it.He just said goodbye and told them:
‘If it’s God’s will, I’ll be back.’
So then he traveled from Ephesusto Caesarea, where he went up and greeted the congregation; and from there he traveled on to AntiOch.
And after staying [in AntiOch] for some time, he left and traveled throughout the areas of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples in those places.
Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos (a native of Alexandria) who was an excellent speaker and who knew the Scriptures very well, arrived at Ephesus.
He had been taught the ways of the Lord and he was aglow with the Breath [of God], so what he said and taught about Jesus was correct.
However, he only knew about the baptism of John.
Well, Priscilla and Aquila had been listening to him as he was boldly speaking in the synagogue, and then they took him under their wing and explained the ways of God to him more completely.
Then, since he was planning to travel to Achaea, the brothers wrote to the disciples there, telling them to welcome him.
And when he got there, he provided assistance to all those that (through [God’s] loving care) became believers,as he publicly and very enthusiastically showed that the Jews were absolutely wrong by using the Scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Anointed One.
From there, Paul traveled inland while Apollos stayed in Corinth.
And when he got to Ephesus, he found some disciplesand he asked them:
‘Did you receive the Holy Breath when you became believers?’
And they answered:
‘We’ve never even heard that there is Holy Breath.’
So he asked:
‘Then, into what were you baptized?’
And they replied:
‘Into John’s baptism.’
So Paul told them this:
‘When John baptized, it was a baptism of repentance. However, he told the people to believe in the one that was coming behind him… in Jesus.’
And after they heard this, they were all baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then after Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Breath came over them and they each started speaking in different languages and prophesying(there were about 12 men).
So after that, [Paul] went into the synagogue, where he spoke boldly… for the next three months he reasoned and talked persuasively about the Kingdom of God.
But when [he noted] that some were just becoming more difficult, refusing to believe and saying bad things about The Way in front of the crowds, he left them…
He separated the [true] disciples from among them and started giving lectures in the School of Tyrannus each day,which went on for the next 2 years.
So, everyone that lived in [the province of] Asia (both the Jews and the Greeks) eventually heard the word of the Lord Jesus.
And [all the while], God kept demonstrating unusual powers through the hands of Paul.
For even the bandannas and aprons that he wore were carried to sick people, which caused their diseases to leave and wicked spirits to come out.
However, there were some traveling Judean exorcists that also started using the name of the Lord Jesus against wicked spirits, saying:
‘I order you in the name of Jesus, the one whom Paul preaches …’
Well, Sceva (a Judean Chief Priest) had 7 sons that were doing this.
However, one of the wicked spirits said to them:
‘I know Jesus, and I’m familiar with Paul, but just who are you?’
And with that, the man that was possessed by a wicked spirit jumped on them, overpowered each one, and beat them up…
So they had to run from the house naked and injured.
Well before long, everyone in Ephesus (both the Jews and the Greeks) came to know about this, and it frightened them.
As the result, the name of the Lord Jesus kept growing in praise,and many that became believers would come and openly confess, telling of [the bad] things that they had done.
In fact, several that used to practice magic brought their books together and burned them up in front of everyone.
And when they calculated how much they’d paid for them, they found that they [were worth] some 50,000 silver coins.
So the power of the word of the Lord kept growing and getting stronger there.
Then after all these things had happened, Paul resolved that he would travel to Macedonia and Achaea, and from there on to JeruSalem.
And he told them:
‘After I get there, I want to see Rome!’
So he sent two of those that served him (Timothy and Erastus) on to Macedonia, as he spent more time in [the province of] Asia.
However, a big disturbance thereafter arose [in Asia] because of The Way.For there was a man named DeMetrius who was a silversmith that made silver shrines of Artemis (it was a very profitable business for him and his employees).
So he gathered them all, along with others in his trade, and he said:
‘Men; You know that we all make a very good living from this business.
But now you’re seeing and hearing how this Paul is persuading large numbers of people and making converts of them, not only in Ephesus but in almost all [the province of] Asia, saying that our hand-made gods really aren’t gods!
[Such teachings] not only endanger our business by damaging its reputation, but [soon] it will make the temple of the great goddess Artemis unimportant, and her magnificence (which the whole [province of] Asia and the entire land worships) is about to be brought to nothing!’
Well when they heard this, they all became very angry and started shouting,
‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians,’
and the whole city became filled with confusion.
So at that, they rushed into the theater and grabbed GaiUs and AristArchus (Macedonians that traveled with Paul).
And though Paul wanted to go to visit them in public, the disciples wouldn’t allow it.
For even some of the public game commissioners (who were friends of Paul) sent word to him, begging him not to enter the theater.
In the meantime, some [in the theater] were shouting one thing and others were shouting something else, for the whole group was confused and most of them didn’t even know why they were there.
So they located Alexander in the midst of the crowd, and the Judeans pushed him up to the front.
Then Alexander started waving his hands to defend himself before the people.
But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they started a shout that lasted for two hours:
‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’
Well when the City Recorder finally quieted the crowd, he said:
‘Men! Ephesians! Who in the world doesn’t know that the City of Ephesus is the place where the temple of the Great Artemis and the image that fell from the sky is kept?
So, since these things are undeniable, it would be better if you’d just calm down and not act so foolishly!
‘Now, you’ve grabbed hold of these men, who aren’t guilty of robbing Temples or blaspheming our goddess.
But if DeMetrius and the craftsmen that are with him have a case against them… [remember that] there are court days and there are governors! So let them bring charges there.
If you’re looking for anything beyond that, it has to be decided in a legal hearing!
‘Recognize that you are really in danger of being charged with rioting today, and you don’t have a good reason for doing this!
Who can explain this disorderly mob?’
And after he said that, he sent them all home.
Well, after all the rioting was over, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them before he said goodbye and left for Macedonia.
Then after traveling around there encouraging the people with many speeches, he went on to Greece,where he spent the next three months… but then the Jews [in Greece] started plotting against him.
And though he had first decided to leave for Syria, he later changed his mind and returned through Macedonia.
Those that were with him at the time were Sopater (the son of PyrRhus of Berea), AristArchus, Secundus (of the Thessalonians), GaiUs (of Derbe), Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus (from the [province of] Asia).
These traveled ahead of us and waited for us in Troas.
Then after the period of No Fermentation, we sailed from Philippi to Troas where they were, which took 5 days, and we spent 7 more days there.
Then on Sunday, when we met to have a meal, Paul gave a public speech (because he was going to leave the next day).
This went on until midnight;so, many lamps were lit in the upstairs room where we met.
However, there was a young man named EuTychus who had been sitting in a window and fell fast asleep while Paul was talking…
Then he slumped over and fell out of the 3rd-story window.
And when they went to pick him up, they found that he was dead.
But then Paul then went downstairs and threw himself on top of the man and hugged him… and finally he announced:
‘Don’t worry; he’s still alive!’
So after that, he went back upstairs and started the meal, and they all ate and talked until daybreak, before [Paul] had to leave.
Meanwhile, they took the boy [home] alive, and everyone was extremely encouraged.
From there, we went on ahead of Paul by boat and sailed to Assos, where we waited for him, because that’s what he told us to do, since he was going to travel there on foot.
So when he caught up with us in Assos, we took him aboard and we went on to Mitylene.
Then we sailed from there the next day, coming ashore across from Chios, and on the following day we stopped at Samos, then we finally got to Miletus the day after that.
Now, Paul had planned to sail past Ephesus so he wouldn’t have to spend any time in the [province of] Asia, because he was in a hurry to get to JeruSalem before Pentecost if he could.
However, [while he was] in Miletus, he sent word to Ephesus to call the elders of the congregation to him.And when they arrived, he told them:
‘You know very well that from the first day I stepped foot into Asia, I was with you all the time,humbly slaving for the Lord, and [you know] of all the tears and trials that I endured because of the plots of the Jews.
Yet I didn’t fail to remind you and teach you both in public and in [your] homes;
For I thoroughly testified to both Jews and Greeks about [their need to] repent before God and to put faith in our Lord Jesus.
‘But now {Look!} I will be traveling to JeruSalem as though I were already in chains, for I don’t know what’s going to happen to me there.
[All I know is that] in city after city, the Holy Breath keeps testifying to me, telling me that chains and difficulties are awaiting me there.
However, I refuse to say anything that would make my life more valuable to me, so I can faithfully finish my course and fulfill the service assignment that I received from the Lord Jesus…
To give a complete testimony about the good news of God’s loving care.
‘Now, {Look!} because I know that all of you to whom I preached the Kingdom will see my face no more;
I’m testifying to you today that I’m clean from the blood of all men,for I haven’t held back from telling any of you what God has purposed to do.
Therefore, you need to pay close attention to yourselves and to the whole flock over which the Holy Breath has appointed you watchmen and shepherds…
This congregation of God that He purchased with the blood of [His own Son].
For I know that after I leave, oppressive wolves will enter among you that won’t spare the flock,and that men from among you will arise and speak twisted things to attract some of the disciples to following them.
So you must stay awake…
And keep those three years in mind during which I didn’t stop counseling each of you tearfully, both night and day.
‘Now, I’m leaving you the loving care of our Lord that can build you up and give you an inheritance among all the Holy Ones.
‘[You know that] I haven’t longed for anyone’s silver, gold, or clothing;
For you’re aware of how I’ve used my own hands to take care of my own needs and [for the needs] of those that were with me.
I’ve demonstrated to you how important it is for us to work like this, so we can help those that are weak.
Therefore, remember the words that were said by our Lord Jesus:
There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.’
And after he said this, he kneeled down with them all and prayed.
Well, many tears flowed as they hugged Paul’s neck and tenderly kissed him.For when he said that they wouldn’t see his face again, they were deeply saddened.
And from there, they all accompanied him out to the ship.
Well, when we finally tore ourselves away from them and put out to sea, we ran straight over to Cos, then to Rhodes the next day, and from there to Patara.
And when we found a boat that was going to Phoenicia, we went aboard and sailed off.
From there we came in sight of the Island of Cyprus, passing it on our left, and we sailed on to Syria, landing at Tyre (because that’s where the boat was to unload its cargo).
And while we were there, we searched for and found the disciples, and we stayed with them for 7 days.
However, by the Breath [of God], they repeatedly warned Paul not to set foot in JeruSalem.
[Then a week later], we got ready to continue our journey; and everyone (including the women and children) followed us outside of the city.
And after kneeling down on the beach, we had a prayerbefore saying goodbye to each other.
Then we boarded the ship, as they returned to their homes.
Well, after we left Tyre, we finally arrived at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and spent the day with them.
Then on the next day, we traveled to Caesarea, where we went to the house of Philip the Evangelizer (one of the 7 men), and stayed with him.
This man had 4 virgin daughters who all prophesied.
But after we’d stayed there for several days, a Prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
He walked right up to us and removed Paul’s sash, then he used it to tie up his own hands and feet, and said:
‘This is what the Holy Breath has declared:
The Judeans will bind the man to whom this sash belongs and then hand him over to the gentiles.’
Well when we heard this, we all (everyone there) started begging [Paul] not to go to JeruSalem.
But Paul replied:
‘Why are you crying and crushing my heart? I’m not only ready to be bound, but also to die in JeruSalem for the name of our Lord Jesus.’
And when we couldn’t change his mind, we gave in, saying:
‘May [God’s] Will be done.’
So after several days, we prepared for the journey and headed toward JeruSalem.
Meanwhile, some of the disciples from Caesarea traveled with us and led us to the home of a man that showed us some hospitality… Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple.
Well when we arrive in JeruSalem, the brothers were all happy to see us.
And the next [day], we went with Paul to see James and the rest of the elders.
So [Paul] greeted them and started giving a detailed account of the things that God had done among the nations through his ministry.
And after hearing about it, they glorified God.
Then they said to him:
‘Our brother; You know how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they all zealously obey the Law.
But they’ve heard the rumor that you’re teaching Jews that live among the nations an apostasy from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to follow our traditions.
So, what do you suppose we can do about this?
‘Since they’re going to hear that you’ve arrived,this is what we are telling you to do:
We have 4 men that have taken a sacred vow…take them with you, and all of you should cleanse yourselves ceremonially, then pay to have your heads shaved.
That way, everyone will know that there’s no truth to the rumors we’ve heard about you, and that you’re personally following the rules and obeying the Law.
‘As for the gentiles who’ve become believers;
We’ve already sent them our decision to stay free from things that are sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things that are strangled, and from sexual immorality.’
So the next day, Paul took the [4] men along and they cleansed themselves ceremonially.
Then they entered the Temple to give their notice of their ceremonial cleansing (to start counting the days until an offering should be made for each of them).
But when the 7 days were about up, some Judeans from [the province of] Asia saw him in the Temple and started a riot among the crowd… they grabbed him,shouting:
‘Men of IsraEl! Help!
This is the man that is teaching against our people and against the Law and this place to everyone everywhere.
He has even defiled this Holy Place by bringing Greeks into the Temple!’
([They said this], because they had seen him in the city earlier with Trophimus the Ephesian, and they thought that Paul had also brought him into the Temple).
Well, the whole city was in an uproar and many people started running there.
So they grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the Temple, then they closed the [Temple] doorsand tried to kill him.
But when the commander of the [Roman] garrison heard the uproar there in JeruSalem,he immediately took a contingent of officers and soldiers, and ran down to them.
So when [the mob] saw the commander coming with his soldiers, they stopped beating on Paul.
However, the commander then arrested [Paul] and ordered him to be bound with two chains.
Thereafter, he asked [the mob] who he was and what he had done.
However, some in the crowd started shouting one thing and others were shouting something else.
So because he was unable to be sure of anything (due to all the confusion), he commanded [that Paul] should be taken back to their garrison.
Well, when they reached the [garrison] stairs, the situation got even worse.
For the mob became so violent that the soldiers had to literally carry [Paul] along…as the people followed them shouting:
‘Take him away!’
Then, as he was being carried into the garrison, Paul asked the commander:
‘Am I allowed to say something to you?’
And he replied:
‘Can you speak Greek?
Aren’t you the Egyptian that started a rebellion and led 4,000 dagger men into the desert some time ago?’
But Paul said:
‘No, I’m really a Jew from Tarsus in Kilikia… I’m a citizen of a well-known city.
So I beg you; Allow me to speak to the people!’
Well at that, he gave Paul permission.
So [Paul] stood on the stairs and waved his arms [to quiet] the crowd.
And when everything quieted down, he spoke to them in Hebrew, saying:
‘Men… brothers and fathers!
Allow me to say something in my own defense now.’
Well when they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, things did get quieter.
And he said:
‘I’m a Jew that was born in Tarsus of Kilikia. I went to school right here in this city, and I received my instruction at the feet of GamaliEl, who taught me to obey the Law of our fathers strictly and to show the same zeal for God that you’re showing today.
‘I personally persecuted this Way, by arresting and delivering their men and women to prisons for execution.
The High Priest and the entire assembly of elders can testify to this, because I obtained letters from them to our brothers in Damascus, where I went to bring all those whom they had in prison back to JeruSalem for punishment.
‘But as I was on my way and getting close to Damascus, at about noon, a bright light in the sky flashed all around me.
Then I fell to the ground and I heard a voice say to me:
Saul; Saul; Why are you persecuting me?
So I asked:
Who are you, Lord?
And he replied:
I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one that you are persecuting.
‘Well, the men that were with me also saw the light, but they didn’t hear the voice of the one that was speaking to me.
‘Then I asked:
What must I do, Lord?
And the Lord said to me:
Get up and go into Damascus. There you will be told of everything that you’ve been assigned to do.
However, since I could no longer see due to the brilliance of that light, those that were [traveling] with me had to lead me into Damascus by the hand.
‘Now, AnaNias (a man that devoutly obeyed the Law and that was well spoken of by all the Judeans that live there)came and stood next to me.
Then he said:
Saul… Brother… See again!
And I could immediately see him.
‘Then he said:
The God of our fathers has selected you to learn about His Will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the voice from his mouth,because you are to be his witness to everything that you’ve seen and heard.
So now, why are you wasting time?
Get up, get baptized, and wash your sins away by calling on his name.
‘Then after I got back to JeruSalem and while I was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance where I saw [Jesus].
And he said to me:
Hurry! You must leave JeruSalem right away, because the [people here] don’t want to listen to your testimony about me!
‘But I said:
Lord; they all know very well that in one synagogue after another I once had all those that believe in you arrested and whipped.
And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being spilled, I stood there and approved… in fact, I guarded the robes of those that did away with him!
Well at that, he just told me:
Leave, because I’m sending you to far-away nations.’
Now, they had been listening to him until he said that; but then they started shouting:
‘Kill this man, for he isn’t fit to live!’
And because they were shouting, throwing their clothes around and tossing dirt in the air,the commander ordered that Paul should be taken inside their garrison.
There he gave orders to scourge him with a whip so as to force him to explain why everyone was shouting about him that way.
But when they stretched him out to be whipped, Paul asked the centurion that was standing there:
‘Is it legal for you to whip a man that is a Roman and hasn’t been charged with a crime?’
Well when the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and asked:
‘Just what do you intend for us to do? This man is a Roman!’
So the commander came to [Paul] and asked:
‘Tell me; Are you a Roman?’
And he answered:
‘Yes.’
Then the commander said:
‘Well, I paid a lot to obtain my citizenship.’
And Paul said:
‘I was born [a citizen].’
Well at that, the men that were about to torture him left immediately.
And on learning that he had arrested a Roman [citizen], the military commander was frightened.
So the next day, because he wanted to know for sure just what the Jews were accusing him of; he [unshackled] him and commanded the Chief Priests and the entire Jewish Court to assemble.
Then he brought Paul down and stood him before them.
Well, Paul just glared at the [judges of the] Jewish Court, and said:
‘Men… Brothers… I have a perfectly clear conscience about the way that I’ve been behaving before God down to this day.’
And at that, the High Priest AnaNias ordered those that were standing by him to hit him in the mouth.
So Paul said:
‘God is going to hit you, you whitewashed wall!
Do you sit there judging me by the Law, and at the same time break the Law by telling them to hit me?’
Then those that were standing by him asked:
‘Are you speaking against the High Priest of God?’
And Paul answered:
‘Brothers; I didn’t know that he was the High Priest. For it’s written:
You must not speak badly of the one that rules your people.’
Then when Paul noticed that part of the group were SadDucees and the rest were Pharisees, he called out in the High Court:
‘Men… Brothers… it is because I’m a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee that I’m being judged over my hope in the resurrection of the dead!’
And after he said this, quite an argument broke out between the Pharisees and SadDucees, which divided the crowd,since the SadDucees say there is no such thing as a resurrection, or [divine] messengers, or the Breath [of God]. However, the Pharisees publicly preach all of those things.So there was a lot of shouting, and some of the Pharisees’ scribes stood up and started heatedly arguing, saying:
‘We don’t find anything wrong with this man! For if the Breath [of God] or [one of His] messengers spoke to him…’ Let us not fight against God. [spurious words, copied from Acts 5:39]
Well, the argument became so heated that the commander feared that they would pull Paul to pieces.
So he ordered the soldiers to go down and take him from their midst and bring him back to their garrison.
Then on the following night, the Lord stood next to [Paul] and said:
‘Be strong!
So far, you’ve thoroughly testified to things about me in JeruSalem… but now you must also testify about me in Rome.’
Well the next morning, the Judeans formed an alliance and they all swore with a curse that they wouldn’t eat or drink until after they had killed Paul(there were more than 40 men that formed this oath-bound conspiracy).
So they went to the Chief Priests and elders and said:
‘We’ve taken a solemn oath with a curse not to take a bite of food until after we have killed Paul.
Therefore, we want you and the High Court to explain to the military commander that he should bring [Paul] to you so you can learn more about the charges against him… and we’ll be ready to do away with him before he gets there!’
However, Paul’s nephew heard that they would be laying for him, so he went to the garrison and reported it to Paul.
Then Paul called one of the centurions and said:
‘Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report.’
So [the soldier] took [Paul’s nephew] to the commander and told him:
‘The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.’
Well, the commander took him by the hand and led him in, then he asked him privately:
‘What is it that you want to report to me?’
And he answered:
‘The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Jewish Court tomorrow, pretending to want to learn more about the charges against him.
But whatever you do, don’t let them convince you to do this, because they have more than 40 men that are waiting to ambush him.
These men have sworn an oath with a curse not to eat or drink anything until after they’ve done away with him. And all they’re awaiting is a promise from you.’
So at that, the commander sent the young man away, giving him the order:
‘Don’t tell anyone that you’ve explained this to me.’
Then he called in two of his centurions and said:
‘I want you to get 200 soldiers ready, plus 70 cavalrymen and 200 spearmen… have them prepared to march all the way to Caesarea at 8 o’clock tonight.
Also, provide an animal for Paul to ride, for I want you to carry him safely to Governor Felix.’
Then he wrote a letter [to Felix] that read like this:
‘Claudius Lysias to the mighty Governor Felix:
Rejoice!
This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to do away with him. However, I came there quickly with a contingent of soldiers and rescued him, because I learned that he was a Roman.
And because I wanted to know their accusation against him, I had him taken down to their High Court.
There I found that they were just accusing him over questions that have to do with their Law… but he hadn’t been charged with anything for which he deserves death or being sent to jail.
However, because I learned of a plot against this man, I’m sending him to you right away, and I’m ordering his accusers to speak against him before you.’
So these soldiers followed their orders and they took Paul to AntiPatris that night.
Then the next day, they sent him on with the cavalry (which later returned to the garrison).
And when they got to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor along with Paul.
Well, after he read the letter, [Felix] asked [Paul] which province he was from.
And when he heard that he was from Kilikia, he said:
‘I’ll give you a thorough hearing after your accusers get here.’
So thereafter, he gave orders that [Paul] should be kept under guard in the Praetorian Palace of Herod.
Well 5 days later, High Priest AnaNias arrived with some elders and an orator named Tertullus, and they explained their accusations against Paul to the governor.
Then when he was called forward, Tertullus said this:
‘You’ve brought about so much peace, and we welcome the well-thought-out reforms that you’ve brought to our nationin every way and everywhere with the greatest thankfulness, O mighty Felix.
But, so that I don’t waste any of your time, I beg you to hear us briefly, in your kindness.
‘We found this man (this plague) stirring up rebellions among the Judeans throughout the whole inhabited earth, for he’s the leader of the sect of the Nazarenes.And when he tried to profane our Temple, we arrested him. and would have judged according to our law.
But the chief captain, Lysias, came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,commanding his accusers to come to you, [spurious words] You can examine him yourself to learn more about all these things that we’re saying against him.’
And at that, the Judeans also joined in the attack, affirming that the things [Tertullus] was saying were true.
Thereafter, the governor nodded for Paul to speak.
And Paul said:
‘I know very well that you’ve been the judge of our nation for many years.
So I’m happy to speak in my own defense about these things that I’ve been accused of,since you are in a good position to understand them.
‘It hasn’t been more than 12 days since I went to worship in JeruSalem,and they didn’t find me in the Temple arguing with anyone, nor did they find me inciting a riot in the synagogues… or anywhere else in the city for that matter!
So right now, they can’t prove any of the things they’re accusing me of before you.
But I do admit to this:
That which they’re calling a sect, is nothing more than the way that I’ve always worshipped the God of my fathers.
For I believe everything that is written in the Law and in the Prophets,and I have this hope in God (which they also share) that there’s going to be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous.
This is why I’m constantly on the alert so as to not offend my conscience by doing anything against God or men.
And this is also the reason why, after [being gone for] several years, I returned [to JeruSalem]… to bring gifts to the poor in my nation and to present my offerings [before God].
‘But it was while I was doing this that they found me in the Temple (ceremonially cleansed, by the way), and I wasn’t there with a mob, nor did I start a riot…
Really, some Jews from the [province of] Asiashould be here before you to accuse me… that is, if they could actually find anything against me.
Just ask these that are here to tell you what bad things they found me doing as I stood before their High Court…
There was just the thing that I shouted while I was standing among them when I said,
I am being judged before you today over the resurrection of the dead!’
Well, although Felix knew a lot about things that have to do with the Way, he just put them all off, saying:
‘When Commander Lysias gets here, I’ll make a decision on this matter that you’re so concerned about.’
And thereafter, [Felix] ordered the centurion not to kill [Paul], but to allow him some liberty, and not to prevent his people from serving his needs.
It was several days later that Felix arrived with his woman Drousille.
And since she was a Jew, he sent for Paul and they listened to him talk about his belief in the Anointed Jesus.
However, Felix became frightened when Paul started talking about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment; so he said:
‘That’s enough for now! Go on back, and when I have more time, I’ll send for you again.’
(However, he really hoped that Paul would try to bribe him; so, he sent for him and talked to him frequently).
Well after 2 years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus.
And because Felix wanted to be liked by the Jews, he also kept Paul locked up.
It was just three days after Festus had been appointed the provincial governor that he traveled from Caesarea to JeruSalem.
And there the Chief Priests and Judean leaders talked to him about Paul.
They begged him (asking it as a favor) to send [Paul] to JeruSalem… since they planned to ambush and kill him along the road.
However, Festus replied that he would just keep Paul in Caesarea.
But because he would be leaving [JeruSalem] shortly, he said to them:
‘Those of you that have been empowered to do so should come back with me, and if he has committed some crime, you can make your accusations against him there.’
Well, after he had spent about 8 to 10 days [in JeruSalem], Festus returned to Caesarea. And the next day, he sat on the Judgment Seat and ordered to have Paul brought in.
And when [Paul] arrived, the Jews that had come from JeruSalem stood all around him and charged him with several serious offenses…
However, they couldn’t prove anything.
Then Paul stood up and spoke in his own defense, saying:
‘I haven’t committed any sins against the Law of the Jews, against the Temple, or against Caesar!’
However, Festus (in an attempt to gain favor with the Jews) asked Paul:
‘Do you want to go back to JeruSalem and be judged over these things before me there?’
But Paul said:
‘I’m standing before the Judgment Seat of Caesar, and this is where I ought to be judged!
I’ve done nothing wrong to the Judeans, as you’re finding out for yourself.However, if I really am a criminal and have done something that I should die for, I’m not begging off from dying.
On the other hand, if none of the things they are accusing me of are true, then no one can just hand me over to them as a favor.
Therefore, I appeal to Caesar!’
Well after discussing it with his counselors, Festus replied:
‘You have appealed to Caesar, so to Caesar you will go!’
Then after several days had passed, Agrippa (the king) and Bernice arrived in Caesarea to pay a courtesy visit on Festus.
So, since they were to spend several days there, Festus laid the matter of Paul before the king, saying:
‘There’s a man here that was left as a prisoner by Felix.
When I was in JeruSalem, the Chief Priests and Judean elders brought me some information about him and asked me to condemn him to death.
But I told them that it isn’t the Roman way to just hand a man over as a favor before he meets his accusers face to face and gets a chance to speak in his own defense.
So when they got here, I didn’t delay the matter… the next day I sat down on the Judgment Seat and ordered the man to be brought in.
And when they came [before me], his accusers didn’t really produce any serious charges as I thought they would.
They simply complained about some dispute they had with him over questions about their religion and about some Jesus who was dead, but whom Paul kept claiming was alive!
‘Well, I became so confused over the matter that I finally asked if he would like to go to JeruSalem to be judged there over these matters.
But then Paul appealed to be bound over for a decision by the August One, so I ordered him to be held until I can send him to Caesar.’
So Agrippa told Festus:
‘I’d like to hear from this man also.’
And he said:
‘Tomorrow you will hear him!’
Then the next day, Agrippa and Bernice arrived with a lot of pomp and ceremony and went into the hearing room along with some military commanders and prominent men from the city.
And when Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in.
So Festus said:
‘O King Agrippa and all of you that are here with us; Now you can see this man about whom all the Judeans both here and in JeruSalem are shouting that he shouldn’t be allowed to live any longer.
However, I haven’t found anything that he’s done to deserve death; so when he appealed to the August One, I decided to send him there…but I really don’t have anything to write to [my] lord about.
Therefore, I brought him here before you… and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that you can examine him and judge something that I can write to him about.
For it seems unreasonable to send a prisoner [to Rome] and not be able to specify the charges against him.’
So at that, Agrippa said to Paul:
‘You may now speak on your own behalf.’
Well, Paul stretched his hands out and said this in his defense:
‘King Agrippa; I’m happy to be here so as to defend myself before you today over all these things that I’ve been accused of by the Jews,because you’re an expert on all Judean customs and controversies.
Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
‘This is the way that I’ve lived since I was a boy:
From long ago, everyone in my nation (all in JeruSalem and all the Jewswho used to know me) can testify to the fact that I was raised in the strictest sect of our type of worship… I was a Pharisee.
And now, it’s over the hope of a promise that was made by the God to our ancestors that I’m standing here being judged,since it’s concerning the hope of attaining this, that our 12 tribes have been so earnestly serving [God] night and day.
And it’s over this same hope that I’m being accused by these Judeans, O king.
For, why is it that they all find it so unbelievable that God can raise the dead?
‘For a fact, I once thought that it was right to do whatever I could to oppose the name of Jesus the Nazarene…and I did this in JeruSalem.
Back then, I locked up many of the Holy Ones and threw them in jail, because I was authorized to do this by the Chief Priests. And as they were being brought up for execution, I voted against them!
I often punished them in synagogues and tried to make them commit blasphemy; and since I was so crazy [in my hatred] against them, I even traveled to other cities to persecute them.
‘Well, it was while I was doing this that I traveled to Damascus with an authorization and a commission from the Chief Priests.
Then at noon, as I was [walking along] the road, O king, I saw a light that was brighter than the sun, which flashed from the sky around me and those that were traveling with me.
Then we all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew:
Saul; Saul; Why are you persecuting me, and why are you trying so hard to keep kicking against the cattle prod?’
‘Then I asked:
Who are you, Lord?
‘And the Lord replied:
I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Now, get up and stand on your feet. I’ve made myself visible to you so as to take you ahead of time to be my servant, and you can testify to the fact that you saw me and all the things that I’m going to make you see.
For I’m selecting you out of the people and out of the nations where I’m going to send you,to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and to lead them from the power of the Opposer toward God.
I’m doing this so that their sins can be forgiven and they can receive an inheritance among those that have been made holy by [their] faith in me.
‘As the result, O King Agrippa; I didn’t disobey this vision from the heavens.
First I went to those in Damascus, then to those in JeruSalem and the entire countryside around Judea… and finally to the gentiles, to whom I carried the message that they should repent and turn to God by doing things that prove their repentance.
And this is why the Judeans grabbed me in the Temple and tried to beat me to death!
‘However, through the help of God, I’ve kept witnessing to both the least and the greatest down to this day.
I haven’t been saying anything other that what the Prophets and Moses told us would happen…that the Anointed One was to going to suffer.
And then, as the first to be resurrected from the dead, he was going to proclaim light to these gentiles.’
Now, while he was saying these things in his defense, Festus shouted:
‘You’re crazy, Paul!
All of the writings are driving you mad!’
But Paul said:
‘I’m not going crazy, O mighty Festus; I’m telling you things that are true and make good sense!
For a fact; the king that I’m speaking to openly already knows a lot about these things!
I believe that none of this has escaped his notice, because none of it was done off in some corner!
‘King Agrippa; Do you believe the Prophets?
I know that you believe!’
But Agrippa said to Paul:
‘It wouldn’t take long for you to convince me to become a Christian also!’
And at this, Paul said:
‘I wish to God (whether it takes a short time or a long time) that not only you, but also everyone that hears me today would become men just like me… except for these chains.’
Then the king got up, as did the governor, Bernice, and the rest of the men that were sitting with them.
And as they were walking out, they were talking to each other, saying:
‘This man hasn’t done anything deserving of death, or even for which he should be locked up!’
Then Agrippa said to Festus:
‘This man could have been released if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.’
Well, since it had been decided that we had to sail away to Italy, they handed Paul (along with some other prisoners) over to a centurion named Julius, who was [a soldier] of the Augustus Division.
So we boarded a ship along with AristArchus (a Macedonian from ThesSalonica).
Now, the ship had come from AdraMyttium, and it was sailing to places along the coast of the [province of] Asia.
So the next day, when we landed at Sidon, Julius treated Paul very kindly by allowing him to visit friends that cared for his needs.
From there we sailed around Cyprus, because the winds were against us.
Then we got into the open sea [south of]Kilikia and PamPhylia, and we put into port at Myra in Lukias.
There the centurion found a ship that was coming from Alexandria and sailing for Italy, which he made us board.
Then after sailing slowly (and with a lot of difficulty) for several days, we stopped at Knidos.
And because the winds wouldn’t let us go on, we sailed [south of] Salmone, Crete.
Then following the coastline carefully, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
Well, since we had lost so much time (it was already past [Yom Kippur]) and the sea was hazardous to navigate, Paul made a recommendation.
He said:
‘Men; I see that any further navigation is going to result in damage and huge losses not only to the cargo and ship, but to our lives!’
However, the army officer preferred to listened to the pilot and the ship’s owner, rather than to what Paul was saying.
Now, since this harbor was a poor place to winter, the majority recommended that they set sail and go on, in an attempt to make it to Phoenix, where they could spend the winter
(It’s a harbor in Crete that has openings to the northeast and southeast).
Well when the south wind started blowing gently, they thought that this would meet their needs.
So they weighed anchor and coasted along the shore next to Crete.
But after a little while, a typhoon wind they call the Euro Clydon bore down on us.
And because the ship was being tossed so violently that it couldn’t maintain its heading, we just gave up and [allowed ourselves to be] carried along by the wind.
Then when we passed south of a small island called Cauda, we used all our strength to get hold of the rowboat that was tied at the rear of the ship.
And after we hoisted it aboard, they started wrapping the ship with [ropes and chains].
Also, since they were afraid of running aground on the shoals, they lowered the masts and we were just carried along.
Then on the next day (because we were still being violently tossed by the storm), they started to lighten the ship.
And by the 3rd [day], they had tossed all the boat’s furnishings overboard with their own hands.
Now, since we hadn’t seen the sun or stars for several days and a storm was still over us, we had lost any hope of being saved…
And considerable time had elapsed since anyone had been able to eat.
But then Paul stood up in the midst of them and said:
‘Men; You certainly should have taken my advice and not put out to sea from Crete, just to suffer this kind of damage and loss.
But now I’m telling you to be happy, because not a single life will be lost… though the ship will [be lost].
For a messenger from the God that I serve and to whom I belong came to me this evening and said:
Don’t be afraid, Paul. You will stand before Caesar.
And {Look!} God has favored you by also giving you [the lives of] those that are sailing with you.
‘So be happy, men! Because, I believe that God will do exactly as He told me!
However, we will be cast ashore on an island.’
Well thereafter (on the evening starting the 14th day), as we were being carried along in the Adriatic Sea (at about midnight), the sailors thought that we might be getting close to land.So they did a depth sounding and found it at 20 fathoms.
Then after we had traveled on a little farther, they took another depth sounding, and this time it was 15 fathoms.
So, because they were afraid that we might soon run aground on the rocks, they threw out 4 anchors at the stern and we waited for daylight.
Meanwhile, the crew tried to escape from the ship by lowering the rowboat into the sea as they were pretending to drop the anchors from the prow.
But Paul then told the centurion and his soldiers:
‘Unless those men stay on this ship, you can’t be saved.’
So the soldiers cut away the ropes that held the rowboat and let it drop.
Well, very close to dawn, Paul encouraged everyone to eat something, saying:
‘Today makes the 14th day that you’ve been on watch, and during all that time you’ve gone without food or taking anything else into you.
So I encourage you to eat something, since that will help you to survive.
Then, not so much as a hair on any of your heads will be destroyed!’
And after he said this, he took a loaf [of bread], gave thanks to God before them all, broke it, and started eating.
So they all became more cheerful and started eating some food.
At the time, there were 276 people on the ship.
And after they’d eaten enough food, they lightened the boat some more by throwing all of the wheat into the sea.
However, when it finally became light, they didn’t recognize where they were… there was just a bay with a beach, and they decided to try to get to the beach in the ship.
So they cut away the anchors, letting them drop into the sea; then they untied the ropes that held the rudder, hoisted the foresail to the wind, and headed for the beach…
But then they hit a shoal out in the water, where the ship ran aground (the prow was stuck and it couldn’t be moved), and the stern started falling apart in the crashing waves.
Well at that, the soldiers decided to kill the prisoners to keep them from swimming away and escaping.
But because the centurion wanted Paul to make it, he prevented them from doing that.
He just told everyone that could swim to dive into the sea and get to the shore first,then the rest could [float in] on planks and other things from the ship… and that’s how everyone got to land safely.
Well, after we made it to safety, we recognized that this was the island of Malta.
There the native people found us and showed us uncommon hospitality, building a fire and welcoming all of us, there in the cold and the rain.
Then when Paul went and collected a bundle of sticks and laid it on the fire, a viper was driven out by the heat, which bit into his hand.
And when the native people saw this dangerous animal hanging from his hand, they said to each other:
‘This man must be a murderer; for though he made it to safety from the sea, justice isn’t going to allow him to live!’
But [Paul] just shook the animal off into the fire, and he didn’t suffer any ill effects…though they thought he was going to swell up and suddenly drop dead.
However, after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing bad had happened to him, they started saying that he was a god!
Fortunately, there was some property located nearby that belonged to the island’s leader ([a man] named Publius).
He also welcomed us and treated us kindly and hospitably for the next three days.
Then when Publius’ father became very sick with a fever and dysentery, Paul went into his room and prayed, then he laid his hands on him and healed him.
Well after that, the rest of the sick people on the island also started coming to him to be cured,honoring us with many gifts, and several brought us provisions that we would need.
It was three months later that a boat from Alexandria called The Sons of Zeus (which had been wintering on the island) finally took us aboardand carried us to Syracuse, where we stayed for three days.
Then from there, we traveled around [Sicily] and arrived at Rheggium.
And a day after that, we caught a south wind and made it to Puteoli in just two days,where we found some of our brothers that begged us to stay with them for the next 7 days.
Then from there, we traveled on to Rome.
Well, when the brothers [in Rome] got the news about us, they came as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Shops to meet us.
And when Paul saw them, he thanked God, because he was very encouraged.
Then when we finally entered Rome, they allowed Paul to live on his own, with just a soldier to guard him.
Then three days later, he called a meeting of the local Jewish leaders.
And after they had assembled, he said this to them:
‘Men… Brothers… Although I haven’t done anything against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was taken prisoner in JeruSalem and handed over to the Romans.
But after [the Romans] examined me, they wanted to release me, because they couldn’t find any reason to put me to death.
However, when the Judeans kept opposing [my release], I was forced to appeal to Caesar… though I didn’t do this in order to accuse my nation.
‘Well, this is why I begged to see you and to talk to you…
For it’s because of the hopes of IsraEl that I have this chain around me!’
Then they told [Paul]:
‘We haven’t received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers who’ve arrived from there reported or said anything bad against you.
So we think it’s worthwhile for us to listen to what you have to say, because we know for a fact that this sect is being spoken against everywhere.’
Well after that, they arranged for a day when many more could come to hear him at the place where he was staying.
And there he laid things out for them by completely testifying about the Kingdom of God.
Paul also reasoned with them about Jesus from morning until evening, citing both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
But though some started to believe what he was saying, the rest didn’t.And since they couldn’t reach a consensus, they all got ready to leave.
So Paul said this:
‘The Holy Breath [of God] spoke very accurately to your ancestors through IsaiAh the Prophet, when he said:
‘You must go to these people and say:
‘When you listen, you’ll hear, but not understand.
And when you look, you’ll look, but not see,
For these peoples’ hearts are all closed.
So, though they can hear with their ears,
They just will not respond,
And they will have eyes that are closed.
‘Thus, though they have eyes, they can’t see,
Nor can they hear with their ears
Or understand with their hearts and return,
So I can bring healing to them.
‘Therefore, I’m warning you that God is now giving this hope of salvation to the gentiles… and they will listen to it!’And when he had said these words, the Jews left, and greatly arguing among themselves. [spurious text]
Well, he stayed in that rented house for two whole years, welcoming everyone that came to visit him,telling them about the Kingdom of God and teaching them things about the Lord Jesus the Anointed One openly and without any interference.
Paul, a slave of Jesus the Anointed One, who is called an Apostle and was set aside for the good news of Godthat He promised through His Prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
which tell about His Son who came in the flesh from the seed of Davidand who proved to be God’s Son in a powerful way when he (by [God’s] Holy Breath) was resurrected from the dead… yes, Jesus the Anointed One and our Lord,
through whom we’ve received loving care and a commission that we have obeyed so that the gentiles might also believe in his nameand be called, [that they too might] belong to the Anointed Jesus.
To all those in Rome that are loved by God and have a holy calling;
May you have favor and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus, the Anointed.
First, I thank my God for all of you through the Anointed Jesus, because your faith is being announced throughout the whole world.
For my God (who appointed me to use my breath in service to the good news about His Son) is my Witness that I never fail to mention you in my prayers.
I keep begging that I might find a way (as it is God’s Will) to come to you sometime;for I long to see you so that I might be able to give you some spiritual gift that would make you unshakable…
Or perhaps we could encourage each other through our faith (both yours and mine).
I don’t want you to fail to recognize this, brothers:
I planned to come to you many times, but I’ve been prevented from doing so until now so that I could find the same type of fruitage that I have in you among the rest of the gentiles(the Greeks and the barbarians, the wise and the ignorant… all those to whom I am indebted).
Yet I’m still eager to preach the good news to you there in Rome also.
I’m not ashamed of the good news, because it’s the power that God uses to save everyone that has faith… first the Jews, and then the Greeks.
For God’s righteous ways are revealed in the faith of the faithful.
Notice that it is written:
‘It’s by their faith that the righteous will live.’
However, God’s rage is also being displayed from the heavens against all the ungodly and bad people that unrighteously try to resist the truth.
For everything that can be known about God already shines among them, because God made it shine among them!
Indeed, His invisible qualities can be seen in everything that He’s made since the creation of the cosmos.
And when they understand these things that clearly demonstrate His eternal power and might, it leaves them without any excuses!
Yet, though they already know God, they don’t glorify Him as God or give thanks to Him.
Therefore, their thoughts are wasted and their foolish hearts are darkened.
And while they claim to be wise, they’ve become morons,since they’ve turned the glory of the incorruptible God into images of corruptible men, or of flying creatures, or of four-footed creatures, or of things that slither.
So God is allowing them the uncleanness that their hearts have desired so as to dishonor their bodies.
Yes, they’ve exchanged the truth of God for a lie and they’ve started worshiping and serving things that were created rather than the One that created them… the One who is to be praised through the ages.
May it be so.
Therefore, this is why God has abandoned them to their dishonorable passions; for their females have changed the natural use of themselves into something that’s unnatural,and the same is true of their males…
They’ve left the natural use of females and started burning in their lust toward each other – males with males – doing what is indecent and receiving the reward that they deserve for such wrongdoing.
Yes, because they don’t approve of coming to an accurate knowledge of The God, He has given them depraved minds, which make them do these wrong things.
So they’ve become filled with unrighteousness, wickedness, greediness, badness, envy, murder, arguing, deceitfulness, rudeness, and gossip.
[They are] slanderers, God haters, insolent, proud, braggarts, inventors of badness, disobedient to parents,without any understanding, and agreement breakers that are without any natural love or mercy.
So though they know the righteous judgments of God very well (that those who do such things deserve death); they not only keep on doing them, but they also approve of others who do such things!
Therefore, you are defenseless, O man, if you’re someone that judges others;
For when you judge others you’re condemning yourselves, since you’re doing the very same things that you judge [to be wrong in them]…and we know that God’s judgment on those that do such things is righteous.
So when you judge those that do the things that you’re also doing, do you think that you will somehow escape God’s judgment…
Or are you taking the loving care, the patience, and the tolerance that He’s shown toward you for granted?
What you should really understand is that these [fine] qualities of God are just trying to lead you toward repentance!
But now, because of your hard and unrepentant hearts, you’re storing away a treasure of rage upon yourselves that [will come] in the day of fury when the righteous decisions of God will be seenand He pays everyone back for the things that they’ve been doing.
Now, those that do good things are searching for age-long life, as well as glory, honor, and incorruption.
But for the ones that like to argue and disobey the truth by being unrighteous, there’ll just be wrath, anger,and some very hard times.
Yes, this is what will come into the lives of all those who work at doing what’s bad (to the Jews first and then to the Greeks).
However, there will be glory, honor, and peace for all those that are working at doing what’s good (for the Jews first and then for the Greeks),because God makes no distinction between them.
Indeed, all those that are without the Law and are sinning will perish without the Law, while those that are under the Law and still sin are condemned by the Law.
For God doesn’t consider anyone righteous that just listens to the Law… only those that obey the Law will be found righteous.
However, when people of the nations that don’t have the Law naturally obey things in the Law, they not only have the Law, they are the Law!
For when they are obeying the Laws, they show that it’s written in their hearts and it’s working with their consciences, which examine their thoughts.
So it’s [their own hearts] that will either accuse them or defend themin the Day that God judges the hidden things of men by this good news that I’m preaching through the Anointed Jesus.
So if you are called a Jew and you’re resting on the Law and taking pride in your God,and if you understand His Will and all the excellent instructions of the Lawand you consider yourself to be a guide to the blind and a light to those in darkness(that you’re someone who can instruct the unreasonable and teach babies), and if you fully grasp all the knowledge and truth in the Law…
Then do you, [the one] that is teaching others, also teach yourselves?
Do you that preach, Do not steal, steal?
Do you that teach, Do not commit adultery, commit adultery?
Do you who teach others to be disgusted with idols, rob temples?
Do you that teach others pride in [God’s] Laws, dishonor God by breaking the Law?
For it’s written:
‘God’s Name is being blasphemed among the nations because of you people!’
Of course, circumcision is good… that is, as long as you’re obeying the Law.
But if you’re a person that breaks the Law, then your circumcision has really become uncircumcision.
However, if an uncircumcised person obeys the righteous requirements of the Law; won’t his uncircumcision be considered circumcision?
Therefore, if those that are uncircumcised obey the Law naturally (except for what it says about being circumcised), they’re really judging those of you that break the Law!
As you can see, being a Jew isn’t something that is visible, for [true] circumcision isn’t something that can be seen in the flesh.
Rather, being a Jew is something that’s inside you, since circumcision comes from the spirit of the heart, not from something that’s written…
It’s not there to be praised by men, but by God!
So in what way is a Jew superior, or of what benefit is circumcision?
It’s really a huge benefit in every way! For God entrusted His Word to the hands [of the circumcised].
And if some [of them] don’t believe; does their lack of faith prove that faith in God is worthless?
May that never happen! Rather, let God be proven true even if that makes every man a liar!
As it is written:
‘So, Your decisions are righteous,
And in Your judgments, You’ve proven just.’
However, if our unrighteousness [is exposed by] God’s righteousness; what can we say?
Then God won’t be wrong when He brings His wrath, will He?
So I’m saying this to everyone:
May that never happen! Otherwise, how could God judge the world?
But if I should tell a lie and that makes the truth of God and His glory grow; should I still be judged a sinner?
Well, it’s [because you are doing such things] that people aren’t just slandering us, they’re proving that some of us are saying,
‘Let’s do bad things so that good things can happen.’
And this is why such a condemnation is so well deserved!
Is there anything that makes us [Jews] better than [gentiles]?
No, not at all; for we have proven to you that both Jews and Greeks are sinners!
As it is written:
‘No one is righteous… no not one!
For there’s no one that truly understands
And no one is searching for God,
Since all have strayed and are useless.
Also, no one is kind… no not one!
For their throats are like open graves;
With their tongues, they practice deceit;
And the poison of asps is under their lips.
‘With cursing and shouting, their mouths have been filled,
And their feet are ready to go and spill blood.
In their swath, is misery and destruction;
The road to peace, they’ve not known;
For, in their eyes, there’s no fear of God.’ (Psalm 53)
Now, we know that everything that was said in the Law was meant for just those that are under the Law…
For it stopped every mouth and proved the whole world to be deserving of God’s punishment.
However, no flesh is going to be called righteous before Him by just obeying the Law, because all the Law did was help us to understand what sin is.
Therefore, even the absence of the Law is revealing the righteousness of God… yes, the Law and the Prophets all testified to this!
So this is why the righteousness of God is now coming to all those that believe and are showing their faith in Jesus the Anointed One.
And it’s why there is no longer any difference between us,since we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Understand that being called righteous is just a gift that [God] kindly gives to us through the ransom that was paid by the Anointed Jesus.
For God sent him here as a sin offering so that when we have faith in his blood; the sins that we committedback when God was just tolerating us can be forgiven.
And this is what allows us to look into His righteous ways today… for He proves Himself righteous by calling [all] those that have faith in Jesus, righteous!
So, where is our reason for boasting? It’s gone!
Does it come from obeying the Law?
No, it comes through the Law of Faith,since we believe that a man is called righteous because of his faith, not by following the works of the Law!
[Therefore, do you think that our God is] only the God of the Jews and that He’s not also [the God of] the gentiles?
[Yes, He’s the God] of the gentiles also!
So God is really the One that calls both the circumcised and the uncircumcised righteous because of their faith.
Then can we say that our faith overrides the Law?
Never may that happen! Rather, [our faith] makes the Law stronger!
For example; consider our fleshly ancestor AbraHam.
If [God] had called AbraHam righteous because of the things he did, [AbraHam] might have had a reason to boast… but not to God.
What do the Scriptures say?
‘AbraHam was counted as righteous because he believed in The God (gr. To Theo).’
Remember that when a man works [for a living], his getting paid isn’t thought of as a kindness… it’s something that he’s owed!
However, those that don’t actually do anything other than just believe in the One that calls the ungodly ones righteous are still counted as righteous because of their faith!
Notice that David also spoke of how blest a man is if God has counted him as righteous despite [all the bad things] that he’s done.
[For he wrote]:
‘Blest are those forgiven for their lawless ways
And those whose sins He has covered…
Blest are those in whom He has found no sin!’
So, doesn’t this ‘blessing’ apply to both the circumcised and the uncircumcised?
For it is written:
‘AbraHam was counted as righteous because of his faith.’
And just what was [AbraHam’s] situation when [God] thought of him that way?
Was this before he was circumcised or after he was circumcised?
It wasn’t after he was circumcised, it was while he was uncircumcised!
For the sign that he received (circumcision) was a seal of the righteousness that he showed before he was circumcised!
Yes, He became the Father of those that have faith while they are still uncircumcised, so that they too can be counted as righteous.
Therefore, He is the Father of circumcision to the uncircumcised, for He is the Father of those that follow in the faith and footsteps of our father AbraHam before he was circumcised!
Indeed, AbraHam and his seed weren’t given the promise of inheriting the world because of the Law, but because of their righteous faith!
For if [you could only] become heirs through the Law, then faith really has no value and the promise is worthless…
Since all that the Law brings is [God’s] wrath.
However, where there’s no law, there’s nothing to break!
So, because we believe in [God’s] loving care, we must also believe that the promise applies to all those that are [AbraHam’s] seed!
And these are not just the ones that are under the Law… they are all those that have the same faith as AbraHam, and he is is the father of us all!
For, notice that it was written:
‘I’ve appointed you to be the father of many nations.’
[You can see that when this was said about him, AbraHam] was standing before The God in whom he believed…
The One that makes the dead alive and calls the things that aren’t and makes them exist.
So although [AbraHam] really didn’t have any reason for hope, he started to believe that he would become the father of many nations; for he was told,
‘They will be your seed.’
And the fact that his body was almost dead (since he was 100 years old) and that the womb of SarAh was dead, didn’t weaken his faith,because it was promised to him by The God in whom he trusted.
So he was strengthened by something that was unbelievable… and God was glorified by his faith!
For [AbraHam] was completely convinced that [God] could do whatever He promised…
And this is why he was counted as righteous!
Now the words, ‘he was counted as,’ weren’t just written for his sake,but for the sake of all those whom [God] thinks of in that same way today…
Those that believe in the One that raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.
For after he had been offered up for our errors, he was then raised.
And this is why we too can be counted as righteous!
So, now that we’ve been declared righteous because of our faith, let’s enjoy the peace that we have with God through our Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
For it’s through him that we have this faith and are able to bask in his loving care.
Therefore, let’s boast about this hope [that we have] to the Glory of God.
And let’s also boast about the difficulties that we are suffering, because we know that these difficulties are giving us endurance…
The endurance to pass the tests…
And passing the tests gives us a hopethat will never embarrass us, because it pours God’s love into our hearts through the Holy Breath that He is giving to us.
For a fact;
The Anointed One came right on time and he died for ungodly men back when we were still weak!
Though few would be willing to die for the righteous, and even fewer would be willing to die for the good;
God showed His love for us through the Anointed One, who died for us while we were still sinners!
Now, since we’ve been called righteous by [Jesus’] blood; isn’t it even more likely that he will save us from [God’s] wrath?
Because, if we found God’s favor through the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, how much more will we be saved by His [Son’s] life now that He [has shown how much He] cares for us!
And not only that; but now, through our Lord Jesus the Anointed One, we’re also glorifying The God that has granted us this privilege.
Understand that sin entered the world through one man, and that sin resulted in death.
So by this [one] sin, death was passed on to all men and they have all sinned.
Therefore, even before the Law arrived, there was sin in the world…
However, sin isn’t counted [against us] when there’s no law to break.But despite that, death still reigned from [the time of] Adam down to Moses, even over those that hadn’t sinned in the same wrong way that Adam had sinned…
But he was a prototype of the one that was to come.
Now, the sin [of Adam] can’t be compared to the gift [from God].
For if death came to many because of the wrongdoing of one man; think of how much more the loving-care of God and His gift (the loving care of one man, Jesus the Anointed One) has brought such an abundance to so many!
This true gift didn’t come from the one that had sinned (Adam)… indeed, his judgment was just condemnation.
However, [God’s] gift is the justifying of many errors.
So if death did in fact come to rule through that one error; how much greater is the abundance of the gift of righteousness and the receiving of life that will come to rule through the loving care of that one… Jesus the Anointed.
Also, since the result of one error was to condemn all mankind;
Then through this one righteous act, everyone can be counted righteous so they can live!
And as the disobedience of one man caused many to become sinners;
Through the obedience of this one [man], many will also be counted as righteous!
Understand that the Law came along so as to show up many errors.
However, where there are many sins, there is a superabundance of loving-care that can be shown.
Therefore, as sin has reigned and brought death; [God’s] loving care will bring a righteous rule and age-long life through our Lord Jesus the Anointed.
So, what can we say… should we remain sinners so there can be more [of His] loving care?
May that never happen! For if we’ve died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
Don’t you know that all who were baptized into the Anointed Jesus were also baptized into his death?
Therefore, since we were buried with the Anointed One by our baptism into his death; as he was raised from among the dead by the glory of the Father, we should be walking in a new way of life.
Also, if we’ve been buried with him into the same type of death; then [like him], we too will be resurrected.
However, we must recognize that the person we used to be was hung on a pole with [him] to bring an end to our sinful bodies…
Which means that we shouldn’t be slaves to sin anymore!
For those who have died have been acquitted of their sins!
And if we believe that we have already died with the Anointed One, then we’ll be alive with him also.
For we know that the Anointed One has been raised from the dead and that he won’t die again.
Therefore, death isn’t his master anymore.
So when he died, he died for sins once and for all time… and now he’s alive and he’s living to The God (gr. To Theo)!
And in the same way, you should also consider yourselves dead when it comes to sin, but alive to The God through the Anointed Jesus.
This is why you shouldn’t allow sin to rule your mortal bodies anymore and why you shouldn’t obey its desires…
You should no longer offer your body parts to serve as unrighteous weapons of sin!
Rather, you should offer yourselves to God as people who’ve been brought back to life from the dead, and [you should offer] your body parts to God as weapons of righteousness!
Indeed, sin must not be your master… for you aren’t under the Law, you’re under [God’s] loving care.
So if we are no longer under the Law but under [God’s] loving care, does this mean that we can just keep on sinning?
May that never be so!
Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to obey someone as a slave, you’ve become that person’s slave?
[So you’re] either [a slave] to sin, which results in death, or [a slave] to obedience, which results in righteousness.
Thank God that though you used to be slaves to sin, your hearts have started to obey this teaching that you were given,which has set you free from sin and made you slaves to righteousness!
I’m going to put this in simple terms because of your fleshly weaknesses;
Just as you once offered your body parts as unclean slaves to immorality and Law breaking, you must now offer your body parts as slaves to righteousness and holiness.
For back when you were slaves to sin, you were free from any righteousness.
And what was the result of the things [you did] back then?
Aren’t these the very things that you’re so ashamed of now? And these are the things that lead to death!
But now that you’ve been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, you can receive holiness and age-long life.
For the wage of sin is death, while God’s gift is age-long life through the Anointed Jesus, our Lord.
Are you ignorant, brothers?
I’m telling those of you who know the Law that the Law is a man’s master for as long as he’s alive!
This is the same situation as with a woman that is bound to the law of her man for as long as he’s alive. However, after he dies, she’s no longer under his law.
So although she would be condemned as an adulteress if she were to ever become another man’s woman while her man is still alive; after he dies, she’s free from his law and she isn’t an adulteress if she marries another.
So my brothers;
You died to the Law through the body of the Anointed One, and now you belong to someone else…
You’ve been raised from the dead so that you can now produce fruitage for God!
Because, while you were fleshly, what the Law labels as sinful passions were working within you, and the fruitage they produced was death.
But now that you’ve been set free from the Law (because you’ve died to the thing that held you down), you can become slaves to something new…
To a newness of spirit, and not to some old writings anymore!
So what should we say… that the Law is sinful?
May that never be true!
For I would never have known what sin was, were it not for the Law.
For example; I wouldn’t have known what envy was if it weren’t the Law that said, ‘You must not envy.’
However, when I learned about this sin from the Commandment, it created every sort of envy [in me].
Yet before the Law arrived, [this wasn’t] a sin.
Actually, I once lived without the Law; but after I came under its Commandments, sin came to life and I died.
Therefore, I found that the Commandments that were supposed to lead me to life, led me to death…
For the sins that I learned about in the Commandments seduced me and killed me.
Nevertheless, the Law and the Commandments are still holy, righteous, and good.
So what was it that killed me?
Was it the thing that was good for me?
May that never be true!
Rather, it is the sin, when it was exposed as sin by that which is good for me, that [led me to] death… for the Commandments showed that the sin was something sinful!
And this is because the Law is spiritual, while I am fleshly and sold into sin.
So I really didn’t understand what I was doing… for I didn’t do the things that I wanted to do, and I didn’t like the things that I was doing.
And despite the fact that I still do things that I don’t want to do, I say that the Law is good.
For though I’m no longer under [the Law], sin is still dwelling within me.
Now I know that nothing that’s dwelling within me (in this flesh) is any good; for though I want to do what’s right, I don’t always have the will to do it.
So I don’t do the good things that I want to do and I still do bad things.
Therefore, if I’m doing things that I don’t want to do, I’m really not in charge [of my body]… the sin that dwells there is!
So though I find that I want to obey the Law and do good things; badness is always here with me.
And though the man that I am on the inside really enjoys the Law of God;my body parts are obeying a different law and they’re at war with the law of my mind…
They drag me into the laws of sin that are there in my body parts.
O what a miserable person that I am!
Who will save me from this dying body?
But thanks to God (through our Lord Jesus the Anointed);
Though I’m a slave to sin’s law in my flesh, I’m still a slave to God’s Law in my mind!
Understand that there’s nothing that can condemn those who are in the Anointed Jesus (those who are walking in the ways of the Spirit, not [in the ways of] the flesh),because the law of the Spirit of Life that is in the Anointed Jesus didn’t come from the Law of sin and death.
So the weakness of the Law is just the weakness of the flesh!
And by sending His Son over this matter of sin (in what appeared to be sinful flesh), God condemned the sins of the fleshso that the righteous requirements of the Law could be fulfilled in those of us who aren’t obeying the flesh, but the Spirit.
For fleshly people just think about fleshly things, while spiritual people [think about] spiritual things.
Indeed, the thoughts of the flesh bring death, while the thoughts of the Spirit bring life and peace.
And obeying the flesh brings God’s rejection, because [the flesh] isn’t under God’s Law, nor can it ever be!
Therefore, those that follow fleshly ways can never be pleasing to God.
However, if God’s Breath is living in us, we are no longer fleshly but spiritual… and those that don’t have the spirit of the Anointed One don’t belong to him.
So if the Anointed One is truly within you, your body is indeed dead to sin and his spirit is making you alive through righteousness.
As the result; if the Spirit of the One that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the One that raised the Anointed Jesus from the dead will also make your dying bodies alive through His Breath that’s in you.
So brothers; since we don’t owe anything to the flesh, we shouldn’t be following fleshly [ways]!
For if you’re living according to the flesh, you’re intending to die; but if through [God’s] Breath, you’re willing to destroy the deeds of the body, you will live!
Indeed, all that are led by God’s Breath are Sons of God!
[And because of this,] you didn’t receive a spirit of bondage to fear again; rather, you received a spirit of adoption, through which you can now call out, ‘Papa! Father!’
This is the same Spirit that testifies to the spirit within us that we are God’s children…
And if we’re [His] children, we’re also [His] heirs…
Yes, heirs of God and heirs along with the Anointed One!
However, we will all have to suffer together so we can all be glorified together.
And I don’t believe that the sufferings we are currently enduring amount to anything when they’re compared to the glory that’s going to be revealed in us.
Indeed, [all] creation is awaiting and earnestly expecting the revealing of the sons of God.For His creations were never willingly subjected to futility.
Rather, they were subjected to it by the Will of the One that gave us the hope thatall creation will soon be set free from bondage to decay, and then [we can] enter the glorious freedom of the children of God!
For we know that all creation has been groaning and in birth pains until now.
And it isn’t alone, since even those of us who have received the first fruitage of [God’s] Breath groan within ourselves as we await the adoption and the [payment of] the ransom that will free our bodies.
Yes, this is the hope that is saving us!
Now, when you hope for something that you can see, that really isn’t hope… because people don’t hope for something that they can already see.
However, if we keep on hoping for something that we haven’t seen, we’ll continue to patiently wait for it.
And now we have the [Holy] Spirit that is helping us with our weaknesses, because we don’t always know what we should even be praying for.
Yet the Spirit is always there, groaning the words [that we] haven’t spoken.
And the One that searches hearts knows the thoughts of the Spirit; because, like a god, he’s an advocate for the holy ones.
We know that God makes everything work together for the good of those that love Him (those that have been called to do His will).
For He recognized them ahead of time and chose them to become like His Son, who was the firstborn from among many brothers!
So He calls all those whom He chooses,
He makes all those whom He chooses righteous,
And He glorifies all those whom He makes righteous!
Therefore, what can we say about all of this?
If God is over us, who can come down on us?
And since He didn’t even spare His Son but handed him over for all of our sakes; then why shouldn’t [we believe that] He will also give us everything else?
For who can accuse those that have been chosen by God?
Yes, if God has declared us to be righteous,who can condemn us?
So, since we now have the Anointed Jesus, who died, was raised from the dead, and is at God’s right hand pleading our case;
What can ever take us away from the love of the Anointed One?
Not hard times, nor difficulties, nor distress, nor persecution, nor hunger, nor nakedness, nor danger or even swords!
It was written:
‘We’re being killed all day long for Your sake … we are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered!’
However, through this One that loves us, we have conquered everything else!
For I’m convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor governments, nor things that are happening or will happen, nor powers,nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to take us away from God’s love that is in the Anointed Jesus our Lord!
In the name of the Anointed One, I’m telling you this as the truth (no, I’m not lying).
For my conscience testifies with me in [God’s] Holy Breaththat I’m extremely sad and constantly sick at heart,because I wish that I could be the one that is cursed by being separated from the Anointed One rather than my brothers and fleshly relatives, the IsraElites.
For they’re the ones to whom the adoption as sons, the glory, the Sacred Agreement, the Law, the worship, and the promises belong.
They’re the ones [that descended] from the forefathers and the ones through whom the Anointed One [came] in the flesh…
Yes, praise God who is over it all through the ages.
May it be so!
However, God’s Word hasn’t failed in this, because not all that came from IsraEl are really IsraEl,nor are AbraHam’s seed his only children.
Though [it’s written],
‘That which will be called your seed will come through IsaAc;’
[IsaAc’s] fleshly children aren’t all of the children of God…
For the children of the promise are that seed.
Notice the promise that [AbraHam] was given:
‘I will return at this time and SarAh will have a son.’
And this isn’t the only occasion. For when Rebecca was pregnant with twins from our forefather IsaAc,and before they were born or did anything good or bad (just to show that God’s purposes don’t depend on the things we do, but on the One that does the choosing),she was told:
‘The older will be the younger [one’s] slave.’
And it was written:
‘I loved Jacob, but I didn’t care for Esau.’
So what can we say?
Is God unjust?
May that never be true!
But he told Moses:
‘I will show mercy upon whomever I choose to show mercy, and pity upon whomever I choose to feel pity.’
So it doesn’t depend on the one that does the wishing or on the one that does the running, but on the mercy of God!
For the Scriptures say that He told the PharaOh:
‘The reason why I raised you is so that I can show My powers through you, and to have My Name announced throughout the whole earth!’
So the [point is this]:
He shows mercy on whomever He wishes to show mercy, and He hardens [the hearts] of whomever He wishes.
Therefore, you might ask:
‘Then why does [God] find fault with anyone who resists His plans?’
O man, who are you to question God?
Will the thing that is made ask its maker,
‘Why did you make me like this?’
For isn’t the potter in charge of his clay; and can’t he make one pot for an honorable use and another for a dishonorable use from the same lump [of clay]?
Therefore, God can choose to show His rage and make His power known through whatever pottery He’s had to endure.
And if He made it for His rage, then it’s only fit to be destroyed!
But He can also show the richness of His glory upon the pots of mercy that He has prepared ahead of time for glory…
Those among us whom He has called not just from among the Jews, but also from among the gentiles!
It’s as He said in Hosea:
‘I’ll call those who aren’t My people, My people,
And the one I didn’t love, My loved one.
So in those places where they were told, You’re not My people,
They will be called, The Living God’s sons!’
Yet, IsaiAh shouted this about IsraEl:
‘The people of IsraEl will then grow to be as many as the sands of the seas from the few that survive.’
And for a fact, [we can see that] Jehovah is [now] bringing about this reduction on the earth.
IsaiAh also prophesied:
‘If Jehovah of armies hadn’t left us a seed,
We would have become just like Sodom
And the same as GomorRah.’
So this is why we can say that gentiles became righteous (although they weren’t trying to be righteous) with the [type of] righteousness that comes from faith,while IsraEl, which was following a righteous Law, just didn’t make it!
And why was that so?
Because [IsraEl] didn’t look for it in faith, but in the things that they were doing… they tripped over the ‘stumbling stone.’
As it is written:
‘{Look!} Upon the foundation of Zion,
I’ll place a valuable stone…
A costly, select cornerstone,
In order to serve as its base.
And those trusting in him will never be shamed.’
Therefore brothers;
The goodwill that I have in my heart for [the Jews] and the thing that I beg of God, is for them to be saved!
For I can testify to the fact that though they have a zeal for God, they still don’t know [Him].
And since they don’t understand God’s righteous ways and they’re always trying to prove their own ways to be righteous, they are unwilling to submit to God’s righteousness.
However, the Anointed One fulfilled the Law so that he could bring righteousness to those that have faith.
Notice that Moses wrote:
‘You must follow all My rules and all My decisions… yes, follow them in such a way [that you learn to] live by them.’
Yet, righteousness that is based on faith tells us:
‘Don’t ask in your hearts, Who could ascend into the heavens to bring the Anointed One down? or, Who could descend into the abyss to bring the Anointed One up from the dead?’
What does it say?
‘The words are close to you… they’re in your mouths and in your hearts.’
And these are the words of faith that we are preaching!
So if you confess and say the words in your mouths that Jesus is Lord, and if you truly believe in your hearts that God raised him from the dead, you’ll be saved!
For heart-felt faith [moves you to] righteousness, and your mouth’s confession of this [leads you to] salvation.
And the Scriptures tell us:
‘Those who believe in him will never be shamed.’
Therefore, there’s really no difference between Jews or Greeks, because we all have the same Lord, and he provides abundantly for all those that call on him.
Therefore, everyone that calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!
However, how will they call on someone in whom they don’t believe?
How will they believe in someone of whom they’ve never heard?
How will they hear without someone to preach?
And how will they preach if they aren’t sent?
This is why it was written:
‘How beautiful are the feet of those that bring good news about good things!’
Yet, not everyone will obey the good news; for notice that IsaiAh asked:
‘Who has trusted our report of the Lord?’
So, faith comes from hearing… that is, by hearing the things that the Anointed [One] said!
So I’m now asking,
Why haven’t they heard, since the call has gone throughout the whole earth… in fact, the words have reached to the ends of the earth!
Yes I’m asking,
Why doesn’t IsraEl already know?
Notice that it was Moses that first told [them]:
‘I will provoke you to jealousy with those that are not [of your] nation and anger you with those that don’t understand.’
Then IsaiAh dared to [write]:
‘I was seen by those not searching for Me,
And found by those not asking for Me.
I said, Here I am, to a nation
That has never called on My Name.’
And he went on to say this regarding IsraEl:
‘I’ve held out My hands all day long
To a people that just will not listen
And to those that prefer to talk back.’
So let me ask: Has God pushed His people away?
May that never be so!
I am also an IsraElite…
I’m the seed of AbraHam and of the tribe of BenJamin,and God hasn’t rejected these people that He knew first!
Don’t you remember what the scriptures tell us about what EliJah said as he was pleading with God concerning IsraEl?
[He said]:
‘O Jehovah; They’ve killed Your Prophets, they’ve dug up Your Altars, and I’m the only one left… and now they’re seeking my life!’
And what was [God’s] reply?
He said:
‘I’ve kept 7,000 people for Myself that haven’t bent a knee to BaAl.’
So the same thing is true today, for there are still some left who through [His] loving care, are being chosen.
However, [receiving] His loving care doesn’t come to them because they are [obeying the Law], for if it did, His loving care wouldn’t really be loving care. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace; otherwise work is no more work. [spurious words]
Then what happened to IsraEl?
Well, not all of them received the things that they were seeking…
Just the ones that had been chosen from among them received it, while the rest just became more obstinate,just as it’s written:
‘God gave them a spirit to slumber;
So their eyes haven’t seen and their ears haven’t heard,
Down to this very day.’
David also said:
‘Let their table be a snare, trip lever, and trap
As retribution upon them.
Let their eyes grow dim, so they cannot see,
And their backs forever bent double.’
So I ask:
Did they stumble so [badly that] they couldn’t be raised [again]?
May that never be so!
However, they’ve been missing out as the gentiles were being saved, in order to make them jealous.
But if their missing out has enriched the world, and if their failures have enriched the gentiles; how much more will result when they are included?
Now I want to address those of you that are gentiles:
Since I’m really an Apostle to the gentiles, I can make my service even more gloriousif I can somehow make those that are my own flesh jealous and bring some of them to salvation.
Because, if throwing them away will restore the world’s relationship [with God], then what will receiving them back again mean other than life for those who are dead?
For if the first fruits [can be made] holy, [then the rest of the crop will also be holy]… and if the roots are holy, so are the branches!
Therefore, if some of the branches were broken off so that you wild olives could be grafted in, you have become sharers in the fatness of that olive [tree’s] roots.
So, don’t start cheering because those branches [were removed]; for if you find yourselves doing that, remember that you aren’t supporting the roots, they’re supporting you!
Yes, you could in fact say,
‘The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in’…
and that’s a fact! They were broken off because they lacked faith, and you have taken their places because you have faith. But don’t think too much of yourselves… be afraid!
For if God didn’t spare the natural branches, He doesn’t have to spare you either!
Therefore, recognize God’s loving kindness as well as [His] willingness to remove.
So, although those that have fallen have been cut off and you’re now receiving God’s loving care; it’s only yours for as long as you stay in that [good relationship], because you can be pruned off too!
And then, if [the Jews] don’t continue in their disbelief, they will be grafted back in, since God can graft them back in again!
For if you were cut from an olive tree that’s wild by nature and then (contrary to nature) grafted into the garden olive tree;
Recognize how much easier it will be for those that are natural branches to be grafted back into their own olive tree once again!
Brothers, I don’t want you to ignore this mystery, so you don’t become too wise in your own eyes:
IsraEl was allowed to become calloused until the full number of gentiles came in.
Yet, this is how all IsraEl is going to be saved!
For it’s written:
‘A Savior will come out of Zion
And remove from Jacob, his godless ways.
Yes, this is My promise to them,
After I have removed all their sins.’
Therefore, from the standpoint of the good news; they have become His enemies for your sakes!
But from the standpoint of the choosing; they are the ones that are loved because of their ancestors,since the loving gifts of God and His calling are irrevocable!
So, just as you were once disobedient to God but have now been shown mercy [despite your] disobedience;they are now being disobedient.
Yet, because you were shown mercy, they may also be shown mercy.
Yes, God has locked them up together in disobedience so that He might show mercy to all of us.
‘O the depths of God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge,
And the mysteries of all His decisions;
For His ways can’t be figured out!
‘Who’s come to know the mind of Jehovah,
And who can give Him advice,
Or give Him something that He must repay? (Isaiah 40:13)
Since all is from Him, by Him, and for Him,
To glorify Him through the ages.’
May it be so.
So I beg you by the compassion of God, brothers, to offer your bodies as living, holy sacrifices that are pleasing to God, and to serve Him in sensible ways.
Don’t [allow yourselves] to be molded by this system of things; rather, be transformed by renewing your minds so that you come to think well of the good, pleasing, and perfect Will of The God.
Yes, through the loving care that was shown to me, I’m telling all of you not to think too much of yourselves.
Rather, you must think clearly, as God has given each of you your own share of faith.
[Remember that] our bodies have many parts, and none of [these parts] have the same function.
So although there are many of us, we’re really just one body in the Anointed One, and starting from him, we are each parts of that body…
Therefore, we all belong to each other.
Likewise, each of us have different gifts that were kindly given to us, whether it’s prophesying according to our portion of faith,serving in some service, teaching some point,offering some encouragement, simply sharing, earnestly taking the lead, or cheerfully showing mercy.
Therefore, we should love [each other] without being judgmental…
We should hate what is wicked and stick with the things that are good!
So, let your brotherly love make you more tender and caring to each other, and take the lead when it comes to showing honor to each other.
Do your best… don’t be lazy… slave for the Lord and bubble over with his Spirit…let your hope fill you with joy as you endure the difficulties and persecutions… and keep on praying.
Also, share whatever you have with the Holy Ones and be hospitable.
Learn to say nice things to those that persecute [you]… don’t curse them, praise them!
Rejoice with people that are rejoicing and cry with those that are crying…be aware of each other’s needs… don’t spend too much time thinking about high ideas, but deal with each other humbly… don’t think too much of yourselves!
Don’t be rude to people that treat you poorly, but plan to do good things in the eyes of everyone.
And if possible (whenever you can), be peaceable with everyone…
Don’t get even, loved ones; put anger in its place, because it’s written:
‘Let Me get even and then I’ll pay them back, says Jehovah.’
Also:
‘If your enemy is hungry,
Give him something to eat;
And if he is thirsty,
Give him something to drink;
For whenever you do this,
You’re piling burning coals on their heads.’
So, don’t allow evil to beat you.
Rather, keep conquering evil with goodness.
Everyone should submit to the authorities that are over them. Indeed, there are no offices of authority that don’t come from God, or any that haven’t been instituted by God.
So those that resist the authorities whose laws have come from God are really opposing and condemning themselves!
For there is no reason to fear the rulers when we’re behaving… just when we’re misbehaving.
Do you wish that you didn’t have to fear the authorities?
Then do good things and they’ll praise you,because they’re God’s servants for your own good.
But if you’re doing something that’s wrong, you have good reason to fear them. For that’s why they bear the sword of God…
They’re God’s servants and His avengers to show His rage upon those who are doing what’s wrong!
So it’s important for us to obey them… and not just for [fear of] angering them, but because of [our] consciences!
This is why we pay our taxes; because, as public servants, they’re serving God’s purposes!
Therefore, pay everyone whatever they’re owed… to the tax collector the property tax, and to the toll collectors the tolls.
Also fear the police and show honor to those [that should be] honored.
Don’t owe anything to anyone, except your love for each other, because those that love others have fulfilled [the] Law.
For [the Laws],
‘You must not commit adultery;
You must not murder;
You must not steal;
You must not envy;’
(and whatever other Commandments there are) are summed up in the words,
‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’
Yes, those that love won’t do anything bad to their neighbors, since the Law is fulfilled through love.
As for those of you that aren’t aware of the season;
It’s time for you to wake up, because our salvation is now closer than it was when we first became believers!
Yes, since the night is almost over and that Day is near, we should be getting rid of the things that belong to darkness and start putting on the weapons of light.
Then we should all behave as we would in the daytime… not in wild partying and drunkenness; not in immoral sex and the lacking of principles; not in arguing and jealousy.
Rather, we should be putting on the Lord Jesus the Anointed One and no longer planning [to satisfy] the cravings of the flesh.
Therefore, welcome those that are weak in the faith and don’t try to judge their motives!
Though those that have faith can eat anything and those that are weaker just eat vegetables;those that eat shouldn’t look down on those that don’t, and those that don’t eat shouldn’t judge those that do, since God has accepted them both.
For who are you to judge the house servant of another, since we each stand or fall before our own master…
And we can stand, because the Lord can make us stand!
Also, some consider one day as more important than others, while others consider each day to be the same as all the rest.
However, each of us should be sure of this in our own minds!
Then those that observe a certain day [as holy] should observe it to the Lord.
Also, those that eat [whatever they wish] should eat it to the Lord, because they have thanked God for it.
Likewise, those that don’t eat [everything] should abstain to the Lord, since they too have thanked God [for what they have received].
So, none of us should be living just for ourselves, and none of us should be dying just for ourselves.
For when we live, we live for the Lord, and when we die, we die for the Lord… because whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord!
And the reason why the Anointed One died and came to life again was so that he could be the Lord of both the living and the dead.
So, why are you judging your brothers, or why are you looking down on them, since we will all stand before the judgment seat of God?
Notice that it is written:
‘As I live, says Jehovah;
Every knee should bend low before Me,
And by Me, every tongue should swear oaths.’
So since each of us must answer for ourselves before God,we should stop judging each other, and we shouldn’t be setting anything before our brothers that might cause them to stumble and fall.
Now I know (and I’ve been persuaded by the Lord Jesus) that nothing is unclean… it’s only when a man considers something to be unclean that it’s unclean to him.
Yet if what you are eating upsets your brother, you aren’t following the path of love yet.
For you shouldn’t want anyone for whom the Anointed One died to be destroyed over the food that you’re eating…nor should they speak badly of the good things that you’re doing.
Because, the Kingdom of God has nothing to do with eating or drinking… just with righteousness, peace, and the joy of [God’s] Holy Breath.
So, those of you that choose to make yourselves slaves in such matters [for the sake of] the Anointed One will be approved both by God and by men.
And what we should all be doing is trying to do the things that promote peace and to build each other up…
[We must] stop tearing down the work of God over food!
So though it’s true that all [food] is clean, it can still be bad for someone that stumbles over what we are eating.
Therefore, it isn’t good to eat meat, or to drink wine, or to do anything else that could be a snare to our brothers,because we should be sure that the things we believe [to be right] also look good in the eyes of God…
And any man that isn’t being judged over things of which he personally approves, should be praised.
However, if he’s unsure of something that he’s eating, his lack of faith is condemning him for eating it; because, whenever we do something that we believe [to be wrong], we are sinning.
So, those of us that are strong must handle the weaknesses of those that aren’t strong, and not just be pleasing ourselves.
Rather, we should each be trying to please our neighbors by doing good things that build them up.
For even the Anointed One didn’t just please himself.
Notice that it’s written:
‘The insults of those insulting you, have fallen upon me.’
Understand that everything that was written until now has been written to teach us, so that through our endurance and through the comfort that comes from the Scriptures, we might have hope.
Therefore, may the endurance and comfort that comes from God supply this to you, so that you may pay close attention to each other’s needs in the same ways that the Anointed Jesus did.
Then together, as with one mind and one mouth, we can all bring glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
So, welcome each other as the Anointed One welcomed us (to the glory of God).
For [he] became a servant to those who are circumcised for the sake of the truth of God, and he verified the promises that were made to their ancestors,while he allowed the gentiles to glorify God for His mercies.
As it is written:
‘That’s why I’ll praise You to the nations,
And that’s why I’ll sing to Your Name.’
And again it says:
‘Rejoice you gentiles, along with His people!’
And again:
‘Praise Jehovah, you gentiles…
Let everyone give praise to Him.’
Also, IsaiAh wrote:
‘In that day, the root of JesSe [will sprout]…
He’ll arise to rule [all] the nations.
Yes in him, the gentiles will trust,
And upon him, honor will rest.’
So may the God that provides hope fill you with all joy and peace in the belief that you’ll have more than enough faith through the power of [His] Holy Breath.
I’m sure of this about you, my brothers:
You are filled with goodness, because you’ve been filled with all the knowledge that you need to strengthen each other!
Now, I’m writing to you in plain words to remind you of this:
Because of a gift that God kindly gave to me,I was appointed a [temple] official to the gentiles by Jesus the Anointed One and to serve as their Priest of the good news of God, so that their offerings can be found worthy and clean through the Holy Breath…
And the Anointed Jesus has given me many good reasons to be cheerful when it comes to these things of God.
Therefore, I wouldn’t dare to speak of anything that the Anointed One might have failed to accomplish on behalf of the gentiles through me, because I’ve obediently followed his instructions in everything that I have been saying and doingthrough the power of signs, omens, and by the might of the Holy Breath.
For I’ve thoroughly preached the good news about the Anointed One in a circuit from JeruSalem all the way to IlLyricum.
And I’ve made it my goal not to preach the good news in places where they’ve already heard about the Anointed One, so that I wouldn’t be building on another man’s foundation.
As it’s written:
‘He’ll be seen by those to whom he didn’t preach,
And those that haven’t heard him will learn.’
So, this is the reason why I’ve not been allowed to come to you on several previous occasions.
But now that I no longer have a place in those regions, and because I’ve been wanting to come to you for several years,it’s my hope to see you along the way as I travel to Spain.
[And if so], perhaps you can come to the place where I’ll be staying.
However, right now I have to travel on to JeruSalem to serve the needs of the Holy Ones,because those in Macedonia and Achaea have been so happy to share their things by contributing to the poor among the Holy Ones in JeruSalem.
Yet while it’s true that they were happy to do so, they were also indebted to them.
For if they’ve shared their spiritual things with the gentiles, the [gentiles] are now indebted to them as part of a public service, to share things for the fleshly body.
So after I finish doing that and deliver these things to them safely, I’ll visit you as I’m on my way to Spain.
And I know that when I do get to you, I’ll come with a full measure of blessings from the Anointed One.
Now I beg you brothers, through our Lord Jesus the Anointed One and through the love of the Breath [of God], to share in praying to God on my behalf,that I might be saved from the unbelievers in Judea…
And that my service in JeruSalem may prove to be what the Holy Ones need,so that when I have the joy of getting back to you (if that’s God’s Will), I can spend some time resting up with you there.
May the God that gives peace be with all of you.
May it be so!
I want to especially recommend our sister Phoebe to you, who is a servant in the congregation at Kenchreae.
Welcome her in the Lord as you would [welcome] the Holy Ones, and help her in any matter where she may have needs, because she has protected me many times…
Yes, me personally.
Give my greetings to Priska and Aquila, my fellow workers in the Anointed Jesuswho have risked their necks for my life.
And not just for mine, but offer them thanks on behalf of all the called ones that are gentiles,and [send my greetings] to the called ones in their home.
Also send my greetings to my beloved EpaiNeton, who is one of the first fruits of the Anointed One in [the province of] Asia.
And send my greetings to Mary, who has done so many things for you.
Give my greetings to Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and fellow captives, who are notable ones among the Apostles, and who’ve been in the Anointed One longer than I have.
Give my greetings to Ampliatus, my loved one in the Lord.
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in the Anointed One, as well as my beloved Stachys.
Greet Apelles, the one that is approved in the Anointed One.
Also greet those from the household of AristoBoulou.
Send my greetings to my relative Herodion, as well as to those in the Lord from the household of Narcissus.
Greet TryPhaina and TryPhosa, [women] who are working hard in the Lord. And send my greetings to our beloved Persida, because she has done so many good things in the Lord.
Greet Rufus, the Lord’s chosen one, as well as his mother and mine.
Greet AsynCritus, Phlegonta, Hermes, PatroBas, Herman, and the brothers that are with them.
Send my greetings to PhiloLogus and Julian, Nereus and his sister Olympas, and all the Holy Ones with them.
Also greet each other with a holy kiss.
For all the congregations of the Anointed One send you their greetings.
Now, I beg you brothers to keep an eye on those that are creating divisions and setting traps by going against the teachings that you’ve learned…
Avoid them,because such men aren’t slaving for our Lord the Anointed One, but for their own bellies.
They’re seducing the hearts of people that aren’t really bad through kind words and praises.
Meanwhile, because everyone has noticed your obedience, I am rejoicing over you.
I just want you to be wise when it comes to doing what’s good and not to be getting mixed up in doing bad things,since the God of peace will crush the Opposer under your feet shortly.
So may the loving care of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and SosiPater, my relatives.
I Tertius, the one who wrote this letter, greet you in [the] Lord.
GaiUs, our host, and everyone in his congregation send their greeting to you.
Erastus, the city public works manager, sends his greetings, as does KouArtos his brother.
May the loving care of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with you all. Amen. [copied from verse 20]
Now, to the One that can make you strong in the good news that I declare through my preaching about Jesus the Anointed One and about the revelation of the mystery that has remained a secret through the ages,but which have now been made known through the prophetic scriptures and which is being seen among all the nations by the command of the God of ageless time to promote obedience by faith;
Yes, to God who is the only truly wise One, be the glory through Jesus (the Anointed) through the ages. May it be so. [spurious words]
Paul, who by the Will of God is a called Apostle of the Anointed Jesus, and [your] brother Sosthenes,to the congregation of God in Corinth…
To you who have been made holy in the Anointed Jesus and who are called to be Holy Ones along with all those that call on the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed everywhere (their Lord and ours);
May you receive loving care and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus the Anointed.
I always thank God for you, because in His loving care (through the Anointed Jesus), God has given youeverything that you need to make you rich in Him.
[He has given you] all the words and a complete knowledge,while the testimony about the Anointed One is being made firm in you.
Therefore, you haven’t lagged behind in any gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus the Anointed,who will make you strong to the end and keep you free from any accusations to the Day of our Lord Jesus the Anointed.
For God, who called you to have a share with His Son (our Lord Jesus the Anointed), is faithful.
Now, through the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, I want to encourage you brothers to all teach the same things…
There shouldn’t be any divisions among you. Rather, you must all learn to think the same way and to share the same opinions.
For those of the house of Chloe have told me that you do a lot of arguing, my brothers.
What I mean is that some of you are saying, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow the Anointed One.’And by this, the Anointed One is being divided.
However, Paul wasn’t hung on a pole for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
I’m thankful that I didn’t baptize any of you (other than Crispus and GaiUs),so that no one can say that they were baptized in my name.
Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas;
But as for the rest, I don’t think that I baptized anyone else,because the Anointed One didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the good news.
[And I wasn’t sent] with many wise words, because that would make the Anointed One’s impaling pole less important.
For the message about the impaling pole is just foolishness to those that are dying… but to those of us that are being saved, it’s the power of God.
As it’s written:
‘I’ll destroy the wisdom of their wise,
And the understanding of their discerning, I’ll hide.’
So, where are all the wise men? Where are all the writers? Where are all the great debaters of this age?
Didn’t God make the world’s wisdom foolish?
And since the world doesn’t understand the wisdom of God, He saw that it was good for us to preach foolishness in order to save those that would believe!
So while the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks search for wisdom,we preach the Anointed One as having been hung on a pole.
[Of course], this is a trap to the Jews and a lot of foolishness to the gentiles.
But to those that are called (both Jews and Greeks), the Anointed One is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Because a foolish thing from God is wiser than men, and a weak thing from God is mightier than men.
Now, notice this about your calling, my brothers:
Not many were called that were wise in a fleshly way,
Not many were called that had power,
And not many were called from important families.
Rather, God chose the foolish things of the world to put its wise men to shame;
He chose the weak things of the world to put the mighty to shame;
And He chose the common things of the world and the things that are looked down on – the things that aren’t – in order to make the things that are, worthless.
The reason why He did this was so that no flesh can boast before God.
And because you are in the Anointed Jesus, he has become God’s wisdom to us, as well as His righteousness, His holiness, and our ransom.
As it is written:
‘Whoever boasts; let him boast about Jehovah!’ (Jeremiah 9:23)
So when I came to you, brothers, I didn’t bring you the mysteries of God with high-sounding words of wisdom.
In fact, I decided not to teach you about anything other than Jesus the Anointed, and about how he was hung on a pole.
I came to you as weak, afraid, and trembling.
And what I said and preached wasn’t done with persuasive wise words, but with Spirit and power,so you wouldn’t believe because of the wisdom of men, but because of the power of God.
Yes, we do use wisdom when we’re speaking to those that aren’t mature…
But not the wisdom of this age or that of the rulers of this age that are coming to nothing.
Rather, we speak God’s wisdom as a mystery (hidden wisdom), when it comes to the things that God planned for our glory long before this age arrived.
This is the type of wisdom that none of the rulers of this age understand; because if they understood it, they wouldn’t have hung our glorious Lord on a pole.
As it is written:
‘Eyes haven’t seen and ears haven’t heard,
Nor have the hearts of men even thought of the things
That God has prepared for those who love Him.’
Yes, these are the types of things that have been revealed to us by God’s Spirit, because His Spirit searches through all things… even through the deep things of God.
For just as no man really understands another man better than the spirit within him; nobody understands the things of God better than the Spirit of God.
And this is why we don’t really have the spirit of this world… because we have received the Spirit that comes from The God (gr. Tou Theou), through which we can understand the things that He has so kindly given to us.
Therefore, we don’t speak with words that come from human wisdom.
Rather, we are taught by the Spirit in spiritual ways that communicate spiritual things to us.
For physical men don’t recognize the Spirit of The God, because these are just foolishness to them and they can’t understand them, since such things can only be understood spiritually.
However, because a spiritual man can judge everything, no one can pass judgment on him.
[As the scripture says:]
‘Who can know the mind of Jehovah
And who has become His advisor?’ (Isaiah 40:13)
And we now [also] have the mind of the Anointed One.
However, brothers, I can’t talk to you as I would to spiritual men.
Rather, [I must speak] as I would to fleshly men (as babies in the Anointed One),for I’ve had to feed you milk, not solid food, because you weren’t strong enough… and you’re still not strong enough,since you’re still men of the flesh!
For whenever you’re jealous and arguing, aren’t you fleshly… aren’t you acting like men of the flesh?
And when one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another says, ‘I follow Apollos,’ aren’t you [proving yourselves] to be men of the flesh?
For, what is Apollos and what is Paul?
[We’re just] servants through whom you became believers, since you were each given to us by the Lord.
Yes, though I planted and Apollos watered, it is God that makes it grow!
So the one that plants is nothing and the one that waters is nothing, for it’s God that makes it all grow!
However, those that plant and those that water will each be rewarded for the work that they’re doing.
Understand that we are just God’s field hands, while you are God’s field and God’s house!
And it was only through the loving care of God that I was assigned to be a wise chief craftsman.
So although I laid the foundation, someone else is actually doing the building…
And he must keep an eye on how he’s doing his building,because no one can lay a foundation other than the one that has already been laid, Jesus the Anointed.
Now, whether someone builds on that foundation using gold, silver, and precious stones, or with wood, hay, and stalks,[the quality of] his work will show up and be seen in the daytime, since it will be exposed by fire…
And that fire will prove what kind of work each one has done.
Then, if his construction remains, he’ll be rewarded.
But if his construction burns down, he’ll be damaged by the loss… though he’ll still be saved.
However, it will be as though he came through fire.
Don’t you know that you are God’s temple sanctuary? For God’s Breath is dwelling within you!
And if someone should destroy God’s Most Holy, God will destroy him… yes, you’re God’s Holiest of Holies!
Therefore, don’t try to fool yourselves, for if you are thought of as being wise in this age, then you should become morons in order to be [truly] wise.
Recognize that the wisdom of this system of things is just silliness to God. As it is written:
‘He catches the wise in their cunning deeds.’
And again:
‘Jehovah knows what wise men think,
[and their thoughts] are useless.’ (Psalm 94:11)
Therefore, nobody should boast about [being followers of] men, since everything already belongs to you,whether [it came from] Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or from this system of things, or from life, or from death, or from what’s here or what’s about to come…
All of this already belongs to you!
Rather, you belong to the Anointed One, and the Anointed One belongs to God.
Therefore, you should think of men [like us] as just galley rowers of the Anointed One and as house servants to whom the mysteries of God have been entrusted.
And when it comes to house servants; all that is required of them is just to be found faithful.
Now, it really isn’t too important to me if I’m being judged by you or by some human court…
For I don’t even judge myself,since I’m unaware of anything against myself.
However, this doesn’t mean that I’m righteous, because Jehovah is my true judge.
So, recognize that we shouldn’t be judging anything before its time.
For when the Lord’s Day arrives, the secret things that are done in darkness [will be brought] into the light and the secret thoughts of hearts will be put on public display…
Then each ones’ commendations will come from God.
Now brothers; if I’ve overstated these things about Apollos and me, I’ve done it for your own good so that you’d learn the rule:
Don’t go beyond the things that are written!
And don’t get all puffed up by showing more favor for the one than for the other.
[After all,] who really knows us… and what do we have that wasn’t given to us?
So since these things were just given to us; why should you be boasting over things that you received as gifts?
Are you already satisfied? Are you already rich? Have you started ruling without us?
Oh, I wish that you had already started ruling so that we could be ruling along with you!
For I think that God has put us (the Apostles) last on display as men that are condemned to death…
Yes, we’ve become theatrical spectacles in this world to both men and angels!
Yet, while we are viewed as fools because of the Anointed One, you are wise in the Anointed One… we’re weak, but you’re strong… we’re dishonorable, but you’re the glorious ones.
Why, down to this very hour, we’ve been hungry, thirsty, almost naked, beaten up, homeless…and we’ve had to work for a living.
But when we’re being shouted at, we praise; when we’re being persecuted, we bear it;and when we’re being slandered, we offer encouragement.
Yet until now, we’ve been considered the world’s refuse and scum!
Understand that I’m not writing this way to shame you, but to teach you as my beloved children.
For though you could have thousands of tutors in the Anointed One, you don’t have many fathers…
And since I [am the one that] became your father in the good news through the Anointed One,I beg you to start imitating me!
This is why I’m sending Timothy to you.
He’s my loved son, and faithful in Jehovah. He’ll remind you of my ways that I’m teaching in all the congregations everywhere, through the Anointed Jesus.
Now, I know that some [of you have become] all puffed up as though I weren’t coming to you.
But I’ll be there shortly (if Jehovah desires it), and I won’t pay any attention to what those that are puffed up have to say.
Rather, [I will pay attention] to their power,because the Kingdom of God doesn’t have anything to do with words, but with power.
So, which would you prefer?
Should I come to you with a stick, or with a loving and mild spirit?
However, I’ve actually heard that there is sexual immorality among you, and it’s a type of immorality that isn’t even [heard of] among the gentiles…
That someone has taken his father’s woman!
Are you proud of this?
Shouldn’t you mourn instead, and shouldn’t the man that committed this act be removed from your midst?
Although I’m not there physically, I am there in spirit, and I’ve already judged the man that has done this thing as though I were there.
My spirit and the power of our Lord Jesus agree thatin the name of our Lord Jesus, you should hand such a man over to the Opposer for the destruction of his flesh, so that the spirit within him may be saved in the Day of the Lord.
There’s nothing for you to boast about here!
Don’t you know that a little [yeast] ferments the whole ball [of dough]?
So, you must clean out the old fermentation in order to become something that’s new and unfermented!
For since the Anointed One (who is our Passover) has already been sacrificed,we shouldn’t be observing this Festival with old fermentation or with the fermentation of badness and wickedness, but with the unfermented bread of sincerity and truth!
Didn’t I write you in my [last] letter and say that you must stop associating with those that are sexually immoral?
[Of course, I wasn’t telling you to] completely avoid the immoral [people] of this system of things, or the greedy, or the extortionists, or the idol worshipers… otherwise, you’d actually have to get out of the world.
But I’m writing to you now to tell you this:
Stop associating with anyone called a brother that is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idol worshiper, or shouts insults, or is a drunk, or an extortionist… don’t even eat with people like that!
Indeed, how much can the judgment of outsiders mean to us when you aren’t judging those that are in your midst?
For God is going to judge those on the outside… but you should expel any among you that are wicked!
Would any of you that think you’ve been [wronged] by another dare to take it to court [to be tried by] unrighteous men rather than by the Holy Ones?
Don’t you know that the Holy Ones will judge the world? So if you’re going to judge the whole world, aren’t you qualified to judge small matters?
Also, don’t you know that we’re going to judge the angels? And if so, then how much more the things of this life!
Or would you rather bring them before those whom the congregation views with little regard?
I’m saying this to shame you! For isn’t there at least one wise man among you that can [serve as] judge between his brothers?
Or must a brother take a brother to court to be judged by unbelievers?
Really, if you’re bringing lawsuits against each other, you’ve already lost the battle!
Why wouldn’t you rather allow yourselves to be mistreated or defrauded?
Yet, some of you are in fact mistreating and cheating others… including your own brothers!
Don’t you know that the unrighteous won’t inherit the Kingdom of God?
Don’t make any mistakes about this; sexually immoral people, idol worshipers, adulterers, gays, men that have sex with men,thieves, greedy people, drunkards, insulters, and extortionists won’t inherit God’s Kingdom…
And that’s what some of you once were!
However, you’ve been washed clean, you’ve been made holy, and you’ve been found righteous through the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed and by the Breath of our God.
Yes, everything is legal for me, though not everything is good for me.
And even though everything is in fact legal for me, I won’t allow anything to become my master.
For example; food is for the belly and the belly is for food. However, God is going to bring [the belly] and [food] to nothing.
The same is true of the body… the body isn’t for sexual immorality, it’s for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.
Therefore, just as God raised our Lord, He will use His powers to raise us.
Don’t you know that your bodies are all a part of the Anointed One? [And if this is so,] should I take one of the Anointed One’s body parts and give it to a whore?
May that never happen!
For whoever joins himself to a whore becomes one with her body, since [God] said,
‘The two will become one flesh.’
Understand that those who share his Spirit are really in the Lord,and this is why you should flee from sexual immorality!
Now, every other sin that a man commits is outside of his body;
But when he has immoral sex, he’s sinning against his own body!
And don’t you realize that your bodies are the temple sanctuary of the Holy Spirit within you that you received from God?
So, you no longer belong to yourselves…
And since you were bought and paid for, you must use your bodies to glorify God!
Now, concerning those things that you wrote to me about:
It’s best for a man not to even touch a woman.
However, because of all the immorality, each man should be allowed to have his own woman and each woman her own man.
Then every man should give his woman what she’s due, and every woman should do the same for her man.
Women don’t have authority (gr. exousiazei) over their own bodies, their men do.
And men don’t have authority over their own bodies, their women do.
So you shouldn’t deprive each other, except for set periods that you may agree on to devote time to prayer… then you may come together again.
No, don’t allow the Opposer to tempt you by your lack of self control (gr. akrasian).
However, these are just my opinion, they aren’t commandments.
I wish that you were all as I am. However, everyone has his own gift from God, and each in a different way.
So I’m telling unmarried people and widows that it’s best for them to be like me.
But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry, because it’s better to marry than to burn [with passion].
To married people I give this warning (not really me, but the Lord):
A woman shouldn’t leave her husband.
But if she does, she must either remain unmarried or make up with him… and the men shouldn’t leave their wives.
To the rest I say this (yes me, not the Lord):
If any brother has an unbelieving woman that agrees to live with him, he should never leave her.
And if a woman has an unbelieving man that agrees to live with her, she shouldn’t leave him,because the woman makes [her] unbelieving man holy, and the brother makes [his] unbelieving woman holy.
Otherwise, their children would be unclean… but now they are holy.
However, if the unbelieving one wants to leave, let him go, because a brother or a sister isn’t a slave to such matters, since God has called us to peace.
But woman; how do you know that you won’t save your man? Or man; how do you know that you won’t save your woman?
Except, go on in the same way that God gave to you when Jehovah called you. That’s the command I give in all the congregations.
Was any man called when he was circumcised? Then he shouldn’t act like someone that’s uncircumcised.
Has any man been called when he was uncircumcised? Then he shouldn’t be circumcised.
For circumcision doesn’t mean anything and uncircumcision doesn’t mean anything; [what’s important] is obeying God’s commandments!
So it doesn’t matter what state you were in when you were called… just stay that way!
Were you called when you were a slave?
Don’t let that bother you… but if you can become free, seize the opportunity,because anyone in the Lord that was called [when he was] a slave has already become a free man in the Lord.
And anyone that was free when he was called has become a slave of the Anointed One.
So since you’ve already been bought and paid for; stop becoming slaves to men!
Therefore, brothers; it doesn’t matter what condition each [of you] were in when you were called…
Just stay that way, living to God.
Now, when it comes to virgins, I don’t have any commands from the Lord. However, I’ll give you my own opinion (as one who by the Lord’s mercy, has been faithful).
I think that it’s best for anyone that’s had a reason to stay one way, to continue as he [or she] is.
[For example], are you tied to a woman? Stop trying to get free!
Are you free from a woman? Stop searching for a woman!
However, even if you marry, you aren’t sinning. And if a virgin marries, she hasn’t sinned.
Remember that those who [marry] will have fleshly problems, and I’m just trying to save you [from this].
Let me say this, brothers… the season has been shortened!
Therefore:
Let those that have women act as though they have none;
Let those that are crying act like those that don’t cry;
Let those that are rejoicing act like those that don’t rejoice;
Let those that are buying act like those that own nothing;
And let those that are using this system of things act like those that don’t use it… because the ways of this world are about to change.
[You see], I don’t want you to worry about anything.
A single man worries about the things of the Lord and winning His approval,while a married man worries about worldly things and winning his woman’s approval… so he’s divided.
Also, single women and virgins just worry about the things of the Lord… about how they can be holy in their bodies and the type of people that they are on the inside.
However, a married woman must worry about worldly things and winning the approval of her man.
Now, I’m just describing the best situation…
I’m not trying to hang you, I’m just trying to move you to do things that work out well and sit well with the Lord, and which won’t distract you.
But if anyone thinks his virginity isn’t working out and he’s past the bloom of youth, this is what should happen:
Allow him to do whatever he wishes, for he isn’t sinning if he marries!
However, if someone is settled in heart, doesn’t have any [sexual] needs, has self-control, and has decided in his heart to keep his virginity, he’ll do better.
Yes, though the one that gives up his [or her] virginity and marries does well, the one that doesn’t marry does better.
For a woman is tied down as long as her man is alive.
But if her man falls asleep [in death], she can marry whomever she wishes (but only in the Lord).
However, it’s my opinion that she’ll be happier if she stays [single]… and I consider myself as having God’s Spirit.
Now, regarding things that have been sacrificed to idols;
We realize that everyone knows something [about this]… however, knowledge puffs up, while love builds up.
So if anyone thinks he already knows everything about this, he doesn’t really understand it as well as he should yet…and God knows those that truly love Him.
So when it comes to eating food that has been offered to idols;
We know that idols are really nothing in this world, and that there is no God but the One.
And though there are some that are called gods, whether heavenly or earthly (for there are many gods and many lords),we have just one God, the Father, through whom everything has come, and we are in Him.
There is also just one Lord, Jesus the Anointed, through whom everything came to be, and we are through him.
However, not everyone fully understands this yet.
For up until now, some have followed the practice of eating food to an idol as a sacrifice to that idol… and this has damaged their consciences and made them weak.
But understand that what we eat doesn’t really affect our standing with God; so if we choose not to eat [food that was sacrificed to idols], we aren’t sinning…
Nor will we be blest if we eat it.
But be careful that this power of yours doesn’t become a trap to those that are weak.
Because, if they see you (the one that knows) dining in a temple; won’t the weak one’s conscience be built up to the point where he starts eating things as a sacrifice to idols?
Then, because of your knowledge, you will have ruined the man that is weak… your brother for whom the Anointed One died!
And when you sin against your brother in this way and wound his weak conscience, you’re sinning against the Anointed One.
Therefore, if food is a trap to my brother, I’ll not eat the meat [of idols] through [the rest of] the age, so I don’t turn myself into a snare for my brother.
Am I not free?
Am I not an Apostle?
Haven’t I seen our Lord Jesus, and aren’t you my works in the Lord?
If I weren’t an Apostle to all the rest, I certainly am to you, because you’re the seal that confirms my Apostleship in the Lord!
So I say this in my defense before those that would judge me:
I can eat or drink whatever I wish,and I could also take a sister as my woman [if I wished], as did the other Apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas (Peter).
And are BarNabas and I [the only Apostles] that should have to work for a living?
For, who serves as a soldier at his own expense?
Who plants a vineyard and doesn’t eat its fruit?
And who shepherds a flock and doesn’t drink some of the [sheep’s] milk?
Is this just human reasoning, or doesn’t the Law tell us the same thing?For it’s written in the Law of Moses:
‘You must not muzzle a bull when it’s threshing the grain.’
So does God just care about bulls,or didn’t he say that for all of our sakes?
Really, it was written for all of us, because the man that plows ought to plow in hope, and the man that threshes ought to do so in hope of eating [the grain].
Therefore, if we’ve planted things of the Spirit within you, is it such a big thing for us to harvest things of the flesh from you?
And if the people you work for are benefiting from your efforts, shouldn’t we [benefit] from them even more?
Yet, we haven’t really used the [full] authority that we have, for we’ve been taking care of ourselves so that we don’t get in the way of the good news about the Anointed One.
Don’t you know that those who serve in the Temple also eat the things that are [contributed], and that those who serve at the Altar also share in the things that are sacrificed there?
So the Lord meant for those that preach the good news to be provided for by means of this good news.
However, I haven’t used any of these provisions, and I’m not writing this so that will to happen to me… for I’d rather die than allow someone to take away my reason for boasting!
Now, there’s no reason for me to boast when it comes to preaching the good news, because it’s something that I must to do…
In fact, woe to me if I don’t preach the good news!
For if I do this willingly, I’ll receive my wages. However, if I don’t do it willingly, it’s still my assignment.
Therefore, what is my reward?
It’s my ability to preach the good news free of charge.
And by doing this, I’m not abusing the authority that I have in the good news,which leaves me free from being indebted to anyone.
Yes, I’ve made myself a slave to everyone so that I can gain more.
I became a Jew to Jews, so I could gain Jews;
I became as under the Law to those that are under the Law (though I’m not under the Law), so I could gain those that are under the Law;
I became as someone that is without the Law to those that aren’t under the Law (though I’m not without law toward God and I’m under the law of the Anointed One), so I could gain those that are without the Law;
And I became weak to those that are weak, so I could gain the weak.
Yes, I’ve become everything to everyone and used every means to save some of them,doing it all for the sake of the good news, so that I might share it with others!
Don’t you know that though all that [enter a] race in the stadium must run, only one gets the prize?
So, run to win!
Also, every fighter has to maintain full control of himself just to win a garland that rots away… but we will receive something that doesn’t rot.
As the result, I’m not running timidly nor am I just swinging my arms, I’m boxing…
I beat my body and treat it as a slave so that after I’ve preached to others, I won’t be rejected!
Now, I don’t want you to miss this point, brothers:
Our ancestors were under the cloud and they all passed through the sea,so they were all baptized into Moses because of the cloud and the sea.
Also, they all ate the same food from [God’s] Spirit,and they all drank the same spiritual drink, because they drank from the spirit of the rock…
And that rock was the Anointed One.
However, because God wasn’t pleased with most of them, He left [their bodies] spread across the desert.
Now, things like this should serve as examples to us, so we won’t become people that desire bad things as they did…
We don’t want to become idol worshipers, as some of them did!
Notice that it’s written:
‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up to play.’
So we shouldn’t commit sexual immorality as some of them did, because 23,000 of them fell in just one day!
Also, we don’t want to put Jehovah to the test as some of them did, because they were destroyed by snakes.
Nor do we want to complain as some of them did, because they were killed by the destroyer!
Recognize that the things that happened to them [should serve as] examples to us, for they were written as warnings to us upon whom the end of the age has arrived.
So let those who think they are standing be careful that they don’t fall!
For none of you have faced any temptations yet, other than the things that are common to all men.
And since God is faithful, He won’t allow you to be tested beyond what you can bear… for with every temptation He provides a way out, so you can hang on.
However, my loved ones; Flee from idol worship!
And since I’m talking as I would to people with good sense; figure out for yourselves whether the things that I’m saying here are the truth.
Now when we [say a] blessing over the cup of blessings, aren’t we sharing in the blood of the Anointed One?
And when we break the loaf, aren’t we sharing in the body of the Anointed One?
So although there are many [of us], there’s just one loaf… therefore, we are all one body, since we all eat from that same loaf.
And as in fleshly IsraEl; don’t those that eat the sacrifices also share part of it with the Altar?
So, what am I saying… [am I saying] that idols are anything, or that things sacrificed to idols are anything?
No, I’m telling you that the things the nations offer as sacrifices are really being offered to the demons, not to God… and I don’t want you to become sharers with the demons!
For you can’t drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, nor can you eat at the table of the Lord and at the table of the demons.
We aren’t trying to make the Lord jealous, are we?
We aren’t mightier than he is, are we?
Recognize that though everything is legal, not everything is good for us… yes, everything is legal, but not everything makes us stronger.
So let’s not just be watching out for our own interests, but [for the best interests] of others.
The fact is; you can eat whatever is sold at the meat markets without it bothering your consciences,for the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord!
And if an unbeliever invites you [for a meal] and you wish to accept, you can eat whatever is set before you and not let it bother your consciences.
But if someone should say,
‘This was offered as a sacrifice,’ don’t eat it.
You should do this for the sake of the one who said that, because of conscience…not your conscience, but that of the other person.
But [you might ask]:
‘Why should I let anyone else judge my freedom?
If I’m eating thankfully, why should I be slandered over something for which I’ve given thanks?’
Well, whether you’re eating, drinking, or doing anything else, you should be doing everything for God’s glory.
So you shouldn’t want to do anything that would stumble Jews, Greeks, or the Called Ones of God.
And this is why I’m trying to please every body in everything and not just doing what’s best for myself… I’m [trying to do] what’s best for others, so I can save them!
I’m asking you to imitate me as I’m [imitating] the Anointed One.
I also want to praise you for remembering me and all the things that I’ve given to you, as well as for holding onto the things that I taught you.
However, I want you to recognize this:
The origin of the woman is the man, the origin of every man is the Anointed One, and the origin of the Anointed One is God.
So, every man that prays or prophecies with something on his head shames his origin.
And every woman that prays or prophecies without something on her head shames her origin, for it’s the same as if she had her head shaved.
Indeed, if a woman doesn’t wish to cover her head, she should have her hair cut off.
But if cutting her hair short or shaving her head would shame a woman, then she should cover her head.
However, a man shouldn’t cover his head, since he [was created in] the image and glory of God, while a woman is the glory of man.
For the man didn’t come from the woman, the woman came from the man.
Also, the man wasn’t created for the woman, the woman [was created] for the man.
So, that’s why the woman should have [a sign of] authority on her head… as well as [for the sake of God’s] messengers.
Yet there really isn’t any difference between males and females in the Lord;for as the female came through the male, the male came through the female…
Though everything really comes from God.
So, judge it for yourselves;
Is it becoming for a woman to pray before God with no covering?
Doesn’t physical nature teach us that if a man has long hair it dishonors him,but if a woman has long hair it glorifies her?
Yes, that’s why women were given longer hair.
However if anyone wants to argue about this, we don’t have any other custom, nor do the congregations of God.
But when it comes to your meetings, I’m not praising anyone, for they seem to be doing more harm than good.
First, I hear that when you meet as a congregation, there are divisions among you…
And I believe that’s partly true,because there had to be sects among you so that those that are approved could be clearly identified.
However, when we meet in our gatherings, isn’t it to eat the Lord’s Supper?
Yet [I’m hearing that] some of you are bringing your own meals and eating, drinking, and getting drunk, while others are going hungry!
Don’t you have homes where you can eat and drink… or are you condemning the congregation of God by shaming those that don’t have anything?
What should I say to you? Should I praise you for this?
No, I don’t praise you!
Let me tell you something that I received from the Lord, and which I want to share with you…
It’s that the Lord Jesus (on the very night that he was going to be handed over) took a loaf,and after giving thanks he broke it and said:
‘This is my body that I’m giving for you.
Keep on doing this in remembrance of me.’
And after the meal he did the same thing with the cup, saying:
‘In this cup is the blood of my New Sacred Agreement.
Keep on doing this… and as often as you drink it, think of me.’
Therefore, as often as you eat from the loaf and drink from the cup, you will keep proclaiming the death of the Lord until he arrives.
But recognize that anyone who eats the loaf and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy condition will also be judged by the Lord’s body and blood.
As the result, each person should examine himself before eating from the loaf or drinking from the cup;
For those that eat and drink unworthily are eating and drinking judgment upon themselves if they don’t recognize that this is the Lord’s body.
And this is why so many of you are weak and unhealthy… and quite a few have fallen asleep!
Understand that if you would judge yourselves, you wouldn’t have to be judged.
But [if you leave that] judgment to the Lord, you’ll have to be disciplined so that you aren’t condemned along with this system of things!
Therefore, my brothers; when you come together to eat, wait for each other!
And if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so you don’t meet for judgment.
As for the rest of the matters; I’ll straighten them out when I get there.
Now brothers; I don’t want you to be ignorant when it comes to spiritual things.
For you know that when you were ‘gentiles,’ you were led to be followers of dumb idols.
But I want you to understand that nobody speaking through the power of Jehovah’s Breath can say that Jesus is cursed; likewise, nobody can say that Jesus is Lord, except by Holy Spirit.
For no matter how many types of gifts there are, they all come from the same Spirit.
And no matter how many types of services there are, [they all come from] the same Lord.
So, although there are many types of manifestations, they all come from the same God who provides the outworking of everything for each person.
And it’s all these many ways that the Spirit expresses itself through different people that brings everything together.
Therefore, through the same Spirit one is given words of wisdom, while another is given words of knowledge.
It gives words of faith to some, while others get the gift of healing,or the ability to perform powerful deeds, or of prophesying, or of distinguishing different spirits, or of speaking different languages, or of interpreting the languages…
Yet, they all come from the same Spirit, which works in many ways (as it wishes) through each person.
So, just as the body is a single thing that has many members, and all the members (while being many) make up that one body… this is how the Anointed One is.
For through the same Spirit we were all baptized into that one body, whether we are Jews or Greeks, slaves or free men… and we were all made to drink from this same Spirit.
Therefore, you should understand that this body isn’t just one part, but many.
So if the foot should say, ‘Because I’m not a hand, I’m no part of the body,’ that doesn’t mean it’s no part of the body.
And if the ear should say, ‘Because I’m not an eye, I’m no part of the body,’ that doesn’t mean it’s no part of the body either.
For if the whole body were just an eye, how would it hear?
And if it could just hear, where would the sense of smell be?
Therefore, God has placed each part in the body as He pleases.
For if all parts were the same, how could there be a body?
So understand that though there are many body parts, there’s just one body;
And the eye can’t say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you,’ nor can the head say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’
And notice that the weaker each body part seems to be, the more it is needed.
For the body parts that we consider the least honorable are the ones that we surround with the most honor.
And our unattractive parts were made more attractivebecause our attractive parts don’t need any help.
When God assembled the body, He gave more honor to the parts that have lessso that there would be no divisions in the body, and all the parts would show the same loving care for each other.
As the result, if one body part suffers, all the other body parts suffer along with it.
Or if a body part is glorified, all the other body parts rejoice along with it.
Therefore, you should realize that you’re all the Anointed One’s body and body parts,and that God has designated each of your places in the congregation…
First the Apostles, second the Prophets, and third the teachers.
Then come [those with] powerful works, or the gifts of healing, or performing helpful services, or the ability to direct, or speaking different languages.
Not all are Apostles, are they?
Not all are Prophets, are they?
Not all are teachers, are they?
Not all can perform powerful works, can they?
And not all have the gift of healing, or can speak different languages, or can serve as translators.
However, zealously keep seeking the greater gifts.
But now I’m going to show you something that’s even better.
If I could speak the languages of both men and angels but didn’t have love, I’d be the sound of [clanging] brass or of a clashing cymbal.
If I could prophesy, understand all the mysteries, had all knowledge and enough faith to move mountains, but didn’t have love, I’d be nothing at all.
And if I were to give everything that I own to feed others, or hand over my body so that I could boast, but didn’t have love, none of this would have any value.
However, love is patient and kind.
It isn’t envious, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t conceited,it doesn’t scheme, it doesn’t watch out for just itself, it doesn’t stir things up, it doesn’t hold grudges,and it doesn’t rejoice over unrighteous things;
Rather, it rejoices over the truth.
It covers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, and endures everything…
Love never fails!
But the [gift of] prophesying will be done away with,
The [gift of] speaking [in foreign] languages will end,
And the [gift of miraculous] knowledge will pass away,
because we now have just a partial knowledge and we can only prophesy partially.
However, when the perfect thing arrives, the partial thing will be done away with.
Back when I was a baby, I talked like a baby, thought like a baby, and reasoned like a baby.
But now that I’ve become a [grown] man, I’m finished with baby’s things.
So the things we see here today are like looking into a metal mirror… however, then it will be face to face.
And though I can only understand partially now… then I will have a complete understanding and I will be completely understood!
And at that time, only these three things will remain: faith, hope, and love.
And the greatest of them is love.
Therefore, we should [all be] pursuing love, as we also zealously seek the [gifts] of the Spirit… and I prefer that you prophesy.
For those who speak in tongues aren’t talking to men but to God, since nobody else is listening… so by the Spirit they’re speaking mysteries.
On the other hand, those who prophesy are building up, encouraging, and bringing comfort to others.
So while the one who speaks in tongues builds himself up, the one who prophesies builds up [the whole] congregation.
And while I would like all of you to [be able to] speak in tongues, I would prefer that you prophesy, because the one that prophesies is greater than the one that speaks in tongues…
Unless he can also translate, so the whole congregation can be built up.
Brothers, if I were to come to you right now and speak to you in a foreign tongue, what good would it do if I didn’t also speak to you with a revelation, or with knowledge, or with a prophecy, or with something that I can teach you?
It’s the same as with inanimate things that make sounds, like flutes or harps.
If you can’t distinguish the difference between the notes, how can you tell what’s being played?
Also, if a trumpet blows an unrecognizable signal, who will prepare for war?
So unless you use your tongues to say things that are easily understood, how will anyone know what you’re saying?
You will for a fact just be speaking into the air!
There are many kinds of vocalizations in the world, and they all mean something.
However, if I don’t understand the meaning of the sound, I’m a foreigner to the one that is speaking, and the one that is speaking will be a foreigner to me.
Therefore, if you have a zeal for the Spirit, use it in ways to build up the congregation, so that everyone can prosper…
Let the one that speaks in tongues pray that he can also translate!
For when I pray in a foreign language; although my spirit may be praying, my mind isn’t receiving any benefit.
Then, what should we do?
If I pray by the Spirit, I’ll also pray in my mind. And if I sing praises by the Spirit, I’ll sing praises in my mind.
For if we’re only offering praise by the Spirit, how will any ordinary man who is there and doesn’t understand us say, ‘May it be so,’ when we’re giving thanks?
For though it may be true that we’re giving thanks in a fine way, this person isn’t being built up.
I thank God that I can speak more languages than all of you.
However, I would rather speak 5 words using my mind so that I can teach others when I’m in a congregation, than 10,000 words in a foreign language.
Brothers, don’t be like children when it comes to [using] the power of your minds… be babies when it comes to badness, as you perfect your abilities to reason!
For it’s written in the Law:
‘Though I speak to these people in other tongues and with other lips, ... they still won’t listen to me,’ says Jehovah. (Isaiah 28:11-12)
Understand that speaking in a foreign tongue isn’t a sign to unbelievers, but to believers, while prophesying isn’t for believers, it’s for unbelievers.
For if the whole congregation is speaking in tongues when some ordinary person or unbeliever comes into your meeting place, won’t he just think you’re crazy?
However, if everyone is prophesying when an unbeliever or ordinary person enters, he is corrected and judged by them all.
Then, as the secrets in his heart are revealed, he will fall to his face before God and say,
‘God is truly among you!’
Therefore, what should happen, brothers?
When you’re meeting, one should have a psalm, another should have a teaching, another should have a revelation, and another should speak in a foreign language… that is, as long as someone else interprets it.
Because, everything that’s done there should be for [the purpose of] building up!
So if some are speaking in tongues; limit it to two or three at the most, and do it in turns…
Then have someone do the translating.
However, if no one can translate it, such people should be silent in the congregation, speaking just to themselves and to God.
Let two or three Prophets speak instead, and allow the rest to judge the meaning of what they’re saying.
Then if someone else has a revelation while he’s sitting there, the first one should [yield to him].
This way, when each of them prophesy in turns, everyone can learn and be encouraged.
For the spirits of the Prophets should be controlled by the Prophets,because God doesn’t send us confusion, [He sends] peace, as in all the congregations of Holy Ones.
The women should remain silent in the congregation… they shouldn’t be allowed to speak out. Rather (as the Law says), they should be submissive.And if they wish to know something, let them ask their men [when they get] home; for it’s disgraceful for a woman to speak out in a congregation. [spurious text]
Or [do you think that] the Word of God is coming from just you, and that you’re the only one that understands it?
Well, if someone thinks he’s a Prophet and that he’s under the influence of [God’s] Spirit, then he should agree with these things that I’m writing to you, because these are the Lord’s commandments!
However, if there are those that choose to be ignorant, let them remain ignorant.
My brothers;
Keep on zealously seeking the [gift of] prophesying, but don’t forbid the speaking in tongues.
Just make sure that everything is conducted in a tasteful and orderly way.
Now brothers;
I want you to understand this about the good news that I preached to you (which you received, in which you are standing,and through which you are being saved):
If you are still holding onto this good news that I preached to you, your faith hasn’t been wasted;because, what I passed along to you was the first thing that I learned…
That the Anointed One died for our sins (just as the Scriptures foretold),and he was buried and then raised on the 3rd day,where he appeared first to Cephas (Peter), then to the rest of the 12.
And after that, he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive today (though some have fallen asleep),and he appeared to James and to all the Apostles.
But lastly – like some miscarriage – he appeared to me…
For I’m the least of the Apostles, and I’m unfit to even be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Called Ones of God.
Yet, through the loving care of God, I am what I am.
And the loving-care that He showed me hasn’t been wasted, because I’ve worked harder than all the rest… and not just for my own benefit, but because of God’s loving care that’s now in me.
However, whether it was from me or from some other source; we have all preached and you have believed.
Now, if we’re preaching that the Anointed One was raised from the dead; then, why are some of you saying that there is no resurrection of the dead?
For if there was no resurrection of the dead, then the Anointed One couldn’t have been raised either.
And if the Anointed One hasn’t been raised, our preaching and our faith is all in vain!
Yes, we’ve proven to be false witnesses of God, because we’ve testified concerning God that He raised the Anointed One… who couldn’t really have been raised at all if the dead won’t be raised!
Indeed, if the dead won’t be raised, the Anointed One hasn’t been raised either!
And if the Anointed One hasn’t been raised, our faith is useless and we’re all still sinners.
Also, all those that have fallen asleep in the Anointed One are just gone!
Then if we’ve been putting our hope in the Anointed One when this life is all that there is, we’re the most pitiable of all men!
However, the Anointed One has been raised from the dead, and he’s the first fruit of those that have fallen asleep [in death].
For though death came through a man, resurrection from the dead has also come through a man.
And as all are dying because of Adam, all will be made alive in the Anointed One…
But each one in his own order, [starting with] the first fruits of the Anointed One, followed by those that belong to the Anointed One when he arrives.
Then in the end, after he has brought all governments, authorities, and powers to nothing, he will hand over the Kingdom to his God and Father.
For he must rule [as king] until he has put all his enemies under his feetand the final enemy, the death, has been brought to an end.
Yes, he will indeed put everything under his feet!
However, when it says that everything will be put under his feet, it’s evident that the exception is the One that put everything under him.
For after everything has been put under him, the Son will submit to the One who put everything under him, so that God can be everything to everyone.
Also, if none of the dead will be raised, then what good would it do for us to be baptized into [Jesus’] death?
Yes, why [are we] being baptized for that purpose…and why are we in danger every hour?
For I’m dying every day just to prove that you are worthy of all my boasting about you… you whom I [call] my brothers through the Anointed Jesus our Lord.
And if the dead aren’t going to be raised, and if it was just as a man that I fought wild animals at Ephesus, what good did it do me?
Why not rather say, ‘Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die!’
So, don’t allow [anyone] to mislead you about this…
Remember that evil communications corrupt good morals!
Brothers, become more serious about your righteousness and stop sinning!
For some [of you actually] know nothing at all about God… yes, I’m saying this to embarrass you!
Because, some have been asking,
‘Just how will the dead be raised… in what sort of bodies will they return?’
You foolish people! Those that plant seeds know that they can’t live unless they die first;
For whatever is planted isn’t the body that it’s going to become… it’s just a naked grain of wheat, or whatever.
So understand that God will give us any [type of] body that He wishes, just as He gives each seed its own body.
Realize that not all flesh is the same!
There is one type of flesh of men, another of cattle, another of birds, and another of fish.
There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies… and the glory of heavenly bodies is different from that of earthly bodies.
The glory of the sun is one type, the glory of the moon is another, and the glory of the stars is yet another.
In fact, stars differ from other stars in their glory.
So, that’s how it will be with the resurrection of the dead:
‘It’s planted in decay and then raised as clean.
It’s planted without honor, and then raised in glory.
It’s planted as weak, and then raised in power.’
Therefore, what’s planted as the body of something that breathes will be raised as a spiritual body…
As there’s a breather’s body, there is also a spiritual [one].
It’s written that the first man (Adam) became a living soul.
However, the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Thus the first [body] is human, not spiritual, for the spiritual one comes later.
Likewise, as the first man came from the dust of the ground and the second man came from the Lord of heaven;
Those that come from the dust are like the one that came from the dust, while those that are heavenly are like the heavenly one.
Therefore, as we’ve worn the shape of the one that was made from the dust of the ground, we’ll also wear the image of the Celestial One.
Let me tell you this, brothers:
Flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s Kingdom, nor can [something] that’s corruptible inherit something that’s incorruptible.
Look, I’m going to explain a mystery to you:
Not all of us will be laid to rest; rather, we will be changedin a moment – in the twinkling of an eye – during the last trumpet!
For the trumpet will be blown and the dead will be raised incorruptible… yes, we will be changed.
Then that which is corruptible will put on incorruptibility, and that which is dying will put on immortality.
But when that which is dying puts on immortality, the words that were written will be fulfilled:
‘Death, which prevails, will be swallowed.’
So, where is your victory, O death… yes, where is your sting, O death?
The sting that brings death is sin, and the power for sin comes from the Law.
But thanks to God that each of us will see victory through our Lord Jesus the Anointed One!
Therefore, my beloved brothers;
Become settled, immovable, and always have an abundance of the Lord’s work to do, knowing that with Jehovah, your hard work is never in vain.
Now, regarding the collection for the Holy Ones:
I want you to do the same thing that I told the congregations in Galatia.
On each Sabbath day, you should set something aside in your savings, as you are prospering, so we won’t have to take up a collection after I arrive.
Then when I get there, I can send whichever men you select and write letters about to carry your kind gift to JeruSalem.
And if I’m found worthy to go myself, they can travel with me.
I will come and [visit] you after I go to Macedonia, because I have to travel through Macedonia.
And if things turn out well, perhaps I can stay [with you] for a while, or even spend the winter with you.
Then you can escort me part of the way to wherever I’ll be going.
I don’t want to see you as I’m passing through right now, because I hope to spend more time with you, if my Lord allows it.
I’ll be staying in Ephesus until Pentecost,because a large door of opportunity has opened to me there.
However, there are also many opposers.
When Timothy gets there, make sure that he has nothing to fear while he’s with you, because he’s doing the Lord’s work the same as I am…
Don’t allow anyone to treat him disrespectfully!
Then escort him part of the way in peace so that he can come here to me, because I’m waiting for him with the brothers.
Now, regarding our brother Apollos;
I begged him to come to you with the brothers, but he doesn’t want to do that right now.
However, he will come when he has the opportunity.
So, stay awake, stand firm in the faith, carry on as men, and grow mighty.
And may everything that you do be accomplished in love.
Now, I want to encourage you to do this, brothers:
You know that the household of Stephanas is the first fruit of Achaia, and that they’ve been serving the needs of the Holy Ones.
Follow the instructions of such people, and all of you should labor and work hard together.
I’m very grateful that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and AchaiKus are here, because they’ve made up for your not being here.
Since they are a breath of fresh air in my life and in yours, give special recognition to such men.
The congregations of [the Province of] Asia send you their greetings.
Aquila, Priska, and the called ones in their home send you hearty greetings in the Lord.In fact, all the brothers send their greetings!
So, greet each other with a holy kiss.
[Here are] my (Paul’s) greetings, written in my own hand.
May all those that don’t care for the Lord be cursed!
Come, O Lord!
May the loving care of the Lord Jesus be with you,and may my love be with all of you, in the Anointed Jesus.
Paul, who by the Will of God is an Apostle of the Anointed Jesus, and our brother Timothy, to the called ones of God in Corinth, as well as to all the Holy Ones throughout Achaia;
May you receive peace and loving care from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus the Anointed.
May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One – the Father of mercy and the God of all comfort – be praised.
For [He’s] the One that comforts us during all our trials and enables us to comfort others that are undergoing trials through the comfort that we receive from Him.
And since we have received plenty of suffering because of the Anointed One, we’ve also received plenty of comfort through the Anointed One…
May it ever be so!
[We want you to know that] when we are being tried, it’s on behalf of your comfort and salvation.
And we are comforted by the fact that the comfort [you receive] is helping you to endure the trials that we [all] share in suffering.
So our hope for you is firm, because we know that since you’re sharing in the suffering, you’ll also share in the comfort.
Brothers, we want to tell you of the trials that we had to endure while we were in [the province of] Asia.
For we were under so much pressure that we thought there was no way out and we feared for our lives…in fact, we believed that we had been condemned to death.
But this taught us not to trust in ourselves, but in The God that raises the dead,because He rescued us and has continued to rescue us from such a great thing as death…
And we hope that He’ll keep on rescuing us.
You can help in this matter by praying for us, so that many faces will give thanks for the gifts that we are so kindly being given.
Yes, this is something about which we can boast and to which our consciences can testify:
It wasn’t with fleshly wisdom, but through God’s loving care that we’ve been conducting ourselves in holy ways and in godly sincerity toward this system of things, and especially toward you.
Now, we’re really writing to you concerning things about which you already know and understand, and which I hope that you will keep on recognizing to the end:
That we are something about which you can boast, just as you’ll be for us in the Day of our Lord Jesus.
So it’s with this type of confidence that I had planned to come to you… to give you another reason for joy.
I wanted to come there on my way to Macedonia and to stop over on my way back, then to have you escort me part of the way to Judea.
And when I hoped to do this, don’t think that I did so lightly. Rather, believe that what I had planned to do in the flesh is what I really planned to do, so that my yes would mean yes and my no would mean no.
You can trust in God that when we tell you yes, we don’t mean no,because the Son of The God (the Anointed Jesus) about whom Silvanus, Timothy, and I have preached to you didn’t become yes, but really no;
For his yes really meant yes!
So all the promises of God – as many as there are – have become yes through him, and in him is the ‘May it be so,’ [which we say] to the glory of The God.
And indeed, the One that confirmed us into the Anointed One among you and the One that anointed us, is God.
For He is the One that sealed us and gave us the pledge of [His] Spirit that we now have in our hearts.
Therefore, I call God as a witness against myself, that the reason why I haven’t come to you in Corinth yet is to spare you.
For we aren’t the masters of your faith, we’re just co-workers for your joy, since your faith is what has enabled you to stand firm.
I’ve decided not to come to you again as long as I’m feeling sad about you.
For if I’ve made you sad, then whom do I have to cheer me up other than those that have been saddened by me?
As the result, I’m writing this so that when I do get there, those over whom I should be rejoicing won’t sadden me, since I’m confident that I have reasons to be joyful over them.
And I’m writing with great difficulty, pain of heart, and with tears, not to make you sadder, but to let you know of the special love that I have for you.
So if someone else has saddened you, he hasn’t saddened me… therefore, I won’t be laying any further burdens on you,since the discipline that the majority of you gave this man was sufficient.
Therefore, you can kindly forgive him and comfort him now, so that he won’t somehow be swallowed up by his deep sadness…
Yes, I’m telling you to let him know that you love him!
The reason why I wrote you [before] was to prove that you’re obedient in everything,and that if you forgive anyone for anything, I do too.
For when I forgive someone on your behalf before the Anointed One (that is, if I should ever have anything to forgive),it’s so that none are lost to the Opposer, since we know how he operates.
I wish to tell you that when I got to Troas to preach the good news about the Anointed One, Jehovah had opened a door [of opportunity] for me there.
However, I was deeply disturbed by the fact that I couldn’t find my brother Titus, so I left the others and traveled on to Macedonia.
[For this], I thank God, who through the Anointed One always leads us triumphantly and uses us to make the [sweet] smell of knowledge about Him known everywhere;
For [He has made us] the sweet smell of God and the Anointed One to those that are perishing and to those that are being saved…
Yes, the smell of death to the dying and of life to the living!
Who else is qualified to do this work?
We aren’t like others that are peddlers of the word of God.
Rather, we speak sincerely from God and before God, through the Anointed One.
So, do we now have to introduce ourselves to you again, or do we (as do some men) need introductory letters either to you or from you?
For you are our letters that are written in our hearts, which are recognized and being read by all men,since you’ve proven to be a letter of the Anointed One that we are serving.
And you aren’t written in ink, but in the Breath of the living God… not on tablets made of stone, but on tablets made of flesh… on hearts!
We are now even more confident of this, through the Anointed One and by The God.
No, we should never start thinking that any of this comes from ourselves, because all of our qualifications come from God.
He’s the One that qualifies us to be the ministers of a New Sacred Agreement, which isn’t something that’s written but comes from the Breath [of God], since the thing that’s written brings death, while the Breath [of God] gives life!
So if service to the written letters (which were engraved in stone and bring death) came with so much glory that the sons of IsraEl couldn’t even look at Moses’ face because of the shine (that was to pass away);
Why shouldn’t our becoming servants of His Breath bring even greater glory?
Yes, if service to something that condemns brought glory, how much more should serving something [that leads to] righteousness bring glory,since that which was once so glorious has now lost its glory because of this more glorious thing?
And if the thing that was to pass away came in great glory, then how much more will this new thing be glorified?
So since we now have such a hope, we can speak out clearly.
We don’t have to do the same as Moses did, for he had to put a veil over his face so the sons of IsraEl wouldn’t see something that was to be done away with in the end.
And this veil has hardened their minds down to this day, for it still hangs there as a covering whenever the Old Sacred Agreement is being read, though it has already been done away with by means of the Anointed One.
Yes, whenever Moses is read today, they still have a veil over their hearts,which is removed when they turn to Jehovah.
For Jehovah is spirit, and wherever Jehovah’s spirit is, there’s freedom!
Therefore, when we uncover our faces, each of us [shine with] the glory of Jehovah…
We reflect his glory like mirrors, and we are transformed from [the old] glory to [a new] glory that comes from Jehovah’s Breath.
So, because of this service to which we’ve been so mercifully assigned, we haven’t given up.
Rather, what we have given up is those things that lead to shame!
No, we aren’t sneaking around and changing the Word of God; rather, we’re making the truth known! And before God, we’re proving ourselves worthy to the consciences of all men.
So if the good news that we bring is hidden in any way, it’s only hidden to those that are dying…
To the unbelievers, whose minds have been blinded by the god of this age, so that the light of the glorious good news about the Anointed One (who is the image of The God) is unable to shine through.
And we aren’t preaching about ourselves, but about the Anointed Jesus our Lord, to whom we’ve become your slaves for his sake!
Because God said:
‘Light will shine from the darkness.’
And He has caused this light of knowledge about the glory of God to shine into our hearts through the face of Jesus the Anointed.
Yes, we’re storing this treasure within [these] clay pots, so that the power may prove to be God’s and not our own.
Therefore, though we have been under pressure in every conceivable way, we’ve never been cornered;
Though [there were times when] we didn’t know a way out, we’ve never been left without a way;
Though we’ve been persecuted, we’ve never been let down;
And though we’ve been knocked down, we’ve never been destroyed!
For we always bear the death of Jesus’ body so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies.
[And that’s why] those of us that are [still] living are always being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake… so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our dying flesh.
As the result, death is at work in us, while life [is at work] in you.
Nevertheless, we share the same spirit of faith; for it’s written:
‘Because I had faith, I spoke.’
And this is why we’re speaking about the things in which we believe!
For we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us to be with Jesus… and when that happens, we’ll be standing there beside you!
Yes, everything is being done through you, so that this loving care can grow as [you] continue to grow, and there will be even more giving of thanks to God’s glory.
No, we aren’t behaving badly.
And though the man [you see] on the outside is wasting away, the man on the inside is being renewed day by day.
For the difficulties that [we currently have to endure] are far less than what the age-long glory is producing in us.
So, you should just disregard the things that you can see and notice the things that you can’t see.
For the things that you can see are temporary, while the things that you can’t see will last through the ages.
Here is one thing that we know [for sure]:
If our earthly house (this temporary dwelling) is destroyed, we still have a dwelling from God that lasts through the ages…
It’s a house in the heavens that isn’t made with handsand about which we groan, because we long to be clothed in that house from heavenso that we aren’t found to be stripped naked.
Yes, while we are still in this temporary dwelling, we’re groaning and under pressure, because we don’t really want to take it off and put on the other, so as to allow that which is dying to be swallowed by life.
Now, the One that prepared us for this purpose is God, and He has given us an advance payment… His Breath.
Therefore we can be courageous, because we know that as long as we are at home in this body, we aren’t at home with the Lord…
So we are walking by faith, not by something we can see.
We can also be very courageous, because we’ll be happy to leave this body so we can be at home with the Lord.
And we love the fact that whether we are in this home or we leave it, he is still pleased with us.
However, everything about us must still be revealed when we stand before the judgment seat of the Anointed One;
For what we will each receive will be based on the things that we did while we were in this body, whether it’s good or foul.
So since we have come to know the fear of the Lord, we continue to persuade men [to turn toward] God.
And I hope that we have shown your consciences what we really are,so we won’t have to prove ourselves to you again…
And then you’ll have reasons to boast about us and you’ll also have something to offer to those that are more influenced by what we look like on the outside than by what is really in [our] hearts.
Therefore, if we seem to be crazy to you, [we are crazy] to God, while we’re sound in mind when it comes to you.
Indeed, we’re all bound together by the love of the Anointed One;
For we have concluded that he died for all of us, because we are all really dying.
Yes, he died for all of us so that none of the living might live for themselves anymore, but for the one that died for them and was raised.
So from now on, we don’t know anyone by the flesh.
And even if we knew the Anointed One in the flesh; we certainly don’t know him that way anymore.
Because, all that are in the Anointed One are a new creation!
Yes, the old things have passed away, but {Look!} now they’ve been made new!
And it all comes from The God who has restored us to a good relationship with Himself through the Anointed One.
So now, [God] has assigned us to be the servants of this restored relationship with Him!
For through the Anointed One, God is bringing the world back into a good relationship with Himself by no longer holding their sins against them.
And because He has put the message of this reconciliation within us,we’ve become the ambassadors of the Anointed One, and God is calling [people] through us.
Yes, we are begging them through the Anointed One to come back to a [good] relationship with God,since He made this one that didn’t know sin to be sin for us, so that we could become the righteousness of God through him.
Moreover, since we are your fellow workers, we urge you not to waste the loving care of God that you’ve received.For He says:
‘In a season of favor, I heard you,
And in a day of salvation, I came to your aid.’
So look: This is the season of favor!
And look: This is the day of salvation!’
Therefore, we aren’t doing anything that might offend anyone, so that our service might remain spotless.
And we’re taking our stand as God’s servants in everything…
By enduring many difficulties, by shortages of necessities,by beatings, by imprisonment, by mobs, by hard work, by sleepless nights, by hunger,by holiness, by knowledge, by patience, by loving care (through the Holy Breath), and by love that isn’t judgmental.
We’re also doing this by telling the truth through the power of God by [using] the weapons of righteousness (the right-handed ones and the left-handed ones)…
Through glory and dishonor, through bad reputations and good reputations, as ‘deceivers’ that tell the truth,as unknown but recognized among the dying (and yet, look… we’re alive!), as those that were disciplined but not yet condemned to death,as sad but always rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, and as having nothing while owning it all!
Therefore, our mouths and our hearts have been spread wide open to you Corinthians!
So, you aren’t having a hard time finding room in us; you’re having a hard time making room [for us] in yourselves.
Just be fair with us! I’m telling you this as [my] children:
Make room for us!
You must stop joining yourselves unevenly with unbelievers like different types of animals under the same yoke;
For what connection is there between righteousness and law-breaking?
Or what does light have in common with darkness?
Yes, what harmony is there between the Anointed One and [the demon] BeliEl,
Or what can a faithful person share with an unbeliever,
And how can a holy dwelling of God [make room for] idols?
Recognize this as a fact:
We are the living and holy dwellings of God!
As God Himself said:
‘I will live and walk among them… I’ll be their God and they’ll be My people.’
And,
‘Come out from among them and separate yourselves… stop touching unclean things, and I’ll take you in, says Jehovah’ …
‘Then I’ll be your Father, and you’ll be My sons and My daughters, says Jehovah, the Almighty.’
So since we’ve been given these promises, loved ones;
let’s wash off all the filth of the flesh and the person we’ve been on the inside, and become perfectly holy in our fear of The God.
Also, make room for us, because we haven’t wronged anyone, corrupted anyone, or taken advantage of anyone.
I’m not saying this to condemn you, because, as I told you before, you’re in our hearts… so we’ll live together and die together!
And this is why I feel so perfectly free to speak to you.
Yes, I’m very comfortable [with you], and I have many reasons to boast about you.
In fact, I overflow with joy over you because of all the difficulties that we’ve shared together!
[I want you to understand that] since we’ve arrived here in Macedonia, our bodies haven’t had any relief, for there have been problems over everything.
On the outside there are conflicts, and on the inside there are fears.
However, The God who gives comfort to the lowly has provided comfort to us through the presence of Titus.
And it wasn’t just his presence alone that brought us comfort… it was also because of the comfort that he felt over you, since he again brought us word of your longing, mourning, and zeal for me.
And that made me very happy.
So if what I wrote in my [first] letter made you sad, I don’t regret it.
And even if I did regret it [at first], I see that my letter only saddened you for a little while.
Therefore, I’m rejoicing now… not because you were saddened, but because you were saddened into repenting!
And because you were saddened in a Godly way, we know that we didn’t damage you.
For being sad in a Godly way brings a repentance that results in salvation (and there’s nothing to regret about that), while the sadness of this world brings death.
And look at what this sadness in a Godly way has accomplished…
See how it speeded things up and gave us answers… how it caused indignation, fear, desire, zeal, and vengeance!
Because after that, you proved yourselves to be pure in every way in this matter!
Now, I didn’t write [that letter to] you because of the one that was acting unrighteously or because of the one that was being treated unrighteously.
Rather, [I wrote it] to prove how earnestly you obey us in the sight of God,and this is what has brought us so much comfort!
For we now have even more reasons to be joyful, because of the joy that this has brought to Titus, since the man that he is within has been refreshed by all of you.
Therefore, if I have boasted to him about you, I’ve had no reason to be ashamed of it, because everything that I said about you is true…
Yes, after we bragged about you to Titus, it has all proven to be true!
And he cares for you even more deeply now, as he remembers how well you’ve obeyed, and how all of you received him with fear and trembling.
So I’m rejoicing and I’m encouraged in every way because of you!
Brothers, we want to tell you about how God’s loving care has been shown toward the congregations in Macedonia.
Although they are undergoing many trials and difficulties, their great joy and deep poverty brought out the richness of their generosity.
For as they were able (and I testify that it was more than they were able to do)and of their own accord, they kept begging us to [allow them to] have a share in contributing to the collection for the Holy Ones.
And it wasn’t just as we had hoped they would do; first they gave to the Lord, and then they gave to us (as it was God’s Will).
So this led us to encourage Titus (since he was the one that initiated it) to complete the collection among you also.
Therefore, because you’re prospering in everything – in your faith, words, knowledge, eagerness, and in our love for you – may you share your prosperity through similar [acts of] loving kindness.
I’m not saying this to pressure you; [I’m saying this] because these others have been so eager, and because I want to prove the genuineness of your love.
Of course, you know of the loving care that was shown by our Lord Jesus the Anointed One;
For though he was rich, he became poor for your sakes in order to make you rich through his poverty.
This is my opinion on the best way to handle it:
Last year, you were the first ones that wanted to give, and you even started contributing.
So now, finish what you started, and bring all of that eagerness and willingness to a climax.
Just give from whatever you have on hand;for when [people] are already willing, it’s best to accept what they have rather than what they don’t have.
Understand that I’m not trying to make it harder on you than for the others,because everything balances out.
If you can give more right now, it will make up for those that can give less.
And if others can give more than you, it will make up for those that can give less.
So, everything balances out.
As it is written:
‘Those that gathered more didn’t have too much, and the rest that gathered little didn’t lack.’
Now, thanks to God that He has put the same earnestness [that I have] for you into the heart of Titus,for he has responded to your encouragement and he’s decided to return to you quickly.
We’re also sending a brother along with him whose praise in the good news has spread throughout all the congregations.
He’s the one that was appointed by the congregations to be our traveling companion, and who will actually distribute the gifts that are so willingly being donated for the glory of the Lord.
That way, we can avoid having anyone complain about us over the generous contributions that are being handled by us.
For we are planning ahead to do good things not just in the sight of the Lord, but also from the viewpoint of men.
And of course;
We’re sending along our brother who has proven to be zealous so many times and in so many ways, but who is now even more eager because of his greater confidence in you.
If there are any questions about Titus;
He’s my partner and co-worker for your interests. Or if [there are any questions] about [the rest of] our brothers;
They are apostles to the congregations and a glory to the Anointed One.
So now, prove your love for them that we’ve been boasting about to the congregations.
Regarding the collections for the Holy Ones;
I really don’t have to write anything about this to you,for I know how eager you’ve been.
I’ve even bragged to the Macedonians about you, telling them that Achaia has been ready for a year now, and your zeal has been an incentive to most of them.
So at this time, I’m sending the brothers [to you] to prove that our boasting about you hasn’t been in vain… and I hope that you’re ready, as I said you’d be.
Otherwise, if the Macedonians should come with me and find that you aren’t ready, we’d be shamed by the assurances we gave them.
So, I thought it would be best to encourage the brothers to come to you ahead of time in order for you to start collecting the generous gift that you promised.
That way, what is given will for a fact be a generous gift and not something that we’ve extorted from you.
Remember that those who plant little will harvest little, while those that plant much will harvest much.
So, may each of you do whatever you’ve resolved in your hearts… but not grudgingly or because you feel pressured, since God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to show all of His loving kindness toward you, so that you can have more than enough of everything and an abundance of good deeds!
As it is written:
‘They contribute to those that are needy,
And through the ages, they prove themselves just.’
Therefore, may the One that supplies an abundance of seeds to the farmers and plenty of bread to the hungry, supply (and even multiply) the seeds that you need for planting, and may He increase your harvests because of your righteousness,so that you will be made rich because of your generosity…
Yes, thank God for that!
For the purpose of this community service isn’t just to supply the needs of the Holy Ones abundantly, but also to [make you] rich through their many words of thanks to God.
Realize that the proof of the value of the service [that you are performing] is when others glorify God because of your generous contributions to them and to everyone else, as you continue to obey and preach the good news about the Anointed One.
And this is why they’re praying for you and are longing [to see] you…
Because of the tremendous loving care that God has shown to them through you.
Yes, thanks to God for His indescribable gifts!
Now, I Paul (whose appearance is considered lowly among you) am pleading with you [in the same] mild and obedient ways as did the Anointed One.
And though I’m not there, I hope that I can be so bold as to say this to you:
I beg that in my absence, I can unflinchingly dare to take on some among you that think of us as just walking in the flesh.
For though we are in fact just flesh, we don’t fight in fleshly ways,because the weapons that we use aren’t fleshly…
They come from the power of God and they can tear down mighty fortifications!
So, this is what we will use to tear down their ideas and all the high-minded things that they are raising against the knowledge of God.
Yes, we can capture all their thoughts and then force them to obey the Anointed One!
We are also ready to avenge any disobedience (whenever there is disobedience)of those that are just looking at our faces!
Therefore, let those that are trusting that they belong to the Anointed One remember this:
As they belong to the Anointed One, so do we!
And even if I do boast a little too much about the power that the Lord gave me to build you up (not to tear you down),I won’t be ashamed if I also give you the impression that I want to terrify you with my letters.
For it’s a fact that some of you are saying,
‘His letters are heavy and forceful, but when he’s here, he looks weak and what he says has little value.’
So, may they be reminded that what we write about in letters when we’re away, is what we’re going to do when we get there!
Notice that we don’t dare to make any comparisons…
We aren’t comparing ourselves with those that think too much of themselves, because when they measure themselves (when they compare themselves against themselves), they aren’t reaching the right conclusions.
However, we don’t have to brag about how we measure up, for we gauge everything by the yard stick that God gave us…
And that stick reaches as far as you!
Therefore, we aren’t just stretching ourselves out far enough that we can’t reach you, because we were the first to come all the way to you [when we] preached the good news to you about the Anointed One.
And those braggarts can’t really measure [themselves against] the efforts of others.
What we are hoping is that as your faith grows, we will be recognized as great among you when you measure us by this same ruler;
For then we will [see more results]as we go out preaching the good news to regions that are far beyond you, and there will be no more boasting over how we measure up by someone else’s stick.
‘Let those that boast, boast in Jehovah.’ (Jeremiah 9:23)
So understand that those who think of themselves as being important aren’t necessarily the ones that will be approved…
Just those that are recommended by our Lord!
I wish that you’d bear with me in my foolishness… but then, you are bearing with me.
For I’m jealous over you with a Godly zeal, since I personally promised you in marriage as chaste virgins to a husband…
Yes, to stand beside the Anointed One.
However, I’m afraid that somehow, in the same way that the snake cunningly seduced Eve, your minds might be corrupted away from the sincerity and chastity that we owe to the Anointed One.
For [I know that] if [someone] should come preaching about a Jesus other than the one that we preached to you, or if you should receive a spirit other than the one you’ve already received, or if [you should hear] good news other than what you’ve [already] accepted, you would likely tolerate it too well.
Now, I don’t think that I’ve done anything to prove myself inferior to your super-fine ‘apostles.’
And even if I am an unskilled speaker, I’m certainly not [inferior] when it comes to knowledge, for I’ve shown this to you in everything and in every way!
Did I commit some sin by humbling myself so as to make you greater when I gladly preached the good news of God to you free of charge?
If so, then I must have robbed other congregations by accepting their provisions in order to serve you!
For when I was with you and I needed something, I didn’t make myself a burden to anyone…
And then the brothers that came from Macedonia supplied what I needed more than adequately.
Yes, I’ve kept myself from being a burden to you in every way, and I will keep on doing so!
By the Anointed One; it’s a fact that I won’t allow anyone to end to this reason for my boasting in the area of Achaia.
Why not? Is it because I don’t love you?
God knows [that I do].
So what I’m doing is what I will continue to do in order to cut off the attacks from those that wish to attack me… those that want to be proclaimed our equals in this thing about which they’re bragging.
For they are false apostles… deceivers that are trying to turn themselves into the Apostles of the Anointed One.And this shouldn’t come as [a great] surprise to you, since the Opposer keeps turning himself into a messenger of light.
Therefore, it should be expected that those who serve him would also turn themselves into servants of righteousness.
However, their end will show up what they’re doing.
Allow me to say this once again:
Don’t let anyone think that I’m foolish!
But even if you should choose to accept me while you believe that I’m foolish, that gives me a bit more reason to boast.
Now, I’m not saying this to follow the Lord’s example, but foolishly as a braggart…
Yes, since many [of you] are bragging as humans do, I’ll boast also.
It seems that you’re just too happy to put up with foolish people, because you’re all so reasonable.
In fact, you put up with anyone that enslaves, or eats, or takes, or that elevates himself, or slaps you on the face!
Therefore, in dishonor, I will speak as though we had all been weak… and if anyone is daring, I’ll foolishly say that I’m daring also!
Are they Hebrews? I’m one also!
Are they IsraElites? Me too!
Are they AbraHam’s seed? So am I!
Are they servants of the Anointed One? I reply like a crazy man… I’m even more so!
For [I’ve] worked harder, been in prison more times, been beaten more that anyone else, and have often been near death!
Why, five times I received 40 strokes less one from the Judeans,I was beaten with rods three times, I was stoned once, I’ve been shipwrecked three times, and I’ve spent a night and a day in the sea!
In my travels, I’ve often been in danger from rivers, from robbers, from those of [my own] race, and from gentiles. [I’ve been] in danger in cities, in deserts, at sea…
And I’ve been in danger from false brothers!
[Yet through all of this, I’ve continued to] work and labor hard!
I’ve often been sleepless, hungry, thirsty, and starving… and many times [I’ve even been] cold and naked!
Then in addition to all of these external things, there are the anxieties [that I feel] for the congregations that flood over me each day.
For who is weak that doesn’t make me weak, and who stumbles into a trap that doesn’t set me on fire?
So if there has to be bragging; then I’ll boast about the things that show how weak I am!
Before the God and Father of the Lord Jesus (the One who is to be praised through the ages), [I can swear that] I’m not lying about these things.
For in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas posted guards around the city to arrest me;
And as the result, [the brothers] had to lower me on a wicker basket through a window in the [city] wall to help me escape from his hands!
Yes, although it isn’t good, I have to brag…
Please allow me to pass along some supernatural visions and revelations from [the] Lord:
I know of a man in the Anointed One that was caught away some 14 years ago (whether [it happened] in the body or out of the body – only God knows) into the 3rd heaven.
Yes, I know such a man (whether [it happened] in the body or apart from the body – only God knows)that was caught away into a paradise where he heard unspeakable things that are illegal for a man to discuss.
Yes, I will boast about a man like that, but I won’t boast about myself, other than about my own weaknesses.
Also, as I’m boasting, I won’t do it foolishly… I’ll just tell the truth.
I’ll hold myself back lest anyone should give me more credit than what they see in me or what they hear anyone say about mewhen it comes to the surpassing types of revelations that I’ve shown to you.
And so that I wouldn’t become too conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh… a messenger from the Opposer that keeps slapping me so I don’t get too impressed with myself.
I’ve begged the Lord three times to remove it from me,and he really answered me and said:
‘My loving kindness is enough for you, since [your] strength is being perfected [by your] weaknesses!’
Therefore, I’ll gladly boast of my weaknesses so that the power of the Anointed One will cover me like a tent!
Yes, I [actually] appreciate the weaknesses, the insults, the [times] that I’ve done without, and the persecutions and difficulties that I’ve experienced on behalf of the Anointed One;
Because, when I’m weak, that’s when I’m [the most] powerful!
So now I’ve become foolish… and you’re the ones that have made me that way, because I should have been recommended by you!
But even if I were nothing, I wouldn’t be less than those super-fine ‘apostles’ in any way.
Indeed, it was the proofs of [my Apostleship] that produced endurance in you by means of signs, omens, and powerful works.
So, in what way have you received less than the rest of the congregations… other than the fact that I wasn’t a burden to you?
Kindly forgive me for this wrong!
{Look!} This is the third time that I’ve gotten ready to come to you, and [once again], I won’t be coming as a burden to you, because I’m not looking for the things you have, but for you!
For the children shouldn’t be setting things aside for their parents; parents [should be setting things aside] for their children!
And as for me; I will happily spend and be spent for your lives!
Therefore, if I love you the most, why am I the one that is loved the least?
May that be as it is… but I’ve never been a burden to you.
Was I sneaky and did I try to capture you through trickery,or did I try to take advantage of you through any of those that I sent to you?
When I urged Titus [to come to you] and I sent a brother along with him; did Titus take advantage of you in any way…
Don’t we in fact both act the same way and follow in the same footsteps?
[I hope that] you’ve been thinking about all of this as we’ve been defending ourselves to you, for we are speaking [to you] before God [and] the Anointed One!
Loved ones;
Everything [we’ve done is] to build you up!
Yet I’m afraid that when I arrive, I may not find you to be as I wish… for then I might not be something that you’d wish for either.
I don’t want to find divisions, jealousy, anger, arguing, backbiting, whispering, pride, or disorder;
For if that happens, perhaps the next time that I come, I’ll be humiliated by my God over you and then I’ll have to mourn for the many that have sinned and not repented their uncleanness, immorality, and the dirty things that they’re doing.
Now, this is the third time that I’ll be coming to you.
And since from the mouths of two or three witnesses everything is proven(as I told you before in my second visit);
Though I’m not there now, I’m giving this warning once again to those of you that [I found] sinning the last time (and to all the rest of you):
When I come there the next time, I won’t put up with it!
Yet, here you are searching for the proofs that the Anointed One is speaking through me!
Realize that [Jesus] isn’t weak toward you… [in fact], he’s very powerful among you!
For though he was hung on a pole in weakness, he’s now alive through the power of God!
And likewise, although we are weak in him, we are alive in him through the power of The God that’s within you.
So, keep testing yourselves to make sure that you’re really in the faith… yes, prove what you are!
For you must understand that Jesus the Anointed One is within you… that is, as long as you have his approval.
And I truly hope you know that we haven’t been disapproved!
Now, we keep praying to God that you don’t do anything wrong.
And we aren’t doing this to make ourselves look like we’re approved, but so that you may be doing what’s better even if that makes us look disapproved.
For we are unable to do anything against the truth; only for the truth.
Therefore, we rejoice whenever we are weak and you are strong, because that’s what we’re praying for… for you to be restored!
This is why I’m writing these things while I’m away… so that when I get there, I won’t have to cut anyone off.
And then [I can] use the authority I’ve received from the Lord to build you up, not to tear you down!
Finally, brothers; Keep on rejoicing, growing to perfection, and being courageous.
Also, be of the same mind and live peaceably, so that the God of love and peace will always be with you.
Keep on greeting each other with a holy kiss.
All the Holy Ones send you their greetings.
May the loving care of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One, the love of God, and a sharing in the Holy Breath be with all of you.
From Paul, who was appointed an Apostle not by a man nor through a man, but through Jesus the Anointed One and by God the Father who raised [Jesus] from the dead,as well as from all the brothers that are with me, to the congregations of Galatia;
May you receive loving care and peace from God (our Father), and from the Lord Jesus the Anointed One…
The one who gave himself for our sins to save us from this wicked age because it was the will of our God and Father,to whom all glory belongs through the ages of ages…
May it be so.
I’m amazed that you’re so quickly making the change from the One that called you by the loving care of the Anointed One to a different type of good news.
It really isn’t another [good news], it’s just that certain ones among you are causing problems and have made changes to the good news about the Anointed One.
However, if we or even a messenger from heaven were to come preaching something to you as good news other than the good news that we’ve already preached to you; let him be cursed!
Let me say that again.
Whoever preaches good news to you other than what you’ve already believed; let him be cursed!
Indeed, whose approval do you think I am presently seeking;
Do I wish to please God or men?
Well, even if [I were trying to please] men, I would be a servant of the Anointed One anyhow.
So I want you to understand this, brothers:
The good news that I preached as good news didn’t come from men,because I didn’t get it from men, nor did any man teach it [to me].
[It came] through a revelation from Jesus the Anointed One.
You’ve heard about the way that I used to act [while I was involved] in Judaism, for I fanatically persecuted the congregation of God and I was destroying it.
[I did this because] I was more advanced in Judaism than many others of my own age and race, and I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
But when The God who took me from my mother’s womb called [me] through His loving careto reveal His Son through me so that I could preach the good news about him to the gentiles;
I didn’t look for the advice of flesh and blood,nor did I go to JeruSalem to see those that became Apostles before me.
Rather, I went off to Arabia, and after that I returned to Damascus.
In fact, I didn’t go up to JeruSalem until some three years later, when I went to visit Cephas (Peter) and I stayed with him for 15 days.
However, I didn’t see any of the rest of the Apostles other than the Lord’s brother James.
Look! I’m not lying to you about any of the things that I’m writing in the sight of God!
Then after that, I traveled to the provinces of Syria and Kilikia…
So, those that were called by the Anointed One in Judea wouldn’t have recognized my face.
All they heard about me was:
‘The man that used to persecute us is now preaching the good news about the same faith that he once tried to destroy.’
As the result, they glorified God because of me.
Then after 14 years, I finally went to JeruSalem again, taking BarNabas and Titus along with me.
And the reason why I went there then, was because of a revelation [that I had received].
And while I was there, I explained to the prominent ones about how I had been preaching to the gentiles… however I did this privately, for fear that somehow I had been running in vain.
Yet, though Titus (who was with me) was a Greek, they didn’t force him to get circumcised then.
However, they did bring in some false brothers who looked down on the freedom we have in the Anointed Jesus and who wanted to make us their slaves.
But we didn’t give in to them, not even for an instant, so that the truth of the good news might continue among you!
And when it came to those that seemed to be important (whatever they used to be makes no difference to me, because God doesn’t go by what a man appears to be on the outside), they didn’t show me anything new.
In fact, it was just the opposite; for when they saw that I had been entrusted with the good news to the uncircumcised as Peter was to those that are circumcised(since the one that gave Peter the powers of an Apostleship to the circumcised also gave me such powers for the gentiles)…
Yes, when they came to know of the loving care that had been shown to me, James, Cephas, and John (the ones that seemed to be the pillars) gave BarNabas and I their approval to go to the nations, while they would go to the circumcised.
They just told me to remember the poor, and I’ve tried hard to do that.
Then when Cephas (Peter) came to AntiOch, I opposed him to his face, since I knew that he was wrong.
Because, before certain men that came from James arrived, he used to eat with the gentiles.
But after they arrived, he stopped associating [with them] and [started acting like a Jew] in fear of those that were circumcised.
And because of this, all the rest of the Jews also joined in this performance, even influencing BarNabas to join in this hypocrisy!
So when I saw that they weren’t following the path of the truth of the good news, I said to Cephas there in front of everyone:
‘If you are a Jew that lives as the gentiles do, not as Jews do; why are you forcing gentiles to act like Jews?
For those of us that are natural Jews (not sinners from the nations)know that a man isn’t called righteous because of following the Law, but because of his faith in the Anointed Jesus.
Even we had to put faith in the Anointed Jesus so we could be called righteous by our faith in him…
But not by following the Law, for no flesh will be declared righteous by following the Law!
‘Now, if we are seeking to be called righteous through the Anointed One and we are still found to be sinners; is the Anointed One just a servant to sin?
May that never be so!
But if I’m found rebuilding the things that I once tore down, this proves that I’m still a sinner!
‘As for me; I died to the Law so that I could become alive to God.
Yes, I was hung on a pole along with the Anointed One!
Therefore, I’m no longer the one that’s alive… it’s the Anointed One that is living within me. So the life that I’m now living in the flesh is being lived for the Son of God, who loved me and handed himself over for me.
As the result, I’m not about to push aside the loving care of God.
For if righteousness came through the Law, then the Anointed One died in vain.’
O you foolish Galatians… yes, you whose eyes have seen what was written about Jesus the Anointed One being impaled.
Who has cast this evil spell over you?
I just want to ask you this one thing:
Did you receive [God’s] Spirit because you were obeying the Law, or because you believed in the things that [you] heard?
Are you really so foolish?
Did you start out in the Spirit just to end up in the flesh,and did you go through so much suffering for no reason?
For if there really wasn’t any reason for your doing that;
Then, did the One that gave you His Spirit and performs powerful works through you do this because you’re obeying the Law, or because you put faith in the things that you heard?
Remember that AbraHam was considered righteous because he put his faith in God!
So, don’t you know that all who have such faith are the sons of AbraHam?
Now, the reason why God gave the good news to AbraHam was because He saw ahead of time that He would be calling gentiles righteous due to their faith.
For He said:
‘All the nations will be blest because of you.’
Therefore, those that have such faith are being blest along with faithful AbraHam!
Now, everyone that is under the Law is under a curse, because it is written:
‘Any man that doesn’t observe and obey all the words of this Law is cursed!’
So it’s obvious that no one is called righteous before God because of obeying the Law.
‘For it’s by their faith that the righteous will live.’
However, the Law really doesn’t have anything to do with faith; rather, obeying [the Law] is just a lifestyle.
And the Anointed One bought our freedom from the Law’s curse by becoming a curse on our behalf.
For it’s written:
‘Anyone that is hanged on a tree is cursed before God.’
Therefore, the reason why this happened to him was so that the blessing of AbraHam could come through Jesus the Anointed One, and so that the gentiles could receive the promised Spirit… which [we have received] because of our faith!
Brothers, allow me to explain this in human terms:
Nobody can change or destroy a valid agreement between men.
And notice that the promise was given to ‘AbraHam and his seed.’
It doesn’t say, ‘to his seeds,’ as though there were many of them, but to just one, ‘his seed,’ who is the Anointed One!
Moreover, I tell you that the Sacred Agreement that had been confirmed by The God some 430 years earlier and from which the Law came, didn’t supersede the promise that He gave [to AbraHam].
So if we could only receive the inheritance by [following] the Law, it couldn’t have come from the promise.
[Yet, notice that] God granted this favor to AbraHam as a promise.
So, why [do we have] the Law?
It was added to show us what sin was before the seed (the one about whom the promise was given) would arrive.
And this was entrusted to the hands of a mediator by [heavenly] messengers.
However, there’s no need for a mediator when only one person is involved… and God is just one.
[Therefore, it was just a promise].
Then did the Law override God’s promise [to AbraHam]?
May that never be so!
For if the Law had been provided to give [people] life, then the result of following the Law would be righteousness.
However, following these scriptures just locked everyone up in sin, so that the promise might be given to those that believe through their faith in Jesus the Anointed One.
Yes, before faith arrived, we were all locked up and prisoners to the Law until the things that have to do with faith were revealed.
So the Law was just the tutor that led us to the Anointed One and [to the promise] that we could be counted as righteous by our faith.
And now that the faith has arrived, we don’t need the tutor anymore!
The fact is; you’ve all become sons of God through your faith in the Anointed Jesus.
Indeed, all who are baptized into the Anointed One have put on the Anointed One.
So there are no more Jews or Greeks, slaves or freemen, males or females, because you’re all in the Anointed Jesus.
And if you belong to the Anointed One; as the promise told us, you are AbraHam’s seed and his heirs!
Now, let me say this:
As long as the heir is a baby, he isn’t any different from a slave. For though he’s the master of everything,he’s still under those that are in charge and under the manager of the house until a day arrives that is set by his father.
And that’s how it used to be with us.
Back when we were [spiritual] babies, we were slaves to the elementary things of this world.
But when the time arrived, God sent his Son (who was under the Law and came through a woman)so he could buy those that were under the Law and adopt them as His sons.
And now that you’re [His] sons, God has sent the spirit of His Son into our hearts, where it calls out, ‘Papa… Father!’
So you’re no longer slaves but sons. And as sons, you’re also heirs through God!
Therefore, back when you didn’t know God, you were slaves to those that really aren’t gods.
But now that you’ve come to know God (or rather, now that God has come to know you), why are you turning back to those weak and sorry rules… why do you want to become slaves to them once again?
For you’ve [gone back to] the observance of days, months, seasons, and years…
So I’m afraid that all the work I’ve done on your behalf has been wasted!
Brothers, I beg you to become like me, because I used to be just like you!
You’ve never done me any wrong,and you surely recognized that I had a severe fleshly weakness when I preached the good news to you the first time.
But even though this problem must have created difficulties for you, you didn’t treat it with contempt or spit on it in disgust.
Rather, you received me like a messenger from God… like the Anointed Jesus.
So where is all the joy that you [once] had?
I can testify to the fact that if it had been possible, you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me!
But have I now become your enemy because I’m telling you the truth?
However, [there are those that are now] zealously chasing after you for wrong reasons… for they want to snip you off and make you their own zealous followers.
And it’s good for you to always be zealously chased after (and not just when I’m with you), as long as it’s for a good purpose.
O my little children;
I’m enduring childbirth pains again until the Anointed One becomes strong in you.
I wish that I could be there with you right now and talk to you in a different tone of voice… but I just don’t know how to help you!
So tell me this, O you that want to be under the Law:
Don’t you hear what the Law says?
It was written that AbraHam had two sons, one by the slave girl and the other by the free woman.
The one that came through the slave girl was born in the flesh, but the other ([the one that came] through the free woman) [was born] through a promise.
So understand that this story is symbolic. For the two [women] symbolize two sacred agreements.
[The first] one (Hagar) came from Mount SinAi and bore children into slavery.
So this Hagar means SinAi (a mountain in Arabia), and she symbolizes JeruSalem today, which is in slavery with her children.
But the JeruSalem above is free, and she is our mother.
For it is written:
‘So be glad, all you that are sterile,
And yell, O you that did not give birth…
O you, the one without birth pains!
For the children of the barren will be many…
Yes, more than those that have [their own] man!’
Therefore, brothers; we are now children of the promise the same as IsaAc was.
And just as the one that was born in the flesh started persecuting the one that was born through the Spirit… that’s what’s happening now!
What do the Scriptures say?
‘Drive out the slave girl and her son, because the son of the slave girl will never be an heir with the son of the free woman!’
So brothers;
We aren’t the children of a slave girl, but of the free woman!
Understand that the Anointed One set us free so we can truly be free!
Therefore, we should be standing erect and not allowing ourselves to be put under the yoke of slavery again!
Look! I (Paul) am telling you that if you get circumcised, the Anointed One won’t be of any use to you!
And I again testify to every man who gets circumcised, that he’s thereafter obligated to obey the whole Law!
So those of you that are trying to be called righteous by the Law have voided the Anointed One, and have fallen away from his loving care.
Indeed, it’s by the spirit of faith that we are eagerly awaiting the hope of [being counted as] righteous!
As the result, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision have any value to the Anointed Jesus… just faith that is motivated by love!
Now, since you’ve been running so well; who is it that’s trying to keep you from obeying the truth?
Ideas like this aren’t coming from the One that is calling you;rather, it’s coming from ‘a little bit yeast’ that has started ‘fermenting the whole ball [of dough].’
For I’m confident that you who are in the Lord wouldn’t have even thought of such a thing.
So the one that is causing all this agitation will have to face judgment, no matter who he may be!
Brothers; if I were preaching circumcision, then why am I being persecuted… for the impaling pole wouldn’t be a snare anymore!
Oh, I wish that those that are stirring you up would cut on themselves!
You were called to be free, brothers!
So don’t use this freedom to serve your flesh; rather, use it to slave for each other in love!
Understand that the entire Law is fulfilled in the words:
‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’
However, if you keep on snapping at each other and chewing each other up; be careful that you don’t swallow each other down!
I tell you this:
If you are walking by Spirit, you won’t do any of the things that your flesh desires.
For what the flesh wants is at odds with what the Spirit wants, and the Spirit is at odds with the flesh… they are in opposition to each other, keeping you from doing the things that you may wish to do.
And if you are being led by Spirit, you aren’t under the Law!
Now, the things that the flesh does are known.
They include sexual immorality, uncleanness, lewdness,idol worshiping, involvement in the occult, hatreds, quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, divisions, sects,envying, getting drunk, wild partying, and things like that.
I’m warning you now as I’ve warned you before, that those that do such things won’t inherit God’s Kingdom.
On the other hand, the fruitage of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, caring, goodness, faith,reasonableness, and self-control… and there are no laws against such things.
So those that belong to the Anointed Jesus have hung their flesh on the pole along with its passions and desires.
And if we are living by Spirit, we need to walk in [the ways of the] Spirit…we shouldn’t be conceited, or challenging or envying each other!
Brothers, if someone ever gets caught up in doing bad things, those of you that are spiritual should try to restore the person in a reasonable way, as you keep an eye on yourselves so that you aren’t tempted also.
And if you’ll carry each other’s burdens, you’ll fulfill the law of the Anointed One.
However, if anyone thinks he’s something when he’s nothing, he’s just fooling himself.
Therefore, let us each prove [the value] of what we’re doing to ourselves first, and perhaps this will give us grounds for boasting to ourselves… but not to other people.
For each of us has to carry our own load.
Also, may those that are being taught the Word share the good things they have with those that are doing the teaching.
Now, don’t make any mistake when it comes to this, for you can’t mock God!
Whatever a person is planting is what he’s going to harvest.
So if he’s planting [the desires] of his own flesh, he will harvest decay from the flesh.
But if he’s planting things of [God’s] Breath, he will harvest age-long life.
Therefore, let’s not misbehave… let’s keep on doing what’s right until that time arrives, because we’ll harvest what we deserve if we don’t tire out.
And until then, we should be doing good things for everyone…
And especially for those that are related to us in the Faith.
Look at these large letters that I have written with my own hand!
Now, those that are urging you to get circumcised are appealing to your fleshly nature.
[And the reason why they are doing this] is so that they won’t be persecuted over the impaling pole of the Anointed Jesus!
So while they fail to obey the Law themselves, they want you to get circumcised so they can have reasons to boast over your flesh!
However, may I never find myself boasting over anything other than the impaling pole of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One;
For to me, the whole world has been hung on a pole through him… as I have been to this world.
Understand that circumcision isn’t anything, nor is uncircumcision.
Rather, [what matters is becoming] a new creation!
May peace and mercy be on all those that walk in line with this rule, and upon the IsraEl of God.
Finally, let no one undermine my work, because I have the brand of Jesus on my body.
May the loving care of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with you, my brothers.
May it be so!
Paul, an Apostle of the Anointed Jesus (by the will of God), to the Holy Ones in Ephesus… those faithful ones in the Anointed Jesus;
May you receive loving care and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed.
Yes, may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One be praised, for He has blest us with every blessing of his Breath in the heavens through the Anointed One,and He chose us to be in him before the system of things came to be, so we could become holy and unblemished before Him in love.
For He envisioned us as adopted sons through Jesus the Anointed One, as it pleases His will,in praise of the glory of the loving care that [is shown by] the one through whom He shows His favor upon us… this one whom He loves.
It’s through this one and his blood that our ransom has been paid, and it’s through the richness of his loving care that our sins could be forgiven,[and that we have received] such an abundance of wisdom and good sense.
For He has allowed us to understand the mystery of His will, according to His pleasure and which He purposed in Himselffor the management of His household at the appointed time when He intends to bring everything in heaven and earth under the headship of the Anointed One.
So, it is through [Jesus] that we have obtained the inheritance that was predetermined by [God’s] purpose for him…
This one through whom all things are accomplished according to [God’s] council and will,so that those who were the first to put faith in the Anointed One might give praise to his glory.
[For, he’s the one] through whom you heard the words of truth (the good news about your salvation), in whom you put faith, and who has sealed you with the promised Holy Breath,which is the guarantee that he inherited us through the ransom that he paid to purchase us for his glory and praise.
And this is why, when I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the Holy Ones,I haven’t stopped giving thanks for you.
Yes, I keep mentioning you in my prayers andasking the God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One (the glorious Father) to give you the spirit of wisdom and to reveal to you an accurate knowledge of Him,so that the eyes of your hearts will be enlightened and you can know the glorious richness of the hope for which He has called you and which He holds as an inheritance for the Holy Ones.
O how great His power is toward those of us that are believers, as it operates through the mightinessthat He demonstrated in the case of the Anointed One when He raised him from the dead and seated him at His right hand in the heavens
far above every government, authority, power, lordship, and above every name that has been given not only in this age, but also in the one that is to come,when He will put everything under his feet and make him the source of everything to the called ones…
Those who are his body, his fullness, and his completeness.
For you have died to the ways of sin and errorin which you once walked (the ways of this world) when you used to follow the ruler of the power of the air…
The spirit that now operates in the sons of disobedience,which is the way we were all once headed as we followed our human desires and did whatever our bodies wanted.
Yes, because of the cravings that we once had, we were like everyone else… the natural children of [God’s] wrath.
But due to the love that He has for us, God (who is so rich in mercy)made us alive in the Anointed One while we were still dead in our failings.
So it’s by His loving kindness that we’ve been savedand raised together, then seated together in the heavens in the Anointed Jesus,so that in ages to come, [God] can show the tremendous richness of His loving care by the kindness that He’s shown upon us through the Anointed Jesus.
Yes, it’s because of [His] loving care that you’ve been saved through a faith that didn’t come from within yourselves, but as a gift from God!
No, it didn’t come from anything that you’ve done, so you could boast.
Rather, we are His workmanship… we were created through the Anointed Jesus to do the good things that have been set out by God as the ways in which we should walk.
Remember that;
Although you were once gentiles in the flesh and were called the uncircumcised by those that were circumcised by hand in the flesh,and you were without the Anointed One (you were aliens to the citizens of IsraEl and strangers to the Sacred Agreement of the promise…
Godless and without any hope in this world);
Through the Anointed Jesus, you who were once far away have now come to be near to him through his blood.
So he is our peace; for he made the two ([Jews and Gentiles]) one by breaking down the wall that fenced them off from each other.
Through his flesh, he destroyed the hatred [that was brought about by] the Law of Commandments and rules, so that through himself he could take the two and create a new man, in order to bring about this peace.
Therefore, he brought both [types of] people back to God as one body through the impaling pole, using himself to destroy the hatred between them!
For when he came, he proclaimed the good news of peace to you that were far away and to those of us that were nearby,so that through him we can all gain access to the Father in [the same] spirit.
As a result, you’re not strangers or aliens anymore; you’re fellow citizens among the Holy Ones, and family members of God’s household!
You’re being built upon the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets, and the cornerstone is the Anointed Jesus himself!
And through him, the whole building is being fitted together, growing into a Most Holy Place for Jehovah.Through the Spirit, you’re being built into a place for The God to dwell!
I give thanks that I (Paul) am a slave of the Anointed Jesus on your behalf…
Yes for you, the people among the gentiles.
Perhaps you’ve heard about the responsibility that I (by the loving care of God) was given concerning you,and of how this mystery, about which I wrote to you briefly in the past, was revealed to me.
So as you read on, hopefully you can grasp [how well] I understand the mystery of the Anointed One.
[Though this mystery] wasn’t revealed to past generations of the sons of men, it has now been revealed through his holy Apostles and Prophets by means of [God’s] Breath…
That gentiles will also be fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise (in the Anointed Jesus) through the Good News.
And I became a servant of this through the gift that was given to me by the loving care of God, and in harmony with His Power.
This loving care was revealed to me (a man who is less than the least of all the Holy Ones) so that I should preach the good news about the unimaginable richness of the Anointed One to the gentiles,and to shine a light on how this mystery that was hidden away through the ages in The God who created all things works out,so that governments and heavenly powers might learn about the vast wisdom of The God through His called ones,which has been His age-long purpose through the Anointed Jesus our Lord.
And it’s through our confidence and faith in him that we have been given this direction and this freedom to speak out.
It’s also because of this that I’m asking you not to grow tired of the concern that I have for you, because it glorifies you.
For it’s over this that I thankfully bend my knees to the Father(out of whom all lines in heaven and on earth get their paternal names)to [ask Him to] grant you (by the richness of His glory) the power to become strong in His Spirit and to make the people that you are on the insidealive in the Anointed One through the faith in your hearts along with love, and to give you sufficient roots and foundationto be able to understand (along with the rest of the Holy Ones) the width, the length, the height, and the depth…
To recognize the love of the Anointed One (which is more than you can comprehend) and to fill you with all the fullness that can only come from The God.
Now, to the One who through His power that operates in us can do far more than anything we can ask or even conceive;
May He be glorified by the called ones and by the Anointed Jesus throughout all generations and into ages of ages…
May it be so!
So as a prisoner in the Lord, I am urging you to be sure that you’re worthy of the calling that you’ve receivedin all humility, gentleness, and patience, while you lovingly put up with each other.
Try hard to recognize the unifying force of [God’s] Breath and its power to bring you together in peace.
For there’s just one body and one Spirit, according to the one hope to which you were called (when you were called)…
There’s just one Lord, one faith, one baptism,and one God and Father of everyone, who is over all, through all, and in all.
Now, the amount of loving care that was shown to each of us depends upon how much of the Gift that the Anointed One measured out to us.
For he says:
‘To the highest places, he has stepped up,
And he’s taken captivity as his captive;
Then, he gave gifts to the people.’
So when it says ‘he stepped up,’ this also means that he first had to step down to the lower places… to the earth.
So the one that stepped down also stepped back up – high above the skies – so that he could bring everything to a completion.
Then he gave some to be Apostles, some to be Prophets, some to be messengers of the Good News, and some to be shepherds and teachers,in order to prepare the Holy Ones for the work of serving and strengthening the body of the Anointed One,until we all become one in the faith and gain a full knowledge of the Son of The God to the point where it’s a complete man that fully measures up to the stature of the Anointed One,so we won’t be babies anymore, being tossed up and back by waves and being blown about by every spirit of the treacherous teachings of people that will use any means to do whatever is wrong.
Therefore, while holding onto the truth (and in love), let’s grow up in every way into this one who is the head… the Anointed One.
For he brings the whole body together…
He assembles its parts and makes all the connections so as to supply each part with what it needs (depending on its function), in order to make the whole body grow and strengthen itself in love.
I say and advise this from the Lord:
Don’t continue in the same path that the nations are following, because their thoughts are worthless,their minds have been darkened to any understanding, and they are aliens to a god-fearing life because of their ignorance and dull hearts.
For since it no longer brings them any pain, they have given themselves over to living wasted lives and they’re greedily doing filthy things.
However, that isn’t what you’ve learned to be true of the Anointed One(if you for a fact heard and were taught about him);
Because, truth comes through Jesus.
Therefore, you must get rid of those old ways that are being corrupted by the enticements that come from desires,and renew the spirit of your minds!
Then put on the new person… [the one] that is created by God’s will in the righteousness and loyalty of the truth.
Also, get rid of lying… you must always tell your neighbors the truth, because we’re all fellow body parts of each other!
[Yes, you can] get irritated, but don’t sin…
Don’t let the sun set on the reasons for your irritation,nor should you allow any room for the Slanderer.
If you’ve been a thief; you shouldn’t steal anymore.
Rather, you should work hard and do good things with your hands, so you’ll have something to share with the needy.
Nor should you allow any foul words to come out of your mouths.
Rather, use good words that are upbuilding (as they are needed) to show that you care about everyone that listens to you.
Don’t impede the Holy Breath of The God with which you were sealed on the Day that your ransom was paid!
Yes, get rid of all the bitterness, anger, wrath, screaming, and slandering, along with everything [else] that is bad,and be kind to each other…
Be sympathetic and graciously forgive each other, as God (through the Anointed One) has graciously forgiven you.
Become imitators of God as His beloved children,and keep on walking in love in the same way that the Anointed One loved you and gave himself up for you as an offering and a sweet-smelling sacrifice to The God.
Don’t allow sexual immorality or any type of uncleanness or greediness to be even mentioned among you, as would be expected of holy people.
Nor [should you share in] shameful conduct, foolishness, or dirty jokes (which are all unbecoming), but rather, in the giving of thanks.
[For it’s easy] to recognize those that are immoral, unclean, and greedy (which really amounts to being idol worshipers), and you know that such ones won’t receive an inheritance in the Kingdom of the Anointed One and of The God.
So don’t allow anyone to seduce you into using empty words.
For it’s because of things like this that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.
Therefore, don’t go along with them,because;
Though you were once dark, you’ve now become light in the Lord.
Rather, keep on walking as children of the light!
For the fruitage of light is every sort of goodness, righteousness, and truth…things that prove to be pleasing to the Lord.
Don’t share in the unproductive deeds of darkness. Rather, speak out against them!
It’s shameful to talk about things that are only done in private,because everything that the light speaks against is being exposed, since the light shines on everything.
And this is why He said:
‘Wake up, you who are sleeping, and lift yourselves from among the dead… then the Anointed One will shine upon you.’
So you must pay close attention to the ways that you’re walking… that it’s not like those who are foolish, but as those who are wise.
You must [set aside] time for yourselves [to do such things], because these are wicked days.
Don’t be foolish, but start learning what the Lord’s will for us is.
And don’t be getting drunk on wine, which leads down an unsavory path.
Rather, fill yourselves with the Breath [of God],and speak to each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs… sing and create music in your hearts to Jehovahin the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
Yes, always give thanks to our God and Father for everything!
You should also submit to each other in the same way that you show fear for the Anointed One.
Women should submit to their men as they would to the Lord,because man is the origin of woman, as the Anointed One is the origin of the congregation and the savior of that body.
So, just as the congregation submits to the Anointed One; that’s how women should [submit] to their men in everything.
Men; love your women as the Anointed One loved the congregation and gave himself up to make it holy.
He washed it in a bath of water (so to speak),in order to present a glorious gathering to himself that doesn’t have any spots, wrinkles, or any such things, but which is holy and without any blemishes.
Yes, that’s how the men should love their women… as their own bodies.
So, the man that loves his woman is really showing love for himself…and nobody ever hates his own flesh. Rather, he feeds it and takes pride in it, just as the Anointed One does the congregation.
And we’ve become parts of [Jesus’] body… of his very flesh and his bones!
[So as the scripture says]:
‘A man will leave his father and mother and stick with his woman, and the two will become one flesh.’
Now, this is a great mystery, because I’m comparing [the relationship between husbands and wives] to the Anointed One and [his love for] the congregation.
But this is how each man should love his woman… as he does himself.
And women should have a [Godly] fear of their men.
Children;
Obey your parents in the Lord, because this is righteous.
Honor your father and mother, for this is the first Commandment that came with a promise…so that things will go well for you and you can live a long time on the earth.
Fathers;
Don’t frustrate your children, but bring them up in the discipline and council of the Lord.
Slaves;
Be obedient to those that are your fleshly masters with [Godly] fear and sincere hearts, as you would to the Anointed One.
Don’t just put on a good show to please men; but as slaves of the Anointed One, do the will of God whole souled.
Be willing slaves as to the Lord (not of men),because you know that whatever good you do will be rewarded by the Lord, whether you’re a slave or a free man.
Masters;
Keep on doing the same for [your slaves]… and don’t be threatening them, because you know that there’s a Master who’s over both them and you in the heavens, and He doesn’t recognize any difference [between you].
Finally, become powerful in the mightiness and strength of the Lord.
Put on the complete suit of God’s armor, so that you can resist the methods of the Slanderer.
For our fight isn’t against flesh and blood, but against the governments, the authorities, the mighty ones of this worldly darkness, and against the unseen wicked powers in the heavens.
So because of this, take up the complete suit [that comes from] God so that you can fight in that wicked day and still be found standing.
Yes, stand firm with your hips wrapped in the truth and wearing the breastplate of righteousness.
Wrap your feet and prepare them with the good news of peace.
And above all else, pick up the large shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one.
Also, accept the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (the things that God has said).
Keep on praying and begging [God] about everything in Spirit throughout each season.
Be aware of this and never stop petitioning [God] on behalf of all the Holy Ones.
Also [pray] for me… that the words may be given to me to open my mouth and speak freely so as to make the mystery of the good news known.
For that’s why I’m now an ambassador in chains… so that I can speak out boldly about these things and to say the things that I’m supposed to say.
Now, so you can know how I’m getting along and what I’m doing; TychiKos (a beloved brother and faithful servant of the Lord) will explain everything to you.
This is why I’m sending him to you… to let you know what’s happening to us and to bring comfort to your hearts.
Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
May all those who have an uncorrupted love for our Lord Jesus the Anointed One receive [His] loving care.
Paul and Timothy, slaves of the Anointed Jesus, to all the Holy Ones in the Anointed Jesus [who are] in Philippi, along with the overseers and servants;
May you have kindness and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus the Anointed.
I thank my God every time you’re mentioned,and I’m constantly begging [God] on your behalf… begging with joy,because of your partnership in [sharing] the good news from the first day until now.
I’m confident that the one who started this good work among you will continue to perfect it until the Day of Jesus the Anointed One.
It’s a righteous thing for me to think this way about all of you, and I keep you in my heart both when I'm in chains and when I'm defending and confirming the good news, for all of you are sharers in my loving care.
God is my witness as to how much I long for all of you with the same tender affection that the Anointed Jesus has.
And this is what I keep praying:
That your love will continue to grow more and more, along with your higher knowledge and understanding;and that you will keep on proving the most excellent things, so that you might be found pure and blameless until the day of the Anointed One…
Being filled with righteous fruit (through the Anointed Jesus) to God’s glory and praise.
Now, I want you to know this, brothers:
I’m seeing results from the things that I’m doing for the advancement of the good news.
For my imprisonment because of the Anointed One has become public knowledge among the entire Praetorian Guard and everyone else [here].
Also, because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord are now more confident and they are showing more courage and fearlessness when teaching the word of God.
Unfortunately, it’s true that some are preaching the Anointed One out of envy and rivalry.
However, many others are doing it for good motives…out of love, because they know that [the reason why] I’m lying here is to defend the good news.
Yet, none of the rest are doing it for good reasons; for they’re preaching the Anointed One by arguing, and they think that this will create more problems for me while I’m in prison.
Why?
It doesn’t make any difference, for whether they’re just pretending or they’re being sincere, the Anointed One is being made known, and I rejoice over this. In fact, I’ll keep on rejoicing,because I know that through your earnest prayers and a [generous] supply of the spirit of Jesus the Anointed One, I will be saved.
I eagerly hope (and don’t expect to be disappointed) that I will soon be able to speak freely about the Anointed One as before, and even more so, whether my body is dead or alive.
To me, life is the Anointed One and my reward is death.
However, if I can keep on living in the flesh, I consider this to be the fruitage of my work.
Which do I prefer?
I won’t say,for I’m obsessed by the two.
What I really want is to be released [from this body] and to be with the Anointed One, since that is surely the best.
However, for your sakes, it’s better for me to remain in the flesh.
And because I’m confident of this, I know that I will survive and still be with all of you, so I can help you to grow in the joy of the faith…
And then your reasons for pride in the Anointed Jesus will grow because of me, due to the fact that I’ll be coming to you again.
Just behave in a way that’s worthy of the good news about the Anointed One, so that regardless of whether I’m coming to visit or I’m far away, I can hear [good] things about you…
Such as that you’re all standing firm with the same motivations, and that you’re serving the faith of the good news side-by-side as a single person,not being frightened by those who oppose you.
Such [fine conduct on your part] will prove all the others to be worthy of destruction, while you are worthy of salvation by God,since you’ve been given the privilege of not only putting faith in Him, but also of suffering for the sake of the Anointed One.
Yes, you’ve had to struggle with the same things that you saw me having to [struggle with], and which you’re now hearing are happening to me again.
Therefore, if there is any encouragement in the Anointed One, any consoling love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any depth of heart or compassion– anything that would make my joy in you complete – [it would be to hear that]:
You all agree and share the same love,
You’ve become as one person that is thinking the same thoughts,
You aren’t doing anything out of spite or pride but humbly, believing all the others to be better than you,
And that you’re not just watching out for yourselves, but for the best interests of each other.
Yes, keep this attitude in you that the Anointed Jesus had.
For though he once existed in the same form as God, he didn’t consider trying to make himself equal to Him.
Rather, he emptied himself into the shape of a slave and became a human.
And when he found himself shaped as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to death… yes, to death on a pole.
This is why God promoted him to a superior position and granted him a reputation that is far above every other name,so that in the name of Jesus every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the ground should bend,and that every tongue should confess that Jesus the Anointed One is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So, my loved ones;
In the same way that you have always obeyed (not just when I’m there but also while I’m away), keep on working toward your own salvation in fear and trembling.
For it is indeed God that is working through you to accomplish His work and His will, as He pleases.
Therefore, do everything without complaining or arguing,so that you can be found blameless and innocent children of God that are free from the accusations of this crooked and twisted generation, among whom you are shining as lights to the world!
Also, hang onto the life-giving words, so that I can boast in the Day of the Anointed One that I didn’t run without reason or labor in vain.
And then, even if I am being poured out as a drink offering sacrifice over the welfare of your faith, I can be thankful and rejoice with all of you…
As I want you to be glad and rejoice along with me!
I hope (in the Lord Jesus) to send Timothy to you soon, so I can be encouraged by hearing about how you’re getting along.
For I have no one else here that shares this same spirit and that genuinely cares about your needs.
All the rest are just watching out for their own interests, not those of the Anointed Jesus.
So recognize how well [Timothy] has proven himself; for he has slaved with me as a child does with his father when it comes to promoting the good news.
Yes, this is the man that I hope to send to you, just as soon as I see where I really stand in this situation that I’m in.
However, I’m confident in the Lord that I'll soon be able to come and see you myself.
I also considered it necessary to return EpaPhraditus (my brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, but your envoy and social worker for my assistance) to you,because he’s been longing to see all of you, and he’s been concerned over the fact that you learned about his illness.
Yes, he was indeed ill, almost to the point of death!
However, The God had mercy on him… and not just on him, but on me too, so I wouldn’t be grieved with sadness!
Therefore, I’m sending him to you immediately, so that when you see him you can once again rejoice… and I can be less anxious too.
Give him your customary welcome in the Lord with all joy… and remember his reputation!
For he came very close to being killed while doing the Anointed One’s work, and he has exposed his life to great danger in order to make up for your not being here to provide for my welfare.
Finally, my brothers;
Keep on rejoicing in the Lord!
The fact that I’m writing these same things to you once again is no trouble for me, and it’s for your own safety.
Just watch out for the dogs, for those that are doing wicked things, and for those that cut the flesh!
Indeed, we are the circumcision to those that are serving the Spirit of God and finding glory in the Anointed Jesus, but not to those that are putting their trust in the flesh.
Realize that I’m someone who has every reason for confidence in the flesh…
And if anyone else thinks he has a reason for confidence in the flesh, I have even more reasons!
[For I was] circumcised on the 8th day,
[I’m] of the race of IsraEl,
Of the tribe of BenJamin,
And a Hebrew from among Hebrews.
When it comes to the Law, a Pharisee;
When it comes to zeal, a persecutor of the called ones;
When it comes to righteousness by following the Law, one that has proven himself blameless!
Yet, the things that I [once] considered my assets are what I now consider my shortcomings because of the Anointed One.
For now I consider everything a loss compared to the superiority of the knowledge of the Anointed Jesus, my Lord.
And because of him, I’ve accepted the loss of everything and consider it all to be just so much garbage, so I can gain the Anointed Oneand to be found in him.
But this isn’t because of my own righteousness due to following the Law; rather, it comes from my faith that he is the Anointed of God!
For my righteousness [is now based on my] faithand my knowledge of him, and in the power of his resurrection.
Therefore, I've been willing to share in his sufferings and resign myself to a death like his,so that I can somehow be found worthy of an out-resurrection from the dead.
[No, I’m not saying] that I’ve made it yet or that I’m already perfect, just that I’m chasing after it…
I’m trying to grab hold of that for which the Anointed Jesus grabbed hold of me!
Brothers,I don’t think of myself as having achieved it yet, but I am doing this one thing:
[I’m] forgetting the things in the past and stretching out to reach for the things that are ahead…
I’m running toward the goal, the prize of the higher calling from God, through the Anointed Jesus.
And may all of us that are mature start thinking this same way;
For if your thinking is inclined any other way, God will [soon] reveal this to you.
Nevertheless, we’ve gained all of this by following the rule:
We should walk together in the same mind.
So, become imitators of me, brothers, and consider those that are walking as you’ve been doing, to be the pattern for each of us.
Yet there are many that I used to talk to you about, whom I now mention with tears.
For because they’ve become enemies of the Anointed One’s impaling pole,they'll end up by being destroyed, because their bellies have become their gods and the things they are proud of are the things that shame them, since all they think about is earthly things!
But as for us;
We possess a citizenship in the heavens, from which we’re eagerly awaiting our Savior the Lord Jesus the Anointed,who will transform our humiliated bodies and mold them into his own glorious body in the same way that he’s able to make all things subject to himself.
So my brothers who are loved and longed for (my joy and my victory garland);
Keep standing just as you are in the Lord, my loved ones!
I encourage EuOdia and SynTyche to think the same way in the Lord.
And I’m asking [the rest of] you who have truly shared under my same yoke to stick by these women who have worked so hard side-by-side with me in the good news…
Along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are [written] in the Scroll of Life.
Always rejoice in the Lord!
I’ll say it again:
Rejoice…and let everyone know how reasonable you can be!
Since the Lord is close [to you],don’t be anxious about anything! But through prayers and heart-felt petitions along with the giving of thanks, make your requests known to God…
And then the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, will guard your hearts and your reasoning, through the Anointed Jesus.
Finally, brothers;
Keep on thinking about whatever things are true, serious, righteous, chaste, lovable, well spoken of, virtuous, and praiseworthy.
And if you continue to do the things that you learned, accepted, heard, and saw through me, the God of peace will be with you.
I’m so joyful in the Lord that you’ve finally started thinking about my needs once again.
It’s not that you’ve forgotten me, it’s just that you haven’t had much opportunity.
I’m not saying this because I’m in need, for I’ve learned to be very self-sufficient…I know how to be poor and I know how to have plenty.
For in everything and in every way, I’ve learned the secrets of how to have enough to eat and how to go hungry, how to have plenty and how to do without.
Yes, I have the strength for everything by the One that gives me power.
However, you have acted well by sharing with me during my difficulties.
In fact, you Philippians may remember how, back in the early [days] of the good news (after I left Macedonia), not a single congregation was willing to share with me in the matter of giving and receiving, other than you.
For even [when I was] in ThesSalonica, you sent something to help with my needs… not just once but twice!
It’s not that I’m begging for such gifts; I’m just looking for the fruitage of becoming a greater part of your conversations.
I’ve received everything that I need from you, which is more than enough!
I’ve been filled with the sweet-smelling odor of a sacrifice that is acceptable and very pleasing to God, now that I’ve received these things from you through EpaPhraditus.
So be assured that my God will in turn fully supply all of your needs from His great wealth, through the glory of the Anointed Jesus.
Now, may our God and Father be glorified through ages of ages…
May it be so.
Give my greetings to all the Holy Ones in the Anointed Jesus. The brothers that are with me also send you their greetings.
Yes, all the Holy Ones – and especially those of the house of Caesar – send you their greetings.
May the kindness of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with the spirit [that you are showing].
Paul, an Apostle of the Anointed Jesus by the Will of God, and Timothy our brother,to the holy and faithful brothers in the Anointed One at Colossae;
May you have loving care and peace from our Father, God.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One, when we are praying for you,since we’ve heard of your faith in the Anointed Jesus and of the love that you have for all the Holy Onesthrough the hope that has been reserved for you in the heavens.
This is the same hope that you were taught when the truth of the good newswas first brought to you.
[And today] it’s producing fruit and increasing throughout the entire world the same as it has been doing among you since the day you first heard of it and came to an accurate understanding about the truth of God’s loving care[through the hand of] EpaPhras our beloved fellow slave, who is a faithful servant of the Anointed One on our behalf.
And he’s the one who told us of the love that you have through the Breath [of God].
As the result, from the very day that we heard [this about you], we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with a complete knowledge of [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
For we want you to walk in a way that’s worthy of the Lord and to be completely pleasing as you keep on producing the fruitage of all sorts of good deeds, growing in a full knowledge of The Godand getting stronger in the power of His Glorious Might, so that you’ll be able to endure everything joyfully and patiently,as you thank the Father that qualified you to receive a portion of the inheritance among the Holy Ones in the light.
For He is drawing us to Himself out of the power of darkness and transferring us into the Kingdom of His beloved Son(into which we have been delivered by the forgiving of our sins),who is the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of all creation.
It was through him that everything in the heavens and on the earth was created, both the things that are visible and the things that are invisible…
It was all created through him and for him, regardless of whether it is thrones, or rulerships, or governments, or powers,since he was before everything and everything came into existence through him.
And now he’s the head of the body of the congregation, the beginning, and the first to be born from the dead so that he would be first in everything.
Yes, [God] saw that it was good for him to be the completion of everything,and He’s using [Jesus] to bring it all back into a peaceful good relationship with Himself through his blood [that was shed] on the pole, whether these things are heavenly or earthly.
So though you were once just aliens and enemies, since all you thought about then was doing wicked things;
[Jesus] has restored your relationship with [God] by means of the death of [his] fleshly body.
[This was done so that] you could be presented to Him as holy, without any blemishes, and free from all accusations…that is, as long as you stay firmly founded and deeply rooted in the faith and aren’t diverted from the hope of the good news that you were taught and which is being preached in all creation under heaven (of which I, Paul, am a servant).
So, even as I’m here suffering, I’m rejoicing over you.
Yes, right now my flesh is finishing whatever may have been lacking during the difficult time that the Anointed One endured, and I’m doing this on behalf of his body, the congregation,which is what I’m serving.
For this is the obligation that God has assigned to me for your sakes, so as to fulfill His Wordabout the mystery that was hidden from past ages and generations, but which has now been made clear to His Holy Ones.
For it was God’s Will to allow you [people] of the nations to understand the glorious richness of this mystery, so that the Anointed One would also be in you and [give you the same] hope of glorythat we’ve been advertising about him to you!
Yes, we’ve been teaching you his wisdom and putting his mind into each one, so that we can present every person as being complete in the Anointed One.
This is why I’m working so hard and struggling… so that [Jesus] can demonstrate his power and his ways of doing things through me.
I want you to realize what a great struggle I’m undergoing on your behalf, as well as for those in LaoDikea and for all those that haven’t met me face to face yet.
And I want your hearts to be comforted over this, so that you can be brought together in love and be provided with a rich and sure understanding as well as an accurate knowledge of that great mystery of God… the Anointed One.
For hidden in him are the treasures of all wisdom and knowledge.
I have been wanting to explain this to you so that no one can mislead you with strong arguments [to the contrary].
For though I’m not there in the flesh, I am still there with you in spirit.
I am also rejoicing, because I’ve noticed the ways that you’ve come into line with and become firm in the Anointed One.
Therefore, since you’ve accepted the Anointed Jesus (our Lord), [you must] keep on walking with him…becoming rooted and built up in him, and growing firmer in your belief in the things that you were taught.
[Yes, I want you to] overflow with these things whenever you’re giving thanks!
But watch out so that no one carries you off as a captive into the philosophies and empty hopes of human traditions, because these base things of the world don’t come from the Anointed One.
Rather, in him lives all the fullness of the divine body…
And you’re also part of the fullness of this one who is the origin of all government and power,for you were circumcised into him with a circumcision that was done without hands when you stripped away your fleshly bodies though the circumcision of the Anointed One.
Then you were all buried with him when [you went] under the water, and you were all raised together by your faith in what God (who raised him from the dead) has done in you.
For that’s when you died to your errors and to the uncircumcised state of your flesh and became alive with him, and he kindly forgave all your errorsby wiping away the handwritten Laws that held you down and oppressed you…
He lifted them out of the way and nailed them on the pole,which stripped away the governments and powers, and openly displayed that this is how he had conquered them.
So, don’t allow anyone to judge you over [what you] eat or drink, or over your views of festivals such as the New Moons or Sabbaths;
For these were just shadows of things to come, while the realities belong to the Anointed One.
And don’t allow anyone to steal your prize by suggesting some lowly form of angel worship and by making strong claims of things that [someone says] he has seen. For [this man has become] overly impressed with something he just imagined in the flesh,and he’s no longer hanging onto the head…
The one that holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments so that it keeps growing with the [type of] growth that comes from The God.
However, since you’ve already died to the base things of this world along with the Anointed One, why is it that you (as though you’re still living in this world) are putting yourselves under such laws as‘don’t feel it,’ ‘don’t taste it,’ or ‘don’t touch it,’when it comes to things that are just going to be consumed…
For these are the commands and teachings of men!
And though choosing such a form of worship may sound wise with all its humility and mistreatment of the body, it has no value when it comes to meeting the needs of the flesh!
Rather, since you’ve been raised with the Anointed One, you should now be searching for the things that come from above, from the right hand of God, where the Anointed One is sitting…
And these things that are from above are no part of this world.
So, since you’ve already died and your life has been hidden away in the Anointed One and in God;
When the Anointed One (who is our life) reveals himself, you’ll also be seen with him in his glory!
Therefore, deaden your earthly [body parts] to sexual immorality, unclean passions, desires for bad things, and greediness (which is idolatry);
For it’s due to such things that the wrath of God is coming.
And though that may have been the way you acted back when you used to live for such things,you must now remove all the wrath, anger, badness, slander, and obscenities from your mouths…and don’t lie to each other!
Yes, you must now take off the old person and the things that he didand put on the new person that is being remade with a complete knowledge in the image of the One who is creating it.
So there are no more Greeks or Jews, circumcised or uncircumcised, foreigners, Scythians, slaves, or freemen…
There is just the Anointed One, who is everything and within all of you!
Then, as God’s chosen people that are holy and loved, you must put on the caring traits of empathy, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Also, keep on putting up with each other and forgiving each other kindly, whenever anyone has a reason to complain.
Yes, just as the Lord kindly forgave you, you must do the same…
And add love to all of that, because it’s the perfect unifying force.
Let the peace of the Anointed One serve as the judge in your hearts, because it’s calling [all of] you into one body.
So be thankful andallow the words of the Anointed One to live in you richly and in all wisdom, as you kindly teach and remind each other through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Yes, sing to God from your hearts!
And no matter what you’re saying or doing, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, continuously thanking God (the Father) through him.
Women should always obey [their husbands], since this is proper [for those that are] in the Lord.
Men should love their [wives] and not be bitterly angry with them.
Children should obey their parents in everything, because this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers shouldn’t [demand too much of] their children, so they don’t get discouraged.
Slaves should obey those that are their fleshly masters in everything… not just putting on a good show to please men, but [doing everything] sincerely and from the heart, in the fear of the Lord.
Yes, whatever you’re doing, work at it wholeheartedly as though [you’re doing it] for the Lord and not for men.
And because you know that you’ll be rewarded with an inheritance from the Lord, you should slave for the Lord (the Anointed One),since the unrighteous will be [judged] impartially for the unrighteous things that they’re doing.
Also, those that are masters should act righteously and fairly with their slaves, because we know that we all have a Master in the heavens.
Keep on praying, staying alert, and giving thanks.
Also, keep praying for us… that God may open doors for us to speak and tell others about the mystery of the Anointed One;
For this is the reason why I’m [here in] shackles…to display whatever it is that I’m supposed to say.
Keep on walking wisely when it comes to those on the outside, and keep an eye out for opportunities.
Be respectful in everything that you say…
Season everything with salt and know how to [give the best] answer to each person.
TychiKos (my dear brother, faithful servant, and fellow slave in the Lord) will explain to you everything that has been happening to me.
That’s why I’m sending him to you… to keep you abreast of what’s going on and to comfort your hearts.
[I’m also sending] OneSimus, my faithful and loved brother that came from you, who will tell you all the rest.
AristArchus (my fellow prisoner) sends you his greetings, as does Mark (BarNabas’ cousin).
He’s the one that you were told to welcome if he ever comes to [visit] you…and so does Jesus (who’s also called Justus).
All of them are circumcised, but they are also my fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, and they’ve done so much to comfort me.
EpaPhras (who came from you), a slave of the Anointed Jesus, sends you his greetings.
He always puts a lot of effort into his prayers for you, asking that you might become perfect in the stand that you’re taking and [that you’ll] completely carry out the will of God.
I can testify to the fact that he goes to a lot of effort on your behalf, as well as for those at LaoDikea and HierApolis.
Luke (the beloved physician) sends you his greetings, and so does Demas.
Give my greetings to the brothers at LaoDikea, as well as to Nympha and the called ones in her home.
After this letter has been read among you, also arrange for it to be read in the LaoDikean congregation… and you read the one from LaoDikea.
Also, tell ArcHippus to keep an eye on the service assignment that he accepted in the Lord and to make sure that he fulfills it.’
Here is my greeting (Paul’s) in my own hand.
Remember me in prison.
May [God’s] loving care be with you.
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the called ones among the Thessalonians who are in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus the Anointed;
May you have peace and [God’s] loving care.
We always thank God when we mention you in our prayers,because we never forget your faithful work, loving labors, and endurance that comes from [your] confidence in our Lord Jesus the Anointed, [who stands] before our God and Father.
We know that He chose you, our brothers who are loved by God,because the good news that we are preaching didn’t become just words to you, but power, Holy Breath, and a strong conviction, since you recognized what sort of men we became to you for your sakes.
Then you started acting like us and like the Lord, because you accepted the word in the joy of [God’s] Holy Breath despite many difficulties,and you became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
For you’ve preached the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has been spread everywhere…
So we don’t have to say anything more,since everyone is talking about the way we first came to you and of how you turned away from idols, then [turned toward] The God…
Yes, to slave for a God that is living and true!
And [they also speak of how you’re] awaiting His Son from the heavens that He raised from the dead…
This Jesus, who has drawn us to himself and away from the coming wrath.
Brothers, you know that our visit with you hasn’t gone without results.
For though we had just suffered and been mistreated in Philippi (as you well know), our God gave us the boldness to speak to you about the good news of our God… though with a lot of difficulty.
Because, the encouragement we give doesn’t come from errors, uncleanness, or deceit.
And since God has proven us fit to be entrusted with the good news, we don’t speak just to please men, but [to please] God, who proves what’s in our hearts.
So as God is my witness (and as you well know), we didn’t come to you with flattering words or as pretending to be in need of anything,nor have we looked for glory from men…
No, not from you or from anyone else (though as Apostles of the Anointed One, we are empowered to be such a burden).
Rather, we came to you as gently as a mother who feeds and cares for her children.
And because we cared for you so much, we were not only happy to share the good news of God with you, but also our lives, since you’ve become so dear to us.
Brothers, surely you remember how we toiled and labored…
How we worked hard night and day so we wouldn’t put an expensive burden on anyone, as we preached the good news about The God to you.
And both you and God are our witnesses as to how loyal, righteous, and free from blame we became to you believers.
For each of you must recognize how we kept on encouraging you, consoling you, and testifying to you, just as a father does to his own children.
[We did this] so that you would keep on walking in a way that’s worthy of The God who is calling you to His Kingdom and glory.
And we keep on thanking God, because, when you accepted the word of The God that you heard from us, you didn’t accept it as the word of men, but just as it truthfully is…
The word of God, which is at work in you believers.
Yes, you became our imitators and our brothers in the same way as those that were called by The God in Judea and are in the Anointed Jesus, because you started suffering at the hands of your own countrymen, just as the [Called Ones] did at the hands of the Judeanswho killed the Lord Jesus and the Prophets, and who persecuted us.
These men aren’t pleasing to God, for they are opposing all menby trying to keep us from speaking to the gentiles so we can save them.
As the result, they’re always filled to the brim with their sins, and in the end they will receive His wrath.
As for us, brothers;
We’re forced to be orphans to you for a short time… in body, but not in our hearts, for we anxiously desire to see your faces.
That’s why I wanted to come to you (yes me, Paul) on two different occasions.
However, the Opposer kept on cutting us off.For when our Lord Jesus arrives and we’re standing before him; why would we have any hope, or joy, or a winner’s garland of which we could boast, if not for you?
Because you… yes, you are our glory and joy!
So when we couldn’t bear it any longer, we arranged to be sent to Athens alone.
Then we sent Timothy – our brother and God’s servant in the good news about the Anointed One – to strengthen and comfort you in your faith,so that none of you would become discouraged by all these difficulties.
However, you know that we were all appointed [to endure] things such as this.
Yes, when we were there with you, we warned you that we were about to suffer persecution (as you well know is now happening).
And it’s because I just couldn’t stand [not knowing how you were faring] that I sent [Timothy] to see how your faith [is bearing up], and whether the Tempter has put you to the test and brought all of our hard work [on your behalf] to nothing.
But now that Timothy has returned from you, he has brought us the good news about your faithfulness and love;
And [he’s told us] how you keep us in your fond memories and of how you’re always longing to see us, just as we are [longing to see] you.
That’s why, brothers, despite all our own needs and difficulties, we find comfort in you and in the faith that you’re showing.
Because, if you’re standing firm in the Lord, we are alive!
So, what sort of thanks can we offer to God for you in return for all the joy that we now have because of you before our God?
Therefore, we will keep on begging night and day to see your faces and to correct anything that may be lacking in your faith.
Now, may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus straighten our road to you.
May the Lord cause you to grow and to have more than enough love for each other and for all, just as we have for you.
And may he make your hearts firm in holiness, without any blame before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus appears with all of his Holy Ones…
May it be so!
Finally brothers;
We ask and urge you by the Lord Jesus to follow in the path of the things that you learned from us and to keep on pleasing God.
Although you’re already doing this, you must do it even more so!
For you are aware of these orders that we gave to you through the Lord Jesus:
‘It is God’s Will [for you] to be holy and to stay free from sexual immorality.’
So you must each learn how to take control of yourselves in holiness and honor…
Not in passionate desires like those of the nations that don’t know God!
Nobody should overstep the limits or take advantage of his brothers in this matter, for the Lord is the avenger in all of such things, just as we warned you before and explained completely…
God didn’t call us to uncleanness, but to holiness!
So, those of you who [may choose to] disregard this [warning] aren’t disregarding a man, but The God who put His Holy Breath in you.
Yet, when it comes to the matter of brotherly love; there’s no need for us to write you, because God has taught you to love each other…
And you’re showing this to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.
Nevertheless, we’re now urging you brothers to become even better at it!
Also, pledge yourselves to living quietly, to minding your own business, and to working for a living (just as we’ve instructed you to do),so that you will always be acting in an appropriate way toward those on the outside, and so that you won’t ever be in need of anything.
Brothers, we want you to understand the situation of those that are sleeping [in death], so you aren’t saddened like those who don’t have any hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and was resurrected, we must also believe that The God will (through Jesus) lead back those that have fallen asleep.
Understand that what we are saying to you is the word of the Lord… that those who are still living at the appearance of the Lord will definitely not go ahead of those that have fallen asleep.
Because, the Lord himself will come down from the sky and give the command in the voice of the highest messenger [of God] and with God’s trumpet;
Then those who have died in the Anointed One will be the first to be resurrected.
And after that, the living (those of us who are still left at that time) will be snatched into the clouds along with them for a meeting with the Lord in the air…
And thereafter, we’ll always be with the Lord.
Keep comforting each other with these words.
Now, when it comes to the times and seasons brothers, nothing needs to be written to you,because you know very well that the Lord’s Day is coming as a thief in the night.
And whenever they’re saying ‘Peace and security,’ destruction will come upon them instantly like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they won’t escape.
Therefore brothers; since you aren’t in the dark, don’t let that Day [sneak up] on you like a thief.
For you’re all sons of light and sons of the day… you don’t belong to the night or to darkness!
As the result, we shouldn’t be falling asleep like all the rest. Rather, we should be staying awake and remaining sober;
For those who are sleeping, sleep at night, and those that get drunk, get drunk at night.
But may those of us who belong to the day stay sober, as we put on the breastplate of faith and love, and wear our hope of salvation like a helmet.
Because, The God didn’t destine us for His wrath, but for us to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus the Anointed Onewho died for us, so that whether we remain alert or we fall asleep [in death], we’ll all live together with him.
Keep on comforting each other with these words and continue to build each other up, just as you’re already doing!
Now brothers;
We’re asking you to give [special] recognition to those who are working so hard among you by taking the lead over you in the Lord and in counseling you.
Give them extraordinary loving consideration because of what they’re doing, and be at peace with each other!
We also urge you brothers to reprimand the disorderly, to comfort the depressed, to support the weak, and to be patient with everyone.
Also, make sure that no one is trying to get even with anyone else over bad things.
Keep on searching for the best interests of each other and for all the rest!
Keep on rejoicing!
Pray constantly!
And give thanks for everything, because this is God’s will for you in the Anointed Jesus!
Also, don’t put out the fire of [God’s] Breathor ignore the prophecies,and prove everything…
Then hang onto whatever is goodand avoid anything that appears to be wicked!
May the God of peace make you completely holy and sound in every way – in spirit, soul, and body – and may He find you blameless, so that you can be preserved when our Lord Jesus the Anointed One arrives.
For the One that is calling you is faithful, and He’ll make it happen.
Brothers;
Continue to pray for us,and keep on greeting all the brothers with a holy kiss.
Now, I’m putting you under oath in the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers.
May the loving care of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with all of you.
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the called ones among the Thessalonians who are in God our Father and in the Lord Jesus the Anointed;
May you have loving care and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus the Anointed.
We’re always obligated to give thanks to God for you, our brothers, which is appropriate because of the super growth of your faith and [because of] the love that you have for each other, which keeps on growing.
We also take special pride in you among all the called ones of God because of the endurance and faith that you’ve shown through all the persecutions and difficulties that you’ve been enduring.
So the righteous judgment of God is being revealed in that you’re being counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
And it’s a righteous thing for God to repay those that are persecuting you by crushing them,while providing relief to you who are suffering this persecution (and to us also) when the Lord Jesus is revealed in the sky with his powerful messengersin a flaming fire.
Then he’ll bring vengeance upon all those who don’t know God and those who aren’t obeying the good news about our Lord Jesus.
Yes, in justice, they’ll be repaid with age-long ruin away from the face of the Lord and the glory of his mightwhen he arrives to be glorified among his Holy Ones and to be marveled at by all of you who are found to be believers in that day…
Because you’ve put faith in the testimony that we provided.
We’re always asking for this in our prayers for you:
That our God may count you worthy of the calling and that He might fulfill in you all [His] good intentions through powerful deeds of faith,so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you (and you in him), through the loving care of our God and of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
However, brothers;
Regarding the appearance of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One and our being gathered to him:
We urge younot to quickly lose hope or to be disturbed by [something from the] spirit, or by words, or [by things written] in a letter that may have come through us, indicating that the Lord’s Day has arrived.
No, don’t allow anyone to mislead you in any way, because [that day] won’t arrive until after there has been a great turning away and a revealing of the lawless man (the son of destruction)who opposes and puts himself higher than all others that are called gods or things of worship, and who seats himself in the Most Holy Place (gr. Naos) of The God, where he publicly displays himself as being a god.
Don’t you remember that I used to warn you of such things while I was still with you?
So understand that what’s holding everything up is the revealing of this one at the [proper] time.
Indeed, the mystery of this lawless one is already at work, for everything is being held up until he is no longer among us.
For that’s when this lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy and bring to nothing with the breath from his mouth when he arrives.
This one will come with the works of the Opposer, using great powers, lying signs, false wonders,and with every sort of deceit of the unrighteous
(Those who will perish for not loving the truth that they received, which would have saved them)!
For The God will send them delusions so they’ll start believing whatever is false,and they’ll prefer unrighteousness to believing the truth…
Which is what will condemn them.
However, we are obliged to always thank God for you brothers who are loved by the Lord, since God chose you for salvation from the beginning through the holiness of the Spirit [because of] your belief in the truth.
This is why He called you through the good news that we brought to you…
So that you might also receive the glory of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
Therefore, brothers;
Stand firm and hang onto the traditions that you were taught by word [of mouth] and in the letters that we sent to you.
May our Lord Jesus the Anointed One himself and God (our Father who loves us and kindly gave us comfort and good hope in this age)comfort your hearts and make you firm in all good words and good deeds!
Finally brothers… pray for us!
Pray that the word of the Lord may be glorified and spread rapidly, just as it is currently being done among you.
And [pray] that we might be delivered from unruly and wicked men, because the Faith isn’t for everyone.
However, you can trust that Jehovah will make you firm and guard you from the Wicked One.
We also have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are following – and will continue to follow – the commandments that we’ve given to you.
So may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of The God and into the steadfast ways of the Anointed One.
Also brothers;
We’re warning you in the name of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One that you should draw away from any brother that is walking disorderly and not following the traditions that you’ve received from us,since it’s important for you all to imitate us.
For you know very well that we weren’t lazy when we were among you,and we didn’t ask anyone to provide us with food.
Rather, we worked hard day and night so we wouldn’t be a burden on any of you.
This isn’t because we aren’t authorized to [ask for such things], but because we wanted to set an example for you to imitate.
So when we were there with you, we told you:
‘If anyone isn’t willing to work, don’t feed him.’
However, we’re now hearing that some among you aren’t following these instructions and they aren’t working at all… they’re meddling in other people’s affairs.
So we are warning them and inviting them through the Lord Jesus the Anointed One to be quiet and go to work so they’ll be able to eat their own bread.
Brothers, don’t give up when it comes to doing what’s good!
But if there is anyone who isn’t willing to obey the things we’re writing about in this letter, take note of it and avoid him, so as to shame him.
However, don’t consider him an enemy; rather, council him as a brother.
Now, may the Lord of peace himself give you peace in every way throughout all time.
Yes, may the Lord be with all of you.
[Here’s] my greeting in my own (Paul’s) hand. Every letter proves it, because this is the way that I write.
May the loving care of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with all of you.
Paul, an Apostle of the Anointed Jesus by the authorization of God our Savior and of the Anointed Jesus [who is] our hope;
To Timothy, a genuine child in the faith.
May you find loving care, mercy, and peace from God the Father and [from] the Anointed Jesus, our Lord.
[Please] stay in Ephesus as I had encouraged you to do, while I travel on to Macedonia.
For I want you to give orders to some that are there not to be teaching anything differentor paying attention to myths and genealogies, because there’s no end to these things, and such research detracts from the job of serving the needs of the Faith in the household of God.
Rather, what I want you to [encourage them to do] is to love [each other] with a clean heart and a good conscience, and to develop a faith that isn’t judgmental.
For because of what they are teaching, some are being misled into foolish discussions.
And though they want to be teachers of the Law, they don’t have any idea what they’re talking about, and they don’t understand the effects that all of this will have.
Now, we know that the Law is good… as long as it’s used for legal purposes.
But recognize that the Law wasn’t laid out for the righteous, but for the lawless and undisciplined, the godless and sinners, the disloyal and unclean, those that would slap their fathers and mothers, the murderers,the sexually immoral, the men that have sex with men, the presumptuous, the liars and promise breakers, and all the rest that go against the wholesome teachingsthat come from the glorious good news that our Blest God has entrusted to us.
I am so grateful to the Anointed Jesus (our Lord) who has considered me faithful, given me this authority, and made me his servant[despite the fact that] I used to be a slanderer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man.
However, I was just ignorant and I acted [that way] because I didn’t believe…
And then I was shown mercyby the loving kindness of our Lord, through the faith and love of the Anointed Jesus.
Therefore, when we say that the Anointed Jesus came into the world to save sinners;
These words are faithful and deserve to be believed, because I was the foremost of them!
And the reason why I was shown mercy was so that the Anointed Jesus might demonstrate all of his patience and use me as a prime example of someone who can still put faith in him and receive age-long life.
So, to the King of the Ages [who is] incorruptible and invisible (the only God), may there be honor and glory into the ages of ages…
May it be so!
Now, this is the responsibility that I’m laying upon you, my son Timothy:
As the prophecies about you foretold (that you would be a soldier in a good war);hang onto your faith and good conscience…
For some have pushed theirs aside and experienced shipwreck.
This includes Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I’ve handed over to the Opposer so they can be taught not to blaspheme.
First, I’m encouraging you to beg for, to pray for, to ask on behalf of, and to give thanks for all sorts of men(for kings and for all those in high offices) so that we can just go on living a calm and quiet life, devoutly and seriously;
For this is something that is good and acceptable in the eyes of our Savior God,because He wants all men to be saved and to come to a complete knowledge of the truth.
Understand that there’s just one God, and there’s just one mediator between God and men… a man, the Anointed Jesus.
For he offered himself as the ransom price on behalf of everyone at just the right time in proof of this.
Yes, this is the reason why I was made a preacher, an Apostle (I’m not lying, I’m telling the truth), and a teacher to the gentiles about the Faith and the Truth!
So, I am praying that all men everywhere might raise their hands in holiness and set aside their anger and their arguments.
Likewise, the women’s clothing should be modest, chaste, and honorable; not with fancy hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive clothes.But instead, [their fancy clothing] should be good works – something befitting women who say that they fear God.
Let [that] woman learn quietly and obediently,for I don’t persuade a wife to instruct or usurp a husband; rather, stop it.
For Adam was created first, then Eve.Also, Adam wasn’t seduced, but the woman did get deceived, and then broke the commandment.
However, she will be sustained by her children – as long as they remain in the Faith in love, holiness, and sensibleness. [commonly mistranslated]
You can believe that whenever anyone is reaching out to be an overseer, he’s looking for good work.
However, an overseer must be [someone that] has not been charged [with misconduct]… he must be a one-woman man who is moderate in his habits, sensible, orderly, friendly to strangers, and a teacher.
He shouldn’t be someone that drinks a lot of wine or is quarrelsome, but [someone that is] gentle and peaceable, and not a lover of money.
He should also be a good manager of his own family and have children that obey him in all dignity.
For if any man doesn’t know how to manage his own house, how can he care for the congregation of God?
He must not be a newly-converted man, for fear that he might become too proud and fall into the judgment of the Slanderer.
And those outside [of the congregation] should also speak well of him, so he doesn’t fall into the reproach and snares of the Slanderer.
Likewise, servants should be serious, not deceitful or excessive drinkers, and not looking for easy money.
Rather, they should hold onto the mystery of the faith with a clean conscience.
Let them prove themselves first, and if they do well, you may allow them to serve.
Women should likewise be serious and not slanderous, but moderate in their habits and faithful in everything.
Servants should be one-woman men who are managing their own households and their children well.
Indeed, those that serve well will acquire for themselves confidence and a good standing in the faith that is in the Anointed Jesus.
I’m writing these things to you (though I’m hoping to come to you shortly),so that if I’m delayed, you’ll know how you should conduct yourself in God’s household (the Congregation of the living God) as a pillar and supporter of the truth.
Admittedly, our sacred devotion is a great mystery.
For he was shown in the flesh,
He was found righteous in spirit,
He was seen by [God’s] messengers,
He was preached about among the nations,
He was believed in the world,
And then he was taken up in glory.
However, the Spirit definitely says that some will leave the faith in the future and pay attention to wicked spirits and the teachings of demons,as well as to hypocritical men that are liars and whose consciences are seared as with branding irons.
These will forbid marrying and the eating of food that God created to be eaten appreciatively by all those that have faith and understand the truth.
For everything that God created is good, and nothing should be thrown away.
So if we thank Him for it,it becomes holy by what we say to God in our prayers.
So if you’ll explain these things to the brothers, you’ll prove yourself a fine servant of the Anointed Jesus, and [you’ll] grow strong on the words of the Faith and the fine teachings that you’ve been following so closely.
You must avoid worldly fables and old-wives’ tales, and train yourself to be a truly reverent person.
For though physical exercise does a little good, learning reverence [for God] is good for all things, because it holds the promise of life both now and into that which is coming.
Yes, what I’m saying is trustworthy and deserves [your special] attention,for this is why we’ve been struggling and working so hard as we’ve continued to put faith in a living God who is the Savior of all men…
But mostly of the faithful.
So, instruct and teach…
And don’t allow anyone to look down on you because you’re young.
Rather, become an example to the faithful in what you say, in what you do, in your love, in your faith, and in your purity!
Until I get there, work at public reading, at giving council, and on your teaching abilities.
Don’t be careless with the gift in you that was given through a prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you.
Think deeply about these things… get wrapped up in them, so that everyone can see the progress that you’re making.
Yes, pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching, and stick with it; for if you do that, you’ll save both yourself and those that are listening to you!
Don’t be too harsh with older men… speak to them as you would to fathers, to younger men as brothers,to older women as mothers, and to younger women as sisters, with all purity.
Show honor to the widows that are really living as widows.
However, if a widow has children or grandchildren;
Let them first learn the lesson of how to show deep respect inside their own families by paying what they owe to their parents and grandparents… for in God’s sight, that’s the right thing to do.
Now, a [truly-worthy] widow is one that has been left on her own, and because she puts her hope in God, she keeps begging Him in her prayers both night and day.
However, [a widow] that lives on her own and for pleasure, is already dead while she’s still alive.
So you must always teach them this, so they’ll be found blameless:
‘If you don’t provide for [those who are] your own (especially for those in your own households), you have denied the faith and you are worse than an unbeliever!’
However, put a widow on the list if:
· She’s more than 60 years old
· She’s had just 1 husband
· She’s done good things that can be attested to
· She’s raised children
· She’s been hospitable
· She’s washed the feet of the Holy Ones
· She’s provided for those in difficulty
· She’s followed the course of doing all sorts of good deeds.
On the other hand, turn down younger widows. For when they feel the need, they leave the Anointed One because they want to marry…
And they’re judged for doing this, because they set aside the faith that they had at first,while learning wasteful habits such as going around and doing a lot of visiting.
They not only waste time, they also gossip, meddle in other people’s affairs, and talk about things that they shouldn’t.
I prefer to see younger widows marry, have children, and manage a home.
That way, the Opposer isn’t given something over which he can gleefully gloat.
Yet, some of them have already returned to following the Slanderer.
So if any believing woman has a widow [in her family], she should take care of this herself, so that the congregation won’t have to handle the burden and can then help those [that are truly in need].
Also, let the elders that take the lead in a fine way be considered as worthy of a double honor…
Especially those that work hard at speaking and teaching.
For the Scriptures tell us:
‘You shouldn’t muzzle a bull when it’s threshing grain,’
and,
‘A worker deserves his pay.’
[Also, don’t] accept an accusation against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses.
However, you should expose those that you find guilty of sins before all onlookers, so the rest will be afraid [of doing such things].
Before God, the Anointed Jesus, and the chosen messengers, I solemnly charge you to follow these instructions!
However, don’t reach any conclusions before you’ve heard all the evidence, and never decide because you’re biased one way or the other.
Also, don’t be too quick to lay your hands on any man [to appoint him to a responsibility], so you aren’t found to be a sharer in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure!
And don’t just drink water; rather, you might take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and for your frequent illnesses.
[Remember that] the sins of some people are done in the open and lead directly to judgment.
However, the [sins] of the rest will eventually become known.
For just as many good deeds become widely known, [sins] can’t be kept hidden either.
Now, those that are in bondage as slaves should treat their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the Name of God and our teachings won’t be slandered.
And those that have believing owners shouldn’t think less of them because they are brothers.
Rather, they should zealously serve them as slaves, because those that work hard are considered faithful and are loved in return.
Keep on teaching these things and giving them this encouragement!
Now, if anyone is teaching something different and doesn’t follow these life-giving words (which are those of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One), or doesn’t teach deep respect for God;
He’s just blowing smoke, he doesn’t understand anything well, and he has become mentally diseased with doubts and debates over words…
The results of which create envy, arguing, slandering, wicked suspicions,and ‘making mountains out of mole hills.’
Men with corrupt minds like that have let themselves be robbed of the truth…
And they’re the same ones who say that we should earn a profit from this worship.
Yet, we do gain much profit from this worship… that is, if we pay our own way.
For none of us brought anything into the world and we can’t carry anything out.
So if we have enough to eat and enough to wear, we should be satisfied with that.
However, those that want to be rich fall into temptation, snares, and many foolish and damaging desires, which drag people down into destruction and ruin…
For the love of money is the root of everything that’s bad.
And because some have reached out for it, they’ve been led away from the faith and into error, stabbing themselves all over and causing themselves a lot of pain.
But you, O man of God;
Flee from these things and pursue righteousness, reverence, faith, love, endurance, and inner strength.
Yes, wrestle the fine match of the faith and put on the age-long life to which you were called and about which you offered such a fine confession before so many witnesses!
I’m ordering you in the sight of The God through whom all lives may be saved, and of the Anointed Jesus who gave such a fine confession before Pontius Pilate,to obey these instructions flawlessly and blamelessly until the appearance of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One!
For he will appear at his own set time…
This praised and only sovereign;
The King of those that rule as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords;
The one who alone has immortality and who lives in unapproachable light;
The one whom no man has seen or can see.
May he have honor and age-long power…
May it be so!
Also, give orders to those that are rich in this age not to think too much of themselves and not to trust in their wealth (which is fickle), but in God who brings [the type of] wealth to us that we can truly enjoy.
[Yes, teach them to] work at being good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and ready to share,as they safely store away for themselves the treasures of a fine foundation in that which is coming, so they can put on the real life.
O Timothy; Guard this hope and turn away from all the worldly babbling, as well as all that is falsely called ‘knowledge;’
For it’s through [such things] that some who once showed much promise in the faith have been turned aside.
May [God’s] loving care be with you.
Paul, an Apostle of the Anointed Jesus by the will of The God and by the promise of life in the Anointed Jesus,to my loved child Timothy;
May you find loving care, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from the Anointed Jesus, our Lord.
I’m thankful to The God whom I’m worshiping with a clean conscience (as did my forefathers) that I never forget you in my prayers, which I offer [on your behalf] night and day.
For I remember you with tears and I long to see you, so that I can be filled with joy.
I fondly remember the unhypocritical faith that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice had first, and I’m confident that you have this also.
So, this is the reason why I’m reminding you to rekindle the gift of God that you received when I first laid my hands on you.
Since God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and good sense;don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord…
Or of me, a prisoner for his sake.
So, come and share with us in suffering evil for the good news with the power of God.
For He didn’t save us or call us to holiness because of anything that we’ve done, but because it has been His will through the ages to show us His loving kindness through Jesus the Anointed One.
And all of this has now been manifested by the arrival of our Savior the Anointed Jesus, who has done away with death and is shining a light on life and freedom from corruption through this good newsof which I was appointed a preacher, an Apostle, and a teacher.
Yes, this is the reason why I’ve been suffering these things and why I’m unashamed…
Because I really know this one in whom I’ve put my faith, and I’m confident that he’ll guard everything that I’ve entrusted to him until that Day.
Likewise, you should be hanging onto the healthy words that you heard from me and which I laid out for you through the love that is in the Anointed Jesus,and you should be guarding these things that you’ve been given through the Holy Breath that dwells within us!
I’m sure that you’re aware of the fact that all those in the [province of] Asia have turned their backs on me, and especially PhyGelus and HermoGenes.
But may the Lord’s mercy rest upon the household of OnesiPhorus, because he has often brought me refreshment and he’s never been ashamed of my chains.
For when he came to Rome, he diligently started searching for me and quickly found me.
So, may the Lord grant him mercy [when he is] with the Lord on that Day.
Yes, it would be good if you knew all the services that he provided for me in Ephesus.
However, as for you my child;
Keep growing stronger in the loving care of the Anointed Jesus,and keep on teaching the things that you heard from so many witnesses while you were with me, to faithful men who are qualified to teach others.
Then, as a fine soldier of the Anointed Jesus, [be prepared to] endure the hardships.
For no soldier can just go on living his life as he once did, since he wants to please the one that enlisted him.
And the same is true of an athlete… he can’t win the prize unless he plays by the rules.
Yet, the hardworking field-hand must also be the first one to taste the fruit.
If you’ll visualize what I’m saying, the Lord will truly give you insight into everything.
Remember that the good news I’ve been preaching teaches us that Jesus the Anointed (the seed of David) was raised from the dead…
And it’s over this that I’m being persecuted and imprisoned like a criminal.
However, the word of God hasn’t been locked up with me,and the reason why I keep on enduring all of this is for the sake of the elected ones… so they can gain the salvation that comes from being in the Anointed Jesus and receiving age-long glory.
For you can believe the saying,
‘If we die together, we’ll also live together;and if we hang on together, we’ll also rule as kings together!’
However, if we deny this, he’ll also deny us.
Yet, even if we’re unfaithful, he’ll be faithful, because he can’t deny himself.
I want you to keep on reminding [the brothers] about these things, and I want you to instruct them in the sight of God not to be arguing over words, for this is just a waste of time and it’s a snare to those that listen to it.
As for you;
Zealously keep on seeking God’s approval, so that you can be accepted by Him as a workman who has nothing to be ashamed of and who lays out the truth in straight ways.
Therefore, you should avoid speaking about worldly and foolish topics, because this leads [people] away from pure worship,and whatever is said [spreads like] a field of gangrene!
That’s what happened to Hymenaeus and PhileTos;
They got away from the truth and they started teaching that the resurrection has already happened, which misdirected the faith of some.
However, you have a solid foundation in God, and it has this seal [of approval], that Jehovah ‘knows who are His,’ (Numbers 16:5 or Nahum 1:7) and, ‘Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be rescued’ (paraphrase of Joel 2:32). [commonly mistranslated]
Now, in a large house there are not only containers that are made of gold and silver, but there are also those [that are made] of wood and pottery…
Because some were made for honorable purposes, while others were made for dishonorable purposes.
So if anyone chooses to be clean, he must remove [everything that’s dishonorable] from himself so that he can then become a container for an honorable purpose that is holy and useful to his master.
And thereafter, he must ready himself to do every sort of good work.
So, flee from the desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with all the rest of those that are calling on the Lord with a clean heart.
However, avoid foolish and ignorant questions, because you know that they just create fights…and a slave of the Lord shouldn’t be fighting.
Rather, we should be gentle with everyone, we should be good teachers, and we should know how to keep our composure in bad [situations]so that we can calmly teach those who disagree.
For perhaps God may lead them to repentance and to an accurate knowledge of the truthso that they may escape the Slanderer’s snares and return to their good senses, once they realize how they’ve been lured into his cage.
Recognize that the last days will bring fierce times.
For people will just love themselves and money.
They’ll be braggarts, arrogant blasphemers, disobedient to their parents, unthankful, and disloyal.
They won’t have any natural (family) love, and they they’ll be disagreeable.
They’ll be slanderers that don’t have any self-control, and they’ll be wild people that won’t love anything that’s good.
They’ll also be betrayers who are headstrong and proud, and care more for pleasures than for God.
So though they may practice some form of worship, they’ll deny its power.
You should reject people like this,because it’s from among such ones that certain men will arise that will work their way into homes and seduce weak women that are loaded down with sins (because they have so many desires)and who will always be just students that can never come to a higher knowledge of the truth.
So, whenever you must deal with men that are resisting the truth and corrupting their own minds (making themselves worthless when it comes to the faith);
Follow the example of Moses when he opposed JanNes and JamBres,so they can’t make any more inroads.
Then (as happened [to JanNes and JamBres]) their unreasonableness will become plain for everyone [to see].
Now, you’ve closely followed my teachings, my directions, my purposes, my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.
[However, you’ve also had to share in] my persecution and my sufferings (such as the things that happened to me in AntiOch, Iconium, and Lystra), and you’ve endured the same types of opposition that I’ve had to endure (but from which the Lord has delivered me).
For everyone that wants to worship The God through the Anointed Jesus is going to be persecuted,because wicked and deceitful men will just get worse and worse, misleading and being misled.
As for you;
Stick with the things that you’ve learned and were convinced to believe… and remember from whom you learned them.
For you’ve been familiar with the Holy Writings since you were a child, and they can make you wise for salvation through your faith in the Anointed Jesus.
[Remember that] all the Holy Writings were inspired by God and they are good for teaching, for correcting, for setting things straight, and for providing righteous discipline…
They qualify a man of God by providing him with whatever he needs to do all sorts of good work.
So I solemnly charge you in the sight of God and the Anointed Jesus (who’s going to judge the living and the dead when he manifests himself in his Kingdom)to keep on preaching the word!
Keep on doing it through both good times and bad!
Then, as you consider [what you see], you must offer criticism and encouragement!
However, you should do this patiently and with all of your teaching skills.
Yet, the time is coming when they won’t put up with life-giving teachings anymore. Rather, because they will prefer to follow their own desires, they will gather teachers for themselves that will tell them whatever they want to hear.
They won’t listen to the truth, but they’ll all show up when it comes to listening to fables.
But as for you;
Be serious about everything, endure all the bad, preach the good news, and completely carry out your ministry!
As for me;
Though I’m already being poured out as a drink offering and the time for my departure (death) is almost here,I can say that I’ve wrestled the fine match, I’ve finished the race, and I’ve obeyed the faith.
So, all that’s left for me now is to lay down my golden crown, which the Lord (who isn’t over just me but is over everyone that loves the way in which he showed himself) will return to me in that Day.
Hurry… come to me quickly!
For Demas has let me down and gone to ThesSalonica (since he still loves this system of things), Kreskes has gone to Galatia, Titus has gone to Dalmatia,and Luke is the only one that is here with me.
So, go find Mark and bring him with you, because his services are very useful to me.
Oh yes, I also sent Tychikus off to Ephesus.
And when you come here, bring along the robe that I left with Carpus in Troas… and the scrolls, especially the parchments.
Alexander the coppersmith has testified and said many bad things against me.
But the Lord will repay him for what he has done.
So watch out for him, because he really opposes everything that we say!
Unfortunately, nobody stayed with me during my first court hearing…
But though they all left me, I don’t want this held against them,because the Lord stood by me.
Yes, he gave me strength so that the preaching might be completed through me and that all the gentiles might hear it.
As the result, I was virtually saved from the lion’s mouth!
And the Lord will continue to save me from every sort of wickedness until he brings me into his celestial Kingdom.
May he be glorified through the ages of ages…
May it be so!
Give my greetings to Priska and Aquila, and to the household of OnesiPhorus.
Erastus stayed in Corinth and I left Trophimus at Miletus, because he was sick.
Hurry and get here before the winter arrives!
EuBoulos sends you his greetings, as do Poudes, Linos, Klaudia, and all the brothers.
May the Lord bless the spirit you’re showing, and may his loving care be with all of you.
From Paul – a slave of God, an Apostle of Jesus the Anointed One and a follower of the faith of God’s elected who have a complete knowledge of truth and whose worshipis based on the hope of age-long life, which The God (who doesn’t lie) promised ages agoand who in His own due time made His Word known through an important message that was entrusted to me by the command of our God and Savior –
To Titus, a true child in the faith that we hold in common;
May you have loving care and peace from God the Father and from the Anointed Jesus our Savior.
The reason why I left you in Crete is so that you could straighten out some of the problems there, and for you to appoint elders in each city, as I instructed you.
[So, choose those that] have not been charged with misconduct… one-woman men who have believing children that aren’t rebellious or accused of being beyond hope.
Because, as a manager of the household of God, an overseer must be blameless.
[He can’t be] selfish, quick tempered, a heavy drinker, a fighter, or a greedy person.
Rather, [he must be] hospitable, a faithful friend, levelheaded, righteous, devout, self-controlled,[and a person that] lives by the word of truth, so he can teach and encourage those that are strong as he exposes the wrongs of those that contradict.
For there are many that are rebellious and deceitful windbags (most of whom are circumcised)and whose mouths need to be sealed.
They’re the ones that are dishonestly making money by teaching things that they shouldn’t, and they’re misleading entire households.
It was one of their own prophets that said,
‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons’ …
And that’s a fact!
This is why you’ll have to be tough when it comes to exposing their wrong ways, so they can become healthy in the faith and stoppaying attention to Jewish myths and the rules of men, which are turning them away from the truth.
For though everything is clean to those that are clean, nothing is clean for those that are dirty and faithless, because both their minds and their consciences are dirty.
And while they all claim to know God, everything they do disproves it, because they are disgusting, disobedient, and unqualified to do anything worthwhile.
You however, keep on talking about the correct, healthy teachings.
Encourage the older men to be free from excesses and to be serious, levelheaded, and healthy in their faith, love, and endurance.
[Also encourage] the older women to behave as though they had just entered a holy place…
Not to be slanderers or alcoholics, but to become teachers of good things.
Teach the younger women to love their husbands and their children…
To be level headed, pure, homemakers, and good people that are willing to obey their men so that God’s Word won’t be spoken of shamefully.
And you must give younger men the same encouragement… to be levelheaded.
[Teach them to] become good examples in all sorts of good deeds, to be serious and blameless in their teaching,and to speak in wholesome ways so that no one can condemn them and none that oppose us will have anything bad to say about us.
Also, teach those that are slaves to obey their masters in everything… to please them well, not to talk back,and not to steal things!
They should prove that they are faithful in doing whatever is right, so they can adorn the teachings of our God and Savior in everything.
For the reason why God’s loving care is beeing displayed [through us] is so that we all might be saved.
And once they have rejected the godlessness and worldly desires, they must then be taught how to live sensibly, righteously, and devoutly in this age,as they await the blest hope and the manifestations of the glory of the great God and Savior of us, the Anointed Jesus,who handed himself up in order to free us by ransom from lawlessness, and to bring out a clean people for himself that are all zealous in doing whatever is good.
Yes, I’m authorizing you to talk about such things, as well as to encourage and correct…
And don’t let anyone ignore you!
Keep on reminding them that they must be obedient and that they must submit to the rulers and the authorities…
That they must always be ready and willing to do good things!
They shouldn’t be slanderous to anyone or want to fight with them. [Rather, they should all] be willing to give in to [the wishes of] others and to be humble before everyone.
For though we were all once senseless disobedient sinners that were slaves to our own desires in badness and envy (disgusting [people] that hated each other),our God and Savior came here to display [God’s] loving care for mankind…
Not because we were righteous, but because of His mercy!
Then He saved us through the bath that re-created us and made us new by his Holy Breath.
Yes, He poured plenty of it over us, through Jesus, our Anointed Savior,so that after we are counted as righteous (through His loving care), we might become heirs who have the hope of age-long life.
You can believe these things…
And these are the instructions that I want you to keep on giving to them, so that those who have come to believe in The God will stand firm in doing all that is right!
Yes, these are good and helpful things that you must teach them.
[For they must learn to] avoid foolish questions, genealogies, arguments, and fights over the Law, since such things don’t really do any good and they’re just a waste of time.
But if someone continues to promote a sect after you’ve reasoned with him a first and a second time, reject this person!
[Do this] because you know that those who turn from The Way are self-condemned sinners!
After I send Artemas or TychiKos to you, try to come to me here in NikoPolis, because this is where I’ve decided to spend the winter.
Hurry and send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos… and make sure that they have everything they need.
Let our [brothers] learn how to do good things by providing for their needs, so their efforts won’t be wasted.
All of those that are with me send you their greetings.
Give my greetings to all those in the faith that truly care about us.
May [God’s] loving care be with all of you.
Paul, a prisoner for the sake of the Anointed Jesus, and your brother Timothy, to our beloved fellow worker PhileMon,our sister ApPhia, our fellow soldier ArcHippus, and to the called ones in your homes;
May you receive loving care and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
I always give thanks to my God when I mention you in my prayers,because I keep hearing about the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and of the love that you have for all the Holy Ones.
[And I pray that] we can have a share in the faith that’s in you by telling you more about the good things that we’re doing through the Anointed One.
For I have felt so much joy and comfort, our brother, over the loving things that you’ve been doing to refresh the hearts of the holy ones.
And this is the reason why I feel free in the Anointed One to lay an obligation upon you to do something that would be very becoming…
Or should I say that I’m encouraging you because of your love, seeing that I am who I am, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner for the sake of the Anointed Jesus.
The encouragement that I wish to offer is in regard to my child (someone to whom I’ve become a father while I’ve been in prison) OneSimon.
For though he was once useless to you, he has now become useful to both you and me…
And I’m returning this one to you, for whom I care so deeply.
Actually, I would rather keep him here for myself instead of sending him to you, so he can continue to serve my needs while I’m in the shackles that I’m wearing for the sake of the good news.
However, I don’t wish to do anything without your consent, because I don’t want any good deed that you may wish to do happen because you were forced into it…
I’d rather it was something that you really wanted to do.
Perhaps that’s the reason why he was able to break away from you for a little while…
So that you could have him back in this ageno longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother.
He’s especially that to me, and now much more so to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
So if you consider me a worthy associate, welcome him kindly as you would welcome me.
And if he did you any wrong or if he owes you anything, charge it to my account.
I (Paul) am writing this in my own hand and telling you that I’ll pay you back…
Of course, let me remind you that you already owe me.
Yes, my brother; May I request some profit from you in the Lord… please offer me this refreshment in the tender mercies of the Anointed One!
Now, I’m writing you in full confidence that you’ll go along with my request, and I’m sure that you’ll do even more than what I’ve suggested.
In addition, prepare a place for me to stay, because I hope that because of all your prayers, I’ll soon be free for your sakes.
EpaPhras (my fellow captive in the Anointed One) sends you his greetings, as doMark, AristArchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.
May the loving kindness of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One be upon the spirit that you show.
A long time ago, God spoke to our fathers through the Prophets in many places and in many ways.
And in the last part of these days, He spoke to us through a Son that He has made the heir to everything…
The one that He used to create the ages andwho shines with the same glory, is the exact image of His being, and is responsible for everything that is said through His power.
Then, after he cleansed us of our sins, this one sat down at the right hand of the Great One in the highest places,and has now become so much greater than the [other] messengers [of God] and so different that he has inherited a [special] name among them.
For example;
To which of [God’s] angels did He ever say,
‘You are my son; today I have fathered you.’
Or,
‘I will become his Father and he will become My son.’
And again (when He sent His firstborn into the earth),
‘Let all the angels bow low before him.’
[Also notice that] when He spoke of those angels, He said that He made them spirits and public servants that are like flames of fire.
But when He spoke of His Son, [He said]:
‘Your throne, O god, is through ages of ages, and the scepter of your kingship is the scepter of righteousness.
So, because you loved righteousness and hated wickedness, The God (your God) has [anointed] you with the oil of great joy among those that are your companions.’
And [this was also said about him]:
‘In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth and [you] made the heavens with your hands.
But though they will pass away, you’ll still remain; for like clothes, they will grow old.
Then, as [you would do to] a robe, you will wrap them up and repair them.
Yes, you’re the one and your years will never expire.’
Also, to which one of His angels did He ever say,
‘Sit here at My right until I set your enemies as a stool for your feet?’
Yet, all these others are just divinely-authorized spirits… public servants that are being sent to serve the needs of those that will inherit salvation!
This is why it’s so important for us to pay extraordinary attention to the things that we’ve heard, so we don’t drift away!
Because, if these words that were spoken through [God’s] messengers should prove to be true and the reward for all errors and disobedient acts is going to be strictly enforced;
How could we escape such a great thing if we have neglected our salvation, which began with and was received by those that heard it being confirmed upon us by the Lord?
Notice that even God joined in this testimony by providing signs, omens, many powerful deeds, and by distributing His Holy Breath as He wished.
However, He didn’t entrust the home that is coming (the one that I’m talking about) to the hands of [His] messengers.
For somewhere, someone testified to this fact when he asked,
‘Just what is man that You should remember him, or the Son of Man that You should watch over him?
Though You made him just a little lower than [Your] messengers, You then crowned him with glory and honor and put him over everything that You had made with Your hands…
You put everything under his feet!’
So notice that when [God] put everything under [his feet], He didn’t leave anything over which he isn’t in charge.
Nevertheless, we don’t see everything obeying him yet.
Well, though he was made lower than [God’s] messengers for a little while, we can see that after Jesus suffered and died, he was crowned with glory and honor so that because of God’s loving care, he might taste death for us all!
Yes, it was fitting that this one through whom and for whom everything exists – this primary leader [who is responsible for] our salvation – should bring many sons to glory and make them perfect through his sufferings.
And because this one that is holy and those that he makes holy are one, he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers,for he said:
‘I will report Your Name to my brothers.’
And again,
‘In the midst of the called ones, I’ll sing Your praises.’
And again,
‘In Him, I will put all my trust.’
And again,
‘{Look!} The children God gave me, and I…’
Therefore, since his ‘children’ share in his blood and flesh, he shares [with them] in the same way, so that through his death he can finish off the one that has the power [to bring] death, the Slanderer,and to set free all of those that have spent their lives as slaves to the fear of death.
So [when he came], he really didn’t take on [the shape] of one of [God’s] messengers somewhere.
Rather, he took on [the shape of] AbraHam’s seed…
For he was obliged to become like his brothers in every way so that he could become a merciful and faithful High Priest before God and to offer a sacrifice that would cover their sins.
And because he suffered and was tempted, he is also able to help those that are still being tempted.
Therefore, holy brothers who are partakers of the celestial calling;
Consider this Apostle and High Priest for our confessions, Jesus.
He was faithful to the One that made him to become just like Moses (the man that [God] [appointed to be over] His whole House).
However, [Jesus] was considered to be worthy of an even greater glory than Moses, because the one that actually builds the house receives more honor there.
Of course, every house is built by someone, but the One that built everything is God.
Now, this Moses was truly a faithful, willing servant within His whole House, [and he served] as a witness to things that were going to be said.
However, the Anointed One is the Son that is in charge of [God’s] House…
And we are that House as long as we keep on boasting of our hope and hanging on until the end!
This is why it was said through [God’s] Holy Breath:
‘If you should hear His voice today,don’t harden your hearts as they did in the bitter day of testing in the desert.
For that’s when your fathers put Me to the test to prove [My power], although they had already witnessed all that I had done during [the previous] 40 years!
And this is the reason why I became so disgusted with that generation and said,
Their hearts are always wandering and they’ve never understood My ways.
So in My rage, I swore that they would never enter My rest!’
Therefore brothers, watch out… yes, be careful that none of your hearts should ever become so wicked and unbelieving that they cause you to pull away from the Living God!
Rather, you must encourage each other every day – including today – so that none of you will ever become hardened and be tempted to sin.
For if we can hang onto this position from the time that we start believing until the end, we will remain sharers in the Anointed One.
And that’s why it was said,
‘If you should hear His voice today, don’t harden your hearts as happened in the bitter day of testing in the desert.’
So, who was it that heard [God’s voice] and brought Him this bitterness?
Wasn’t it all those that left Egypt under Moses?
Then who was it that He became disgusted with for the next 40 years?
Wasn’t it those that had sinned and whose carcasses fell in the desert?
And who was it that He said wouldn’t enter His rest?
Wasn’t it those that disobeyed?
As you can see, they didn’t enter [His rest] because they didn’t have enough faith!
Therefore, we should all be afraid that some of us might actually be left behind when it comes to the promise of entering His rest.
For we’ve had the good news preached to us the same as they did…
And they failed to benefit from what they heard, because they didn’t share in the faith of the ones that were paying closer attention!
Indeed, we have in fact entered the rest of the ones that believed… the ones about whom He also said,
‘So in My anger, I swore that they would never enter My rest!’
Yet, remember that His work [had actually been completed] since the founding of the world!
For in one place He said this about the 7th day:
‘God rested from all His of works on the 7th day.’
And [this is the period that He was talking about when He said],
‘They will never enter My rest.’
So from this we must conclude that some will enter it, while those to whom this good news was first given didn’t enter it because of their disobedience.
Also notice that He mentioned a particular day, ‘today,’ in David’s [psalm].
For He went on to say (as I mentioned before),
‘If you should hear His voice today, don’t harden your hearts.’
So if they had already been led to this place of rest by JoShua, [God] wouldn’t have spoken of another day later on.
Therefore, the Sabbath that the people of God must observe is something that is yet to come!
And that’s when those that enter His rest will also rest from all the things that they’re doing, the same as God is resting from [the things] that He [was doing].
So as you can see;
We should be doing everything we can to enter that rest, so that none of us will fail because we didn’t obey!
Understand that the word of God is alive, it’s at work, and it’s sharper than any two-edged sword…
It cuts so fine that it can separate the breath from the breather, as well as his joints from his marrow.
Therefore, it can even judge our thoughts and the desires of [our] hearts.
For nothing in creation is invisible to His eyes… everything is naked and open before the One that sent us His word!
So in view of the fact that we have such a great High Priest who has passed [into] the heavens – Jesus, the Son of The God – let’s keep talking about him!
For we don’t have a High Priest that can’t sympathize with our weaknesses; rather, we have one that has been tested in every way just like us… [but he didn’t] sin!
Therefore, we should boldly approach his throne of loving kindness and speak freely, so that we can receive his mercy, loving care, and aid whenever we need it.
Now, all High Priests are selected from among mankind, and then they’re appointed over other men and assigned to do the things of God, such as offering the gifts and the sacrifices for sins.
However, [the Priests] feel a kinship with those that don’t understand and who make mistakes, since they’re also surrounded by their own weaknesses.
And this is why they have to make offerings not only for the sins of the people, but also for themselves!
However, no man can take this honor on himself;
He can only be called to [the Priesthood] by God, as Aaron was.
Likewise, the Anointed One didn’t glorify himself to the position of High Priest.
That was done by the One who said to him:
‘You’re My Son… today I have fathered you!’
And He said in another place:
‘You’re a Priest through the ages in the order of MelchiZedek.’
Then during the time that he was here in the flesh, [Jesus] begged and pleaded with the One that was able to save him from death, calling out with tears…
And he was drawn close and listened to, because he was faithful.
But thereafter, although he was the Son, he learned obedience from the things that he suffered.
Then when his [training] was finished, he became the source of age-long salvation for all those who would obey him,which is when God made him a High Priest in the line of MelchiZedek.
Now, we have so much to say about him that will be hard to explain to you, since you’ve become so slow in your hearing.
For though you should be teachers in view of the time, you now need someone to go back and teach you the basics of God’s word again…
You’ve become people who need milk, not solid food!
Yes, those who are unfamiliar with righteous teachings are [in fact] babies that need milk to survive,while those that have trained their senses to recognize the difference between right and wrong have become adults that can eat solid food.
Therefore, let’s go beyond the basics of the Anointed One and move on toward maturity!
Let’s not go back and lay a new foundation on such matters as repenting over bad deeds, having faith in God,or about baptisms, ordinations, the resurrection of the dead, or the age-long judgments.
Yes, let’s [go beyond the basics], if Jehovah will allow it.
It’s impossible for those that have already been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, been partakers in [God’s] Holy Breath,and savored the word of God and the power of the coming ageto be revived and make them repent once they’ve fallen away;
For they would have to hang the Son of God back on the pole and subject him to shame once again!
They’re like a piece of ground that should give birth to green plants after it drinks in all the rain that falls on it after it’s been cultivated by those that hope to receive its blessings from God,but then it just produces thorns and thistles.
Yes, they will then be rejected (almost cursed), and in the end, they’ll be burned off!
Yet, regardless of what such ones may do; when it comes to you, my loved ones.
We believe that you will receive better things and salvation,because God isn’t unrighteous and He won’t forget all the good things that you’ve done, or the love that you’ve shown for His Name, or the ways that you’ve served the needs of the Holy Ones and [of how you] keep on doing so.
So what we want is for each of you to show a real zeal when it comes to holding onto these things that you’ve been hoping for all the way to the end…
We don’t want you to become lazy!
What we want you to do is to become just like those who through their faith and endurance are going to inherit the things that they’ve been promised!
For when God gave his promise to AbraHam (and because He couldn’t swear by anyone greater, He swore by Himself),He said:
‘When it comes to blessings, I’ll bless you;
And when it comes to growth, I’ll make you grow.’
Then because he was patient, [AbraHam] finally received what he was promised.
Now, men always swear by the greater one when they make agreements, as an assurance of the thing that they are promising.
So when God wanted to show the heirs of the promise how unchangeable His words are, He agreed to it with an oath,so that through two unchangeable things about which God cannot lie, those of us who are fleeing would have a strong incentive to hang onto the hope that He’s laid before us.
And this is what should be the sure and stable anchor for our lives, since it goes through the inner curtain [into the Most Holy],which is where Jesus eventually entered as the age-long High Priest in the line of MelchiZedek.
This MelchiZedek (who was the king of Salem and a Priest of the Most High God) is the one that met AbraHam as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and who blest him.
Then AbraHam shared 1/10th of everything that [he had captured] with him.
Notice that [the name MelchiZedek] translates as King of Righteousness.
And as the king of Salem (Peace), he’s also the King of Peace.
Also notice that there are no genealogical records of him, so he was [virtually] without a father or mother, for there is no [record] of the beginning of his days or of the end of his life.
And in the same way; as the Son of God, [Jesus] remains a Priest throughout all time.
Now, do you see how great this man was to whom [our] family head AbraHam gave 1/10th of the best things from his loot?
So while it’s true that the sons of Levi were [also] made Priests and they were commanded by the Law to collect a tithe from the people (who were their brothers, because they all came from the loins of AbraHam),this man whose genealogy we can’t trace took 10% from AbraHam himself!
Then he blest the one to whom the promise was given, AbraHam…
And you can’t argue the fact that the lesser one is always blest by the greater!
Therefore, when mortal men receive the tithes in that place today, they are saying that he’s still alive…
And we can also say that Levi [presented] those tithes through AbraHam,since he was in the loins of his forefather when MelchiZedek met with him!
Now, if perfection could have come through the Priesthood of Levi and from the Law, we wouldn’t have needed another Priest to come in the line of MelchiZedek (someone that isn’t of the line of Aaron).
However, since the Priesthood has been changed, there must also be a change in the Law,because this man that we’re talking about was a member of another tribe…
One from which no one has ever served at the Altar.
For we all recognize that our Lord came out of Judah, a tribe that Moses never spoke of as being the Priests!
And this makes it even more obvious that a new Priest has arisen that is like MelchiZedek,because he didn’t become [a Priest] by the Law of human commandments, but by the power of a life that can’t be destroyed!
And in witness to this fact, it was said:
‘You are a Priest through the ages in the order of MelchiZedek.’
Therefore, the Commandments that were given [to Moses] have obviously been set aside, because they were weak and they didn’t do any good,since the Law didn’t make anyone perfect.
All it really did was lead us to a better hope that’s [now] drawing us closer to God.
[Notice that the Old Law] didn’t come with a sworn oath.
So those that became its Priests [were appointed] without a sworn oath.
And no one else has had an oath sworn about him like the one that said,
‘Jehovah has sworn (and He won’t change His mind):
You are a Priest through the ages.’
Therefore, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better Sacred Agreement,because [under the old Agreement], many had to become Priests, since their deaths prevented them from continuing [in that position].
However, [Jesus exists] through the ages… so the Priesthood that he holds is permanent.
And this is why he’s able to save those that approach The God through him, because he will always be alive to intercede on their behalf!
Yes, he has truly become a High Priest for us that is loyal, righteous, pure, and far-removed from the sinners, since he’s now higher than the heavens.
And unlike the former High Priests who had to offer sacrifices daily (first for their own sins and then for those of the people), he did this just once when he offered himself!
And though the Law appointed men as High Priests that had weaknesses;
The promise that came with a sworn oath (and which supersedes the Law) appointed a Son who remains perfect through the ages!
So the point I’m making is this:
We already have such a High Priest, and he’s sitting at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in the heavens,where He’s handling Priestly duties at the Most Holy in the real Tent that was built by Jehovah, not by men.
And since every High Priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for him to have something to offer too.
However, he likely wouldn’t have been a Priest if he were here on the earth, since there are already those that are appointed by the Law to offer the gifts.
But when they handle these Priestly duties, what they’re doing is following a pattern that is just a shadow of how these sacred duties are being handled in the heavens!
For when Moses was about to finish the [Sacred] Tent, He was given a divine warning that said:
‘Be sure to assemble everything by the pattern you were shown on the mountain.’
But now [Jesus] has received a much better Priestly assignment, because he has become the mediator of a better Sacred Agreement, which was legally established on better promises.
For if there hadn’t been problems with the first [Agreement], there would have been no reason to search for a second one.
But [notice that God] had a problem with the people, for He said:
‘{Look!} The time is coming, says Jehovah, when I’ll make a new Sacred Agreement with the Houses of IsraEl and Judahthat’s unlike the Agreement that I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt.
But because they didn’t keep their [side of] the agreement, I stopped caring for them, says Jehovah.
‘So, this is the Agreement that I’m going to make with the House of IsraEl at that time, says Jehovah:
I will put My laws in their minds and write them in their hearts.
Then, they’ll be My people and I’ll be their God.
‘So at that time;
No one that lives in the land will have to teach their neighbors and brothers and tell them to know of Jehovah.
For from their least to their greatest, they’ll all know Me.
Then I will be merciful toward their unrighteous ways, and I will forget all their sins.’
So [notice that] when He spoke of a New Sacred Agreement, He was making the old one obsolete!
And now that which was made obsolete is growing old and is about to disappear!
Indeed, the first regulations for worship involved a worldly Holy Place.
So they prepared this first Tent, which contained both the [sacred] lampstand and the table for the showbread, and this was called the Holy.
Then behind the curtain was a second Tent that was called the Most Holy.
It contained a gold incense holder and the Chest of the Sacred Agreement that was completely overlaid with gold and held the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that grew buds, and the Tablets of the [Sacred] Agreement.
Then on top of that, there were the glorious cherubs that cast a shadow over its cover.
So now, let’s discuss some of the details of these things.
After they were all constructed, the Priests entered the first Tent regularly to perform their sacred duties.
However, the second [tent] was only entered once a year, and just by the High Priest. But even he couldn’t enter it without the blood that he had to offer both for himself and for the sins of the peoples’ ignorance.
Now, the Holy Breath makes it clear that the entrance to the Most Holy couldn’t be seen while the first Tent was standing…
And this well illustrates this time in which we are now living.
So with this illustration in mind, [we must understand that] the gifts and sacrifices that were being offered couldn’t make the conscience of the one that was serving there perfect,for this whole thing had to do with food, drink, and types of cleansing, which were fleshly, legal requirements [that would last] until the time for setting things straight would be imposed.
But when the Anointed One came as the High Priest of good things and entered through the greater and more perfect Tent that wasn’t made by [human] hands (something that wasn’t part of this creation),he didn’t enter the Most Holy with the blood of goats and young bulls; rather, [he entered] the Holy Place with his own blood once and for all time, so as to provide an age-long ransom for us!
Now, if the blood of goats and bulls or the ashes of a heifer that are sprinkled on those that were unclean can make their flesh holy and clean;
How much more will [this be true of] the blood of the Anointed One!
For through the age-long spirit of himself that he offered spotlessly to God, he is purifying our consciences from our own dead deeds, so that we can start serving the living God.
And because of this, he is the mediator of a New Sacred Agreement that redeems us from the death that came from [failing to obey] the first Agreement, and so that those that have been called could receive the promised age-long inheritance!
[Understand that] whenever there’s [any sort of an] agreement, death is part of the bargain for the one who agrees to it,since an agreement that lasts until death is something that has been proven.
However, it isn’t as strong while the one that made the agreement is still living.
[And this is why] that first [Sacred Agreement] had to be made with blood!
So after Moses explained all the Commandments of the Law to the people, he took the blood of young bulls and goats, mixed it with water, and then [he] used scarlet wool and hyssop to sprinkle the scroll and all the people.
And he said:
‘This is the blood of the Sacred Agreement that God has made with you.’
Thereafter, he sprinkled the blood on the Tent and over all the things that were used for worship.
Yes, according to the Law, almost everything is cleansed by blood.
So unless blood is spilled, there is no forgiving.
And this is why it was also necessary for the heavenly things that are symbolized by [the earthly things] to be cleansed that way.
However, heavenly things require better sacrifices.
So the Anointed One didn’t enter a Most Holy that was made with hands (which is just a copy of the real thing);
Rather, he actually entered heaven itself to stand before The God on our behalf!
And he doesn’t have to offer himself often, as the High Priest that enters the Most Holy each year must do with blood that isn’t his own.
Otherwise, [Jesus] would have been required to suffer many times since the founding of the world.
But now he has displayed himself at the end of the age and offered himself so as to do away with sins just once through his sacrifice.
And as men must die just once (which is followed by a judgment);
The Anointed One was also offered just once to carry the sins of many.
So the next time he’s seen by those that are so eagerly awaiting him, they’ll be free from sin and ready for salvation!
Therefore, since the Law isn’t the reality but just a shadow of good things to come, the sacrifices that are offered each year will never make those who offer them perfect.
For if that were true, they wouldn’t have to be offered anymore, since those that are cleansed would no longer have any sins on their consciences!
However, these sacrifices remind us of our sins year after year,because the blood of bulls and goats can’t remove sins!
And it was because of this, that when he came into the world, he said,
‘You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings.
So You prepared a body for me,because You found no delight in burnt offerings and sin offerings.’
Then he said,
‘Look! I have come to do Your Will, O God… in the knob of the scroll it was written about me.’
So notice that after he first said,
‘You didn’t want or approve of sacrifices and offerings, or burnt offerings and sin offerings’ (which are being offered in observance of the Law);
he went on to say,
‘Look, I have come to do Your Will.’
So he had to remove the first one to establish the second!
And it’s because of this Will that we’ve been made holy through that single offering of the body of Jesus the Anointed One!
Now, all the Priests take their stations each day in Temple service, and they offer the same sacrifices over and over… which can never take sins away completely.
However, [Jesus] offered just one sacrifice for sins through the ages… and then he sat down at the right hand of God,where he’s awaiting [the time when] his enemies will be set as a stool for his feet.
Indeed, he made this single offering so as to bring those that are being made holy to perfection forever.
And the Holy Breath testifies to us about this, for first it said,
‘This is the Sacred Agreement that I will make with them in those days, says Jehovah:
I will put My Laws in their hearts and I’ll write them in their minds.’
[Then it says,]
‘I will be merciful toward their lawless acts, and I will forget all their sins.’
So when such things are forgotten, there is no more need for sin offerings!
Therefore, brothers;
We can confidently say that we have an entrance into the Most Holy Place through the blood of Jesus,because he has worked out a way through the curtain for us…
A sacrificial but living way, through his flesh.
And since we now have such a great Priest who is over the House of God,let’s approach him with honest hearts and complete faith, since we rinsed our wicked conscience from our hearts back when we washed our bodies in clean water.
Therefore, let’s hang onto the confession of our hope and not give up, because the One that gave us this promise is faithful.
And let’s keep reminding ourselves that we must continue to help each other to grow in love and in good deeds.
Also, don’t stop meeting together as some have made it their custom.
Rather, let’s keep on encouraging each other…
And [do this] even more so as we see the Day drawing near.
However, we must understand that if we still choose to follow a sinful course after coming to an accurate knowledge of the truth, there are no more sacrifices left for our sins.
All [that remains] then will be just the fear and anticipation of judgment through the same roar of the fiery zeal that is going to consume those that are now opposing us.
Understand that if anyone ignored the Law of Moses and two or three testified against him, he was to die without compassion.
So how much more worthy of punishment do you think a person will be if he tramples on the Son of The God, or if he considers the blood of the Sacred Agreement that made him holy as something unclean, or if he has outraged the loving care of the Breath [of God] by treating it with contempt?
For we know who it was that said,
‘Vengeance is Mine… I will repay!’
And again,
‘Jehovah will judge His people.’
Yes, it’s a fearsome thing to fall into the hands of the Living God!
I want you to each think back to those days, just after you came to an understanding and were enduring so much suffering, what a hard fight it was.
Sometimes it was like being in an arena where you were being insulted and persecuted along with [many] others that had to share in this experience.
Back then, you were so sympathetic toward those who were in prison.
And even when everything you owned was being taken away, you were still joyful…
Because you knew that you had gained something much better and longer lasting!
So, don’t throw away your willingness to speak out, because you’ve paid too much to earn it!
You need to hang on, so that after you’ve done God’s will, you can walk off with [the prize] that you were promised!
For in just a little while, the one who is coming will be here, and he won’t be late!
‘But My righteous ones will live because of their faith,’
and,
‘If he gives up, My soul finds no pleasure in him.’
Therefore, we don’t want to be the type that gives up just to be destroyed. Rather, let’s be the type that has the faith that will save our lives!
Understand that true faith is when you expect the things that you’re hoping for and you’re convinced of things that you haven’t yet seen…
And we can testify that [many] ancient ones [had such faith].
Likewise, our faith teaches us that the ages were set in place by the Word of God, and from that which was not, the things that we now see have appeared!
Thereafter, it was because of his faith that Abel offered a greater sacrifice to God than did Cain.
And the One who witnessed his righteousness and saw the gifts that he offered was God.
So although [Abel] is dead, he is still speaking!
And it was because of his faith that Enoch was transported so as not to see death…
No, he couldn’t be found, because God transported him.
However, before he was transported, he proved that he had pleased God well.
So we can see that it’s impossible to please God well without faith, because those that want to come to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards all those that are eagerly searching for Him.
It was also because of [his] faith in a divine warning about things that he had not yet been seen, that Noah was moved by his fear to build a chest that saved his [family].
And through this righteous act of faith, he condemned that world and became its heir.
It was because of his faith that AbraHam obeyed when he was called and traveled to a place that he was about to receive as an inheritance…
Yet when he left, he had no idea of where he was even going!
Then by faith, he lived in tents like an alien in a foreign country, in the same land that had already been promised to him, along with IsaAc and Jacob, who also became heirs of that promise.
For he was awaiting the founding of a city that was to be designed and built by God.
It was by her faith that SarAh received the power to conceive a seed when she was barren and when it was too late [in life] for her to do so.
However, she considered the One that gave her the promise to be trustworthy.
So from [this woman] that was sexually dead came a huge number…
Like the stars in the skies or the countless grains of sand on the seashore!
And though all of these faithful people died without having received what they were promised;
They saw it from afar and embraced it, confessing that they were strangers and aliens in their own land.
And indeed, when people talked like that, they showed that they were seeking their own fatherland.
For if they were remembering [the place] from which they came, they likely would have had the opportunity to go back to it.
However, they were reaching out for something better… something that’s under the influence of the heavens.
As the result, God was never ashamed of them or to be called their God. For He has in fact prepared a city for them!
It was also by his faith that AbraHam offered up IsaAc when he was being tested.
And he did this [despite the fact that IsaAc] was the only-conceived son that was to receive the promises…the one of whom [God] had said,
‘What will be called your seed will come through IsaAc!’
But [AbraHam] trusted that God would be able to raise him from the dead.
And in effect, that’s what really happened!
It was also because of his faith that IsaAc blest Jacob and Esau concerning future things.
And it was because of his faith that Jacob blest each of the sons of JoSeph before he died, bowing low as he leaned on his cane.
Then JoSeph, when he was getting close to his end, showed his faith when he talked about the exodus of the sons of IsraEl and gave them instructions regarding his bones.
The parents of Moses showed faith when they hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that the young child was beautiful, and they weren’t afraid of the king’s decree.
Then after he became great, Moses showed his faith by refusing to be called the son of PharaOh’s daughter…
Yes, he chose to be treated badly with the people of God rather than to spend his time enjoying sinful pleasures.
[He did this] because he considered the insults of being the anointed as far more valuable than all the treasures of Egypt…
And he was looking to the future for his reward!
Then again, by his faith, Moses left Egypt… no, not because he feared the king’s anger;
Rather, he hung on like someone who was seeing something that was invisible!
Then by faith, he arranged for the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer wouldn’t touch [IsraEl’s] firstborn.
It was also by their faith that [the IsraElites] thereafter passed through the Red Sea as though it were dry land.
But when the Egyptians tried to do the same thing, they were swallowed down.
And it was also by the faith of these people, that the walls of JeriCho fell after they’d circled them for 7 days.
And it was by her faith (when she peacefully welcomed the spies [into her home]) that the prostitute RaHab didn’t die along with those that were disobedient.
What more can I say?
I don’t have enough time to tell you about GideOn, BarAk, Sampson, JephThah, or David… or about SamuEl and the Prophets.
Yet by their faith, they defeated kingdoms in war, did righteous things, received the promises, fenced off the mouths of lions,overcame the force of fire, and escaped the edge of the sword.
Nor [can I tell] of all the weak ones that were made powerful and became mighty enough in war to drive off foreign invaders.
[It was also by faith] that women received their dead through a resurrection.
And while some were being tortured, they wouldn’t allow a ransom to be paid on their behalf, so that they might receive a better resurrection.
Yes, others were mocked and tried with whips… and even put in shackles and in prisons!
They were tried, stoned, sawed in half, and slaughtered with swords…
And some had to dress themselves in sheepskins and goatskins as they were in need, oppressed, and mistreated.
So although the world didn’t deserve them, they were forced to wander the deserts, mountains, caves, and peepholes of the earth.
Yet their faith speaks well of them, though they never received the promise!
And because God has foreseen something better for us, they won’t be made perfect apart from us.
So, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we should each get rid of the things that are weighing us down and set aside any entangling sins, then just hang on and keep running the difficult course that’s ahead of us,as we keep on looking toward the founder and perfector of our faith, Jesus,
Who, because he realized the joy that was before him, endured the impaling pole and despised its shame so that he could sit at the right hand of the throne of The God!
So, let’s pay close attention to his example and notice how he was able to endure all of that at the hands of sinners (who just condemned themselves), so we don’t tire out and give up on who we are…
For to this point, none of us have had to struggle against sin to the point of bleeding.
And don’t forget the encouragement that was given to you as [His] sons, that said,
‘Never treat Jehovah’s instructions lightly,
Or give up when He disciplines you.
For Jehovah disciplines those whom He Loves and He whips those that He accepts as His sons.’ (Proverbs 3:11-12)
Understand that the only reason you’ve made it this far, is because of [His] discipline…
Which proves that God is treating you as His sons!
After all, which son isn’t disciplined by his father?
So if you haven’t been disciplined [by God], you aren’t one of us… no, you’re not His sons, you’re bastards!
For we all once had fleshly fathers that disciplined us, and we respected them.
Therefore, shouldn’t we obey the Father who gave us His Breath even more… so we can live?
Yes, for a brief period [in our lives, our fathers] used to discipline us over things that seemed right to them.
However, [now] we’re being brought [before God] to be partakers of His Holiness!
And while it’s true that this discipline doesn’t make us joyful when we receive it (it makes us sad); later on, those that learn from it harvest the fruit of peace and righteousness.
So, straighten up those drooping arms, firm up those shaky knees,and make sure that the tracks you’re making with your feet are straight…
Be healed rather than lame!
Try to make peace with everyone and to become holy;
For without that, no one can see the Lord!
Therefore, make sure that none of you are falling short of God’s loving care, and that no bitter roots are sprouting up to create trouble and make any of you unclean.
[Of course, I’m comparing you to people] that are immoral or worldly, like Esau, who gave away his rights as the firstborn for a single meal.
Remember that he changed his mind later and wanted to inherit the blessing; but despite the fact that he tearfully tried to reclaim it, he was rejected.
Now, [this mountain] that you’ve approached can’t be felt, nor is covered with a burning fire, or darkness, or fog, or a thunderstorm;
Nor [can you hear] the sound of trumpets being blown, or any voice speaking… a voice that the people begged not to have to listen toand which they couldn’t bear when they heard it say so clearly,
‘If so much as a wild animal touches this mountain, it must be stoned!’
Yes, it was such a frightening scene that even Moses admitted,
‘I’m terrified and shaking!’
So what you’ve approached is Mount Zion… the City of the Living God.
It is Heavenly JeruSalem, where millions of [God’s] messengersare attending a convention of the gathering of the firstborn whose names have been written in the heavens by God, who is the judge of them all.
[Yes, you’ve approached] the unseen force of those that are righteous and have been made perfect…
And [you’ve approached] Jesus, the mediator of a New Sacred Agreement, whose sacrificial blood speaks out better than Abel’s.
Therefore, let’s be sure that we aren’t also found to be begging not to have to listen to the One that is speaking.
For back then, those people begged not to have to listen to the One who gave that divine warning here on the earth… yet they had to listen to it anyhow!
So, how much more should we refuse to turn away from the One that has been speaking to us from the heavens!
Back then, His voice rattled the ground. But He promised:
‘Next time, I’ll not only shake the ground, [I’ll also shake] the sky!’
And when He spoke of the next time, He implied that the only things that He will shake then are the [temporary] creations [of mankind]… yes, they will be done away with.
However, the things that aren’t shaken will still be here.
So in view of the fact that we’re going to receive a Kingdom that won’t be shaken;
Let’s show how much we really care by serving God pleasingly in fear and in deep reverence…because our God is a consuming fire!
Therefore, you should love your brothers…
And don’t forget to care about even the ones that you don’t know!
For it was because some did this that they unknowingly showed hospitality to [God’s] messengers!
And don’t forget those that are in prison… act as though you’re locked up with them!
Also, [don’t forget] those that are being persecuted… [act as though it’s happening to] your own bodies!
And make sure that your marriages are kept honorable and that your beds remain clean, because God is going to judge the sexually immoral and the adulterers.
Live your lives free from the love of money…
Be satisfied with the things that you have, because Jehovah promised:
‘I won’t forget you and I’ll never leave you.’ (Deuteronomy 31:6; paraphrased)
Yes, let’s be courageous and say:
‘Jehovah is my helper, so I will not fear;
For what can men do to me?’ (Psalm 118:6)
Keep in mind those who take the lead and teach you God’s word.
Then, as you see the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.
[Remember that] Jesus the Anointed One was the same yesterday as he is today and [the same] as he will be through the ages.
So, don’t allow yourselves to be misled by various strange teachings.
Indeed, it’s better for [your] hearts to be strengthened by [God’s] loving care than by anything that you would eat…
For such things are no benefit at all to those that are walking in The Way.
Rather, we have an Altar from which we may eat that even those that serve at [the Temple] may not eat.
Also, as the High Priest [in the Temple] carries the blood of [sacrificial] animals into the Holy Place to serve as sin offerings, and the bodies are thereafter burned up outside of the camp;
Jesus suffered outside of the [city] gate to make people holy with his blood.
Therefore, let’s all go to him outside of the camp, bearing all the bad things that were said about him.
And since the city that’s there isn’t going to last, we should all be seeking the one that is coming!
For it is through him that we should be continuously offering the fruit of our lips (along with everything else) as sacrifices of praise to The God and in praise of His Name!
And don’t forget to do good things, such as sharing whatever you have with others!
Because, these are the types of sacrifices that are truly pleasing to God.
Also, have confidence in those that are taking the lead among you and submit to them, because they’re watching over your lives!
May they do this with joy, not with groaning, because that would be harmful for you.
In addition, keep on praying for us. For we feel that our consciences are clear, since we’ve acted properly in everything.
And I especially want to encourage you to do this, so that I can be returned to you a bit sooner.
Now, may the God of peace who raised the great Shepherd (our Lord Jesus) from the dead with the blood of an age-long Sacred Agreementuse everything that’s good, so as to make any adjustments that are necessary for you to do his will.
And may the One that is working within us (through Jesus the Anointed One) in order to accomplish everything that He sees to be good, be glorified into the ages of ages…
May it be so.
Now, I urge you brothers to live up to these words of encouragement, although I haven’t really written very much.
O yes;
I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released, and if he gets here soon, I’ll come to see you.
Give my greetings to all those that are taking the lead among you and to all the Holy Ones.
Those in Italy send you their greetings.
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One, to the 12 tribes that are scattered about;
Rejoice!
Consider it all a joyful experience, my brothers, when you have to endure various types of trials,because you know that this proving of your faith helps you to endure.
So, may your endurance reach its goal of making you perfect and complete in every way, lacking in nothing.
If any of you are lacking in wisdom, you should continue to ask God, and He will give it to you…
He provides it easily and without any scolding.
However, you must believe [that you’ll receive it] and not have any doubts, for those that doubt are like waves of the sea that are driven and blown about by the wind.
Such a person shouldn’t expect to receive anything at all from Jehovah,due to his unsureness and lack of faith.
Therefore, let the lowly brother boast of his high standing,and the rich one boast of his lowliness, because he too will pass away like a flower in a field.
For when the sun comes up and puts out all of its heat, the plant withers, the flower drops off, and its beauty fades…
And this is how the rich man will fade away in his journey through life.
However, the man that endures his trials is blest, because after he’s been approved, he’ll receive the garland of life that the Lord promised to all those that love him.
So may no one that is being tried ever say,
‘I’m being tried by God,’
for God doesn’t send bad things to try us. In fact, He doesn’t try anyone.
Rather, we are each being tried by our own desires, which bait us and lead us on.
Then when our desires become pregnant, they give birth to sin.
And once the sin is committed, it ends in death.
Don’t allow anyone to mislead you, my beloved brothers;
Every good deed and every perfect gift comes to us from above. It comes down from the Father of all Light, who doesn’t change any more than a shadow when it turns.
And because it was His Will, He gave birth to us through the message of truth, so that we could be some of the first fruitage of His creation.
Recognize this, my beloved brothers:
Every man must be eager to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
For a man’s anger doesn’t make him righteous with God.
So, once you’ve gotten rid of all the filth and badness, humbly allow the Word to grow within you…
Because it can save your lives.
Yes, become a person who does what the Word [directs him to do].
Don’t [be someone that just] listens to it, [for people like that] are fooling themselves.
Because if anyone is a hearer but not a doer, he’s like the man that looks into a mirror at the face he was born withand carefully considers himself, then leaves and immediately forgets what sort of person he really is.
However, the one that gazes into the perfect Law that belongs to a free people – and then keeps on looking into it – isn’t someone that listens and forgets, but someone that takes action!
This man will be blest in whatever he does.
Now, if any of you think of yourselves as devout, but you’re misleading your hearts by not putting a bridle on your tongues, your worship is worthless.
For what our God and Father views as clean, pure worship is this:
[Providing aid] to orphans and widows when they’re in need and keeping ourselves free from the stains of this system of things.
My brothers;
Don’t show favoritism when it comes to the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
For if a man that is wearing a gold ring and fine clothes should enter your synagogue, then someone whose clothes are filthy also enters,do you favor the one that’s wearing the fine clothes and say,
‘Here’s a good place to sit?’
And do you then say to the poor one,
‘Stand [over there],’
or,
‘Sit here under my footstool?’
If so, aren’t you showing favoritism among yourselves and judging from evil thoughts?
Listen, my beloved brothers;
Didn’t God choose the poor of this system of things to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that He promised to those that love Him?
Yet, you [tend to] dishonor the poor!
Aren’t rich people the ones that are oppressing you and dragging you into courts?
And aren’t they the ones that speak badly of the good name by which you are called?
Now, if you’re obeying the royal law of the Scriptures that says, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself,’ you’re doing well.
But if you’re showing favoritism, you’re sinning and the Law convicts you of being its violator!
For if someone who is trying to obey the Law fails in just one little part of it, he has broken the whole thing.
Because the One that said,
‘You must not commit adultery,’
also said,
‘You must not murder.’
So if you aren’t committing adultery but you murder someone, you’ve broken the whole Law.
Therefore, speak and behave as though you’re about to be judged by the law of a free people…
And [remember that] the merciless will be judged without mercy, since mercy is an important part of justice.
So what good does it do, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but isn’t moved to do anything about it.
Can his faith save him?
[For example], if a brother or sister doesn’t have clothing or enough food for each day,and you tell him,
‘Go in peace; be warm and well fed’…
If you don’t give him what he needs to survive, what good have you done?
So, faith without good deeds is dead!
Now, someone can say,
‘Though you may do good things, I have [more] faith!’
Well, you show me your faith without good deeds and I’ll show you my faith by the good things that I do.
And do you say that you believe there’s just one God?
That’s good… but the demons believe that too!
Yes, they believe and it frightens them!
I want you to know, O empty man, that faith apart from [good] deeds is dead!
For wasn’t our father AbraHam called righteous because of the things that he did… such as when he offered up his son IsaAc on the altar?
Yes, you can see how his faith worked along with his deeds, and that it was his deeds that perfected his faith.
So the scripture was fulfilled that says,
‘AbraHam believed in The God, and for this he was considered to be righteous and God’s friend.’
So you see;
A man is pronounced righteous by the things that he does, not just by the things that he believes.
The same was true of the prostitute, RaHab. For she was called righteous because she took the messengers in and then sent them out by another way.
So, just as a body that isn’t breathing is dead, faith without good deeds is dead.
Brothers, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that [teachers] will be held more accountable…and we all make a lot of mistakes!
So if there is any man that doesn’t stumble in his words, he’s perfect and he can lead his whole body as with a bridle.
For if we put a bridle in the mouth of a horse to make it obey us, we can control its whole body.
{Look!} Even large boats that are driven by strong winds are steered wherever the pilot wishes by very small rudders…and that’s how the tongue is!
Though it’s just a little body part, it can boast about big things… and just a little flame can set a whole forest on fire!
That’s how the tongue is… it’s a flame in a world of unrighteousness.
It sits among our body members as the corrupter of the whole body, which sets our very origins on fire…
And what sets them ablaze is the garbage dump!
Though every sort of wild animal, flying creature, slithering thing, and sea creature can be tamed and has been tamed by men,no man can tame the tongue…
For it won’t stop saying bad things, and it’s full of deadly poison.
With it we can praise the Lord and the Father, or curse men who came into existence in God’s image…
So out of the same mouth comes both blessings and curses.
There’s no need for things like this to keep happening, my brothers!
Are there any fountains that bubble up both sweet and bitter [water]?
Fig trees can’t produce olives, grapevines can’t produce figs, and you can’t get sweet water from salt water, can you my brothers!
So, who among you is wise and understanding?
Let him show that he has the inner strength that comes from wisdom by the ways that he acts and the things that he does.
But if you are bitterly jealous, and in your hearts you just want to argue; don’t be too proud of this and don’t lie about the facts.
This isn’t wisdom that comes from above; it’s earthly, animalistic, and demonic.
For where you find jealousy and arguing, you’ll also find disorder and everything that’s foul.
But the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, and full of mercy and good fruitage.
It isn’t hypocritical or prejudiced,because the seeds of the fruit of righteousness are planted in peace by the peacemakers!
So, where are all these fights and wars among you coming from?
Aren’t they the result of battles that are being fought in your body parts over [sensual] pleasures?
You want, but you can’t have.
You’re jealous and murderous, but that doesn’t get you anything.
You’re fighting and waging war, but you haven’t received because you haven’t asked.
Then when you do ask, you don’t receive, because you’re asking for the wrong reasons, since all that you’re really interested in is pleasure!
Adulteresses, don’t you know that if you’re a friend of the world you’re an enemy of God?
So, whoever wants to be a friend of this world is putting himself down as God’s enemy.
For what do you think the scripture means that says,
‘The spirit within us yearns with envy?’
Now, the loving care that He sends to us is greater than of all that, for we were told:
‘Jehovah opposes the proud, but shows loving-care to the humble.’ (Proverbs 3:34)
So, let’s do what God says… resist the Opposer and he’ll run from you!
But draw closer to God and He’ll draw closer to you!
So, wash your hands, you sinners, and those of you that are undecided should purify your hearts!
Otherwise you’ll be crying, moaning, and miserable… your laughter will be turned into moaning and your joy will be turned into sadness!
Yes, humble yourselves in the eyes of Jehovah and He will lift you higher!
Brothers, stop complaining about each other, because those who speak against or judge their brothers are speaking against and judging the Law.
And if you are judging the Law, you aren’t someone that’s under it, you’re its judge…
And there’s just one Lawgiver and Judge that can either save or destroy.
So, who are you to be judging your neighbors?
And those of you that say,
‘Today or tomorrow I’m going to travel to this city or that, and I’ll spend a year there doing business and making profits’…
You don’t even know what’s going to happen in your life tomorrow, because you’re just a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears!
Shouldn’t you rather be saying,
‘If it’s Jehovah’s will, I will live and do this or that?’
But now you’re taking pride in things that you just assume to be true, and being proud over such things is wickedness.
Because, whenever you know what’s right and you don’t do it, that’s a sin to you!
So go on, you who are rich; cry and bawl over the miseries that you’ll have to endure!
For your wealth will rot away, your clothes will be moth-eaten,your gold and silver will corrode, and whatever remains will testify against you and eat your flesh like the fire that you’ve treasured away for yourselves in the last days.
Look! The wages that you refused to pay the workers that harvested your fields are crying out, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of Jehovah of Armies.
For you’ve lived on the earth just to satisfy yourselves… yes, you’re nourishing your hearts on self-indulgence for the day of slaughter!
And since you even condemned and murdered the Righteous One, won’t He stand and oppose you?
Brothers, let’s be patient until the Lord arrives.
{Look!} For as the farmer harvests the precious fruitage of the ground after patiently waiting for both the early and late rains,we must also be patient…
But with determined hearts, because the appearance of the Lord is drawing near.
Brothers, stop moaning about each other, so you won’t be judged.
For look… the judge is now standing at the door!
Brothers, you should learn from the examples of the Prophets who spoke in the Name of Jehovah about how to suffer bad things and how to be patient,for we call those that endured, the blest!
You’ve all heard of the endurance of Job and you saw how Jehovah ended it…
And this proves that Jehovah is very kind and merciful.
But above all, my brothers;
Stop swearing oaths by heaven, or by the earth, or by anything else.
Just let your yes mean yes and your no mean no, so you don’t fail when you’re being judged!
Are there any among you that are being persecuted? Let them keep on praying!
Are there any among you that are cheerful? Let them sing psalms!
Are there any among you that are ill? Let them call the elders and ask them to pray over them, as they rub them with oil in the name of the Lord!
Then their faithful prayers will rescue the ill and the Lord will lift them and forgive any sins that they’ve committed.
So, admit your sins to each other and pray that each one of you will be healed, because prayer has a lot of power when it’s working through righteous people.
Remember that EliJah was just a man with passions like ours; but when he prayed and asked for it not to rain, it didn’t rain in the land for 3-1/2 years.
Then when he prayed again, the skies poured with rain, causing the ground to produce its fruitage.
My brothers;
Whenever someone is led astray from the truth and someone else leads him back;
Recognize that the one who turns the sinner from the error of his ways will save his own life from death… and it will cover many of his own sins as well.
Peter, an Apostle of Jesus the Anointed One, to the elected ones among the scattered (Jews) that are living in Pontus, Galatia, CappaDokia, Asia Minor, and Bithynia,who by the foreknowledge of The God and Father and by the holiness of [His] Breath are obedient and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus the Anointed One;
May loving care and peace be multiplied among you.
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One, who according to His great mercy fathered within us the hope of life by resurrecting Jesus the Anointed One from the dead,so that an undying, incorruptible, and enduring inheritance will be reserved for you in the heavens.
Yes, you who are being guarded by faith through the power of God for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in this final season,and in which you are rejoicing.
So although you are currently being grieved by various trials,understand that these things are happening to you to prove your faith, which is something that is much more valuable than gold that is refined and proven by fire, and so that you will be found to be a reason for praise, honor, and glory at the revealing of Jesus the Anointed One.
For though you’ve never seen him, you’ve loved him; and though you can’t see him, you’ve believed in him and are rejoicing with an unspeakable and glorified joy.
For it’s by this that you are carrying off for yourselves the reward of the hope that is bringing salvation to your lives!
And when it comes to this salvation; understand that the Prophets (those who prophesied that this loving-kindness would be shown to you) used to seek and search,trying (through the spirit of the anointing that was in them) to determine the exact time and circumstances of the sufferings of the Anointed One and of his being glorified…
Yes, they knew about this even back then!
However, it wasn’t revealed to them as it has been to you, for they were just servants of the things that have now been revealed to you by those that proclaimed the good news to you through the Holy Breath that was sent from heaven.
Yes [at that time], even the messengers [of God] wanted to see these things!
As the result, prepare your minds to understand, and become perfectly sober when it comes to your hope of the loving kindness that will be manifested in you at the revelation of Jesus the Anointed One.
And as obedient children, don’t go back to being what you used to be by desiring ignorant things.
Rather, like the Holy One that called you, become holy in all of your ways.
For it is written:
‘You must be holy, because I am holy!’
So if you are calling this One your Father (someone that doesn’t discriminate but judges each person by the things that they do), you should be living your lives in fear!
For you must recognize that the ransom, which was paid to release you from the worthless way of life that you learned from your fathers, wasn’t paid for with things that waste away like silver or gold.
Rather, it was paid for with the precious blood of a spotless and perfect lamb, the Anointed One.
And though he was known before the founding of the cosmos, he has finally been revealed for your sakes during this period,so that through him you could come to believe in The God that raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so that you could put all your faith and hope in that God.
Then, after you have purified your lives by [learning how to] obey the truth, you must also learn to love each other intensely…
Yes, develop a sincere brotherly love for each other out of a pure heart!
For you weren’t born again as seeds that are planted [in the ground] and will perish, but as something that through the enduring Word of the living God is now imperishable.
[As it is written]:
‘All flesh is like grass
And its glory is like the flowers in a field.
But though grass dries up and its flowers will drop,
God’s Word lasts through the ages.’
Yes, these are the words that we have preached to you as good news.
As the result, you must now get rid of all your badness, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slandering.
Then like newborn babies, develop a taste for the pure milk of the Word, which will help you to grow to salvation…
That is, if you have indeed tasted that the Lord is good.
Yes, you must approach him as though he’s a living block of stone that was for a fact rejected by men, but has been chosen as something precious by God.
Because, it’s upon him that you are being built as living blocks into a Spiritual [Temple] and as a Holy Priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus the Anointed One.
For the Scripture says:
‘{Look!} I am laying in Zion a select and precious cornerstone, and all that put faith in it will never be shamed.’
Therefore, you have put faith in this precious thing in which others don’t believe…
The block that the builders rejected but which has become the foundation cornerstone…
The stumbling block and snare to those that stumble over the words because of the disobedient ways to which they’ve been appointed.
And now you’ve become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people that were specially selected to announce the virtues of the One that called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light.
So, though you haven’t always been a nation (gr. laos or people), you’re now a nation of God.
And though you once knew no mercy, you’re the ones that are now being shown mercy.
My loved ones;
I want to encourage you that are [living as] foreigners and exiles not to indulge in the things that your bodies might crave and which fight a battle against the person that you are on the inside.
Yes, while you’re [living] among the gentiles, behave yourselves, so that when they condemn you and say bad things about you, they can see the good things that you’re doing and then glorify The God in the Day that He arrives for His inspection.
Also, you must obey every office that men have created through the Lord, regardless of whether the one that is over you is a king,or [just] a governor that has been sent [by the king] to punish criminals and to praise those that are doing good things.
Because, it’s God’s Will for you to do good things, so that you can put a muzzle on the ignorant accusations of unreasonable men.
And though you’re a free people;
As slaves of God, don’t use your freedom as a cover-up for doing bad things!
Rather, be respectful to everyone, love your brothers, fear God, and show special respect for the king.
Those of you that are household servants should obey and fear your masters… and not just those that are good and reasonable, but also those that are hard to please.
For if a person with a Godly conscience has to put up with the grief of having to suffer for something he didn’t do, it shows a lot of inner strength.
So if you are being slapped for something that you didn’t do wrong and you [choose to] put up with suffering when you’ve only done good things, this shows your inner strength to God.
And for a fact, this is the [course] to which you were called.
Because, the Anointed One suffered on your behalf as an example, so that you would follow in his tracks.
For though he wasn’t guilty of any sin and his mouth didn’t speak any lies;when they shouted bad things at him, he didn’t shout back, and when he was suffering, he didn’t threaten anyone.
He just left himself [in the hands of] the One that judges righteously.
Then he bore our sins on his body when he was hung on the tree… and that’s when the sins died so that we could thereafter be counted as righteous.
For,
‘By his wounds, you were healed.’
And though you were once sheep that had strayed, you have now returned to the shepherd that is watching over your lives.
Also, you women should obey your [husbands], so that those that aren’t obeying the Word can be won over without words through your fine conductwhen they see the fear that you’re showing by being pure.
Don’t let your beauty come from fancy hairstyles, gold jewelry, or the way you arrange your clothes,but from what is hidden in your hearts…
Let it be the type of clean, quiet, and mild personality that is valuable in the eyes of God.
Indeed, this is how holy women in the past who put their hope in God have been beautifying themselves… by obeying their [husbands].
So, just as SarAh used to obey AbraHam, calling him ‘Lord;’ you should become her children in doing good things, so you’ll have nothing to fear.
And you men should be wise when it comes to living with [your wives]…
Treat them as you would a delicate vase, and show them the type of honor that should be shown to women that are fellow heirs of the gift of life, so it doesn’t affect your prayers.
And finally, you should all share the same attitude when it comes to being sympathetic, loving your brothers, caring for each other, being humble,and by not trying to get even or by trading insults.
Rather, you should bestow blessings, since you were called to the Way so as to inherit blessings.
Yes, may those of you that love life and want to see good days keep your tongues from saying bad things and your lips from telling lies…
Turn away from what’s bad and do what’s good, as you search for and chase after peace!
[For it’s written]:
‘Jehovah watches out for the righteous,
And He listens when they are crying to Him…
But Jehovah opposes those that are doing what’s bad.’ (Psalm 34:15)
Therefore, who will treat you badly if you’re zealously doing what’s righteous?
And even if you should have to suffer for doing something righteous, you’ll be blest!
So, don’t be afraid or even be bothered by such things!
Rather, make the Lord Anointed One the holy in your hearts, and always be ready to make a defense before anyone that demands to know why you have this hope.
However, do it calmly and with [Godly] fear.
Yes, keep a clean conscience so that anyone that may accuse you and speak out against you will be shamed by your fine conduct.
And remember that it’s better for you to suffer for doing something good (if that’s God’s will) than for doing something that’s bad.
For even the Anointed One died (once and for all time) over sins as someone who is righteous on behalf of those who are unrighteous, so as to lead you to God.
And then, though his flesh was in fact destroyed, he was brought to life as a spirit.
Thereafter, he preached to the spirits that had been imprisonedbecause of their disobedience during the time that God was patiently waiting for Noah to build the chest in which a few people (just 8 souls) were saved through the water.
And this is the same type of thing that’s saving you now…
[I’m talking about] baptism, the purpose of which isn’t to get rid of the filth of the flesh, but to ask God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus the Anointed One,who is currently at God’s right hand in the heavens, where all of [God’s] messengers and all the authorities and powers must now obey him.
So, since the Anointed One had to suffer in the flesh, you had best start thinking about fighting that same battle.
For someone that has suffered in the flesh has stopped sinningand doesn’t live for human desires anymore, but to do the will of The God for the rest of his life in the flesh.
For a fact;
Enough time has elapsed for you to have resolved the types of things that the gentiles desire, as they go their own immoral ways, following their desires, drinking too much wine, partying, getting drunk, and worshiping disgusting idols.
Then, because you don’t go along with them and follow them into the same deadly course down into the sewer, they slander you.
However, they will have to answer to the One that is ready to judge both the living and the dead.
Indeed, this is why we are preaching the good news to those who are the dead… so that, though they may be judged in the flesh, they can now start living to God in the spirit!
Therefore, since the end of everything has drawn closer, you should become more sensible and sober-minded when it comes to prayer.
And more than anything else, you should be reaching out to each other in love, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Yes, be hospitable to each other without grumbling;
And as each of you has received a gift, use [that gift] to serve each other as good managers of the abundant loving kindnesses of God,so that whenever anyone speaks the Word of God, or whenever anyone serves through the strength that is supplied by The God, He may be glorified by it all through Jesus the Anointed One…
May He have glory and power through ages of ages…
May it be so.
Loved ones;
You shouldn’t think it strange that there’s a fire blazing among you and testing you, as though what’s happening to you is something that’s very unusual.
Rather, as you [find yourselves] sharing in the sufferings of the Anointed One, rejoice!
Because, when his glory is revealed, you will once again be happy and cry out in joy!
For if you’re being slandered over the name of the Anointed One, you are truly blest, because [this proves that] God’s glory and Breath has come to rest upon you.
So, although none of you should ever have to suffer for being a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or for not minding your own business.
But if you’re suffering because of being a Christian, you should never be ashamed of it!
Rather, you should keep on glorifying God in that name.
For the time of judgment has arrived…
And it’s starting with the House of God.
So if it’s starting with us first; how will those that don’t obey the good news of God end up?
For if the righteous are just barely being saved; where will those that are godless and the sinners make a showing?
Therefore, let those who are (by God’s will) suffering, gladly entrust their lives to the faithful Creator by doing whatever is good.
I encourage the elders among you (my fellow elders and witnesses of the sufferings of the Anointed One who will share in the glory that’s soon to be revealed)to shepherd the flock of God that has been entrusted to you.
Don’t do this because you have to, but because you want to!
No, don’t do it to make a lot of money, but because you want to help!
And don’t [set yourselves up as] rulers over those that have been entrusted to your care; rather, become examples to the flock.
Then when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you’ll walk away with the enduring garland of glory!
And the same [is true] for you younger men;
Obey the elders!
All of you should be humble before each other.
In fact, tie humility around yourselves with knots!
For God opposes those that think too much of themselves, while He’s kind to those that are humble.
Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that He can eventually raise you to a higher position.
Yes, throw all your worries upon Him, because He really cares about you!
Also, be serious and stay alert, because your accuser the Slanderer is roaming about like a roaring lion that is looking for someone to swallow down.
Oppose him by taking a solid stand for the faith, and realize that the things you’re suffering in this system of things are also happening throughout the entire brotherhood…
And that the God of all loving kindness will call you to age-long glory in the Anointed Jesus.
For after you have suffered a little while, on His behalf, He will prepare you, establish you, strengthen you, and firmly set your foundation!
Yes, to Him be the power through the ages… may it be so!
I’m sending what I consider these few words that I wrote through Silvanus (a faithful brother) to encourage you and to testify to the fact that you are standing in the true loving-care of The God.
I send you greetings from the woman that was chosen along with you, and from Mark (my son), from Babylon.
Greet each other with a kiss of love!
Peace to all of you in the Anointed One.
Simon Peter, a slave and Apostle of Jesus the Anointed One, to all those that are precious to us and have received their share of faith by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus the Anointed One;
May you grow in loving care and peace by coming to a higher knowledge of The God, and of our Lord Jesus.
For He has granted us all of His Divine Power when it comes to [clean] living and godliness through the knowledge of the one that called us to his own glory and virtue,and through whom He has given us the most precious and greatest promises, so that through these things you might become sharers in the divine nature now that you’ve left the corrupt desires of this system of things.
And then, after you’ve zealously done all of this,
Add virtue to your faith,
Knowledge to [your] virtue,
Self-control to [your] knowledge,
Endurance to [your] self-control,
Piety to [your] endurance,
Brotherly-love to [your] piety,
And pure love to [your] brotherly love.
For if you’re filled and overflowing with these things, they will keep you from being lazy or from failing to produce fruitage when it comes to gaining a higher knowledge of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
However, there are those in whom these qualities are not present, for they’ve proven to be short-sighted and they’ve forgotten how they had once been purified, so they’ve returned to their old sinful ways!
Therefore, brothers; be zealous when it comes to making your calling and electing a sure thing!
For if you can do that, you’ll never stumble,and you’ll be richly supplied with entry into the age-longKingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Anointed.
This is why I always want to remind you of these things, despite the fact that you already know [them] and are firmly rooted in the truth.
However, as long as I must live in this temporary dwelling, I will consider it righteous to shake you and remind you,since I realize that this ‘tent’ will soon be set aside, as our Lord Jesus the Anointed One has indicated to me.
Therefore, I’m going to do everything that I can whenever I can, so that you’ll keep on reminding each other of these things after I’m gone.
Now, what we’ve told you about the power and appearance of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One wasn’t some myth that we just made up. Rather, we were eyewitnesses to his magnificence!
For he was honored and glorified by God (the Father) through a voice that came to him, which glorified him in an appropriate way when it said,
‘This is My Son whom I love and of whom I have approved!’
Yes, we heard these words from heaven itself as we were there with him on the Holy Mountain!
And by this, we had the prophetic words made surer to us.
So, you will do well to pay attention to them.
For [these words] are like a lamp that will illuminate the dark places until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
Understand this:
None of the prophecies in the Scriptures came from [anyone’s own] ideas,nor [were they spoken] just because some men wanted to prophesy.
Rather, holy men spoke from God as they were being lead by [His] Holy Breath.
However, there have also been false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.
These will introduce destructive heresies and deny the master that bought them, which will bring swift destruction upon them.
Yet, many will follow them into their dirty deeds.
And because of this, the way of the truth will be slandered.
Also, since such ones will desire whatever you have, they will worm their way [in among you] with carefully-planned words.
However, the ancient judgment upon them will not be delayed and their destruction hasn’t fallen asleep.
Notice that God didn’t spare the angels that sinned, for He threw them into the dark pits of Tartarus where they are still awaiting His justice.
Nor did He spare the first system of things…
Though He guarded Noah (who was a preacher of righteousness) along with 7 others, when He brought a downpour upon that world of godless people.
Also, after He condemned the cities Sodom and GomorRah, He reduced them to ashes.
And all of these things are examples of what is going to happen to such godless people!
Yet, remember that [God] protected righteous Lot, who was deeply disturbed by the lewd actions of those lawless individuals.
For the wicked things that this man saw and heard each day while he was living among them tortured his righteous soul.
So, [understand that] Jehovah knows how to rescue devout people from trials, while he keeps the unrighteous for a day of judgment when they will be destroyed.
This is especially true of those that chase after flesh in filthy acts of lust and who despise divine appointments… the self-willed who don’t tremble when they speak ill of the glorious ones.
Even the messengers [of God] (who are much stronger and more powerful than they are) wouldn’t commit such blasphemy before Jehovah!
So, people like that are like unreasoning animals that were born to be caught and killed.
And because they speak badly of things that they don’t understand, they will rot in their filth.
Yes, the payback for their unrighteousness is the mistreatment of themselves.
For what brings pleasure to these people is just spending their days in luxury… they are spots and flaws that enjoy doing anything that they feel tempted to do, as they feast among you!
Such ones have eyes that are always full of adultery and sins, as they try to tempt those that are weak.
Yes, their hearts have been trained to want things that aren’t theirs, and they [give birth to] children that are cursed.
For they’ve been led away from the straight path and are directed onto the course of BalaAm [the son] of BeOr, who loved the reward for doing what was wrong,but was scolded for going beyond the limits by a farm animal that couldn’t speak…
Yet it did speak in a man’s voice and it stopped that crazy prophet!
Such people are like springs without any water and like clouds being blown by storms that are reserved for the gloom of darkness.
Yet they talk in big ways about stupid things, as they try to tempt [people] into following human desires and loose lifestyles…
Yes, they turn the little ones that are fleeing [this system of things] back into doing things that are wrong.
They keep promising them freedom, while they are personally slaves to filth…
For whoever is conquered by another, becomes his slave.
Understand that anyone that has escaped from the filth of this system of things by coming to an accurate knowledge of our Lord and Savior (Jesus the Anointed) and then turns back to it, is conquered by it again and is worse off than he was before [he became a Christian].
Therefore, it would be better for such ones if they had never learned about the ways of righteousness than to have turned from it after they’ve been taught the ways of Holiness!
So what happens to them is as the proverb truthfully says:
‘The dog has returned to its own vomit, and the sow that was bathed to rolling in its manure.’
My loved ones;
This is now the 2nd letter that I’ve written to you.
In the first letter, I tried to shake you into thinking clearly and remind you tonever forget what the holy Prophets used to say, or any of the commandments that our Lord and Savior gave to us through [his] Apostles.
Recognize this:
In the last days there will be those that will ridicule… they’ll go their own way and do whatever they want,then they’ll mock you by asking,
‘So, where is this appearance of his that they’ve been promising since our ancestors fell asleep?
For everything is still the same as it has been since the beginning of creation!’
However, what is hidden from them is this:
Though the ancient skies and lands were out of the water; by the Word of God, they still stood between the waters.
And it was through this that the world back then was flooded and destroyed by water.
Likewise, it’s by this same Word that what’s in store for the skies and the lands today is the fire of the Judgment Day, when those godless men will be destroyed.
But loved ones;
Don’t overlook the fact that one day to Jehovah is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day (paraphrase of Psalm 90:4).
For Jehovah isn’t slow when it comes to His promises, as some people think.
Rather, He’s being patient with you, because He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed…
He’s allowing enough time for everyone to repent!
However, the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief!
And then the skies will become extremely hot, their basic parts will melt, and they will all pass away with a hissing noise…
Then the earth and everything that’s being done on it will be exposed!
So, since all of this is about to be dissolved;
What sort of people should you be when it comes to holy conduct and godliness?
Yes, we’re awaiting and anticipating the appearance of the Day of the Lord, during which the skies will burn and dissolve and their basic parts will melt due to the intense heat!
But we’re also awaiting the new skies and lands that He has promised in which righteousness will dwell!
Therefore, loved ones;
Since we are [truly] expecting these things, we should be swift about making ourselves flawless and spotless, so we’ll be found to be at peace with him!
You should think about the patience that our Lord is showing when it comes to our salvation…
Which is something that our beloved brother Paul wrote to you about through the [special] wisdom that he has been givenand which he speaks about in all of his letters.
Yes, some of [what he writes] is hard to understand, so it is being twisted by the ignorant and unstable, the same as they are doing to the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
So to you, my loved ones:
Since you’ve been warned; be careful that you aren’t led astray by the bad things that these lawless people are doing and then lose your grip on your firm convictions.
Rather, keep growing in the loving care and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Anointed One.
May he be glorified now and into that age-long Day.
The message of life has been here since the beginning.
We’ve heard about it, seen it with our eyes, stared at it, and felt it with our hands.
Yes, the life was on display… we’ve seen it, we’ve testified about it, and now we’re reporting to you that there is age-long life with the Father, because He has shown it to us.
As the result, we’re reporting back to you about these things that we’ve seen and heard, so that we can share in it with you.
Yes, we’ve shared in this with the Father and His Son Jesus the Anointed One,and now we’re writing these things down so that our joy may be made complete.
The message that we heard from Him (which we want to announce to you) is this:
God is light and there isn’t any darkness in Him!
Now, if we say that we’re sharing with Him but we just keep on walking in the darkness, we’re lying and we aren’t being truthful.
But if we’re walking in the light (since He’s in the light), we’re also sharing what we have with each other, and the blood of His Son Jesus is cleansing us of all our sins.
However, if we should say that we don’t have any sins, we’re misleading ourselves and there is no truth in us.
But if we will admit to our sins, He will forgive us and wash away all our unrighteousness, because He is faithful and righteous.
For when we say that we haven’t sinned, we’re saying that He is a liar and His words aren’t in us.
My little children;
I’m writing these things to you so as to keep you from committing any sins.
However, if anyone does commit a sin, we have someone righteous who is our advocate with the Father, Jesus the Anointed One.
For he is the sacrifice that begs forgiveness for our sins… and not just for ours, but also for those of the whole world!
This is how we can be sure that we have come to know him:
If we keep on obeying his commandments.
So anyone that says, ‘Now I know him,’ but doesn’t obey his commandments, is a liar and the truth isn’t in him.
However, God’s love has been made perfect in all those that really do as they’ve been told.
And that’s how we know whether we’re really in him.
For whoever says that he’s in [Jesus] is obligated to keep on walking in the same path that [Jesus] walked.
Loved ones;
What I’m writing to you about here isn’t a new commandment, it’s an old commandment that you’ve had since the beginning.
This old commandment is all the instructions that you’ve heard so far.
However; now I’m also writing a new commandment for you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
It’s that those that say they are already in the light but dislike their brothers, are still in the dark.
Only those that love their brothers are in the light, so they don’t go stumbling about,while those that dislike their brothers are still in darkness and they’re walking around in the dark without any idea of where they’re going, because the darkness has left them blind.
I’m writing to those of you that are still boys, because your sins have been forgiven through his name.
I’m writing to those of you that are fathers, because you’ve come to know the one that is from long ago.
I’m writing to those of you that are young men, because you’ve conquered the wicked one.
I have written to you that are boys, because you’ve come to know the Father.
I have written to you that are fathers, because you’ve come to know the one that is from long ago.
I have written to you that are young men, because you are strong, God’s word is in you, and you have conquered the wicked one.
Do not love the world or anything in [it]; for if anyone loves the world, there’s no love of the Father in him.
Because, nothing in this world – its fleshly desires, its lusting after the things we can see, and its trusting that we can each provide for ourselves – comes from the Father.
Rather all of this comes from the world…
And the world is passing away with all of its desires!
However, those that do God’s Will remain through the age.
Young children;
It’s the last hour.
And as you’ve heard, the Antichrist is coming, for there are already many AntiChrists… and that’s how we know it’s the last hour.
They left us because they weren’t like us; for if they had been like us, they would still be with us… and this is what proves that they aren’t like us.
However, the Holy One has chosen you (but then, you already know that).
So I’m not writing to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you have known it.
Remember that there are no lies in the truth.
And who are the liars? They are the ones who deny that Jesus is the Anointed One.
Yes, these are the AntiChrists (gr. antichristos – anti-anointed):
They are the ones that deny both the Father and the Son!
For whoever denies the Son [also denies] the Father.
But those that have the Son also have the Father.
As for you;
Hang onto the things that you heard long ago!
For if the things that you heard long ago stick with you, you will remain in the Son and in the Father…
And what they have promised us is age-long life!
Now, I’m writing this to you [so as to warn you] about those that are trying to lead you astray.
I realize that you don’t need anyone to be teaching you, since the anointing that you received from him is still in you, and his anointing is teaching you about everything… it is true and it doesn’t lie.
So, just as it is teaching you, you must remain in him.
Little children;
You must stay in him, so that when he is revealed, we can then speak freely and not be shamed at his appearance.
For if you recognize the fact that he is righteous, you’ll also recognize that all those that do what is righteous have been fathered by him.
Look at the type of love that the Father has given us… to be called the children of God (which is what we really are).
And that’s the reason why the world doesn’t understand us… because they don’t understand Him!
But loved ones;
Although we’re the children of The God, we really haven’t been shown what we will be yet.
All we do know is that when [Jesus] is revealed, we’ll be like him, and then we’ll see him just as he is.
Therefore, all those that have been given this hope will purify themselves [so that they can be like him].
However, those that just keep on sinning are lawbreakers… for lawlessness is sin.
You already know that the reason why he showed himself [in the flesh] was to take away our sins, since there are no sins in him.
Therefore, no one that is in him will keep on sinning.
However, those that continue to sin haven’t seen him or come to know him yet.
Little children;
Don’t allow anyone to mislead you.
Only those that do righteous things can be righteous in the same way that he is righteous;
For sinners come from the Slanderer, because the Slanderer has been sinning since ancient times.
And the reason why the Son of God was shown [in the flesh] was to wipe away the deeds of the Slanderer.
Therefore, no one that has been fathered by The God can remain a sinner, because [God’s] seed is in him…
He can’t keep on sinning, because God has become his Father!
Now, it’s easy to tell the children of God from the children of the Slanderer, for God doesn’t become a father to the unrighteous and those that don’t love their brothers.
Indeed, from the earliest [days] you’ve heard the message that we must love each other.
[We don’t want to be] like Cain who came from the wicked one and slaughtered his brother.
And why did he slaughter him? Because what his brother did was righteous, while what he did was wicked.
Therefore brothers; Don’t be surprised that the world hates you!
We know that we’ve crossed over from death to life when we truly love our brothers.
However, those that don’t love them just stay dead.
For whoever dislikes his brother is a murderer… and we all know that murderers won’t receive age-long life.
But we know that we’ve been loved, because [Jesus] gave his life for us… and this is why we should also be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers!
However, how can God’s love be in a person that may have the worldly means to give aid, but doesn’t feel any pity for his brother when he sees that he’s in need?
Little children;
Don’t just love with your tongues and with words, but in reality, by doing [whatever is needed].
And this is how we can prove whether we are really being truthful with ourselves and that our hearts can be confident when we stand before Him.
But if our hearts are still condemning us, God is greater than our hearts and He knows all that’s going on in there!
Loved ones;
If our hearts don’t condemn us, we can have full confidence in Godand trust that we’ll receive whatever we ask of Him, because we’re obeying His commandments and doing the things that are pleasing in His eyes.
And this is what He has commanded:
We must believe in the name of His Son Jesus the Anointed, and [we must] love each other… just as He told us.
For those that keep His commandments are in Him, and He’s in them!
Yes, this is how we can know that He’s in us:
By the Spirit that He has given to us.
But loved ones;
Don’t believe every spirit… you must test the spirits to prove whether they actually come from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
You can tell whether a spirit is from The God by this:
Every spirit that speaks of Jesus the Anointed One as having come in the flesh, comes from God.
But any spirit that doesn’t speak of Jesus, doesn’t come from God but from the Antichrist, whom you heard would come into the world… and who is already here.
Little children;
Since you were fathered by God, you’ve already conquered them all… for [the One] that is in you is greater than the whole world!
Now, those that are fathered by this world talk about worldly things, and the world listens to them.
But because we have been fathered by The God, only those that know Him will listen to us, while those that aren’t from Him won’t listen to us…
And this is how you can tell the true spirits from the false spirits.
Loved ones;
Keep on loving each other, because love comes from God… so those that love, know God, because love comes from God!
However, those that don’t love haven’t known God, because God is love!
He showed His love for us when He sent His one-and-only Son into this world so that we could gain life through him.
And this is true love;
Because, [back when] we didn’t love God, He still loved us and He sent His Son as a sacrifice to cover our sins.
Loved ones;
If this is how much God loves us, then we’re also obliged to love each other!
Indeed, no one has ever seen The God;
But as long as we love each other, He is in us and He’s perfecting His love in us.
Therefore, we can know that we’re in Him and He’s in us, because He has given us His Breath…
And we’ve also seen and testified to the fact that the Father sent His Son as the Savior of the world.
For whenever anyone admits that Jesus the Anointed One is God’s Son, God is in [this person] and he’s in God.
So, this is how we’ve come to know and believe in the love that The God has for us…
Because God is love, and whoever keeps on loving is in God and God is in him.
This love is also being made perfect in us, so we’ll be able to speak freely in the Judgment Day.
And by this, we can be just like Him while we’re still in this world!
Understand that there isn’t any fear in love, because perfect love casts out all our fears.
However, those that are still afraid are being tormented by it, because they still haven’t perfected their love.
But, as for us;
We love because He loved us first!
Therefore, if anyone says ‘I love God,’ and he still dislikes his brother, he’s a liar!
For if he doesn’t love his brother whom he can see, how can he love God whom he can’t see?
So we have this commandment from Him:
‘All that would love God must also love their brothers!’
Now, those who believe that Jesus is the Anointed One have been fathered by The God.
And those who love the One that fathered [them] must also love those that He fathered.
And this is how we know that we love the children of God:
When we love God and we are obeying His commandments.
Yes, you show your love for God by obeying His commandments… and His commandments aren’t hard to follow.
For all who have been fathered by The God have conquered the world;
And the victor that conquers the world is our faith.
So, who has conquered the world other than those who have faith that Jesus is the Son of The God?
For he’s the one that came through water and blood… Jesus the Anointed!
No, not just through water, but through water and blood!
And the Spirit testifies to this, because the Spirit is true.
So there are these three witnesses: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Breath, and these three are one.And there are three that bear witness on the earth: [spurious text, the most well-known fake verse in the Bible] the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three are one.
Understand that if we can believe the testimony that men provide, the testimony that God gives is even greater…
And God has personally testified about His Son!
So, all those that put faith in the Son of God now have this testimony within themselves!
Yet, those that don’t believe God’s own testimony are making Him out to be a liar, because they haven’t trusted what God personally said about His Son.
And this is what He testified to:
He will give us age-long life, and this life is in His Son!
Therefore, those that have the Son also have the life (gr. ten zoen).
But those who don’t have the Son don’t have the life.
I’m writing all of this to you, so you’ll know that those who have faith in the name of the Son of God have age-long life.
And as the result; we can trust that no matter what we may ask for ourselves (as long as it’s His Will), He hears us.
So if we know that He hears whatever we ask of Him, we also know that we’ll have the things for which we’ve asked, just because we asked Him.
Now, if you should see your brother committing a sin that isn’t deadly, you can ask that he might be given life, not death.
However, there are sins that do bring death, and when it comes to such sins, I’m telling you not to ask for anything.
Of course, everything that’s unrighteous is a sin… but there are sins that aren’t deadly.
We know that none of those that have been fathered by God will continue to sin;
For having The God as their Father protects them so that the Wicked One can’t touch them.
And we know that, while we come from The God, the whole world is still under the influence of the evil one.
We also know that the Son of God has come here and he has given us the understanding so that we might know this One that is True, and that we are living in this True One through His Son Jesus the Anointed.
For He is the God of truth and of age-long life!
The older man, to the chosen lady and to her children whom I truly love… and not just from me, but from all those that have come to know the truththrough the truth that exists in us and will continue to be with us through the age.
For the kindness, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus the Anointed One (the Son of the Father) [comes to] us through this truth and love.
I’m so very happy, now that I’ve found out that your children are still walking in the truth and following the commandments that we received from the Father.
So I’m begging you lady (I’m not giving you a new commandment, just one that we’ve had since the beginning) to love each other.
And this is [how we prove our] love:
By following His commandments!
Yes, that’s the commandment! It’s the same thing that you’ve heard since the beginning… just keep on following it.
Because, many have strayed [back] into the world and will no longer admit that Jesus the Anointed One came in the flesh…
And those that have strayed are the AntiChrists.
So watch out for yourselves!
Be careful not to destroy the things we’ve worked [so hard] on, so that you can receive the full reward!
For those that are running ahead and not remaining in the teaching of the Anointed One don’t really have God.
However, those that stick with this teaching have both the Father and the Son.
Therefore, if anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t welcome him into your home or even greet him,for those that greet him become sharers in his evil deeds.
Although I have many [other] things to write to you, I don’t want to do it with paper and ink.
Rather, I’m hoping to come and speak to you face to face, so your joy can be realized.
The children of your chosen sister send you their greetings.
The older man, to my beloved GaiUs, whom I truly love.
My loved one;
I pray that you’re doing well in everything, and that you continue in good health as the man within you prospers.
I was so happy when the brothers came and testified to the fact that you’re continuing to walk in the truth.
For nothing brings me greater joy than hearing that my children keep on walking in the truth!
Loved one;
You’re doing a faithful work by helping the brothers… and even those that are strangers,for they’ve testified about your love for the called ones.
So it would be a fine thing if you’d also send them off in a way that is worthy of The God,because they’ve been going to the gentiles in [His] name and they haven’t asked anything from them.
As the result, we’re obliged to welcome such ones hospitably, so we can be fellow workers for the truth.
I wrote something to the congregation, but DioTrephes (who likes to be the most prominent) refused to welcome us.
That’s why, if I come there, I won’t forget the way that he acted or any of the wicked rumors that he spread about us.
Yet even these things weren’t enough for him, because not only does he fail to welcome the brothers, but he also prevents the rest from doing so…
Even expelling them from the congregation!
Loved one;
Don’t imitate his bad ways, just do what is good.
Because, those that do what is good come from God, while those that do what is bad haven’t seen God.
Yes, everyone has testified about this matter to DeMetrius, so he knows the truth.
And now we’re warning you about this…
And you know that what we’re saying is true.
I have many other things to write about, but I don’t wish to write them with pen and paper.
I hope to see you soon, and then we can talk face to face.
May you have peace.
The friends send you their greetings.
Give my greetings to the friends by name.
Jude, a slave of Jesus the Anointed One and a brother of James, to those that are in God the Father (and are loved) as they are in Jesus the Anointed…
Yes, those that have been called and that are being watched over;
May you grow in mercy, peace, and love.
Loved ones;
Although I really wanted to write to you about the salvation that we hold in common, I found it necessary to write instead so as to encourage you to keep on struggling for the faith that the Holy Ones have passed on to you.
Because, some men have slipped in among you whose judgment was written about long ago.
These are godless men that are turning the loving care of our God into something that’s immoral, and they’re denying our only owner and Lord, Jesus the Anointed One.
Now, despite the fact that you already know everything, I want to remind you of this:
Although Jehovah once delivered our people from the land of Egypt, He later destroyed the ones that didn’t show enough faith.
He also locked up those [heavenly] messengers that didn’t keep the position to which they had [been assigned] long ago, and left the place where they lived.
So He’s now keeping them in perpetual darkness where they’re awaiting their judgment on the Great Day.
For, just as as [the people] once did in Sodom, GomorRah, and in the cities round about them; these [angels] also started chasing after strange flesh and for things that are sexually immoral.
Yes, this is why such examples have been set before us:
To show us that [those who do such things] will undergo the penalty of age-long fire.
Yet, this is how some among you that are day-dreamers have also started polluting the flesh…
And you aren't showing proper respect for those that have been put over you, for you’re even speaking disrespectfully of the Glorious Ones.
Indeed, when MichaEl (the Highest Messenger [of God]) had an argument with the Slanderer over the body of Moses, he didn’t dare to bring a blasphemous judgment against him by speaking disrespectfully.
All he said was,
‘May Jehovah give you what you deserve!’
However, these men continue to speak disrespectfully about many things that they really don’t understand.
And like senseless animals that everyone knows [dirty themselves] naturally, [these men] are really messing on themselves [when they’re doing] things like this.
So, woe to them, because they’re going the way of Cain, they’ve rushed into the wrongs of BalaAm for a reward, and they’re bringing destruction upon themselves with rebellious words like those of KorAh!
[Yet, these men are still] feasting among you at your loving [congregational] meals.
And like rocks that are hidden [below water], they are fearless shepherds over just themselves, or dry clouds that are blown in every direction by the winds, or fruitless trees in late autumn that have died twice and been uprooted.
[They are also] like wild waves of the sea that foam shameful things on themselves, or like wandering stars that have been reserved for the gloom of age-long darkness.
Remember that the 7th man from Adam, Enoch, prophesied about them when he said:
‘{Look!} Jehovah will arrive with tens of millions of His holy onesto condemn them and to give all those godless ones what they deserve for the irreverent things that they’re doing in their worldly ways, as well as for all the shocking things that these godless sinners have said against Him.’
For these men continue to grumble and complain about how things work out, as they keep on doing whatever they wish.
Their mouths also do a lot of bragging, and they feign admiration of people in order to serve their own [evil] purposes.
But as for you, loved ones;
Remember what you were once told by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus the Anointed…
Yes, remember that they used to say this to you:
‘In the last days, there will be those that speak disrespectfully as they go their own way and do godless things.
These are the ones that will create divisions, for they are carnal and they don’t have the Breath [of God]!’
However, as for you, loved ones;
Keep on building the Holy Faith within yourselves, continue to pray through the Holy Breathand keep yourselves in God’s love, as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One and age-long life.
Also, be merciful to those that are unsure…
Save [them] by snatching [them] from the fire!
However, as you’re showing them mercy, do this in fear, because you must hate any dirty underwear that has been spotted by the flesh.
Now, to the One that is able to protect you against stumbling and that can make you free from any defects;
May you continue to joyfully shout aloud within the sight of His glory!
Yes, to our only God (our Savior) and to Jesus the Anointed One (our Lord), may there be glory, majesty, might, and authority throughout all time, both now and through the ages…
May it be so!
A revelation that The God gave to Jesus the Anointed One to show his slaves the things that must happen very quickly.
He sent it by his messenger to his slave John in signs.And [John] testifies that everything he saw was the Word of The God and the testimony of Jesus the Anointed.
Those that read it aloud, as well as those that listen to the words of this prophecy and obey the things that are written in it are blest, because the appointed time is near.
From John, to the 7 congregations in Asia [Minor];
May you find loving care and peace from The One that is, that was, and that is coming, as well as from the 7 spirits that are in front of His throne,and from Jesus the Anointed One, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth, that loves us, that freed us from our sins by his own bloodand that made us to be a Kingdom of Priests to his God and Father.
May he have glory and might through ages of ages…
May it be so!
Look! He’s coming in the clouds and every eye will see him, including those that pierced him, and all the nations of the earth will wail because of him.
Yes, may it be so!
‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’
said Jehovah The God;
‘the One that is, that was, and is coming… the Almighty.’
I (John) am your brother that shares in your difficulties over the Kingdom, and in your endurance in Jesus.
I am now on this island called Patmos because of the Word of God and because of my testimony about Jesus.
It was through the Breath [of God] that I found myself in the Lord’s Day.
For from behind me I heard a voice that was as loud as a trumpet,which said:
‘Write the things that you’re about to see on a scroll and send it to these 7 congregations:
Ephesus, Smyrna, PergaMōm, ThyaTira, Sardis, PhilaDelphia, and LaoDikia.’
Then I turned around to see who was speaking to me.
But when I turned, I saw 7 gold lampstands.And between the lampstands, [I saw] someone [that looked] like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe that came down to his feet, and his chest was wrapped in gold.
His head and hair were as bright as white wool or snow, and his eyes were as flames of fire.
His feet looked like the finest copper as it is being poured from a smelter, and his voice sounded like the noise that’s made by large bodies of water.
In his right hand [he held] seven stars, a long, sharp, two-edged sword was protruding from his mouth, and his face glowed as brightly as the sun.
Well when I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.
Then he laid his right hand on me and said:
‘Don’t be afraid; I’m the first, the last,and the living one. And though I died, {Look!} I am living through ages of ages. I also hold the keys to death and the place of the dead.
‘You must now write down the things that you’re about to see…
For they are things that are now and things that will soon be.
‘As for the mystery of the 7 stars that you saw in my right hand and the 7 gold lampstands;
The 7 stars signify the messengers of the 7 congregations, and the 7 lampstands signify the 7 congregations.’
‘Write this to the messenger of the congregation in Ephesus.
Tell him that one that is holding the seven stars in his right hand and that walks among the seven gold lampstands said this:
‘I know what you’re doing… that you’ve worked hard and endured, that you don’t tolerate evil men, and that you’ve put those that say they are Apostles (but really aren’t) to the test, showing them to be liars.
You’ve also been patient, because you’ve been bearing my name and you haven’t given up.
‘However, you’ve lost the love that you had at first, and I hold this against you.
So you must recognize how far you’ve fallen and turn around… go back to doing what you did at the first!
For if you don’t (and unless you repent), I’ll be coming to you and I’ll remove your lampstand from its place.
‘However, I can say this on your behalf:
You hate what the Nicolaitans are doing, and I also hate what they are doing.
‘Let those that have ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations.
I’ll allow those that conquer to eat from the Tree of Life that is in the Paradise of The God.
‘And write this to the messenger of the congregation in Smyrna.
Tell him that this is what the one that is the first, the last, and that died and came to life, has to say:
‘I know of your problems and your poverty (although you’re really rich), and about the blasphemy of those that say they are Jews (although they really aren’t, they’re just a synagogue of the Slanderer).
‘Don’t be afraid of the things that you’re about to suffer, for {Look!} the Slanderer is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you’ll be persecuted for 10 days.
But if you’ll be faithful to death, I’ll give you the garland of life.
‘Let those that have ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations:
The ones that conquer won’t be harmed by the second death!
‘And write this to the messenger of the congregation in PergaMōm.
Tell him that the one who has the long, sharp, two-edged sword said this:
‘I know that the place where you’re living is the very throne of the Slanderer, and yet you keep hanging onto my name.
For you didn’t deny your faith in me even in the days of my faithful witness AntiPas, who was killed among you there where the Slanderer lives.
‘However, I still hold a few things against you, for there are some among you that are following the teachings of BalaAm – the one that taught Balak how to set a trap before the Sons of IsraEl [by getting them] to eat sacrifices to idols and to be sexually immoral.
‘You also have those that are following the teachings of the Nicolaitans.
So turn around; for if you don’t, I’ll be there soon and fight a war against you with the long sword from my mouth!
‘Let those that have ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations:
To those that conquer, I will give some of the hidden manna and a white pebble.
This pebble has a new name written on it that no one will know other than those that receive it.
‘And write this to the messenger of the congregation in ThyaTira.
Tell him that the Son of The God (the one that has eyes like flames of fire and whose feet are like fine copper) said this:
I know what you’re doing, and I know of your love, your faith, your service, and your endurance.
[I also know that] what you’ve been doing recently is even more than what you’ve done in the past!
‘However, I do hold this one thing against you:
You’re still putting up with that woman JezeBel… the one that calls herself a prophet but teaches and misleads my slaves into immoral sexual acts and into eating things that are sacrificed to idols.
And though I have given her enough time to turn around, she doesn’t wish to repent her immorality,so {Look!} I will be throwing her into a stretcher for carrying the dead and I will bring a time of great difficulty upon those that are enjoying sex with her, unless they repent over what they’re doing with her.
I’m also going to put her children to death, so that all the congregations will know I’m the one that searches their kidneys and hearts, and that repays each one according to his deeds.
‘But, to the rest of you in ThyaTira (those of you that are unaware of such teachings and that haven’t come to know about what they call the deep things of the Slanderer), I’m saying that I won’t lay any more loads on you.
Just hang on until I get there.
For then I’ll give those that conquer and who’ve obeyed everything that I’ve told them to do down to the end, authority over the nations…they will shepherd them with an iron rod with the same [authority] that I received from my Father, and they will shatter them like clay pots.
I’ll also give them the morning star.’
‘Yes, let those that have ears listen to what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations!
‘And write this to the messenger of the congregation in Sardis.
Tell him that the one that has the seven Breaths of God and the seven stars says this:
‘I know what you’re doing, and though you have the reputation of being alive, you’re really dead!
So, you must wake up and revive the things that aren’t quite dead yet, because I don’t see where you’ve accomplished any of the tasks [that you’ve been assigned] in the sight of my God!
‘You must start remembering [all the things] that you’ve received and heard, then hang onto them and repent!
For if you don’t stay awake, I will come like a thief… and you won’t be aware of it until I’m right there on you!
‘However, there are a few names in Sardis that haven’t dirtied their robes. These will walk with me and they’ll wear white [robes], because that’s what they truly deserve.
Yes, all those that conquer will be dressed like that… in white robes.
I’ll never erase their names from the Scroll of Life, and then I’ll admit to knowing their names before my Father and His messengers.
‘Let those that have ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations!
‘And write this to the messenger of the congregation in PhilaDelphia.
Tell him that the one that is holy and true, and that has the key of David that opens what no one can close and closes what no one can open, said this:
‘I know what you’re doing, and Look;
I’ve put an open door before you that no one can close!
‘I also know that although you don’t have much strength, you’ve kept my word and you haven’t denied knowing my name.
So, look at what I’m going to do to those from the synagogue of the Opposer that say they are Jews (but who really aren’t and are just lying)… {Look!} I’m going to make them come and bow at your feet, and I’ll make sure that they know how much I love you.
‘Also, since you’ve obeyed my instructions to be patient, I’m going to protect you from the hour of trial that’s coming upon the whole habitation of mankind, which will try everyone that lives on the face of the earth.
‘I’m coming soon, so hang on and don’t let anyone steal your garland;for I will make those that conquer pillars in the temple sanctuary of my God, and they’ll never leave it.
I’ll also write the Name of my God upon them, as well as the name of the city of my God, New JeruSalem, which will come down out of the sky from my God, along with my new name.
‘Let those that have ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations!
‘And write this to the messenger of the congregation in LaoDikia.
Tell him that the Amen (the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation by The God) said this:
‘I know what you’re doing, and that you’re neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other;but, since you’re neither hot nor cold (but lukewarm), I’m going to vomit you out of my mouth!
For you’re saying,
I am rich, and because I’m rich, I don’t need anything!
However, what you don’t realize is that you’re really miserable, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
‘Therefore, I advise you to buy gold that has been refined by fire from me, so that you can become truly rich and wear white robes; and then nobody will see the shame of your nakedness.
Also, buy some salve to rub in your eyes so you can see;because, I correct and discipline all those whom I really care for.
Yes, [you should] repent and become zealous!
‘Look, I’m standing at your door and knocking! And if anyone hears my voice and opens that door, I’ll come in and we’ll dine together.
Then I’ll allow the ones that conquer to sit down with me on my throne, just as my Father has allowed me to sit on His throne, because I have conquered.
‘Let those that have ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations!
Well, after I saw those things, I saw a door that opened up in the sky.
And the first voice that I heard speaking to me (which sounded like a trumpet) said:
‘Now, come on up here, and I’ll show you what must happen next.’
And at that, I immediately [became like] the wind.
And look… there was a throne in the sky, and someone was sitting on the throne.
The One that was sitting on it looked like jasper and sardius gems, and all around his throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.
Then, surrounding this throne, there were 24 more thrones, upon which sat 24 elders that were each dressed in white robes and had gold garlands on their heads.
And at the time, there was lightning, thunder, and voices coming from the throne.
In front of the throne there were seven flaming lamps, which were the Seven Spirits of The God.
Also in front of the throne was a transparent sea that looked like crystal.
And on each of the four sides of the throne there was a cherub that had many eyes on its front and back sides.
The first cherub looked like a lion, the second looked like a young bull, the third had the face of a man, and the fourth looked like a flying eagle.
Also, each of the four cherubs had six wings that were wrapped around them, and the inner parts of their wings were full of eyes. These didn’t rest night or day, and they were saying:
‘Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God the Almighty… the One that was, that is, and is coming.’
Then as the cherubs were giving glory, honor, and thanks to the One that was sitting on the throne (the One that lives through the ages of ages),the 24 elders fell down before Him and bowed to their faces.
Then they threw their garlands in front of His throne, and said:
‘You, the Lord and our God, deserve all the glory, honor, and power, because You created everything… yes, everything was created and exists because You willed it to be!’
Then I saw a scroll that had writing on both sides in the right hand of the One that was sitting on the throne.
However, it had been sealed tightly with 7 seals.
And at that, I saw a mighty messenger that called out in a loud voice:
‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’
However, there wasn’t anyone in the heavens or on the earth that was able to open the scroll to examine it.
So I started crying, because nobody could be found that was worthy to open and examine the scroll.
But then, one of the elders said to me:
‘Stop crying.
Look! The Lion that is from the tribe of Judah and of the root of David has conquered, so he will be able to open the scroll and its 7 seals!’
And that’s when I saw a lamb that looked like it had been slaughtered standing between the throne and before the 4 cherubs and the elders.
He had 7 horns and 7 eyes, which symbolize the 7 Spirits of The God that have been sent throughout the entire earth.
Then [the lamb] went right up and took [the scroll] from the right hand of the One that was sitting on the throne.
And when he took the scroll, the 4 cherubs and the 24 elders (each of whom held harps and gold bowls that were filled with the incense that symbolizes the prayers of the Holy Ones) fell down in front of him,and they sang a new song, which went:
‘You’re the only one that is worthy
To receive the scroll and open it’s seals.
For, you’re the one that was slaughtered
To buy a people for God with your blood
From every tribe, language, country, and race,
That will serve as Kings and Priests of our God,
And to rule as Kings on (gr. epi) the earth.’
Then I looked around, because I heard the voices of many messengers (along with the cherubs and the elders) that were all around the throne and that numbered into the millions and tens of millions.
And they were all shouting in a loud voice:
‘This Lamb that was slaughtered deserves to receive the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength, the honor, the glory, and the blessings!’
And after that, I heard all the creatures in the skies, on the ground, under the ground, in the seas, and everything else in those places say:
‘May the One that is sitting on the throne and His Lamb be praised, honored, glorified, and allowed to retain the power through ages of ages.’
And during all of that, the 4 cherubs kept saying,
‘May it be so,’
as the elders fell down and bowed to their faces.
It was then that I saw the Lamb open one of the 7 seals, and I heard one of the 4 cherubs say in a thundering voice,
‘Come on out!’
And suddenly {Look!} I saw a white horse, and the one that was sitting on it had a bow.
Then he was given a garland, and he went out to conquer and to finish his victory.
And after that, he opened the 2nd seal, and I heard the 2nd cherub say,
‘Come on out!’
So another horse came out, which was fiery red; and the one that was sitting on it was authorized to remove peace from the earth, so that [people] would slaughter each other… and a large sword was given to him.
Then he opened the 3rd seal, and I heard the 3rd cherub say,
‘Come on out!’
And at that, I saw {Look!} a black horse; and the one that was sitting on it had a balance scale in his hand.
I also heard a voice that sounded like it came from the midst of the 4 cherubs, which said:
‘A quart of wheat for a silver coin and 3 quarts (2.8l) of barley for a silver coin…
But don’t damage the olive oil or the wine.’
Then when he opened the 4th seal, I heard the voice of the 4th cherub say,
‘Come on out!’
And I saw {Look!} a greenish-yellow horse; and the one that was sitting on it was named Death… and the Place of the Dead was following closely behind him.
These were given authority over a quarter of the earth to kill with the sword, with famines, with plagues, and with the wild animals of the earth.
Next he opened the 5th seal, and underneath the Altar I could see the lives of those that had been slaughtered because of the Word of God and because of the things to which they had testified.They were crying out in loud voices and asking:
‘How much longer, O Sovereign Lord that is holy and true, will You keep holding back Your judgments and from bringing vengeance for our blood upon those that live on the earth?’
Well at that, they were each given white robes and they were told to rest just a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow slaves and brothers was to be filled (that were going to be killed as they had been).
Then I saw him open the 6th seal, and there was a great shaking that caused the sun to become as black as haircloth and the entire moon to become like blood.
And at that, the stars in the skies fell to the earth like a fig tree drops its figs when it’s shaken by a strong wind.
Thereafter, I saw what looked like the sky being rolled up like a scroll, and all the mountains and islands were removed from their places.
Well when that happened, all the kings of the earth, all the important people, all the military commanders, all the rich and powerful, as well as all the slaves and free people went and hid themselves in caves and under rocks on the mountains.
For they were saying to the mountains and rocks:
‘Fall over us and hide us from the face of the One that is sitting on the throne and from the rage of the Lamb…
For the Great Day of their rage has arrived and who will be able to survive?’
Then I saw 4 messengers that were standing on each of the 4 corners of the earth. These were holding onto the four winds of the earth so they couldn’t blow on the lands, on the seas, or on the trees.
And after that, I saw another messenger arising from the sunrise, and he was carrying the seal of the living God.
Then he shouted loudly to the 4 messengers that were allowed to harm the lands and the seas, saying:
‘Don’t harm the lands, the seas, or the trees until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.’
Well, that’s when I heard the number of those that were to be sealed… 144,000 out of all the tribes of the sons of IsraEl.
12,000 were to be sealed out of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 out of the tribe of ReuBen, 12,000 out of the tribe of Gad,12,000 out of the tribe of Asher, 12,000 out of the tribe of NaphTali, 12,000 out of the tribe of ManasSeh,
12,000 out of the tribe of SimeOn, 12,000 out of the tribe of Levi, 12,000 out of the tribe of IsSachar,12,000 out of the tribe of ZebuLun, 12,000 out of the tribe of JoSeph, and 12,000 were to be sealed out of the tribe of BenJamin.
And after that, I saw {Look!} a crowd so large that no one could count them.
They came from all countries, nationalities, ethnic groups, and languages, and they were all standing within view (gr. enopion) of the Lamb and the throne.
They were each wearing white robes and carrying palm branches in their hands,and they were shouting:
‘We owe our salvation to our God that is sitting on the throne and to the Lamb!’
Well when that happened, all the messengers that were standing in a circle around the throne (as well as all the elders and the 4 cherubs) started falling to their faces in front of the throne and bowing low before Godand saying:
‘May it be so! May our God have all the praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength through ages of ages…
May it be so!’
Then one of the elders asked me:
‘Just who are these that are dressed in the white robes and where did they come from?’
And I replied:
‘My lord; You’re the one that knows!’
So he told me:
‘They’re the ones that have come out of the great time of difficulty and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
This is why they’re under the gaze of the throne of The God, serving Him day and night in His temple sanctuary.
For the One that is sitting on the throne will spread His tent over them,then they won’t be hungry or thirsty anymore, nor will the sun beat down on them with blistering heat;
For the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and guide them to the springs of the waters of life, and God will wipe all the tears from their eyes.’
Well, after he opened the 7th seal, the skies went silent for about a half hour.
Then I saw 7 trumpets that were being distributed among 7 of the messengers that were standing before God.
And at that, another messenger arrived that was carrying a gold incense bowl.
So he stopped in front of the Altar and he was given a large quantity of incense that was to be offered on the gold Altar that was in front of the throne, along with the prayers of all the Holy Ones.
And the smoke from the incense that was being offered by the messenger thereafter kept arising before God along with the prayers of the Holy Ones.
Well after that, the messenger then took the incense bowl and filled it with some of the fire [that was burning on] the Altar and he threw it down to the earth, which caused thunder, voices, lightning, and a great shaking.
And that’s when the 7 messengers prepared to blow the 7 trumpets.
So the first one blew his trumpet, and hail and fire that was mixed with blood was thrown down to the earth, which caused 1/3 of the lands, 1/3 of the trees, and 1/3 of all of the green plants to be burned.
Then the 2nd messenger blew his trumpet, and something that looked like a huge burning mountain was thrown down into the sea, which caused 1/3 of the sea to turn into blood,and this killed 1/3 of the creatures that live in the seas and it destroyed 1/3 of the ships [that were traveling there].
Then the 3rd messenger blew his trumpet, and a huge star that was burning like a lamp fell out of the sky onto 1/3 of the rivers and onto 1/3 of the springs of water.
I was told that the name of this star was Wormwood.
So, 1/3 of the water turned into wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had become so bitter.
Well when the 4th messenger blew his trumpet, 1/3 of the sun was then struck, as was 1/3 of the moon and 1/3 of the stars, which brought darkness upon 1/3 [of the earth], so that the day didn’t appear over 1/3 of [the earth], nor did the night.
It was then that I saw an eagle that was flying high in the sky, and I heard it shout:
‘Woe, woe, woe to those that are living on the earth, for there are three more trumpet blasts that the three messengers are getting ready to blow!’
Then the 5th messenger blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fall out of the sky onto the earth, and this one had been given the key to the abyss.
So it opened the abyss, and smoke poured out of it as though it was coming from a huge furnace.
The smoke from the abyss thereafter darkened the sun and all of the air.
Well at that, locusts started dropping to the earth out of the smoke, and they were given the same power as earthly scorpions.
However, they had been told not to damage any of the earth’s vegetation or trees, only those men that didn’t have God’s seal on their foreheads…they weren’t allowed to kill them, just to sting them for 5 months.
However, the pain that they would bring would be like the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
So during that time, men will look for ways to die, but they won’t find any.
Yes, though they will wish to die, death will escape them.
These locusts looked like horses that are prepared for battle.
On their heads were what appeared to be gold garlands, and their faces looked like the faces of humans.
They had women’s hair, they had teeth like lions,and they wore breastplates that looked like they were made of iron.
Also, [the flapping] of their wings sounded like the attack of many chariots in a war,and they had tails with stingers like scorpions.
The tails [of these locusts] were to be allowed to sting the people for 5 months.
And they also had a king that led them… the messenger of the abyss. In Hebrew, his name is AbadDon, but he’s called ApolLyon (the Destroyer) in Greek.
Well, after this first woe passed, {Look!) there were two more woes that were getting ready to follow!
So then the 6th messenger blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice that came from the gold horned edges on the Altar that are in front of The God.
And they said to the 6th messenger that held a trumpet:
‘Now, release the 4 messengers that have been tied down at the great EuPhrates River!’
Well at that, 4 messengers that were prepared to kill 1/3 of all mankind on [a specific] hour, day, month, and year were untied,and they led an army that I was told numbered 200 million horsemen.
This is what the horses and their riders looked like in the vision:
They wore fire-red, hyacinth-blue, and sulfur-yellow breastplates.
Their horses had heads like lions, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths.
It was these three plagues (the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths) that killed 1/3 of all mankind.
Also, the power of their horses was all in their mouths and their tails, and their tails were like snakes that had heads… which is what they used to do all the damage.
However, the rest of the people that hadn’t been killed by these plagues still refused to repent over the things that they were doing… they refused to stop bowing before the demons, or before their idols of gold, silver, copper, stone, and wood (things that can’t see, hear, or walk);
Nor did they repent their murders, their occult practices, their sexual immorality, or their thievery.
Well after that, I saw another very powerful messenger coming down out of the sky that was wrapped in a cloud and he was wearing a rainbow on his head.
His face was [as bright] as the sun, his feet were like columns of fire,and he held a small opened scroll in his hand.
Then he put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the ground,and he shouted in a loud voice that sounded like the roar of a lion.
And as he was shouting, there were 7 rumbles of thunder that each spoke in its own voice.
Well I was getting ready to write down the things that the 7 thunders were saying, but then I heard a voice from the heavens that said:
‘Don’t write what the 7 thunders said… seal up [those words]!’
Then the messenger that I saw standing on the sea and on the ground raised his right hand toward heaven,and he swore this by the One that lives through ages of ages, the One that created the heavens and everything in them and all the lands and everything in them and the sea, and the things which are therein [spurious words].
[He shouted]:
‘The time has finally arrived!For when the 7th messenger blows his trumpet (which is about to happen), God’s mystery that has been revealed through the good news that He sent through His slaves the Prophets will then be fulfilled.’
And at that, I heard the voice from the sky speaking to me again.
It said:
‘Now, go and take that little open scroll out of the hands of the messenger that is standing on the sea and on the ground!’
As the result, I went over to the messenger and I told him to give me the little scroll.
And he said to me:
‘Yes, you must take it and then eat it! It will be as sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will be very bitter in your stomach.’
So I took the little scroll out of the hand of the messenger and I ate it… and it was in fact as sweet as honey.
However, after I ate it, my stomach became very bitter.
Then I was told:
‘Now you must go on to prophesy to peoples, nations, languages, and many kings!’
Next [he] handed [me] a cane that was like a large walking stick.
And he said:
‘Now, go measure God’s Most Holy, the Altar, and those that are bowing low there.
Pay no attention to the courtyard outside of the Most Holy… don’t measure it, because it has been given to the nations and they’re going to trample the Holy City under their feet for 42 months.
‘But after that, I’m going to have my two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days wearing sackcloth.
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that have been standing on the earth before the Lord.
And if any of their enemies should wish to harm them, fire will come out of their mouths and consume them.
So if anyone wants to persecute them, that’s how they’re going to die,because these have been authorized to close up the skies so that no rain will fall during the period of their prophesying!
They’re also authorized to turn water into blood and to bring every sort of plague onto the earth whenever they wish.
‘Then after they’ve finished their testimony, the wild animal will come out of the abyss to fight them, conquer them, and kill them,and their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city, which [God’s] Breath refers to as Sodom and Egypt…
Because it’s where their Lord was hung on a pole.
‘There the peoples, nationalities, tongues, and ethnic groups will then look at their corpses for 3-1/2 days, during which time they won’t allow them to be buried.
And all the while, those that live on the earth will be happy and approve of what happened to them, even sending gifts to each other, because these two prophets will have brought so much pain to those that live on the earth.’
However, after the 3-1/2 days, The God then sent His breath of life into them and they stood up on their feet, which frightened everyone that saw them.
Then [the two witnesses] heard a loud voice from heaven that said to them,
‘Come on up here.’
And their enemies saw them ascend into the sky in a cloud.
This was followed by a tremendous shaking, and a 10th of the city ([Sodom and Egypt]) toppled, destroying the names of 7,000 people.
Of course, this frightened all those that were left, and they gave glory to The God of the heavens.
Well, this ended the 2nd woe.
But look; a 3rd woe was on its way!
Then the 7th messenger blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in the heavens that were shouting:
‘The kingdom of this world now belongs to our God and to His Anointed One, and He will be its ruler through ages of ages!’
Well at that, the 24 elders that were sitting on their thrones fell to their faces before The God and bowed low before Him,saying:
‘We thank You, O Jehovah God the Almighty (the One that is and that was), because You’ve finally assumed Your great power and started ruling as King.
Yes, this made the nations angry, but [the time for] Your rage has arrived when the dead will be judged, when Your slaves (the Prophets, the Holy Ones, and those that fear Your Name – the small and the great) will be rewarded, and when those that are corrupting the earth will be thoroughly corrupted.’
Then the heavenly Most Holy Place of God became visible to me.
And inside of His Most Holy Place I could see the Chest of His Sacred Agreement.
This was all followed by lightning, voices, thundering, shaking, and a great hailstorm.
And thereafter, a great sign appeared in the sky… there was a woman that had the sun wrapped around her, the moon was under her feet, and there was a garland of 12 stars on her head.
She was also pregnant and screaming in labor and agony to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky.
{Look!} There was a huge fire-red Dragon that had 7 heads and 10 horns, and on its heads there were 7 royal turbans.
It was dragging 1/3 of the stars of the sky with its tail, and then it threw them down on the ground!
This Dragon then went and stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth he could swallow [her child] down!
Well, she then did give birth… to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod.
And thereafter, her child was snatched away to God and to His throne,as the woman escaped into the desert to a place that God had prepared for her, where she was to be fed for 1,260 days.
Next, a war broke out in heaven. MichaEl and his messengers battled with the Dragon, and the Dragon and his messengers fought back.
However, [the Dragon] lost [the battle] and he could no longer stay in the heavens.
So the huge Dragon (the original snake that is called the Slanderer and Opposer) who is misleading the whole habitation [of mankind] was thrown down…
He was thrown down to the earth along with [all of] his messengers.
And at that, I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
‘Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of God has arrived;
For His Anointed has now been empowered,
And the accuser of our brothers has been cast down,
Who blames them before God both day and night!
‘By the blood of the Lamb, he was conquered,
And by the things to which they have testified.
For they did not value their lives
As they stared death in the face!
‘So rejoice you heavens and all those that live there;
But woe to the earth and the sea,
For the Slanderer has come down to you in great rage,
Knowing that he has little time.’
Then when the Dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he started persecuting the woman that gave birth to the male [child].
However, the woman was given the two wings of a huge eagle so she could fly away to her place in the desert where she was to be fed for a time, [two] times, and half a time, and where the snake couldn’t reach her.
Then this snake shot a river of water out of its mouth after the woman in an attempt to drown her.
But the ground came to the woman’s aid… it opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the Dragon shot out of its mouth.
This made the Dragon so angry with the woman that he went off to wage war with the rest of her seed… those who are obeying God’s instructions and carrying the testimony of Jesus.
And thereafter, [the Dragon] came to a stop on the sands of the sea.
Well at that, I saw a wild animal that had 7 heads and 10 horns come up out of the sea.
On its horns there were 10 royal turbans, and on its heads were blasphemous names.
This wild animal that I saw looked like a leopard, but it had feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion.
Then the Dragon gave [this beast] power, a throne, and great authority.
One of [the animal’s] heads looked like it had been mortally wounded, but this deathblow had been healed and the whole earth started following it admiringly.
They also bowed to the ground before the Dragon, because it is what gave the wild animal its authority.
And they bowed before the wild animal too, saying:
‘Who else is like this wild animal and who can stand against it?’
Then [the animal] was given a mouth to speak great things and blasphemies, and it was given the authority to act for 42 months.
So it opened its mouth and spoke blasphemous things against The God… it blasphemed His Name, His Tent, and all those that are tenting in the heavens.
Thereafter, he was allowed to go to war with the Holy Ones and conquer them, and he was given power over every nation, people, language, and ethnic group,so that all those on the earth whose names aren’t written in the Lamb’s Scroll of Life would have to bow low before him…
This one that had been slaughtered since the founding of the system of things.
Now, all who have ears should listen to this:
If anyone is a jailer, he’ll be thrown in jail, and if anyone kills with the sword, he’ll be killed with a sword!
For this is where the Holy Ones will need faith and endurance.
Then I saw another wild animal coming up out of the ground.
It had two horns like a lamb, but it started speaking like the Dragon.
It had all the authority of the first wild animal, which it used in its presence to force all the lands and all those that dwell in them to bow low before the first wild animal whose deathblow had been healed.
It also performed great signs, even making fire come down from the skies onto the earth before everyone,so as to mislead those that live on the earth with the signs that it is allowed to perform in front of the wild animal.
It also told those that live on the earth to make an image to the wild animal that had survived the sword stroke.
Then it was allowed to give breath to the image of the wild animal so that the image could speak and cause everyone that doesn’t bow low before the image of the wild animal to be killed.
Thereafter, it forced everyone (the small and the great, the rich and the poor, the free and the slaves) to receive a branding on their right hands or on their foreheads,so that no one would be able to buy or sell other than those that have the branding…
Which is the name of the wild animal or the number of its name.
This is where wisdom is required:
Let those that can reason calculate the number of the wild animal…
It’s a human number, 666.
Then {Look!} I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; and with him there were 144,000 that had his name and his Father’s Name written on their foreheads.
I also heard a noise coming from the sky that sounded like a lot of water and loud thunder.
Well, the sound that I heard was of people that were all playing harps and singing.
They were singing a new song before the throne and before the 4 cherubs and the elders, and no one was able to master that song but the 144,000 that had been purchased from the earth.
These hadn’t defiled themselves with women. In fact, they are virgins that kept following the Lamb no matter where he went.
They were bought from among mankind as first fruitage to God and to the Lamb,for no lies were found in their mouths and they didn’t have any defects.
Then I saw another messenger flying high in the middle of the sky, and he had age-long good news to proclaim to those that live on the earth… to every ethnic group, nation, language, and people.
He was shouting aloud:
‘Fear God and glorify Him, because His hour of judgment has arrived.
So bow low before this One that made the skies, the lands, the seas, and the springs of water!’
Then another (a second) messenger followed him, saying:
‘She has fallen… the Great Babylon has fallen!
She’s the one that made all the nations drink the wine of her sexually-immoral rampage!’
He was followed by a 3rd messenger that was shouting aloud:
‘If anyone bows low before the wild animal and its image and receives its brand on his forehead or on his hand,he will have to drink the pure wine of Jehovah’s anger that’s being mixed in the cup of His rage, and he will be examined through torture by fire and with burning rocks in front of the holy messengers and in front of the Lamb.
The smoke from this torture of those that bow low before the wild animal and its image and all those that receive the branding of its name will ascend through ages of ages, and they won’t have any rest either day or night.
‘Yes, this is where the Holy Ones (those that keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus) must really hang on!’
Then I heard a voice coming from the sky that said,
‘Write this:
From now on, the dead that die in the Lord are blest!
Yes, [God’s] Breath said,
Let them rest from their hard labor… and may their [good] deeds follow them!’
Well after that, I saw {Look!} a white cloud, and someone was sitting on top of the cloud that looked like a son of man.
He had a gold garland on his head and he held a sharp sickle in his hand.
Then another messenger came out of the Most Holy and he shouted this at the one that was sitting on the cloud:
‘Now, take that sickle and start harvesting, because it’s time for the harvest…
And the harvest is absolutely ripe!’
So at that, the one that was sitting on the cloud lowered his sickle to the ground and started harvesting.
Then another messenger came out of the Most Holy in the heavens that also carried a sharp sickle.
[He was followed by] a messenger that arose from the Altar, whose responsibility was to burn.
And this one shouted to the messenger that held the sharp sickle:
‘Now, take that sharp sickle and harvest the clumps of grapes from the vine of the earth…
For its grapes are now ripe!’
So the messenger lowered his sickle to the ground and harvested the grapes of the earth.
Then he threw them into the great winepress of God’s rage,where they were trampled by foot outside of the city.
And what came out of this winepress was blood that flowed in a stream that was as deep as a horse’s bridle for 200 miles (320km).
Well after that, I saw another great and wonderful sign in the sky…
There were 7 messengers [that were bringing] 7 plagues.
These were the last ones, because they would bring an end to God’s rage.
Then I saw what looked like a sea of crystal and fire.
And standing beside the crystal sea were those that had conquered the wild animal, its image, and the number of its name. They were each holding harps of God,and they were singing the song of God’s slave Moses and the song of the Lamb.
It went:
‘Everything that You may do,
O Jehovah the Almighty God,
Is wonderful and great, King of ages.
‘For Your ways are all righteous and true,
And who doesn’t fear You, Jehovah?
[Yes, who won’t] honor Your Name?
‘And because You’re the One we can trust,
All the nations will come and bow before You;
For Your righteous deeds have now been revealed.’
Well at that, I looked and I saw that the heavenly Most Holy (which is [inside] the Tent of Proofs) had been opened up.
And at that, 7 messengers that had the 7 plagues came out of the Most Holy wearing clean, bright linen, and they had gold braids around their chests.
Then one of the 4 cherubs gave [each of] the 7 messengers one of the 7 golden bowls that were full of the wrath of The God that lives through ages of ages.
And then the Most Holy became so filled with smoke because of the glory of God and His power that no one could enter it until after the 7 plagues that were being brought by the 7 messengers had been delivered.
Well after that, I heard a loud voice coming from the Most Holy that told the 7 messengers to go and pour the 7 bowls of the wrath of God onto the earth.
So the first one went and poured his bowl out on the ground.
And with that, the men that had the brand of the wild animal and that were bowing low before its image broke out in very bad malignant sores.
Then the 2nd one poured his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of dead men.
So everything in the sea – every living creature – died.
And after that, the 3rd one poured his bowl into the rivers and springs, and they turned into blood.
Then I heard the messenger that was over the waters say:
‘O Holy One that is and that was;
You are righteous, because You’ve passed judgment on these things.
Since they’ve shed the blood of Your Holy Ones and Prophets, You’ve given them blood to drink… and that is what they deserve!’
And after that, I heard the Altar speak. It said:
‘Yes, O Jehovah God the Almighty; Your judgments are righteous and true.’
Then the 4th [messenger] poured his bowl out on the sun, which caused it to sear men with fire.
And though the tremendous heat seared the men, they just blasphemed the Name of The God that has the power over these plagues, and they didn’t turn back and glorify Him.
Thereafter, the 5th one poured his bowl out on the throne of the wild animal, which made its whole kingdom become dark and its [people] were biting their tongues in pain.
However, they just blasphemed the God of the heavens for all of their pain and their sores, and they didn’t repent of their deeds.
So then the 6th one poured out his bowl into the great EuPhrates River, and this dried up all of its water.
[He did this] to prepare the way for the kings from the sunrise.
And then I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs come out of the mouths of the Dragon, the wild animal, and the false prophet.
These were the unseen powers of demons that were to serve as signs.
They were sent to all the kings of the habitation of mankind in order to assemble them for the battle of the Great Day of the Almighty God.
‘Look, I’m coming as a thief!
So, whoever stays awake and keeps his clothes on will be blest… he won’t have to walk around naked and have people see his shame.’
They then assembled [all the earth’s kings] at the place that is called in Hebrew, Har-Mageddon.
And at that, the 7th [messenger] poured his bowl out into the air.
Then a loud voice from the throne inside the Most Holy proclaimed:
‘It is now finished!’
This was followed by thunder, lightning, voices, and a shaking that was so great and covered so large an area that nothing has been seen like it since men have lived on the earth.
For it split the great city into three parts, and all the cities of the nations fell into ruin!
It was then that God looked at The Great Babylon and He remembered to also give her the cup of the wine of His anger and rage.
For by then, all the islands were gone and there weren’t any more mountains.
Also, a great hailstorm had come out of the sky upon the people (each of its stones weighed about 100 pounds / 45kg).
However, the people just blasphemed God over the plague of hail, though it was an unusually bad plague.
Then one of the 7 messengers that had the 7 bowls came over and spoke to me. He said:
‘Come here and I’ll show you the judgment on the great whore that sits over many waters.
[She’s the one] with whom the earth’s kings have had sex and that made the people of the earth drunk from the wine of her sexual immorality.’
So he carried me on the wind into the desert, and there I saw a woman that was sitting on a scarlet-colored wild animal that was covered with blasphemous names and had 7 heads and 10 horns.
This woman was wearing purple and scarlet clothes that were covered with gold, precious gems, and pearls, and in her hand [she held] a gold cup that was full of disgusting things and the filth of her immoral sexual acts.
She also had a mysterious name written on her forehead:
‘The Great Babylon, the Mother of Whores and of [all] the Disgusting Things of the Earth.’
It was then that I realized that this woman had been getting drunk on the blood of the Holy Ones, as well as on the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.
Well when I saw her, I was both confused and amazed.
So the messenger asked me:
‘Why are you so confused? I’ll tell you the mystery of the woman and of the wild animal with the 7 heads and 10 horns that she’s riding.
The wild animal that you see had once been, but then it was not. However, it’s about to come out of the abyss again, and then it will go off into destruction.
Yet when they see the return of the wild animal that once was but is no longer, those that live on the earth will marvel at it… but their names haven’t been written in the Scroll of Life since the founding of the world.
‘Here’s where intelligence and wisdom are required:
The 7 heads are 7 mountains upon which the woman is sitting.
And there are 7 kings; 5 have fallen, one is, and the other hasn’t arrived yet. But when he gets here, he will only be allowed to stay for a little while.
However, the wild animal that was but isn’t is an 8th king that comes from the 7, and it will go off into destruction.
‘Now, the 10 horns that you saw represent 10 kings that haven’t received a kingdom yet; however, they will be authorized to be kings for one hour with the wild animal.
And they’ll all have the same idea in mind… to give their power and authority to the wild animal.
Then they will go and fight against the Lamb; but because he’s the Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb and those that are with him (the called, elected, and faithful) will conquer them.’
And then he said this:
‘The waters over which you saw the whore sitting mean peoples, crowds, ethnic groups, and languages.
And because the 10 horns and the wild animal that you saw will hate the whore, they’re going to take away everything that she has and leave her naked…
Then they’ll eat her flesh and burn [what’s left] in a fire!
For God will put [the thought] into their hearts to do what He knows she deserves, and He’s also the One that will give them the idea to hand their kingdoms over to the wild animal, so that whatever God says will be fulfilled.
‘Now, the woman that you saw means the great city that dominates the kings of the earth.’
Well after all that, I saw another messenger coming down out of the sky.
This one was so very powerful that the earth glowed with his glory.
Then he shouted in a mighty voice, saying:
‘She has fallen… the Great Babylon has fallen and she has become a home for demons, a prison for unclean spirits, and a cage for scavenger birds!
Because, all the nations have fallen [victim] to the wine of the rage of her sexual immorality, all the kings of the earth have had immoral sex with her, and the earth’s businessmen have become rich through the power of her shameless luxury.’
And at that, I heard another voice coming from the sky that said:
‘Come out of her my people!
Come on out, so you don’t share in her sins and receive part of her plagues!
For her sins have piled all the way to the heavens, and God has remembered all the unjust things that she has done.
So, now she must be paid back for all of those [bad] things that she’s done!
In fact, pay her back with twice as much… double the payback for the things that she did!
If she poured [poison] into a cup, then pour in twice as much for her!
‘Also, as she glorified herself and lived in shameless luxury, pay her back that much more in pain and sorrow!
Because she keeps saying in her heart,
I’m sitting as a queen. I’m nobody’s widow and I’ll never have to mourn!
So, that’s why her plagues will come upon her in a single day – death, mourning, and famine – and she’ll be consumed by fire, because the Almighty God Jehovah is passing judgment on her!
‘Then those kings of the earth that had sex and lived in shameless luxury with her will bawl and beat themselves in grief over her, as they stand and watch the smoke from her fire.
However they’ll stand at a distance, because they’ll be afraid of her torture.
And they’ll say,
Woe, woe, you great city… O Babylon you mighty city; for your judgment has arrived in a single hour!’
‘The earth’s businessmen will also bawl and mourn over her, because there won’t be anyone to buy their complete stock of goods anymore…
any of the gold and silver, the precious stones and pearls, the fine linen, the purple, the silk, the scarlet, any of the scented wood, or any of the things made of ivory, precious wood, copper, or iron… or the marble,
the cinnamon, the Indian spice, the incense, the perfumed oil, the frankincense, the wine, the olive oil, the fine flour and wheat… or the cattle, sheep, horses, coaches, slaves, or the lives of humans.
Yes, all the juicy fruit that she so deeply desired has been taken from her, as have all the fatty foods and the bright colors.
They’re no longer available to her, and she’ll never have them again.
‘Then the men that sold these things and that became rich from her will cry and mourn at some distance from her, because they’ll [also] be afraid of her torture.
They’ll say,
O woe, woe, you great city that wore all the fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and that was so richly covered in gold, precious stones, and pearls;because all of that great wealth has been taken away in a single hour!
‘And this was also true of the ship captains, all those that sail, the seamen, and everyone that makes a living at sea.
They too stood some distance awayand called out as they watched the smoke of her burning, saying,
What other city was like this great city?
‘Then they threw dust on their heads, bawled, and mourned, shouting,
O woe, woe, for this great city that made so many shipping companies rich with her wealth, because everything has been taken away from her in a single hour!’
‘O heavens, you Holy Ones, and you Apostles and Prophets;
Rejoice over this, because God’s judgment has brought vengeance upon her for your sakes!’
Then a mighty messenger picked up a stone that looked like a huge millstone and threw it into the sea, shouting:
‘This is how fast that city (the Great Babylon) will be thrown down, and she’ll never be found again!
‘Then the sounds of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpet players will no longer be found in her, nor will craftsman of whatsoever craft he be and tradesman be found there anymore and the stone of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee. [spurious words]
No lamplight will ever shine in her again, and the voices of brides and grooms won’t be heard in her thereafter.
For though her traveling merchants were once the most important men on the earth and she misled all the nations with her sorcery;
the blood of the Prophets, the Holy Ones, and of all those who’ve been slaughtered throughout the whole earth have been found within her!’
Well after all that, I heard what sounded like the voices of a huge crowd proclaiming from the skies:
‘Praise Jah! [Yes, praise] the salvation, the glory, and the power of our God,for His judgments are righteous and true!
Now He has finally passed judgment on the great whore that made the whole earth filthy with her immoral sex, and He has avenged the blood of His slaves [that died] at her hands!’
Then they shouted a second time:
‘Praise Jah; because, the smoke from her will keep ascending through ages of ages!’
And at that, the 24 elders and the 4 cherubs fell down and bowed low before The God as He sat on His throne, saying:
‘May it be so!
Praise Jah!’
Then a voice came out of the throne that said:
‘Praise our God, all of you that are His slaves… yes you, the great and the small that fear Him!’
Then I heard what sounded like the voices of a huge crowd, along with the noise of a lot of water and heavy thunder.
They were shouting:
‘Praise Jah! For Jehovah our God the Almighty has started ruling as king!
Let’s rejoice, shout in joy, and glorify Him, since it’s time for the Lamb’s wedding!
‘Yes, his bride has now prepared herself,and she’s been found worthy to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen…
For the fine linen represents the righteousness of the Holy Ones.’
Then he said to me:
‘Write this down:
Those that are invited to the Lamb’s wedding banquet are blest!’
And he added:
‘God really said this.’
Well when that happened, I fell down in front of his feet to bow low before him.
But he warned me, saying:
‘Be careful… don’t do that!
For I’m just a fellow slave of you and your brothers that are witnesses of Jesus. And testifying for Jesus is the spirit behind this prophecy.
You should just bow low before God!’
Then I saw the sky opening up, and Look…
There was a white horse, and the one that was sitting on it was called Faithful and True, because he judges and he fights his wars for righteousness!
His eyes were like flames of fire and he wore many royal turbans on his head.
He also had a name that was written, which nobody knew but him,and he was wrapped in a robe that was splattered with blood.
This name that he was called is, The Word of The God.
Then following behind him were all the armies of the heavens, [riding] on white horses and wearing white, clean, fine linen.
He also had a long sharp sword protruding from his mouth that he could use to strike the nations;
For he will shepherd them with an iron rod.
[It was then that I realized that this is the same one that I saw] crushing the grapes with his feet in the winepress of the Almighty God’s anger and rage.
For on his robe and on his thigh he had the name written:
‘King of kings and Lord of lords.’
And I also saw a messenger that was standing on the sun and shouting in a loud voice.
He was saying to all the creatures that fly high in the skies:
‘You should all come and gather for God’s great supper.
For here you can eat the flesh of kings, generals, mighty men, horses, and riders, as well as the flesh of all the freemen and slaves…
Yes, both the small and the great!’
Then I noticed the wild animal along with the kings of the earth and their armies all gathering to wage war against the one that was sitting on the [white] horse and his army.
However, the wild animal was thereafter captured along with the false prophet that performed the signs in front of it that he had used to mislead those that received the branding of the wild animal, as well as those that bowed low before its image.
Then, while they were all still alive, they were tossed into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
And after that, the long sword that was in the mouth of the one that was riding the [white] horse killed off all the rest…
Then the birds came and ate their fill of flesh.
Well after that, I saw a messenger coming down out of the sky that had a long chain in his hand [that held] the key to the abyss.
Then he grabbed the Dragon – the original snake, the Slanderer and Opposer – and chained him up for 1,000 years.
And then he threw him into the abyss… he closed it up and locked it up over him, so he couldn’t mislead the nations anymore until after the 1,000 years had ended.
However, he will be set free for a little while after that.
Next I saw thrones…
And those that sat down on them were the ones that had been executed with axes for testifying about Jesus, for telling about God, and those that hadn’t worshiped the wild animal or its image, nor had they received its branding on their foreheads or on their hands.
For they were appointed to be judges.
Yes, they came to life and ruled as kings with the Anointed One for 1,000 years…
The rest of the dead didn’t come to life until the end of the thousand years [spurious text] This is the first resurrection.
Those that have a part in the first resurrection are blest and holy, because the second death won’t have any power over them.
For they will be Priests of God and of the Anointed One and they will rule for 1,000 years.
However, after the 1,000 years have ended, the Slanderer will be set free from his prisonand he’ll go out to mislead people – Gog and Magog – in all four corners of the earth.
Then he’ll assemble them all for a war…
There will be as many as the sands of the seas!
These will thereafter march across the whole earth and they’ll surround the camp of the Holy Ones and the loved city…
But then fire will come from the sky and consume them!
And the Opposer that misled them will then be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the wild animal and the false prophet will already have been, and they will be tortured there day and night through ages of ages.
Then after that, I saw someone sitting on a huge white throne… and before him the land and the sky just vanished and couldn’t be found.
I also saw the dead – the great and the small – standing before the throne, and several scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, which was the Scroll of Life. And the dead were judged by the things that were written in the scrolls, according to the things that they had done.
Then the sea gave up its dead, and death and the place of the dead gave up the dead in them, and they were all judged by the things that they had done.
And finally, death and the place of the dead were thrown into the lake of fire (the lake of fire symbolizes the second death),and anyone whose name wasn’t found written in the Scroll of Life was also thrown into the lake of fire.
Well at that, I saw new skies and new lands, because the previous skies and lands had disappeared, as had the seas.
I also saw the Holy City, New JeruSalem, stepping down out of the sky from God, prepared like a bride that had been adorned for her man.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne say:
‘Look! The Tent of God is with mankind! He’s going to pitch His Tent among them, then they’ll be His people and He’ll be their God.
He’s going to wipe all the tears from their eyes and there won’t be any more death, mourning, wailing, or pain, because all that once was will be gone!’
And the One that was sitting on the throne said:
‘Look! I’m making everything new!’
And he added:
‘Write this down, because these words are faithful and true.’
Then He said to me:
‘It has all been accomplished!
I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end – and I’m going to give everyone that is thirsty a free drink from the Spring of the Water of Life!
Yes, those that conquer will inherit these things…
Then I’ll be their God and they’ll be My sons!
But as for the cowards, the unbelievers, the nasty, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those that cast spells, the idol worshipers, and all the liars;
Their inheritance is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur… the second death.’
Well at that, one of the 7 messengers with the 7 bowls that were full of the 7 last plagues came and spoke to me, and said:
‘Come here and I’ll show you the bride… the Lamb’s woman!’
So he carried me off on the wind to an enormously high mountain, and there he showed me JeruSalem, the Holy City, as it was coming down out of the sky from God.
It had all the glory of God, it sparkled like the most precious of gems, and it gleamed like crystal-clear jasper stones.
It had high, thick walls and 12 gates.
There was also a messenger standing at each of the 12 gates, and each gate was inscribed with the name of one of the 12 tribes of the sons of IsraEl.
There were three gates on the east side, three gates on the north side, three gates on the south side, and three gates on the west side.
The city wall also had 12 foundation stones upon which the names of the 12 Apostles of the Lamb were written.
Now, the one that was talking to me held up a ruler (a gold reed) that he used to measure the city, along with its gates and its walls.
The city was square… as long as it was wide.
For he then measured the entire city with the reed; and its length, width, and height (which were all equal) measured 12,000 stadions.
Then he measured [the thickness of] its walls.
These were the length of a man’s forearm (which is about the same as for a messenger [of God]), times 144.
The walls were made of jasper, and the entire city was made of gold that was as pure as clear crystal.
The foundation stones for its walls were also decorated with all sorts of precious gems.
The first one was decorated with jasper, the 2nd with sapphires, the 3rd with chalcedony, the 4th with emeralds,the 5th with rubies, the 6th with sardius, the 7th with peridots, the 8th with beryls,
the 9th with topaz, the 10th with chrysoprase, the 11th with hyacinth, and the 12th with amethysts.
Also, the 12 gates were 12 pearls (each of the gates was made of a single pearl), and the city’s main street was paved with gold that was as pure as clear crystal!
I didn’t see a temple sanctuary within [the city], because Jehovah God the Almighty and the Lamb are its Most Holy.
Nor did the city need the sun or moon to shine upon it, because it was lit by the glory of God… and the Lamb was its lamp.
So, all the nations were able to walk in its light, and the earth’s kings were bringing their glorious things into it.
Its gates won’t ever be closed during the day, and night won’t exist there.
For this is where they will carry the glory and honor of the nations.
And nothing that’s dirty, or anyone that does disgusting things or tells lies will ever enter it… only those [whose names] are written in the Lamb’s Scroll of Life.
Well after that, he showed me the River of the Water of Life…
It was crystal clear and it flowed out [from under] the Throne of The God and of the Lamb,down the middle of the street.
And along both of its banks were the Trees of Life, which bore 12 [crops of] fruit, putting out the fruit every month;
And the Trees’ leaves were used to heal the nations.
Then, everything that might cause people to sin will thereafter be gone.
For the Throne of The God and of the Lamb will always be there, where His slaves can come to bow low before Himand see His face, and they’ll wear His Name on their foreheads.
Also, since there won’t be any night, they won’t need lamps or sunlight, because Jehovah (The God) will be shining upon them…
And they’ll rule as kings through ages of ages.
Then he said to me:
‘These words are faithful and true.
Yes, Jehovah (The God that gave His Breath to the Prophets) sent His messenger to show His slaves the things that will happen very quickly.
And look… I’m coming quickly!
Blest is the one that obeys the things that are prophesied in this scroll.’
Well, I (John) was the one that saw and heard these things.
And after I saw and heard it all, I fell down to bow at the feet of the messenger that had shown me these things.
But he warned me again, saying:
‘Be careful… don’t do that!
For I’m just a fellow slave of you and your brothers that are Prophets and are obeying [the things that] are spoken of in this scroll.
Rather, bow low before The God!’
He also warned me:
‘Now, don’t seal up the things that are said in the prophecy of this scroll, because the season is near.
So may those that are acting unrighteously stay unrighteous, and may the filthy stay filthy.
However, may those that are righteous remain righteous, and those that are holy remain holy.
‘Look, I’m coming quickly!
And the reward that I’m bringing is the repayment to each one for what he has done.
‘I’m the Alpha and the Omega;
The first and the last;
The beginning and the end.
‘Blest are those that wash their robes, for they’ll be allowed access to the trees of life and they will be able to enter these city gates.
But the dogs, those that cast spells, those that are immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and everyone that enjoys lying will be left on the outside.’
‘I am Jesus, and I sent my messenger to testify to you about these things that will be [coming] to the congregations.
I am the root and the descendant of David… the bright morning star.
‘Now the Spirit and the bride are saying to you,
Come!
And let all those that hear this also say,
Come!
Yes, let all that are thirsty come; for anyone that wishes to do so may partake of the water of life freely!
‘I’m also testifying to everyone that hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll, that if anyone adds anything to it, God will add the plagues to him that are written about in this scroll.
And if anyone removes any of the words of this scroll of prophecy, God will remove his share from the Tree of life and from the things that are written in this scroll concerning the Holy City.
‘So, the one that is testifying to you about these things has said,
Yes, I’m coming quickly!’
May it be so!
Come Lord Jesus!
May the loving care of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with all of the Holy Ones.
![from there [came the] head [waters] of 4 [rivers]](http://www.history-book.net/maps/rivers_of_edin.gif){kind=link}
